<\/p>\n
In the thirtieth chapter of Proverbs, Agur writes some 700 years before Christ, beginning in verse four: \u00a0Who hath ascended into heaven, or descended? \u00a0Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? \u00a0Who hath bound the waters in a garment? \u00a0Who hath established all the ends of the earth? \u00a0What is his name, and what is his son\u2019s name, if thou canst tell? \u00a0<\/em>He continues in verses five and six: \u00a0Every word of God is pure<\/span>: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n God gave us a book, it\u2019s called the Bible\u2026.God\u2019s Word. This book describes itself (II Timothy 3:16) as given by inspiration of God<\/em> (theopneustia) which means literally\u00a0God breathed. <\/em>This\u00a0<\/em>carries the idea of not just that God breathed, but God breathed out, as to source. The Bible is the God breathed book.<\/strong><\/p>\n For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0(II Peter 1:21). God the Holy Spirit is the author. \u00a0This means that anyone claiming to speak by the Holy Spirit must not contradict Scripture. \u00a0God will not lie. \u00a0God cannot lie. \u00a0He will not contradict Himself.<\/strong><\/p>\n This book is described in Hebrews 4:12 as; \u201cliving and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In explaining born again<\/em> Peter says\u00a0in I Peter 1:23;\u00a0Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God<\/span>, which liveth and abideth forever.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Paul charged Timothy before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ to Preach the word<\/span>\u2026<\/em>\u00a0(II Timothy 4:1-5). \u00a0Why? \u00a0Because faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.\u00a0<\/em>(Romans 10:17).<\/strong><\/p>\n In John 6 Jesus explained in verse 63, what He meant when He called Himself the living bread which came down from heaven. \u00a0It is the spirit that quickeneth (makes alive); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Love for Christ is revealed by obedience to the word of God. \u00a0Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words<\/span>: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. <\/em>(John 14:23).<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bible is more important to the testimony of Christ than if one returned from the dead. \u00a0In Luke 16 Jesus told of the rich man in hell who wanted someone from the dead (Abraham) to go back and tell his five brothers not to come to this place of torment. \u00a0Abraham answered him in verses 29 & 31; \u00a0If they hear not Moses and the prophets (<\/em>scripture<\/span>),<\/span> neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This book is magnified by God. \u00a0The Psalmist wrote; .….for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.<\/span><\/em>\u201d (138:2).<\/strong><\/p>\n Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible. \u00a0It is written as a discourse on the word of God. \u00a0Practically every verse references the word of God and the believers relationship to it. \u00a0Verse 9 asks;\u00a0Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? \u00a0By taking heed thereto according to thy word.<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Verse 11 instructs;\u00a0Thy word have I<\/span> hid in my heart<\/span>, that I might not sin against thee<\/em>. \u00a0Verse 105 teaches; Thy word is a lamp<\/span> unto my feet, and a light unto my path. \u00a0<\/em>Verse 89 declares; \u00a0Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven<\/span>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus Christ read from it, preached it, expounded it, taught it, quoted it, rebuked Satan with it, and lived it. \u00a0He fulfilled the Law down to every jot and tittle. \u00a0He is the living word. \u00a0Christ declared to the Pharisees in John 5:39 & 40; Search the scriptures:<\/span> for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.<\/span> And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Lord instructed two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection as follows: \u00a0And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures<\/span> the things concerning himself.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Bible excludes all other authority with these words found in Revelation 22:18 & 19; \u00a0For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of this book. \u00a0If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. \u00a0<\/em>This book is complete from Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Spirit is the author, and as such he will never lead contrary to the teaching of Scripture because He is God and God cannot lie.<\/strong><\/p>\n You and I should know the Bible. \u00a0Whoso transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. \u00a0He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. \u00a0If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed\u00a0<\/em>(II John 9&11). \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n We should test the teaching we are under. \u00a0Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world \u00a0<\/em>(I John 4:1). \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n We should also ask honest questions;\u2026.they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.<\/span>\u201d<\/em> (Acts 17:11).<\/strong><\/p>\n Use a translation as opposed to a paraphrase. \u00a0A translation is a word for word rendering from the original language. \u00a0I currently use the New King James Version. \u00a0There are other reliable translations available, such as the NASV and the ESV. \u00a0The NIV is probably the most common version available, but it is called a dynamic equivalent<\/em> and is not a true word for word translation.<\/strong><\/p>\n If God chose the very words that the Scriptures are composed of to express His intent and will for us, then it is incumbent upon believers not to be careless about the handling of His word.<\/strong><\/p>\n Believers do not worship the Bible, but we hold it in high esteem because it is from the God we worship.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the thirtieth chapter of Proverbs, Agur writes some 700 years before Christ, beginning in verse four: \u00a0Who hath ascended into heaven, or descended? \u00a0Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? \u00a0Who hath bound the waters in a garment? \u00a0Who hath established all the ends of the earth? \u00a0What is his name, and … Continue reading God’s Book<\/span>