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To Understand the Bible You Need the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit

To Understand the Bible You Need the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit

(Job 32:8-9) But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. -9. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Our subject this morning is: To Understand The Bible You Need The Inspiration of The Holy Spirit. Understanding the Bible requires us to be in a place where the Spirit of God can teach us. It is through the Word and the Spirit that a right relationship between God and man can be established. The Bible is a Spiritual book and is to be spiritually discerned. In order to understand the Bible you must posses the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is a gift which God gives to those that obey Him. When you are born again, you are 'God's child and a vessel fit for the Spirit of God. There is no other way to understand the Bible. Study alone is not enough; knowledge alone is not enough; inspiration is needed. The Holy Spirit is the teacher and the inspiration that opens the words and brings them to life for us. As Job says the inspiration of the Almighty giveth us understanding. Great men are not always wise. Aged men do not always understand judgment. You need the inspiration of the Almighty to understand.

(2 Tim 3:15-17) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. -16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: -17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - Since all scripture is given by inspiration of God, it stands to reason that understanding of that scripture will also come with the same inspiration of God. Too many people in our time are trying to understand the Word of God without becoming converted. It does not work that way. That would be like trying to learn how to drive a car without getting into the car or like trying to learn how to swim without getting into the water. You may be able to learn a lot about it without getting into it, but you will never understand it until you get into it. The only way to get into the Word of God is to believe it and to obey it.

(1 Cor 2) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. -2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. -3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. -4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: - Here the writer is explaining to us that his preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom. Now it seems to me that much of our preaching today is in the human and not nearly enough of it is in demonstration of the Spirit and power. Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the message it is only man's wisdom and though it may be a very good lesson it will lack the power of God in bringing conviction upon sin. The Apostle Paul, the writer of this passage, has nothing against study, education, knowledge, and wisdom. In fact he encourages the seeking of knowledge and wisdom very strongly. What he is trying to get across to us is that is not enough to understand God's Word. You must also have the inspiration of the Almighty. -5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. -6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: -7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: -8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. -9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. -10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. -11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. -12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. -13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. -14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - What Paul is telling us here is that it takes more that the human to understand the things of God. The human sees only through human eyes, hears only with human ears, and understands only with a human heart. The Spiritual man hears, sees and understands with a spiritual heart. The natural man thinks lots of things are impossible, but the spiritual man knows that with God all things are possible. The very process of salvation is miraculous and the spiritual knows that where the natural man cannot believe that it is even possible let alone believe that it could happen to him. -15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. -16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

When you believe the Word of God and obey it, you become a new creature. (2 Cor 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - The only way you can really understand what this scripture means is for you to have the experience of becoming a new creature. Once you have had that experience you will understand it. Old things pass away, all things become new. You are a new creature. You that have never become new creatures do not understand this. Maybe you believe that you cannot become a new creature. Maybe you believe that your case is too hard for God. Maybe you believe that you are different and therefore God cannot make a new creature out of you. The truth of the matter is that God is not making a new creature out of you because you don't believe Him! Everyone that has experienced salvation knows and understands what the Bible means by being a new creature. Our old life of sinning has passed away. We are now enjoying a new life of righteousness. The desires of our hearts have changed. Things we used to love, we now hate and things we used to hate we now love. We understand that we are indeed new creatures. If you are not in Christ today, you can be by believing God's Word and obeying it, putting it into practice by Confessing, Repenting, and Forsaking all sin. Jesus invites you (Mat 11:28-30) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. -29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. -30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus invites all to take His yoke and burden and to learn of Him. His yoke is easy compared to the yoke of sin. His burden is light compared to the burden of sin. But, remember He does have a yoke and He does have a burden. To think that Jesus forgives without requiring anything in return is to misunderstand the Bible. Jesus does require that you bear His yoke and that you bear His burden. Too often people fail to understand what it means to be a Christian. They get the idea that they can live any way that they wish and do any thing they wish and that its' all forgiven because Jesus is so loving and forgiving. Yes, Jesus is loving and forgiving and He is also a God of judgment and justice. His yoke is the yoke of holiness and His burden is the burden of witnessing to the world of the power and glory of God. To claim to be a Christian and continue to practice sin is a disgrace and a dishonor to our Lord. As Christians we are called to honor and glorify our Lord, not to dishonor and disgrace Him.

