The Place & Purpose Of The Bible In Your Life

[Neighbor]

The Bible is the instrument of reveal of redemption, of reconciliation, when it's words are lit by the Holy Spirit.

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

I am limited by God, severely limited and loving it, for I have been pulled away from my freedom to do whatever and instead have a purpose defined by God's will for me over my own.

That's what liberals object to.

I once delivered a message on the following verses. There were American visitors in the congregation. Apparently I went longer than they were comfortable with but they wished me well in my ministry before leaving to fly back to the States that afternoon.

 2Co 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Key thought:

World = Blindness = Bondage.

Gospel = Light = Liberty

[luigi]

The bible which is the Word of God, is the root by which those hearing the Word, stand. Those without the Word/root shall fall away when tribulations come. 

Matthew 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

[D. Adrien]

It seems to me that the closer a person abides by the word, the more conservative others will view him/her. ( Apologize using pronouns). :)

[Vine Abider]

20 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Excellent topic Michael and much needed today.

`Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.` (Matt. 4: 4)

I was just thinking on this very topic today as a friend of mine tends to just potluck in the word. Meaning she just does anywhere and really nowhere consistently. So, we`ll be having this very discussion next time we share.

God`s word is like food for the spirit and the only eternal truth anywhere. God`s word refreshes the soul and spirit, comforts the heart, (soul) transforms the mind, guides the way, teaches us of eternal things and most of all open our eyes to our Saviour and Lord - His character and His Purposes.

 

18 hours ago, other one said:

Interesting...  During some of my driving around at my job (3,500 miles  a month)  I used to ask the Lord if he had a message for me that day.   I grabbed a CD and stuck it into the player in my car and pushed the seek button several times and listened.

Amazingly, within ten minutes, something popped up that touched on something I needed to know.

"Potluck in the word" - love it!  The Word's primary purpose is spiritual food in my view: "Thy words were found and I did eat them, and they became the joy and rejoicing of my heart." (Jer 15:16) The word nourishes and strengthens my spirit.  My secondary view is the word is instruction: "All scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17)

If I put the secondary purpose first, then it tends to be for me just outwardly trying to follow the letter of the law.  I think this is, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."  (2 Tim 3:5) That is, the real power comes from "Christ in me, the hope of glory." (Col 1:27)  For without Him how much can I do that's profitable? (living the Christian life is impossible except for Him as our very life supply)

So we really need both!

BTW - I've mentioned a number of times on this forum, that I've long enjoyed a 365 day devotional called Daily Light. It is just a daily collection of verses along a topic, for both morning and evening edification.  My approach is to take this daily word by prayer, speaking it back to the Lord, and slowly chewing on each verse, mixing in my own prayer, supplications and thankfulness. This truly nourishes my spirit, and starts me out on a much better spiritual footing each day.

Here's an example of Daily Light from today:

Morning

My Presence will go with you,
and I will give you rest. 

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you … The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. § Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. § In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” § Our sufficiency is from God.

Do not lead us into temptation. § O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. § My times are in Your hand.

Ex. 33:14; Deut. 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:9; Prov. 3:6;
Heb. 13:5–6; 2 Cor. 3:5; Matt. 6:13; Jer. 10:23; Ps. 31:15

 

PS - available in print, online or as a mobile app - https://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/daily-light/

[Neighbor]

I find it quite funny that my mind turns about songs of praise that have lyrics of being freed. I sing different words ( Of course I do) not freed, but captured. Occasionally  during worship someone hears the different lyric as I sing.  It just comes out of my mouth  from my heart that way as I praise God for conscripting  me, then giving me a post to stand in the army of Jesus.

 I use conscript deliberately for I never volunteered nor was I expecting a draft notice. I was just up and taken one day right after being led to read Job.

Here's your sign! Oh boy really? Ya sure about that one, Job?

[Michael37]

On 7/13/2024 at 8:17 AM, Neighbor said:

 It just comes out of my mouth  from my heart that way as I praise God for conscripting  me, then giving me a post to stand in the army of Jesus.

Divine Foreknowledge is Infallible in Election.

On 7/13/2024 at 8:17 AM, Neighbor said:

I use conscript deliberately for I never volunteered nor was I expecting a draft notice. I was just up and taken one day right after being led to read Job.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
 

[D. Adrien]

The Place & Purpose Of The Bible In Your Life

Guardrails for life. A person can justify any position desired on a topic so there needs to be a firm, concrete set of standards to hold up for confirming those beliefs, otherwise self deception will certainly creep in.

[Mr. M]

On 7/11/2024 at 4:34 PM, Michael37 said:

The Bible is more important to me than any other input. It serves to resolve every issue that life presents me.

The Bible is my source of Wisdom and my guide to abiding in the Vine.

The Bible is God's Word preserved for the benefit of mankind.

2Ti 3:16-17  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  (17)  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All Scripture = All the Bible

When Timothy was written to by Paul his use of the term "all Scripture" covered:

• All the Books of what became known as the Old Testament
• All the Books that would become known as the New Testament

God-breathed means originating from God, the purposeful release of His Spirit upon His Creation.

Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

1Pe 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

2Pe 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Joh 16:13-14 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

Strangely there are professing Christians who find fault with the Bible and set it aside as too limiting and restrictive. For me the opposite is true and I find it revealing and liberating.

Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge,

my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Jeremiah 7:28 So you shall say to them, ‘This is a nation that does not obey

the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. 

Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.

[Marathoner]

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39-40 ESV)

The scriptures themselves are insufficient. If the Lord does not reveal Himself to us so that we can begin knowing Him, the entirety of the scriptures are moot. The words of the Lord Himself testifies of this. 

To follow what our brother @Mr. M shared from the 7th chapter of Jeremiah,

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’" (Jeremiah 7:21-23 ESV)

The Lord is the One who instructs us, and He does so by us listening to His voice. If there is no relationship between us and the Lord, then all that remains is a certain religion which teaches a man how to revere and handle a bible properly...

How to conduct oneself in the pews...
And how to maintain the appearance of piety to the satisfaction of one's peers. 

That piety is asserted through virtue signaling. "There is nothing more important than the scriptures!" they might cry, all the while judging others harshly and ignoring the poor in their need. Some of us are all too familiar with that religion. Better to hear the voice of the Lord and live in ignorant obscurity, than be devoid of love while upholding the scriptures as the standard.