The infallible word (part 2) study group

I figured maybe I would study on my own and I began to pray for this to be a new interest, and priority. Well, God heard my prayer and quickly answered.

Bible blog part 2)

I figured I would learn about the Bible through the sermons I heard, and services I'd attend. That was good enough for me. Eventually, I started to take a little more interest in reading the Bible. When my Mother was sick, my Husband would read to us as a family. It brought comfort to her.

Comfort to us all actually.

There was a time when I didn't understand why Rocky (my Husband) read so much of his bible. After he was newly saved, it seemed like that became his new thing to do. When Rocky first came to Christ, The Holy Spirit led Him to go get a Bible. He went to the nearest bookstore and paced back and forth in front of the aisle. Voices of doubt began to play with his mind. "What are you doing here?" "This isn't for you". Rocky left the store. However, he didn't make it too far and made his way back and grabbed a Bible. The bible went everywhere with him (and still does). Rocky would bring his bible along for trips. Even as I was slowly growing in my faith, for some reason I was pretty embarrassed about it. It was not discrete at ALL either... like legit the largest Bible I had ever seen. The font was so large I bet the people could read it across the pool.

After a couple of years, I decided hmm maybe it's time I read, and even study on my own. I thought this way, I can know more for myself. I began to pray about this to be a new interest, and priority. Well... God heard my prayer and quickly answered.

I was asked to join a Bible study through my church. It was a women's study in Genesis. I smiled, and politely responded, “oh that’s good to know, but I’m a little intimidated when it came to the Old Testament”. The thought of joining a study for the first time with a group of women I didn’t know all that well seemed so daunting. I didn’t belong there. They all clearly knew more than I did... I declined. I remembered the previous study they did because the title for some reason intrigued me. I asked for more info on that and mentally took note.

Shortly after that, I asked my best friend Tanya if she would be interested in doing a little study with me. Just to get things kinda started. She agreed, but then… I was approached once again by another acquaintance at church. She asked if I wanted to join in with her study! What’s with all these invitations? Why are they approaching me? and why now? Well, this time I had a good excuse because I’m now a part of one lol. I said “thanks but I’m in a study maybe next time”. Guess what!.. This girl asked to join my study! I told her it was just me and my friend Tanya and that we haven’t even started yet, but I knew what study we were interested in. I thought maybe she did this study with the last group, but nope she did not, and she wanted in. Of course, she was extremely respectful.

I began to sense that this was my prayers being answered. .Perhaps I just might have wanted a little more time. Looking back it happened organically, and eventually, our study group was formed. 6 members. I had to be honest with Becky, and confess that this was my first study. She made me feel so comfortable and offered to lead the study group.

Immediately, I started to enjoy doing the study. We would meet bi-weekly on Tuesday evenings. We had two things in common. We were Mothers, all growing in our faith. I realized that our walk looked different for every one of us. Some were grieving, some anxious, some growing deeper, and some seeking at a slow pace. Regardless of where we were, I was relieved to feel such comfort. So vulnerable amongst a small group of new friends. During this time, sadly, my Mother's cancer was spreading, and her health was declining. God knew I needed support. A place to process, in fellowship, and prayer.

I was not saved during the time I was a part of this study. However I was seeking, and at the time I actually believed I was saved. I was pursuing Christ, a member of the church and now in a study group. I thought since I accepted Jesus in my heart and said the sinner's prayer and even got baptized, I figured I was born again. My Pastor at the time said I was part of the family, who was I to question that? I’m gonna be brutally honest here and say that after most of these study meetings I’d smoke weed. I justified this for years through the progress. Until there was no more room for excuses. Until I accepted this was my stronghold, and a habitual vice. All that to say, I did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within me. I truly I found the more I read my bible, the more God was revealing to me that this was in fact a hindrance in my walk.

Truth is, our own sinfulness blinds us. The natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God. “The mind of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to Gods law: indeed it cannot. Those who are in the flesh can not please God. Romans 8:7-8 ( ouchh )

"The mind of the flesh sees and feels God's instruction as oppressive. Controlled. Left to our flesh we can only distort God’s word".

Some people dislike the fact that the bible was written by men.

