Increasing our understanding of the Word...

What you say here sings comfort and peace. Thanks

@PERFECTION: so, you guys are saying this thread is starting on a wrong premise.
Ok, let it be so, even though I had no bad intent. I lift my hands from it. I did ask Oncefallen to remove thread. He refused. You might have success if you join me, so I am not the only one asking.

The hardest books for me were Chronicles and Kings because im not really a fan of dry history books that list things, this happened, and then this happened. I dont recall much excEPT over and over it kept saying and so and so did evil in the sight of the Lord...! Cos they kept having needless battles.

Numbers, levitivus and deuteronomy actually were more interesting. Apparently Jesus favourite book was Deuteronomy he was always quoting from it.

Some of the helps or aids people might find useful...timelines, maps, and a bible dictionary. Rose publishing does good visual aids.

I have never been able to cite my natural geneology further back than my grandparents but if you were an Israelite you could trace it right back to Abraham. However because we gentiles are adopted into the family by Jesus Christ, we can say we are children of God. So to understand chronicles and kings and judges its like reading about our ancestors. the Bible is a book about our family history so its really important to read and at least be familiar with it.

Hi Charlie...
My pastors wife told me when I was reading numbers , that it was a great way to practice patience lol , I remembered that as I was reading through
...xox...

Hey.. don't let others tear you down. This is an awesome thread attempting fellowship through God's Word and encouraging one another in the Word.

There's nothing bad about that. Don't let people who seem to hold an animosity for God's written Word tear you down...

ignore them.

I personally think this thread has been a blessing, both in the sound advice and tips, and also to remind me that ultimately He is the authority. I never really lost site of that but it is always good to have that reminder and to hear others agree and testify to His supreme position.

Soulweaver, I know it may have not all gone as smoothly as you would have liked. I know there was room for more encouragement and direction in study ideas. I still see Him using all of it for His good. In other words, I hope you will forgive me but I support oncefallen's choice. This thread has edified in more than one way.

No, they are right though. It's the Holy Spirit that gives understanding and it must never be forgotten. What PERFECTION said really touched my heart because I remembered how I started reading the Bible. Looking to the Holy Spirit alone to understand it. I just didn't think this necessarily contradicted sharing study tips. But I took a bit of time to rethink what they were saying and see now how it might be taken as such and potentially mislead someone. So I said let me be wrong, and kept on rethinking. I like to think that I am useful to the kingdom of God, but maybe I'm not so useful as I'd like to be or think I am. It filled me with deep sadness, and I grieve because the day when I will stop "knowing in part' is not here yet. I think I need to step back from posting on forum, and instead just listen to what others have to say.

Well maybe we should all be still and know He is God. I respect your humility. You have me pondering...

I am so thankful for the contributors here and for those who listen more than they share. I need more of that component of communication myself.

When I say your faith and input has been a blessing to my faith, I speak sincerely not to blow smoke or flatter.

I can not help admire your yearning to remain at His feet. As well as your willingness to understand what others may be saying so that you can glean the useful (Godly, biblical) messages within them.

Ok... well enough of my ramblings. Thanks for your time. God Bless.

There's no possible way for a few study tips to mislead anyone..

God's people love His Word and enjoy reading it and encouraging one another to do the same..

That's not wrong. Anyone who says it is, is themselves wrong.

They are trying to discourage the reading of God's Word.. and succeeding apparently. How is that being lovers of God's Word and encouraging one another in the Faith we were called to?

People who discourage others from reading God's Word while claiming to teach you anything at all about it are actively trying to prevent others from knowing or learning that what they are saying is unbiblical..

Catholics once did the same.. tried hiding God's Word. After that lesson there's no excuse for it..and no excuse for God's people to excuse such behavior toward the Word of God.

Your post has nothing to do with Isaiah 28.

No way....keep swinging....who cares what they think......I don't....

Just to point out a fact.....two definite articles and a be verb -->is

THE Spirit IS the truth <--think on that a bit...............

Truth has to be internalized and made real by the power of the Holy Spirit otherwise it is doctrine only.

You make it real/internalize it by agreeing with God and taking a stand where He takes His stand.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

We are told to BUILD each other up , this can only be done by sharing...
This is a thread where we can come without the heaviness that people can so often lay on us...

