The Year of The Bible

 

The Year of The Bible!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. — John 1.1

 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. — Psalm 119.11

 

In a book called Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith, Kathleen Norris tells the story of a South Dakota rancher and his new bride who received an expensive Bible as a wedding gift from his grandfather. The newlyweds wrote the grandfather a thank-you note and stashed the Bible away on a closet shelf.

As time passed, the grandfather repeatedly asked the couple how they liked the Bible. The rancher was confused about how he was supposed to respond. Hadn’t he already expressed his appreciation? But the grandfather persisted. Eventually, the young man went to the closet and dug out the Bible that had been given as a wedding gift. As he flipped through it, $20 bills fluttered out, 66 altogether—Grandfather had placed one at the beginning of Genesis and one in each succeeding book.  $1320 altogether!!!

While the rancher had left a cash money treasure waiting to be discovered, he had also left something even more valuable untouched between those pages: spiritual riches — all because he had not opened the Book.

Consider these statistics:

• Only 40% of Americans know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. (Many people thought that Billy Graham preached the Sermon on the Mount!)
• Less than half of American adults can name all four Gospels.

Some groups struggle more than others in attaining Bible literacy.  Adults under the age of 30 and people who attend small churches express greater difficulties with Bible knowledge than older adults and members of large churches.

 One issue is Literacy!  Functional illiteracy keeps many people from knowing the Word of God. 

The low level of prose literacy in this country is perhaps the least-recognized obstacle to evangelism and discipleship in America.  Individuals who read and write with ease may be surprised to find out that nearly half of all Americans are functionally illiterate.  According to the U.S. Department of Education’s 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 43% of American adults function at or below basic literacy levels.

 

 

In American homes today — the Bible has taken on the status of an icon with little practical value. When asked the question, “What book has most influenced your life?” in a recent Library of Congress survey, respondents awarded the Bible the top position. But only 34 percent (three out of every ten) of American Christians read God’s Word on their own during the week, and of that group, only 13 percent claim to read it daily.

It’s rare even for those who read the Bible to conduct a thorough reading.  One study found that 65%  (almost 7 out of every 10) adults who identified themselves as Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament. “Americans revere the Bible,” says pollster George Gallup, Jr., “but, by and large, they don’t read it.”   Why not?

 

Excuses, excuses

• Reading the Bible is not illegal here as it is in Laos.
• It won’t lead to fines and imprisonment as it might in Vietnam.
• It doesn’t cost a week’s wages to obtain a copy as it does in the Philippines.
• While we do not battle external obstacles to reading the Bible—such as laws or financial restrictions—we face internal barriers every day.
• Perhaps you rank among the majority of Americans who do not read the Bible regularly. You’ve considered it, been exhorted to try it, and even attempted it a few time — yet you can’t seem to make it a habit. What can you do?

If we really believe that the Bible is divinely inspired…that it IS THE WORD OF GOD…

If we really believe that The Bible reveals to us how to live a righteous life —  how to live according to Kingdom Principles…

If we really believe that The Bible equips us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17), then — we should be eager – ready – hungry – passionate about digging deep into it pages. Unfortunately, even though we understand intellectually that reading the Bible will help us grow spiritually, many people just can’t quite seem to overcome “internal obstacles.”

Here are seven excuses that prevent people from opening The Book – and – strategies for how to overcome them.

1 “I don’t have time to read.”

But — we do have time—if — we read in spurts.

• Unleashing Connection reports that in one year, the average American reads 3,000 forms or notices, 100 newspapers, and 36 magazines—but only three books.
• These trends suggest why the USA Today newspaper format is so popular. We like to get our information in short doses that are easy to digest.
• “Half the books of the Bible can be read in 10 to 45 minutes each, and many of them can be read in less than 20,” says Nashville-based pastor and author Robert Morgan.
• If you read just one chapter of the Bible each day à in a month you will have completed the book of Proverbs (31 chapters) once or the epistle of James (five chapters) six times.

 

2 “I don’t know where to begin.”

