THE JOY OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

Transcription

1 MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 8 June 2003 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore Tel: (65) Fax: (65) maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Website: * Sunday School: 9.45 am Worship Service: am Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev (Pager: ) THE JOY OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES Introduction The Holy Bible is the Word of the living God, and it is providentially preserved, and is inspired, indestructible, incorruptible, indispensable, infallible and inexhaustible. Jesus our Lord instructed, in John 5:39, to search the Scriptures. What does it mean and how can we do it practically? We shall use the phrase as an acrostic Search the Scriptures to assist us in this needful spiritual exercise. 1. Studiously (Psalm 119:12; 2 Timothy 2:15) We need to be diligent or laborious to use our mental faculties to study hard and strive to understand and apply the Word. It requires both heart work and hard work. No pain, no gain. Determination and discipline are required for a meaningful study. 2. Earnestly (Psalm 119:4) With about attitude, do we approach the Lord? There must be great enthusiasm to assimilate it into our lives with zeal and fervour in seeking to know God s will and Word. 3. Anxiously (Psalm 119:9, 20) Are you expectant and curious to know more of the truth of God? Have an inquisitive mind to learn more and anticipate the spiritual lessons that one can gain from the messages and your personal Quiet Time. 4. Regularly (Psalm 1:2; Acts 17:2, 11) There is to be a systematic and frequent reading and study of the Word, not haphazardly or in a disorganised manner. I suggest a daily orderly study in the morning will be a good frequency and practice. 5. Carefully (Psalm 119:30; 2 Timothy 3:15-17) The study of the Word requires meticulous and careful scrutiny with proper rules of interpretation, and not a superficial or careless cursory glance only. Let the analogy of Scripture and sound exegetical studies guide us along steadily. 6. Humbly (Psalm 119:36; Jeremiah 15:16 and Isa 66:2) The proud and arrogant will not find much to benefit from the Word. The meek

2 and humble shall be blessed every time they hear or read God s Word with great eagerness. 7. Thankfully (Psalm 119:7; Jeremiah 15:16) Do we rejoice and give thanks to God for the promises, warnings and admonitions in His Word? If we pause to think, we have cause to thank. Praise God for giving us His Word as the map and compass of life. 8. Happily (Psalm 1:1-5, 8; 119:16) What is the secret to happiness? Blessed is the man who searches the Word, for there is great joy when he understands God s Word and applies it to his life. He is compared to a tree planted by the river by the Psalmist. 9. Eagerly (Psalm 119:33; 1 Peter 2:2) Are you enthused and excited about the knowledge of the most High God? Do it ardently, not perfunctorily and let the word stir up your heart to greater spiritual zeal and fervour. 10. Systematically (Luke 24:27) Use a guide like RPG (Read Pray Grow) or read through one or two chapters of the Bible a day at a certain time which is best for you and keep up the good habit and schedule consistently and complete the whole Bible one day. 11. Consultatively (Psalm 1:1-2; 119:24) The Bible is the nourishment of our souls. It will give us guidance and wisdom for the day. Check up other commentaries, dictionaries and concordance to understand those things that require further elaboration or explanation. 12. Reverently (Psalm 19:9; 119:15) Study the Word with great respect and awe for the Author is none other than the Almighty God Himself. Do not take the promises and warnings lightly, but heed them dutifully with fear and trembling. 13. Intently (Psalm 119:40; Proverbs 2:1-5) If you aim at nothing, you are bound to hit it. Do it with purpose and good discipline of the mind, to obey and to practise it, and not just for the sake of soothing our conscience. 14. Prayerfully (Psalm 119:18; James 1:5) Always commence with prayer to ask the Lord for wisdom and enlightenment in understanding His Word. Remember to talk to the God of the Word before you look into the Word of God. 15. Trustingly (Psalm 119:43; Acts 24:14) We must believe and trust in the reliability, authority and sufficiency of the Word of God as we read it and not doubt it nor be skeptical about what the Bible says. Faith in God and His Word are important for the proper handling of God s

