S NEWBORN babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.

I Pet. 2:2

  

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

II Tim. 2: 15

 

16a Seek ye out of the Book of the LORD, and read:

Isa. 34:16a

 

39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

John 5:39

Scripture, the very Voice of God!

E HAVE the incredible opportunity, as humans, to actually read the very Words of God Himself!                                  

Every Word in theBible (except the original Ten Commandments, which God wrote with His finger into stone) was written by the hand of man, but under the dictates of God.  For which reason, there is nothing in the Bible that was not intended by God to be accepted as His very Words!  God relies on man to write His Words, so the fact that man has written it in no way diminishes God’s Authorship.

 

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Tim. 3:16

God speaks to man through His Word.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

II Pet. 1:19

Scripture is more than just something written thousands of years ago to other people, someone else’s personal letters that we eavesdrop on, reading something written to someone else, and trying vainly to apply to our own lives!  Scripture is the raw material for what God says to us!

If we, “listen for voices,” we may hear one of five different voices!  We may hear:

a)                   God’s voice;

b)                   satan's voice

c)                   What we expect to hear;

d)                   What we want to hear;

e)                   What we fear to hear.

… for which reason we do not listen for God’s, “Voice!”  (If God chooses to speak to us using a, “Voice,” it’ll be by HIS choice, not ours, and at such a time as HE chooses.   And we will KNOW that it’s His voice; there will be no doubt!  [ The trick, at that time, will be willing to accept that as God’s Voice.  It’s our willingness to accept God’s leading that determines whether or not we believe it is indeed from God!] )

The way God usually speaks to us is by reminding us of a verse of Scripture.  Scripture is the language of God; the things He says to us will be given in the form of Scripture.  (God does speak to us in various other manners, such as conscience, our Spirit (see the next passage, “Prayer”), etc., but Scripture is the primary means that God uses to speak to us.)  So if we have not read the Word of God, the Bible, and read it regularly, we will have muzzled, to a certain extent, God’s very Voice!

What we read may mean nothing to us at the time; the meaning will become very obvious when God uses that passage of Scripture to speak to us as some later time.  He’ll remind us of it in the context of our circumstances at that particular time, and we’ll understand exactly what it says, because God will be: i) enlightening our Spirit as to the passage’s meaning and, ii) using that passage to speak to us about our present circumstances.  Scripture is the very language of God!

How to read your Bible

It is important that you get to know the Word of God.  Even just a few minutes a day.  Begin with the Book of John, and read just one chapter a day.  Later, you’ll want to read more… you’ll find you won’t be able to get enough!

The work of Scripture

Scripture (The Word of God) saves us:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of Godunto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom. 1:16

Scripture purifies us:

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed according to Thy Word.

Psalm 119:9

Scripture gives us hope!

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Rom. 15:4

Scripture is a guide to righteous living:

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

II Tim. 3:16

Scripture increases our faith:

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Rom. 10:17

 

16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jer. 15:16

 

103 How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103