• If starting “In the beginning” with Genesis seems too overwhelming – then flip to the book of Psalms or Proverbs and start there.
• Or begin your journey in the New Testament with Matthew or Mark.
• You can also poll Bible-reading friends and ask them what their favorite book is—then try reading it.
• Or use a Bible with a built-in reading plan, such as The One-Year Bible (Tyndale House) or The Daily Bible (Harvest House). These devotional Bibles present Scripture in manageable portions and work through it in logical sequences.

 

3 “I just don’t get it.”

• Translations. Choose an easy-to-read translation, like the New International Reader’s Version (nirv; written at a third-grade level) or a paraphrase, like The New Living Translation (NLT) .
• Reference tools. Invest in a few basic references, such as a Bible dictionary (an index of biblical-word definitions) a Bible atlas (a collection of maps of biblical lands), and a concordance (a biblical word locator) to bring clarity to the text.
• Download a Bible App

 

4 “The Bible is so dull.”

Not if you enjoy…

• Romance (Ruth)
• Adventure (Jonah, Acts)
• Conflict (Judges)
• There are tales of conquest and war (Joshua)
• Scandal and suspense (David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel)
• Deceit and corruption (Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5).
• God stocked His library with a variety of genres (in other words – The Lord our God chose to tell His Story – using a plethora of literary types to convey a message: narrative, letters, poetry, history, and prophecy.
• If you naturally gravitate to the biography section in a bookstore, start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).
• If you love poetry, spend some time exploring Psalms or Song of Solomon.

 

5 “I don’t see how the Bible applies to my life.”

• The Bible offers practical advice on issues we face every day: love (1 Corinthians 13 ), leadership (Nehe-miah), Happiness in marriage (Song of Solomon), courage (Esther), and investments (Matthew 25).
• It has how-to articles (Proverbs 31) and time-management models (Matthew 13).
• Get a topical Bible (a Bible arranged according to subject) and read every passage about an issue that challenges you.
• Take notes as you read. Become an expert on what the Scriptures say about that particular subject.

 

6 “I hear Bible readings in church every Sunday. Isn’t that enough?”

• Billy Graham is quoted as having said, “The Bible is the road map for life.”
• When you are examining the map (Bible) — an expert like a pastor with a strong knowledge of Scripture can show you the most effective route to take.
• All believers should gather with others for the purpose of Bible Study – becoming disciples of Jesus our Christ!
• If you only ate one small meal a week – how healthy would you be (physically)???

 

7 “The Bible makes me feel uncomfortable.”

• It confronts our sin issues, challenges out heart, calls us to holiness and righteousness and a life of “Love God à love your neighbor as yourself”

But conviction is an important and necessary function of Scripture.

• “For the word of God is living and active,” says the writer of Hebrews. “Sharper than any double-edged sword … it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).
• As we read the Bible we may find that – it is necessary to face some hard truths about ourselves and our inner motives.
• Is that worthwhile? YES!!
• Statistics say that 92 percent of all Americans have at least three Bibles in their homes.

 

Perhaps like the South Dakota rancher, your Bible is secretly tucked away in a closet somewhere. And like him, you have failed to realize that there’s a fortune hidden within its pages. There’s a priceless treasure within your reach right now. Get it off the shelf, out of the closet, off the dashboard of your car – out of your purse – get it out from wherever you have stashed it à and read it today!!

 Thank God for advancements in technology!  Thank God for MP3 players, iPods, iPads, CD’s, DVD’s…now anyone – including YOU — can hear, see and learn the Word!!

MP3 and the Bible are a match made in Heaven.

MP3 technology offers a new and exciting way to bring the Bible to people who are not being reached with traditional means. For instance:

• Audio Bible programs present the Word of God in the way that functionally illiterate people learn best – with stories and dialog.
• MP3 files can be loaded onto iPods, an excellent way to reach teens and young adults.
• People who rely on the Internet for religious instruction are likely to be receptive to a high-tech format.
• Church leaders can influence the un-churched by encouraging Bible listening programs in the wildly popular MP3 format.
• Members of small churches can improve their Bible knowledge without taxing their church’s limited resources.
• Busy people can listen to the Bible while carrying out ordinary daily activities.
• Time spent in the car can be redeemed.
• By listening for just 28 minutes a day, a person can complete the New Testament in just 40 days.

