13 of 17 Reasons why People Read their Bible & Miss Polygyny
Problem Stated: Failure to Ask in Prayer for Insight in Study over the Word of God. The Bible came forth because of the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this holy book must be approached with reverence, in the spirit of prayer as one seeks God in the pages. The Spirit of God gives light, illumination, and ability for one to understand the meaning and concepts that are found in the biblical text. Many who fail to ask God for insight read without seeing the truths God would give to them if they asked for him to meet with them in their study time. Often people miss a truth because they do not take the time to pray and ask for illumination. Taking the time to approach the Bible in the Spirit of prayer can go a long way in placing oneself in a position of humility. When approaching Scripture without prayer however it is easier for one to take one's own preconceived opinions into the text. If that is done new ideas or truths of the word that could otherwise change the person for the good and make him or her closer to God are missed. Illumination by the Spirit of God can make a vital difference in preparing one's heart for the truth of God's word. Sometimes prayer is not so much about us getting God to change or act as it is God changing us through prayer to be better aligned with his will or thoughts.
Solution? Have you ever come to the Word and truly asked God to change you into his image? Sometimes people approach the Bible like a mere text book and they consequently read it as a antiquated book. But the Bible is more than a mere book. Yes we are to interpret it historically like any other piece of literature. Yes we are to approach it based upon the proper rules of hermeneutics. Yet the book is still a book that is connected to the ever present Lord of the universe. When we pray to the Holy Spirit we are bonding with God. When we take the necessary time to ask the Lord to change us into his image our heart begins to be pliable to the efficacious work of the Spirit whose primary role is to convict us, change us, and call us to Christ like living (see John 16:8-11). The Bible tells us: "if anyone lacks wisdom , let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). Additionally, James told us, "yo do not have because you do not ask" (4:2c). Sometimes we do not know the truth because we have not really and truly from our heart gone before the Lord and asked for him to shape us into the truth. Therefore, a solution to not understanding the Bible is for us to bow in humility and ask the Lord to teach us through his word and through his gifted teachers of the word. In prayer we can and will find the avenue which leads us to the truth if we faithfully and honestly ask for God to give us the light even as we study something new such as with the doctrines of patriarchy and polygyny.
Problem Stated: Failure to Ask in Prayer for Insight in Study over the Word of God. The Bible came forth because of the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this holy book must be approached with reverence, in the spirit of prayer as one seeks God in the pages. The Spirit of God gives light, illumination, and ability for one to understand the meaning and concepts that are found in the biblical text. Many who fail to ask God for insight read without seeing the truths God would give to them if they asked for him to meet with them in their study time. Often people miss a truth because they do not take the time to pray and ask for illumination. Taking the time to approach the Bible in the Spirit of prayer can go a long way in placing oneself in a position of humility. When approaching Scripture without prayer however it is easier for one to take one's own preconceived opinions into the text. If that is done new ideas or truths of the word that could otherwise change the person for the good and make him or her closer to God are missed. Illumination by the Spirit of God can make a vital difference in preparing one's heart for the truth of God's word. Sometimes prayer is not so much about us getting God to change or act as it is God changing us through prayer to be better aligned with his will or thoughts.
Solution? Have you ever come to the Word and truly asked God to change you into his image? Sometimes people approach the Bible like a mere text book and they consequently read it as a antiquated book. But the Bible is more than a mere book. Yes we are to interpret it historically like any other piece of literature. Yes we are to approach it based upon the proper rules of hermeneutics. Yet the book is still a book that is connected to the ever present Lord of the universe. When we pray to the Holy Spirit we are bonding with God. When we take the necessary time to ask the Lord to change us into his image our heart begins to be pliable to the efficacious work of the Spirit whose primary role is to convict us, change us, and call us to Christ like living (see John 16:8-11). The Bible tells us: "if anyone lacks wisdom , let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). Additionally, James told us, "yo do not have because you do not ask" (4:2c). Sometimes we do not know the truth because we have not really and truly from our heart gone before the Lord and asked for him to shape us into the truth. Therefore, a solution to not understanding the Bible is for us to bow in humility and ask the Lord to teach us through his word and through his gifted teachers of the word. In prayer we can and will find the avenue which leads us to the truth if we faithfully and honestly ask for God to give us the light even as we study something new such as with the doctrines of patriarchy and polygyny.