When you accept Christ's invitation and forsake all sin, the power of God is turned loose in your life. God makes a new creature out of you through the working of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:9-13) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. -10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? -12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? -13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? - If you really want to be free from sin, than as God for the Holy Spirit. By asking for the Holy Spirit, you are asking for a spirit that wants to be holy. When you repent of your sin and ask God to forgive you, He does and you become a new, clean, righteous person. Since God has forgiven you of your sin and cleansed you of it, don't you want to keep your heart clean? That is where the Holy Spirit is provided for you to take into your life and let Him posses you. Too many people in our world are possessed by unholy spirits and too few are possessed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift. He is yours for the asking. Do you want to live holy? Then ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you and control you. With Him in control only holiness will be allowed. Thank God for the Holy Spirit.

In the second chapter of Acts the Bible records the grand event known as the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has been poured out on those that had gathered in the upper room waiting for direction from the Lord. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and went down into the street. There Peter preached a powerful message to them and they responded by asking him, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37-41) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? -38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. -39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. -40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. -41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Notice Peter's instructions to those that were convicted of their sins. Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We can see that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is the natural event following the act of repentance. I know that there are a lot of theories around about what you have to do to receive the Holy Spirit. I also know that what some people are calling the Holy Spirit is not the Holy spirit at all but an unholy spirit. The teachings of our Lord, and by the Apostle Peter clearly show us that the Holy Spirit is a gift that is freely given to those that repent.

Once you have truly repented and received the Holy Spirit into your life, you now have the teacher and revealer of all truth within you. He will teach you. He will guide you. He will instruct you. His power will make of you what you ought to be. His power will transform your life into the life of a holy person no matter what kind of a person you used to be. (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. With the Holy Spirit as your guide, you cannot go wrong. He will guide you into all truth. He will reveal the truth of every matter to you. Your job will be to be sensitive to Him and obey His instructions. Obeying The Holy Sprit begins with repenting of your sin. It is the Holy Spirit of God sent through His mercy that brings conviction on you for your sins. If you will obey Him and invite Him to dwell within you, He will do it and you will be a new creature.

John reminds us of how the Holy Spirit operates when He abides within us: (1 John 2:27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Ye shall abide in him. Ye shall listen to him. Ye shall obey his directions for your life and as a result you will be the holy creature that God wants you to be. God's power working within you to transform you into a creature of light.

Paul in writing to the Romans said: (Rom 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. -2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Present your bodies a living sacrifice. Give yourself over to God. This is your reasonable service. This is the yoke of your Lord - your body a living sacrifice. You now belong to the Lord and you are committed to Him to live for Him, to bear His reproach, to bring glory and honor to God by the way that you live. It is reasonable for you to not conform to this world. This world is a spirit of sin and selfishness where the inhabitants are striving to please their fleshly appetites with little or no restraints upon them. As a Christian you are instructed to not conform. You are instructed to be transformed and the word tells you how to be transformed. Renew your mind by believing God. When you believe God, you become a new creature that proves what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. It is the will of God that you be saved and come to a full and complete knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; -4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Let's look at another example of how the Holy Spirit opens our understanding of the truth: (Mat 16:13-19) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? -14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. -15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? -16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. -17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. -18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. -19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven . There were a lot of different ideas about who this Jesus of Galilee was and what His preaching meant. As Jesus discussed it with his disciples that day, Peter spoke up with understanding. Jesus commended Peter for his ability to understand the things of God. Jesus reminded him that such understanding did not come from the human's mind or ability but came with a revelation from God through the Holy Spirit. So it is today. There are yet many theories about just who this Jesus of Galilee was, is, and what His preaching meant to us. And, there is yet one sure way to understand and that is through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. What a great blessing it is to have an understanding of the truth revealed to you by the Holy Spirit.

(Job 32:8-9) But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. -9. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. To Understand The Bible You Need The Inspiration of The Holy Spirit. Understanding the Bible requires us to be in a place where the Spirit of God can teach us. It is through the Word and the Spirit that a right relationship between God and man can be established. The Bible is a Spiritual book and is to be spiritually discerned. In order to understand the Bible you must posses the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is a gift which God gives to those that obey Him. When you are born again, you are God's child and a vessel fit for the Spirit of God. There is no other way to understand the Bible. Study alone is not enough; knowledge alone is not enough; inspiration is needed. The Holy Spirit is the teacher and the inspiration that opens the words and brings them to life for us. As Job says the inspiration of the Almighty giveth us understanding. Great men are not always wise. Aged men do not always understand judgment. You need the inspiration of the Almighty to understand. Jesus invites you to repent and learn of Him. What will you do with His invitation?