Listen…

• Joshua was commanded to meditate on God’s word day and night – Joshua 1.8
• Kings of Israel were to devote time to the reading, transcribing and the study the Scriptures – 17.18-19
• The longest Psalm in the Bible is a Psalm about the value of knowing God’s Word – Psalm 119
• The Apostle Paul made it a requirement that His letters – which we know to be the inspired Word of God – be read publicly — 4.16; 1 Thess. 5.27
• Timothy was urged by His spiritual father ~ The Apostle Paul – to study the Word of God and handle it with care – 2 Tim. 2.15
• Even the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading the Word of God – when he received insight into what he read à causing Him to become a follower of Jesus Christ – Acts 8.27- 40
• In the NT we find that Jesus – our Lord and Messiah – read the Sacred Scriptures and taught it to the people – Luke 4.16-21
• Jesus said that the VALUE of studying the Word of God was rooted in the fact that THE WORD spoke about – revealed – unveiled – HIM!! John 5.39
• God’s Word is supposed to be CLOSE to or imbedded in the hearts of Believers – as well as in our mouths – Deut. 30.11-14; 32.47; Psalm 1.2; Rom. 10.8-11; Col. 3.16

 

1. It was through the Word (Logos) that the world(s) were framed – that is, they came into existence – 1.3; Gen. 1.1ff; Ps. 33.9 (For He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast)

2. It is by the Word that everything is sustained and held in its natural order – 1.3; 2 Peter 3.7

3. Ps. 107.20 The Word of God heals and delivers… (He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions)
4. Ps. 119.11 If this Word is hidden in the heart –it will prevent – hold off – put a stop to “sin” – (Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee)

5. Ps. 119.89 Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven
6. Ps. 119.160 Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth forever;  Jn. 17.17  Sanctify them through Thy truth:  Thy Word is truth

7. Ps.119.140 Thy Word is very pure:  therefore Thy servant loveth it;  Prov. 30.5  Every Word of God is pure:  He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him

8. Ps. 119.114 Thou are my hiding place and my shield:  I hope in Thy word

9. Jn. 1.14 This Word – eternal truth – was made flesh – and that Word was/is Jesus – who still lives among us – giving us the opportunity even today – to behold His glory

 

This God ~ Breathed Book – Inspired Word – Infallible Word – Word of God…

1. Sanctifies/consecrates/cleanses/makes holy – 1 Tim. 4.5
2. Jesus told His disciples – in Jn. 15.3 – that the word He had spoken to them – that Word – had made them clean
3. Speaking through the Prophet Jeremiah (23.29) – the Lord says – His Word is like fire – and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces
4. In Luke 11.28 – Jesus said — …blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.
5. If you’re in a battle – in a fight with the enemy – feeling inundated with the rigors and difficulties of warfare — Rev. 12.11 gives us key to victory … “And they overcame him (the devil and all his cohorts) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

 

Recently…in the early morning hour, upon waking, I could hear The Spirit saying…

THE WORD:  under you, over you, in you and through you…

Then I heard the Spirit say — I AM The Word…and as you hide My Word in your heart…feeding upon it, meditating on it…you will know My Voice!

The Bible is The Word of God!!  It is His heart, His will, His ways revealed – His message of hope, redemption, deliverance and salvation for the world.  But even with more Bibles in the possession of people – more Bibles available than ever before – there remains a frustration when it comes to understanding what is being read…and too often, bibles are simply being tossed aside, or left at home — closed shut!

 

As Believers…as followers of Yeshua – disciples of Messiah –we need to make diligent efforts to:

• Stand on the Word in faith — making it our firm foundation = The Word under you
• Be covered with The Word in faith – wearing it like a garment = The Word over you
• Eat The Book! Study it!  Hear it!  Read and meditate on it! = The Word in you
• THEN – it will begin to flow through you à touching and changing those around you, changing the atmosphere, healing, delivering, restoring, renewing, reviving…

-Pastor Bernardine Daniels

Alignment

 

Pastor Barbara gave a timely and riveting word this past Sunday. It was like an arrow that hit the mark. If we have ears to hear the word of the Lord, we will be set on a course for our future to success. I truly believe that God is setting us up for the harvest; a great harvest of souls like we have never seen before. He is making us ready. I don’t know about you but this notion has me excited! It’s like I have sparklers in my stomach that are going off at random times during the day and I can’t help but leap for joy every time I feel them. It is a great expectation, like a child the night before Christmas. The child doesn’t know what they will receive but they know it is a present for them and it is a good gift, something worth waiting for and the nearer the moment comes to open the gifts, the greater that child’s excitement becomes!