3 Word. 16. Unashamedly (Psalm 119:6, 35-36) Are we embarrassed if our colleagues or parents or friends see us reading the Bible? This is one thing we ought not to be bashful about. Bring a Bible along for vacation, on the MRT or to the office to read. 17. Retentively (Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 20:9) What do you save in the memory bank of your mind? Read and make short notes (better than long memories) or mnemonics in a booklet or in your Bible as you go along and commit some relevant verses to memory too. Remember to save up the Word in the memory bank of your mind. 18. Expectantly (Acts 1:8; Isaiah 55:11) Do you seek to masticate and internalise the Word, yearning and longing for God to minister to your heart, and to guide you? If you seek with a sense of anticipation, you shall find. Expect God to act in accordance to His Word and in answer to our prayers if it is His will. 19. Satisfyingly (Job 23:12; Psalm 119:50) Are you occupied with the world or with the Word, with gold or with God? Christians ought to be satisfied and contented with God s revelation and not to seek other temporal or worldly things that do not satisfy us eternally. Conclusion That brings us to the end of our exercise on searching the Scriptures. Let us strive to do all these for our soul s spiritual nourishment and health and perhaps that of others as well when we share with them what we learn. MINISTRY ENGAGEMENTS FOR JUNE/JULY Paul says in 2 Tim 4:1-5, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. During the vacation, the ministry of the Word of God goes to edify the saints and convert sinners. From June, the MYAF/MYF will have a combined retreat at SAFRA Resort on the theme Equipping for Missions and Commitment led by the camp committee, comprising Jonathan, Christine, Jocelyn, Lucy, Royce and Shaun. There will be an evangelistic BBQ on the final night (12 June) where Elder Thomas will bring the Word (all are welcome). Do bring a friend. Pastor will preach four thematic messages on missions and commitment. On 15 June, Pastor will minister at Sharon BPC, 4 pm and Rehoboth BPC, 6 pm on the subject of prayer and from June at the Calvary Jurong BPC Camp on

4 the theme of Revival (four messages). Immediately, after the final message, we (Pastor and Angie) will be whisked off to the airport to fly to Adelaide where for the next three days, there will be three seminars on Understanding Present Day Cultism & Occultism, New Age Movement and Freemasonry and minister on the Lord s day on 22 June at the 17 th Thanksgiving Anniversary of Hope BPC. We will fly to Melbourne on 24 June for two seminars organised by the AF and YPG of Bethel BPC on Building Good Relationships (Angie helping as well in the workshop) and Impact of the Faith on Christians (meeting up with Hui Hui as well). After preaching at the Sunday service, we will be with the YPG camp for five days ministering six messages and two workshops on Loving and Building Up One Another and Contemporary Religious Influences Today. By God s grace, we hope to rush back flying out after midnight so that we will be in time for our Missions Sunday on 6 July. The work of the Lord requires haste and zeal and we are often so weak and feeble. Brethren, pray for us in all the above engagements that the Lord will do a mighty work in the hearts of men by the transforming power of the Holy Ghost. We covet your fervent prayer and intercession for our protection and safety in our travel, with good health, strength and wisdom in the preaching of the Word to the spiritual enrichment of the saints. Although we defer the VBS to December because of SARS, George and Dn Daniel continued with VBS via correpondence with 70 sets of worksheets mailed to the children with a child s gospel tract attached. Who knows what the Lord will do in the hearts of the young ones peradventure to the saving of their souls? Do remember also Robert and Chadarat in their faithful teaching ministry at Truth BPC, Den Luang Nursery work, Rio, Wiwin and Richard in Cebu, Philippines and Mui Leng serving in New Life BPC (London). Q & A Q: My father watches wrestling and I followed him too. Is it OK to watch wrestling on TV as a kind of past time or just for leisure? A: I understand there have many attractive programmes that cause many Singaporeans glued to the goggle box these days. From comedies, violence, occult and immoral themes, it is a powerful form of mass media and communication that has affected many with great effectiveness. I understand that wrestling has to do choreographed showmanship with hunky men throwing each other on the wrestling ring with sinister glee and violent behaviour. Some will swear, others will curse their foes and show off their prowess with diabolical fervour and hatred. One can hardly say that such a programme will be edifying to believers nor glorifying to God. Generally, wrestling encourages a kind of vengeful spirit and violent anti-social behaviour. It has a effect on teenagers and youths to retaliate and to show

5 violence to get what they want. Pride and arrogance are often displayed by these wrestlers in the ring. I think we are better off reading a Christian book, praying, fellowship or chatting with our family members or even resting early in bed. 1 Cor 6:12 says, All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any 1 Cor 10:31 says, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. At the Pulpit Theme for the Quarter: Victorious Christian Service for the Lord (Studies in Ezra) Rev "Covenant Making with God (Ezra 10:1-9) *These hyperlinks work with Word 97 and later version.