“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 NIV
My Thoughts: To fear the Lord means you wouldn’t dare exalt your own opinions and desires above God’s Word. Trusting God’s Word is the secret to this treasure.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
I heard a pastor say something that sent shock waves through me. In an attempt to draw unchurched people to Christ, this popular pastor is teaching his flock that the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is not essential to following Jesus. (I find that really hard to accept since Jesus Himself taught from the Old Testament!)
Even more shocking is how easily people accept it! That’s why I feel compelled to write about it. The Old Testament is vitally important because everything in it points to Jesus. The more we study the whole Bible, the better we will know God.
“The Word of God is complete – both the Old and New Testaments flow together as one divine story of redemption. To disregard one and elevate the other is to dishonor the Author who gave us both – the same God who used the Old to confirm and fulfill the New.”
amir tsarfati
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:16 (emphasis mine)
Once the enemy convinces the church that we shouldn’t base our beliefs on the Bible, he can bring forth all kinds of deception and lies that will be gobbled up by itching ears. Without the Bible, the church is destined to embark on a path that gradually resembles the world more and resembles Christ less.
The importance of Bible reading can not be overemphasized. If we read more books about the Bible than the actual Bible, well, we are treading on dangerous ground. But isn’t that what people like to do? It’s the lazy way out. Don’t let someone tell you what the Bible says, unless you have read it for yourself first.
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17
Yes, maybe our churches will grow bigger and faster if we present a message that mirrors a secular worldview, but is that really a good idea?
Jesus said,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13
My purpose in writing this post is not to criticize, but to highlight the vital importance of reading, studying, and knowing God’s Word for yourself, and to warn against any teaching that does not honor God’s Holy Word. A cursory knowledge of the Bible is not good enough. For the Bible is the only criterion with which we can discern truth from error.
I challenge you to read the entire Bible within one year. It’s easier than you think! I have done it for the last seven years. In fact, I plan on doing it every year from now on. Why? It’s both beneficial and easy to do! Once you do it, you’ll want to do it again. I promise!
I’ve been using a chronological Bible reading plan where you study the Bible in the order in which events happened. I found it very helpful in gaining a better understanding of the Biblical timeline. And it requires only a few minutes each day.
“Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good, so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children,to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5 AMP
My Thoughts: Older Christian women have a lot of wisdom to share. I hope you have an older woman to look up to and turn to for advice. My grandmothers have gone on to be with the Lord. They were wise women, and I miss them so much!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
My Thoughts: I’m reminded of the day, many years ago, when the Holy Spirit brought this verse to my mind in a specific situation. It isn’t always easy, but it’s God’s way and how we should live.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
1. Study the Bible before you read books and/or listen to popular YouTube preachers. Read it cover to cover at least once, twice, or more.
I’ve loved to study the Bible for over 40 years. Unfortunately, in those early years, I made some big mistakes that led me to false teaching. I got up before dawn, before I had to get my children ready for school, so I could study the Bible.
The problem was this: I looked to books about the Bible and to popular “Bible teachers” for understanding. Even though my heart was after God, I was seduced by Word of Faith teaching, which eventually led me to become heavily involved with a NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) church.
Seduced? Yes seduced! It can be very enticing to read books by popular “Bible teachers” who appear to understand the deeper things of God.
2. Study verses in context.
In other words, if you read a single verse but fail to interpret its meaning from the context, you might completely misunderstand its meaning. For example,
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 ESV
“All things” means all things. Right? I can win this football game! I can get this job! Wrong!
Only when you look at this verse in context will you understand what Paul was trying to convey. First of all, Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison with no idea of its duration or ultimate outcome. (“…I am in chains for Christ.” Philippians 1:13)
And in chapter 4, look at verses 11 and 12:
“I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Read full chapter
Paul is teaching the church at Philipi to stay hopeful, encouraged, and joyful no matter their circumstances.
This is one of many examples of a verse taken out of context to teach a false interpretation. Always study verses in context.
3. Use a good Bible translation.
Personally, I like the NIV, the ESV, and the NASB. Be aware that some Bible translations are not reliable. For example, The Passion Translation is not considered an accurate or reliable translation by many scholars and critics. (See Holly Pivic’s article, ” Important Facts about the Passion Translation for more.)
Personally, I do not recommend The MessageBible for several reasons. You can find several articles that provide critical information about this Bible HERE.
Conclusion: If you do these three things, you will be well on your way to understanding the Bible correctly. These are things I learned the hard way. But God is faithful! He rescued me from deception.
Does the devil ever whisper in your ear, saying, “You’re not good enough.”? You think maybe it’s true. Or, perhaps he reminds you of your past mistakes and sins. You wonder if that’s your own conscience or the devil.
If that happens to you (like it does to me), remember the words of the Apostle Paul:
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
I wonder if the devil whispered those lies in the ear of Paul. After all, he murdered Christians at one time! He says,
“I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison.” Acts 22:4
But what did Paul do? He forgot what was behind and pressed on! That is exactly what we must do!
“Spiritual shame is unwarrented and unnecessary for the believer… When we confess, God forgives. And when God forgives, He does so completely. If guilt short-circuits our service to God, it’s not the Holy Spirit who is putting on the brakes. That is the enemy trying to take our legs out from under us before we have the chance to do some good for the kingdom.”
amir tsarfati (from his book, exploring ezekiel)
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul said,
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.” Romans 11:1-2
“God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29
“And when it comes to Israel, this has never been – and will never be – a political topic. It is a divine covenant. No matter which government leads this small nation – liberal, conservative, or in between – God continues to preserve, protect, and fight for His people, even while they remain in unbelief. To those who claim that Israel has somehow fallen from grace, I can only say: God’s promises are not dependent on human faithfulness but on His unchanging nature.”
Amir Tsarfati
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
"This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 3:6
In his Holman New Testament Commentary on Ephesians, Max Anders helps us understand why Paul repeatedly emphasizes the oneness of the body… It’s because Jews and Gentiles worshiping together was such a miracle… For example, a Jew would walk 150 miles out of his way to avoid going through Samaria! It was a truly revolutionary time in the church.
Read the entire 3rd chapter of Ephesians and note where Paul says, “For this reason,” and “Therefore”. It will help you better understand verses that we often read or recite out of context.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Real Christian Women 