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Introduction: A. Jeremiah's Joy in discovering the Word of God, in receiving it and making it his own, was Unbounded. Jer. 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:..." B. If we are to live for the Lord and serve Him successfully, we must Give The Bible Its Rightful Place In Our Life. 1. It is Not Enough to believe the Bible --- you may Believe It and yet Neglect It. 2. Neither is it enough to read and study it out of a Sense of Duty. 3. The essential thing is that we Enjoy It and Delight in the truths found therein. C. There are Enormous Benefits for those who Delight themselves in God's Word. Josh. 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Deut. 11:18-21, "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. {19} And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. {20} And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: {21} That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth." Psa. 1:1-3, "Blessed <is> the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {2} But his delight <is> in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. {3} And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psa. 19:7-11, "The law of the LORD <is> perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD <is> sure, making wise the simple. {8} The statutes of the LORD <are> right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD <is> pure, enlightening the eyes. {9} The fear of the LORD <is> clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD <are> true <and> righteous altogether. {10} More to be desired <are they> than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. {11} Moreover by them is thy servant warned: <and> in keeping of them <there is> great reward." D. How may we really enjoy our reading of God's Word? --- Here are some suggestions: I. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Know & Love The Person, Whom It Reveals. A. When we read the WRITTEN WORD we come to know the INCARNATE WORD. John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." --- V. 14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." B. When we come to know Him He leads us back to the written Word. Luke 24:27, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." --- V. 32, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" C. It is the Burning Heart that makes Bible study such a Thrilling Experience. D. To Enjoy the Bible in its Fullest Sense --- you Must Know Him --- whom to know is Eternal Life. John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." II. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Accept It As The Very Word of God. A. It is No Ordinary Book --- it is God's Inspired Inerrant Word. 1. It is Entirely Accurate and Absolutely Authoritative. 2. If you Entertain Doubts about the Word of God --- you will Not Really Enjoy It --- nor have the same Thirst For It. B. 2 Tim. 3:16, "All scripture <is> given by inspiration of God, and <is> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" C. 2 Pet. 1:21, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake <as they were> moved by the Holy Ghost." III. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Accept By Faith Those Portions Which We Do Not Understand. A. If the bible comes to us from the Infinite God --- we, who are Finite, will Not be able to Understand all of its mysteries. The Trinity --- Eternity ... etc. B. If we could understand the whole Bible --- we could rightly Question Its Divine Origin! 2 Pet. 3:16, "As also in all <his> epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as <they do> also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." C. The Bible must be Accepted By Faith to be the Word of God. Mat. 11:25, "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." IV. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Read It, Study It, Search It, Mark It And Meditate Upon It's Truths --- We Must Do This Regularly, Reverently, Perseveringly & Systematically. A. We must study it Seriously and Exhaustively. 2 Tim. 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Psa. 1:2, "But his delight <is> in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Heb. 4:12, "For the word of God <is> quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and <is> a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." B. Read your Bible every day --- with the help of some Bible reading notes --- and study it in different ways: 1. By books, 2. By topics, subjects, 3. By doctrines, 4. By chapters, verses, words, 5. By characters ... C. Obtain a good quality Bible and do not be afraid to mark it. 1. Also obtain a concordance and Bible dictionary. 2. Mark down your findings in a notebook. V. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Understand Its Formation And Its Structure --- We Must Become Thoroughly Familiar With Its Main Contents. A. In the Bible there are 66 books --- 39 O.T. --- 27 N.T. 1. The Bible consist of history, typology, narrative, poetry and prophecies --- in the O.T. 2. It consist of the Gospels, Acts, Epistles and Revelation in the N.T. B. Become so familiar with the Bible that you can find your way around in it. VI. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Be Willing To Live Day By Day In The Light of Its Teaching. A. This Book will Keep You From Sin --- or Sin will Keep You From This Book. B. If after reading God's Word, you Do Not Obey its teachings you will surely Cringe From Reading It again or on a regular basis. 1. You will Not Find It Enjoyable. 2. John 3:19-20, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. {20} For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." 3. To Enjoy It, we must Obey Its precepts. C. James 1:18-21, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. {19} Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: {20} For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. {21} Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." VII. If We Are To Enjoy The Bible --- We Must Rely Upon The Holy Spirit, The Author, To Interpret Its Truths & To Reveal The Lord Jesus Christ To Us. A. How wonderful it is that as we study the Word of God --- it's Author is with us to open our eyes and help us understand. Psa. 119:18, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." B. 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." C. 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." D. The Word of God is Powerful in your life. 1. Josh. 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." 2. 1 Pet. 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
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How To Enjoy The Bible