 

We have been crying out for revival! We can hear an abundance of rain like Elijah did. We have been putting things in order and making ourselves ready asking God for the next great move in our time, just like that child half asleep in his bed waiting for Christmas morning. I truly believe it is almost here! Pastor Barbara said yesterday, “There is always a diminishing before there is an excess”. We know that we have been in this place at Shekinah. We have seen God prune us and shake us in the past season. In Hebrews 12 it speaks of our faith as if we are in a race. “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2) It is time to go deep with one another; truly, honestly…without holding back. To see revival we must first have our own personal revival amongst each other.

 

It is the season of alignment. We cannot get where we are going without being aligned correctly one with another. God spoke to me a few years ago about it being time to let my roots go deep. There is an acceleration of that reality of going deep in this season and God is giving us all the challenge to ALIGN. What does Alignment mean? It means:

 

• Arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions.
• The act of aligning parts of a machine; “oil changes, lube jobs, and wheel alignments”.”
• The route or course of a road or railroad.
• A position of agreement or alliance.

 

It is time to come fully into alignment with the House the Lord has called you to whether it is Shekinah or another place of worship. God is ready for his next great movement; he is ready to begin moving the machine and you and I are his gears. He has set the course, he has positioned us and now we must decide if we are ready to move with him. My prayer to God is that he would will make us ready and let our roots go deeper than they ever have before. Raise up an army of burning ones Lord!

-Pastor Tarrah Deitrick

The “All Purpose Key”

 

Happy New Year!  I cannot believe we are well into the month of January.  As I write, it is already the 15^th.  I am very excited about 2016.  I believe it is going to be my “Best” year ever.  I declare over you and your love ones this will be your “Best” year ever.  You will experience the Best of the Best.  God loves you so very much and expect Him to  walk very closely with you throughout this new year.  Yes, I declare, you will be more aware of His presence with you this year.  The past 30 days I have been listening to hear the voice of the Lord.  I just love when God speaks a word to my heart that provides direction for the upcoming year.  I am sure you too have heard a word from the Lord for yourself…feel free to share with others.  I am sure it will bless more than just yourself.

 

Allow me to share one truth the Lord has given me.  I don’t believe it is for me only.  I pray it will encourage you as well.  One powerful Key for this year is Praise and Worship.  I believe that God has given us an “All Purpose Key”.  Keys represent authority to access what ever the key represents.  For example, I have a key to my house and car…they provide me access to enter my home and drive my car.  You have keys/passwords to your office, email, facebook, twitter and instagram accounts.  The best key to have is an all purpose key.  If you possess an all purpose key it means that you have access to any place that key is coded for.  We will experience some new situations this year.  Some will be wonderfully great and some will be let’s say, not so great.  There will be some of us somewhere between the two.  No matter which one you find yourself passing through.  The all purpose Key for this year 2016 is Praise and Worship.  We must know how the magnify and exalt God and give Him high praise this year.

 

Psalms 118:24…This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!

 

Our faith is not rooted in our feelings.  Our faith is not motivated in our feelings.  Our faith is not feed by our feelings.  Feelings are real and they change much like the weather here in Michigan.  It is possible to not feel like rejoicing or being glad as mentioned in the above scripture.  It is also possible to feel like rejoicing and being glad.  Whether you feel it or not … no matter what.  Everyday by FAITH declare this is the day that the Lord has made…I will rejoice and be glad in it!

 

Psalms 118:1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.

 

Psalm 117:1-2 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise the Lord.

 

My prayer:  Father in the name of Jesus, give us greater understanding about the all purpose key of praise and worship this year.  We want to honor you and praise you and bow down and worship you in a new fresh way.  Father we want to see your glory, we want to dwell in your glory we want others to encounter your glory.  Give us new revelation so that we will experience the Best of the Best of your Kingdom and your will for our lives.  We love you and thank you and we praise you in Jesus name.