Many Bible scholars point out that the number of women who are recorded in the Bible is unusual, given the male-dominated society during the time the Bible was written. The inclusion of of women within the stories seems to indicate that God actually, values women more than society as a whole did. A special observation is in the account of the resurrection. The disciples of Jesus, all male, were hiding in fear while it was the women who went to the tomb. They discovered it empty, and met the risen Lord, becoming the world’s first evangelists (Matthew 28).

Please know, as I continue to write that I am not saying the Bible is only for those who are born of the spirit/born again, believers. I began reading and studying the Bible before my salvation, and I can testify that it was beneficial to me. Once I pushed past the many times I felt convicted I started to begin to slowly understand God’s love. Again, my walk was progressive. But upon the moment of repentance, through genuine acceptance of Jesus, I was able to then believe in my heart.

"Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking between truth and error, right and wrong. The ability to think with discernment is essential in biblical knowledge." John MacArthur

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” ~ Philippians 1:9-10

The Importance of Discernment quoting John MacArthur (grace to you 2007)

“The key to living an uncompromising life lies in one's ability to exercise discernment in every area of his or her life. For example, failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Christian subject to all manner of false teaching. False teaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living, a certain recipe for compromise”.

You see, it is through the true knowledge of Him, that we have been given everything we need to live a Christian life in this fallen world”

I ask, how else do we have true knowledge of God, but through the pages of His Word? My knowledge of God before reading the bible was simply based on my assumptions, and eventually whatever the Pastors had to say. Still I continue to understand more and more as I study The word. The more and more I study the more I see deception outside the church, and even sadly within.

I haven’t read the whole Bible and as important as I know it is to read and study God's word do I do it every day? Nope. But the desire is strongly there, and it's ongoing. I often feel called throughout my days to grab the word and read. Most days I listen, but it’s a true commitment. Like any relationship. Knowledge of Scripture is knowledge of who He is. That’s how we get to know Him personally. I never understood the meaning of an intimate relationship... it at one time creeped me out. I now know it just means closeness. I feel closest to Christ when I learn of who He is and what He's done in my heart.

When we open the Bible, we read God’s message to us. What could be more important than understanding what The Creator has to say?

Things go wrong in this world, and the Bible not only diagnoses problems (sin) but also points out the solution (faith in Christ). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason a man seeks to understand a love letter from his sweetheart. God loves us and desires to restore our relationship with Him.

God communicates His love to us in the Bible (John 3:16; 1 John 3:1; 4:10).

In closing... (it's a pretty lengthy closing lol)

I’ve learned the bible is anything but boring, dry, or outdated. In fact, I now take comfort in knowing God never changes. Reading the Bible is essential to the faith. It is life-changing and it brings a new perspective. I’ve gained so much reverence toward the Lord through His word. I believe God doesn’t lie, He cannot and neither does His word. Reading the bible fills me with hope, and gives me direction. When I feel anxious or overwhelmed with uncertainty, is it right there throughout the pages that I am reminded of what really matters? I have grown wiser (long way to go), and more secure in my faith because it allows me to understand the meaning of faith. The Word has helped me become more vulnerable, and honest. I’ve sobbed while reading the Bible, and felt Godly sorrow, leading me to repentance.

It continues to inspire me to want to be more like Jesus. A spirit-filled, fruit-bearing witness.

This personal relationship with God is not as hard as one might think. As soon as we become children of God, we receive the Holy Spirit, who begins to work in our hearts. Praying is to me just as important as knowing, and reading the Bible. Trusting in God to get us through each day and believing that He is sovereign, is the way to have a relationship with Him. Sometimes the process is radical, and sometimes it's progressive. But once the Holy Spirit shows up, the truth becomes clear and we are changed immediately. Then, belief is far deeper and more meaningful when we live for Christ.

If you read this and feel the need to dust off your Bible and not sure where to even begin. I suggest Gospel of John. Read all the way through the New Testament. I suggest reading a couple times. Second time reading start with Gospel of Matthew. That's a great start ;) if you don't own a Bible and wonder what translation is a good start, I suggest NIV because it communicates the original meaning better to modern readers.