2018-01-06
Matthew 7:24 NIV
Certain products carry a label that says: “Warning! This can be hazardous to your health.” Instead of helping you, certain kinds of Bible study can actually hurt you. The Bible says, “Knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV). The Greek word for “puffs” contains the idea of being inflated, like a hot air balloon. By the time a Pharisee was ordained, he could quote hours and hours of Old Testament law to you. Yet Jesus said the Pharisees were like beautifully painted gravestones: filled with dead men’s bones. Satan knows the Scriptures so well that he was able to quote them to Jesus in the wilderness temptation. And what is Satan’s chief quality? Pride. It’s the sin that got him thrown out of heaven. The whole point in studying the Scriptures is to make you more dependent on God and give you the right approach to life. People mainly read the Scriptures for three reasons: (1) To find proof texts that support their views. (2) To find promises that apply to their particular needs. (3) To discover principles to live by. If you’re wise you’ll be a member of this third group. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” When the storms of life came, the wise man’s house stood firm while the foolish man’s – the one who didn’t practice what he knew – came crashing down. Added knowledge brings added responsibility. So if you’re not planning on applying the knowledge you’ve received from your Bible study, you’d be better not to study it at all.
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Matt 5:1-12; Ps 10:12-18; Prov 1:17-19
Matteus 7:24 NLV
Sekere produkte kom met ‘n waarskuwing: ‘Pasop! Hierdie produk kan jou gesondheid benadeel!’ In plaas van om jou te help, kan sekere soorte Bybelstudie jou eintlik seermaak. Die Bybel sê, ‘…Kennis laat ‘n mens belangrik voel…’ (1 Korintiërs 8:1 NLV). Teen die tyd wat ‘n Fariseër ingeseën is, kon hy ure en ure se wette uit die Ou Testament opsê. Tog het Jesus gesê dat die Fariseërs soos witgepleisterde grafte is; gevul met dooie bene. Satan ken die Skrif so goed dat hy dit kon aanhaal toe hy Jesus in die woestyn versoek het. Wat is Satan se hoofkwaliteit? Trots. Dit is die sonde wat veroorsaak het dat hy uit die hemel gegooi is. Die hele punt daarvan om die Skrif te bestudeer is om jou meer afhanklik van God te maak en jou die regte lewensbenadering te gee. Mense lees die Skrif hoofsaaklik om drie redes: 1) Om bewyse te kry wat hulle sienswyse ondersteun. 2) Om beloftes te kry wat op hulle spesifieke behoeftes van toepassing is. 3) Om beginsels te ontdek om volgens te lewe. As jy wys is sal jy ‘n lid van die derde groep wees. Jesus het gesê, ‘Elkeen wat na my woorde luister en daarvolgens handel, is soos ‘n verstandige persoon wie se huis op soliede rots gebou is.’ Wanneer die storms van die lewe opdaag, het die wyse man se huis stewig gestaan terwyl die dwase man – die een wat nie dit wat hy geweet het uitgeoefen het nie – se huis ineengestort het. Bykomende kennis bring meer verantwoordelikheid mee. As jy dus nie beplan om die kennis wat jy uit jou Bybelstudie kry toe te pas nie, is dit beter dat jy glad nie die Bybel bestudeer nie.
Sielskos: Lev 5-7; Matt 5:1-12; Ps 10:12-18; Spr 1:17-19
2018-01-05
Psalm 119:18 NLT
Here are a few more things you can try to help you get more out of your Bible study time: 1) Ask questions and research them. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of it. You could ask things like: who was this written to, and why? What situation the writer facing at the time? What’s the main message that they’re trying to get across? Ask you ask more questions and spend time researching and praying for the answers, you’ll discover all kinds of things you’ve never noticed before. 2) Write down the answers you get. Keep a notebook nearby and write down any new discoveries you make, either through researching the context, or new ideas that come into your mind, or from what God’s telling you. Writing it down means you won’t forget anything, and lets you go back and make new connections or even spark off more questions. 3) Put what you’ve learned into action. Evangelist D. L. Moody said, ‘The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.’ And James wrote, ‘Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says’ (James 1:22 NIV). Ask God what He’s teaching you and showing you through the new things you’ve discovered. Is He showing you where you need to make changes in your life or your attitude? Is He telling you something you need to stop doing, or start doing? Is He revealing your calling to you through His Word? Find out what God’s saying to you. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions’ (Psalm 119:18 NLT). Let’s make that our prayer too.
Lev 1-4; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 10:1-11; Prov 1:10-16
[three_fourth_las Psalm 119:18 NLV
Hier is ‘n paar waardevolle sleutels om meer uit jou Bybelstudietyd te kry: 1) Vra vrae. Hoe meer vrae jy vra, hoe meer sal jy daaruit kry. Aan wie is hierdie geskryf? Wat was die skrywer se situasie? Wat is die kernboodskap wat die skrywer wou oordra? Terwyl jy sulke vrae vra, sal jy dinge ontdek wat jy oorgesien het of nooit vantevore raakgesien het nie. Die Psalmdigter was ‘n mediteerder en ‘n in-diepte student van God se Woord. Dit is hoekom hy gebid het, ‘Maak oop my oë sodat ek die wonders kan sien wat opgeskryf is in u gebooie.’ 2) Skryf die antwoorde neer. Die doel daarvan om vrae te vra is om antwoorde te kry. Dawson Trotman het gesê, ‘Gedagtes ontknoop wanneer dit deur die lippe en vingerpunte reis.’ Hou dus jou notaboek gereed en skryf die stukkies waarhede wat God jou gee, neer. As jy dit nie doen nie, sal jy hulle verloor. 3) Moet dit nie net ontdek nie, doen dit! Die evangelis D.L. Moody het gesê, ‘Die Bybel is nie gegee om ons kennis te vermeerder nie, maar om ons lewens te verander.’ Jakobus het geskryf, ‘Julle moet mense word wat dóén wat die Woord sê. Moet dit nie net aanhoor nie…’ (Jakobus 1:22 NLV). Vra jouself af, ‘Watter sienswyses moet ek verander? Wat moet ek ophou om te doen en wat moet ek begin doen? Wat moet ek begin glo, of ophou glo? Aan watter verhoudings moet ek werk? Hoe moet ek ander mense bedien?’ Moenie na jou Bybel toe gaan met die idee om ‘n waarheid te ontdek wat niemand nog ooit gesien het, of iets om ander mense mee te beïndruk nie. Vind uit wat God vir jou sê.
Sielskos: Lev 1-4; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 10:1-11; Spr 1:10-16
Psalm 119:18 NIV
Here are some helpful keys to getting more out of your Bible study time: (1) Ask questions. The more questions you ask, the more you’ll get out of it. Who was this written to? What was the situation the writer was facing? What was the main message the author was trying to get through to them? As you ask such questions you begin to discover things you’ve overlooked or never seen before. The Psalmist was a meditator and an in-depth studier of God’s Word. That’s why he prayed, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (2) Write down the answers. The purpose of asking questions is to get answers. Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, used to say, “Thoughts disentangle themselves as they pass through the lips and fingertips.” So have your notebook handy and write down the nuggets of truth God gives you. If you don’t, you’ll lose them. (3) Don’t just discover it, do it! Evangelist D. L. Moody said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change your lives.” James wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV). Ask yourself, “What attitudes do I need to change? What do I need to stop doing, or start doing? What do I need to believe, or stop believing? What relationships do I need to work on? What ministry should I be having to others?” Don’t go to your Bible with the attitude of finding some truth nobody’s ever seen before, or something to impress others with. Find out what God is saying to you.
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 10:1-11; Prov 1:10-16