 

Blessings,

Pastor Tonya

Determination!

 

Who likes adversity? You can call it resistance, problems, hindrances, persecution, trouble, pressure, conflict, people issues, whatever you like. None of us are particularly fond of it however it comes and I don’t personally know anyone who has purposely signed up for it.

But . . . . without adversity, I have no idea what I really am willing to die for. And I’m not really sure what I am living for until it is tested. Adversity of any kind, (and the more intense and distressing the adversity), tests how badly we want something or how great our determination is to accomplish something.

Biblically, adversity is the qualifier to inheritance in that we must overcome it to inherit. (Rev 2-3). Adversity uncovers our resolve, our stamina, desire, groundedness, focus, priorities, and our future. If we overcome, we will inherit.

In other words, adversity uncovers our level of determination. The greater the adversity, the greater the test. How badly do we want something? What are we willing to die for? What are we willing to face incredible pain for; and get all the way through the pain?

We throw the word breakthrough around all the time. In services an incredible outbreaking of the Holy Spirit will sometimes manifest. We seem to suddenly be propelled forward into a new realm, past every obstacle, over every wall etc. What do we do Monday morning when the “thrill” of Sunday’s breakthrough pales in comparison to the challenge we are up against.

Golda Meir felt in her gut that Israel needed to prepare for an attack on Yom Kippur in 1983. However everyone around her, including Moshe Dayan, said“no, there wasn’t going to be any such attack on Israel.”Nevertheless when everyone had gone home (including all the soldiers), the men were in the synagogue, and Israel was at rest celebrating Yom Kippur, Syria and Egypt invaded Israel’s borders just like Golda Meir suspected in her gut.

The Prime Minister felt like a failure, like she had personally positioned Israel in harm’s way by not listening to her gut. She was ready to commit suicide, seriously pondered ending her life because it looked like Israel’s end as a nation. She felt personally responsible.

Golda had a dream, an enduring vision and mandate from God concerning the nation of Israel. She knew Israel was to not only continue but flourish as a nation. She knew this in God’s heart. Putting her sense of personal guilt and regret aside, she called President Richard Nixon in the middle of the night. She explained that if the United States did not help Israel, it was over for Israel. Nixon asked her what she needed. She outlined the military help needed and Nixon took detailed notes. He got off the phone and mobilized every bit of the help Israel needed. Instantly it was on the way.

Why did Nixon do that? He was in the middle of the Watergate scandal, publicly shamed by those circumstances.

While listening to Meir’s requests, he remembered when he was a little child his mother telling him about the Old Testament, biblical, Israeli battles, David and Goliath. He remembered her looking at himand saying, “someday Richard you are going to do something that saves Israel, that wins a big battle like David and Goliath.” Mired in shame, Nixon at that moment said, perhaps this is why I have become president of the United States. And he reached out to mobilize help, all the help Israel needed to turn the Yom Kippur war around. Israel was saved from total defeat.

Both Meir and Nixon were tested to the core of their being. There was something greater than the pain and trouble engulfing them, there was a mandate, a purpose for which they were born. That day both of them were tested over how determined were they to accomplish what had been put in their hands to do.

Both of them passed that test.

Paul said in Philippians 3 that he was pressing on to apprehend that for which he had been apprehended. Paul had to put the past behind, regrets, failures, shame, and disappointment. There was something greater, the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

I suspect that’s what God was saying to Isaiah when He said don’t remember the former things nor consider (turn over in your mind) things from the past. I am doing a new thing.

Trouble, adversity has a purpose. It tests our level of determination. It uncovers our true level of determination. How determined are we to successfully accomplish what God has put in our hands to do; the purpose for which He save us in the first place; the reason He apprehended us?

Those who are determined will be the most tested. And from more than one ash heap, they will crawl out often temporarily crippled, in pain, and feeling defeated, to arise and go beyond their feelings to apprehend the prize. That was what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 4 and Philippians 3. That’s what propelled Jesus to drink the cup in Gethsemane, to go all the way to the other side.The side of Victory. Call it breakthrough.

How far are you willing to go? What is your level of determination? That, will define your prize. (Philippians 3)

 

-Pastor Barbara J. Yoder