If we speak Scripture , and we have took it out of context , or something is not right , then by all means a person would be welcomed to show us where we are wrong , but to share our daily walk in what the LORD is doing in our life through what the Scriptures are showing us , how beautiful is that

We are all at different stages walking with our Lord , how encouraging it can be to see that the Lord is working in one , and know He is working in another and another , all of us , so lets keep it moving ...

...xox...

Soulweaver

I was addressing your statement that the scripture you said was your favorite was not the blessing that most Christians think it is. There’s no life in line upon line etc. as it’s presented in this chapter. Perhaps my way of explanation wasn’t as clear as it could have been. For that I apologize.

I was actually excited when I read your listening to Missler. In fact I listened to his teaching on Isaiah 28 and he spoke about how it was seen for the present period of time they were in, but also projected into the future.

So please don’t take this as something dramatically erroneous. It’s an application that Paul used too in Corinthians.

What woke me up is this...I can tell anyone why God hated Esau but loved Jacob. It took me hours of study to see this, and searching word meanings to find it. And I can’t remember if that was what I was even looking for, for when I study, I often see things not associated with my search. I assume from your posting that it’s the same for you.

I’ve studied many years this way, and learned many things. But, what developed was pride in this and an eagerness to give it, rather than allowing others to discover for themselves.

So I started listening to a woman who’s sole ministry is to worship and spend time in His presence. The Lord just dropped into her spirit in a moment the whole truth of Esau and Jacob that had taken me so many hours of search to find.

That’s what Isaiah 28 is speaking about spiritually for this age of Holy Spirit and grace that we are in.

And in Corinthians Paul uses this scripture the same concerning tongues.

Speaking in the Spirit, worshipping in the Spirit in His presence magnifying Jesus edifies. Builds one up. There is no pride of man for we know it’s of God, not of our own efforts.

Sorry to have interrupted this way, but if one doesn’t see this? Our whole building on the foundation will be off.

This does not mean never study.

Hello Stonesoffire I am not sure where you are now on this issue of God hating Esau and loving Jacob... and I do not presume to teach you anything... but this cursing of Jacob and Esau was proclaimed while they were yet in the womb, and identified as nations, rather than individuals, though as individuals, they also carry important lessons.

Esau's descendants became Edomites, also known as Idumaeans, and were enemies of Israel. King Herod was such.

In Obadiah, Edom is mentioned twice by name (1:1, 8), however, the focus is on Edom’s destruction as God meted out His judgment on a historically rebellious people. The Edomites would later disappear from history completely. In a longer view we can see this is what will happen at the final judgment at the end of this age, when those who refuse God are destroyed in the lake of fire.

Of interest to me as well is the fact that God said the older would serve the younger, and this is historically true also in the context of Israel serving Christianity, by bringing forth the long-awaited Messiah Who instituted a new and better covenant with the shedding of His righteous blood for the forgiveness of sins, something the law could not accomplish. I see the cursing of the fig tree as highly symbolic of the end of the unfruitful Temple sacrifice era.

The question for me is how does one ensure head knowledge (precept upon precept) is spiritual truth?

I believe I am misunderstood from the beginning about what I wanted to deliver with the OP.

I was merely sharing something that "hit me" while reading that Scripture - that the knowledge is scattered throughout all the Bible, and that the big picture is important. That we need the big picture, presented in the whole Bible, to understand individual instances in the Bible... This realization really accelerated my learning and made it more exciting. So I shared it.

(Rather than pushing the verse itself, or its Old covenant understanding, or its Old covenant context, or that we don't need the Holy Spirit to understand, or that He has no preeminence, or that study is more important than spiritual guidance of the Spirit, etc...)

The thread altogether made me beyond sad. I regretted opening it, and wish it could have been removed.

Comparing spiritual with spiritual........My view.....when our spiritual radar is highly tuned by the word of God and faithful application of the word we can recognize that which is true and that which is corrupted or false.........

And regardless of the naysayers in this thread....we build line upon line and precept upon precept....I.E. TRUTH upon TRUTH and the more one knows the more one can KNOW.....

No need to be sad, do not feel responsible.

I so agree with big picture understanding.

I can completely understand what you mean, big picture is also an educational theory.... LOL