“Unlocking the Power of the Scriptures”

“Unlocking the Power of the Scriptures”

We do appreciate the faithful for the Wednesday night Bible studies. We have a very casual presentation and it is a great format to bring someone with you.

Tonight will probably be more like preaching but it would be great if you write thoughts or questions down, and I will try to leave some time for discussion.

I am not sure I will get through tonight with my thoughts. I will finish my next time.

I come to you with some thoughts titled, “Unlocking the Power of the Scriptures” #wewill, #inHisname.

I believe that we are in a season of time where God’s people need to scripturally position themselves. God is not winking at spiritual ignorance and religious traditions. He is calling for the maturity of the saints.

Proverbs 22 has a message for the church today. It will help us understand the process for unlocking our understanding of the scriptures.

Proverbs 22:17-21

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

There are several things going on in these 5 verses.

1^st is a very clear invitation to receive. “Incline your ear and hear.”

It is important to understand that unless our heart and mind is ready to receive, it does no good for someone to tell it. Hebrews 3:7-8 says, (7Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,“Today if you hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,)

“It does no good to hear if you have not prepared your heart to receive.”

The next couple of verses are referring to gaining wisdom from God’s word. Gaining wisdom has great value. It reveals the depth of God’s word. It reveals the excellent things recorded in God’s word. His promises and His purpose. We must keep wisdom in our hearts.

(Wisdom sees God’s truth with clarity.)

Verse 21 is telling us that we are responsible to act on what we hear. (The most profound and brilliant sayings and scriptures are powerless without personal application.)

1 Peter 3:15

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Amplified But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

#wewill #inHisname