FIVE BENEFITS TO STUDYING THE BIBLE - EXEGETICALLY

George Muller, a giant figure in the history of the church, cared for 10,024 orphans in his lifetime explored with great faith and enthusiasm the inner life, faith and prayer. That’s what we remember about him. But his words surprised me when I read them–

“What is the food of the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and….not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.”

Bible Study isn’t a casual stroll through a book. Bible study isn’t googling various themes to help us find scriptures to fit our own personal predilections. It is an adventure into the voice, plan and providence of God. It is a living expedition that changes the reader not the interpretation. It’s pondering, applying, researching, and listening. Here are five benefits to an exegetical strategy of Bible study:

1. We get the big picture and the larger story. Historically (and currently), certain unfortunate groups have zeroed in on one chapter or even one verse of the Bible in order to develop their worldview. These efforts pervert the meaning of scripture because it ignores the Canon in favor of a particular nuance found in a particular part. Once we look at the bigger picture, the larger story, that’s when the Bible gets interesting, my friend! We see shards of truth in the details but nothing can compare to the full mosaic of the Word as we see the progression of Scripture.

2. Exegetical study reveals what God is saying rather than what we want Him to say. Exegetical Bible study begins with hands empty and open to God. If only we would constantly have the attitude: “Lord, I’m going to go deep, read with eyes afresh and heart open and allow You to speak truth. I will set my personal predilections aside and put on the full armor expecting that You will shake my foundation.”

3. We grasp Scripture and apply it appropriately. Most people, when they think about theology, envision demanding degrees, multisyllabic mysteries, and complicated conundrums. But the truth of God’s word is much simpler than some make it out to be. I love this thought from Soren Kierkegaard: “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.” 
4. Organic discoveries are the best kind. It’s great to bask in the wisdom and inspiration of David Jeremiah, David Platt, Tim Keller and other amazing writers, but discovered truths from God’s word of the homegrown variety often have a greater, more personal impression on my life. I think you’ll agree. There are times when I discover something so relevant to my own crucible or to the struggle of those I love that I can’t resist sharing it. It brings me to life. It wrecks me in such a visceral way that I know it is the Holy Spirit at work.
5. You’ll enjoy the diversity of genres and styles. Unlike a textbook that’s filled with codes, formulas and theorems, God gave us a book of stories, poems, metaphors, sayings, commandments, laments, and prophetic reveals. Through exegetical study of scriptures the brilliance and clarity of God’s story comes alive with dynamism and surprising depth. We breath deep the truth of God’s character and the power of his grace. It’s a unified message told in a variety of methods and styles. Even the four Gospels blend together; telling the same story but doing so differently. John’s Gospel is poetic and teaming with symbols and purposeful progressions. Luke’s Gospel, the Gentile voice with a vision of suffering humanity and those lost in the margins of society. Luke’s orderly account is very different from the “fasten-your-seatbelts” Gospel of Mark. Surely, to exegete scripture is to unravel a message and the mystery of the whole counsel of God. It’s hopping on board to the message and seeing where it takes you. You might not know it when you start, but its destination is always life-changing and beautiful.

Reposted by Permission of Lifeway Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Click here for Lifeway Blog.

THE LORD'S PRAYER- THE MODEL EXPLAINED: PART 2

Hallowed by Thy Name

We know all of the great attributes of God – He is all powerful, knows all, owns all and sees all.  2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that “the Eyes of the Lord roam across the WHOLE earth in search of those whose hearts are loyal to Him”. There is absolutely no doubting that fact.

But the first attribute of God is His Holiness. He abhors sin. He despises it and even turned His back on His own Son – the Lord Jesus – Who had to cry out from the Cross “my God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46).

How do we know this? Well, the greatest Old Testament prophet, who wrote about those times as well as the End Times, was pulled up into Heaven before the Lord Himself in Isaiah Chapter 6. The first thing anyone who has had an encounter with Holy God does is this: fall down at His feet in total surrender and humility. Isaiah did it. John did it.

The next thing that happens to a man, who, in the rare occasion, is recorded to be in the fearsome Presence of Holy God is – the self-realization of one’s worthlessness to be in such a lofty place. Isaiahfalls down (Chapter 6) and knew immediately he was a sinner….that he was notworthy of being there….that he was a man of unclean lips, even as a man of Godand a prophet. We can relate to that today.  We, every one of us, use language which our forefathers – regardless of background – would never use and would even consider untoward.

The Lord took care of Isaiah’s problem with swearing and probably even blaspheming when He sent one of His emissaries to take a burning coal off the altar to cleans the prophet’s inclination towards such speech. God sends the Holy Spirit to convict you and I immediately after we say something we swore we would not say 500 times before. 

The third and important thing to note is the Worship in Heaven underscores what the ministering special angels – God’s Own Special Ops– think of the Almighty. They sign back and forth “Holy Holy Holy ….”. This is reinforced in Revelation 4 and click here to read the entire amazing chapter!

What is the connection to the practical matter of us praying to Abba Father, Who is in Heaven? The Knowledge of the Holy – the Holy One of Israel, should act as a check in our spirit as to how we approach the Lord.  Just as we do not take the Lord’s Table or communion in an unworthy manner, meaning with active sin in our lives, we need to be instinctively circumspect in our prayer, following the example of the Messiah Who gave us this prayer. In light of this, let us pray into it:

Heavenly Father, we do not deserve to even be in the same zip code as You. But You in Your love and mercy adopted us, who believe in Jesus as Lord, as Your Children. Lord we are people of unclean lips, and too many times unclean hearts and minds. Purify us, oh God, remove our sin as far as the east is from the west. Wash us with hyssop that we may be clean. Cleanse us that we may be as white as snow. May these spiritual broken bones be healed or done away with that we may stand pure and holy before You, because You are Holy. You are worthy. You are mighty. Forgive  us as we approach in true repentance and surrender all at the Foot of the Cross right now, in Jesus’ Name amen.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY BY AW TOZER FOR FREE!...DOWNLOAD AS A PDF TO TABLET ETC....

(photo credit here)