Defending a Lion, Part 4

Are you living in the last 15 years Capt. Michael you sent the Bible says that in the last day of your firm and listen carefully about settlement is not going to be for bread and water is going to be of, for the word of God, when I hear that only 18% of Christians read the word of God regularly. I can fill you the five months has begun and so it is a burden of my life and the reason for living is to what to for those days that are coming upon us in the coming faster than we think faster than we anticipated to get ready for the spiritual, the Lord is on your side and the good news is we have read the last chapter. This is thanks for listening. Do you ever skip to the last chapter of the book.

Maybe the last episode of the biggest series to see who dies who wins.

Have you done with the Bible. Checking out how the end of history will play out.

This is leading the way audio featuring some of the most practical content you'll ever hear from Dr. Michael you set it to look at what you must avoid. As you read the Bible and how to bring the power of God's word into your life. In fact, to give them just as much time as possible. Here is Dr. Michael you set the personal and challenging introduction to today's leading the way. I have a confession to make upfront. I am terrible one comes to reading instruction manuals are really good test reading instruction manuals. If somebody gives me a gizmo I don't read instruction routers are press every button until one works is absolute truth. By the same token, I generally Meyer people who are persistently and meticulously can read operating manuals and following deeply appreciate people who follow instructions step by step-by-step and it works for me the same way with my sense of direction. Many of you know this every time I tried to follow my instinct driving somewhere I don't end up in another city I end up in another state, even people when they give me direction I still get lost. I must confess to you that now at this age, I kind of laugh at myself.

I really do.

I love at myself for my not able to read instruction or not being able to follow instruction books or whatever it is, but I can tell you when it comes to the spiritual instruction book. It is not a laughing matter that operating manual that is given to us by God. If we don't read it regularly. If we don't read it carefully. If we don't follow it closely. The lostness can be very serious, very serious indeed. And that is why I have been imploring you the past several messages not only to regularly read and heed and obey the word of God please him a lot because it's very important because it is not what I say. Ultimately, it is not what they say it is what the word of God says, but for maximum impact in your life for a maximum benefits in your life. I want to tell you today about seven deadly sins that you must not commit as you read the word of God. Seven deadly sins that you must avoid at any cost when you begin reading the word of God. Some of your so Michael what you start with the negative well if I don't start with a negative view on another positive when it comes through the first deadly sin is proof texting proof texting. What is proof texting when you attack a text out of its context. That's all proof texting. In other words, you basically take the text out and run with it. I want to give you an example. In fact, with everyone of those summer to give you examples from the Scripture so you know tactically what I'm talking about. Second Corinthians chapter 12 verse nine, the apostle Paul said, the Lord said to me, my strength becomes perfect in your weakness. So a person who struggling with some moral weakness and was trying to get the victory over his moral her moral weakness.

We see this Texas to grow horror this text is for me that God strength will be perfect and maybe I don't need to deal with these moral issues.

Now that is not what it means because the apostle Paul is talking about physical illness, physical element that he had experienced and he said three times our pride. Lord, heal me, but the Lord did not hear me. In fact, he said to me that my strength will become perfect in your physical weakness. Sometimes God blesses people in this part of the physical weakness. In fact, sometimes I believe he blesses us because of some of those physical weaknesses I know of a man who had amazing gift of healing really was.

And yet he himself suffered a great deal to see. That's what Paul is saying he's not talk about moral weakness is not talk about things that we need to repent, so in context you would understand it, that it is something to do with physical albumin that he was living with because not doing that is called proof texting and beloved, let me tell you if your proof text. You gonna find yourself up a creek without a paddle. Now you been for one second deadly sin about reading the Bible that you must avoid at any cost, is that you need to know when to take the Scripture literally and when you take it figuratively or Michael is saying you don't think the whole Bible literally wet white Whitby patient because if you understand there are certain linguistic principles with her will be in the Hebrew and Aramaic, or even in the Greek language, but mostly in the somatic language are certain things that certain linguistic rules and principles that you must understand I give an example. There is something in the Hebrew language and all the somatic language is really known as Hebraic hyperbole something so important. It's vitally important and is so serious that you have to exaggerate the point, in order to realize the seriousness of it that's what it means again example is when Jesus said if your eye causes you to stumble do what gouge it out right now I'm organized you raise your hand if your eyes ever cause you to stumble on S Cuba number is both parents. I am looking at utilizing some glasses but I don't see too many gouge dies so you understand what I'm trying to tell you why, because this is what you call somatic hyperbole. Our Lord is saying that this is something so so very, very important that you must not allow anything to get in the way of accomplishing don't allow anything to get in the way of you entering into heaven.

Don't allow anything to get in the way of you being saved. Don't allow anything to get in the way of you going to heaven and because he has to make that point he blows it up so you can see, and so Jesus is saying it is vitally important for a Christian believer I'm talking to believers now, not talking to non-Christians. Christian believers not to allow their eyes to constantly wonder and lust and in envy and greed and the rest of it. It's so dangerous it's so dangerous that could impact your eternity see the same thing if I am speaking any of the Semitic languages. I will get a picture out of my pocket and I'll say to you, this is my grandson. So no, that's not your grandson in English, he would say this is a picture of my grandson right but in the Hebrew language you don't speak that way. So you have to understand what is symbolic and what is literal third deadly sin in Bible reading is ignoring the historic and cultural context of the Bible. Just because God called Elijah to confront King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and the prophets of bail and just because you called them to do that and then he sent fire consumed his sacrifice not so now God was speaking and using certain man at a certain time for a certain purpose. What do we learn from it that our God is a mighty God that all the so-called Broadwater, Baylor, Esther authorized all day.

Not really gods at all and that is the point that the Scripture with teachers. Not that we would go and do like Elijah did.

Fourth deadly sin about Bible reading. Be sure to get a good translation of the Bible. In fact, I would encourage you to have maybe two or three in front of you as you studying the Scripture because as you read 1023 you will that meaning much better Internet to go to seminary but sometimes these translations will give you a real feel for that first deadly sin about reading the Bible as you must avoid at any cost. Reading into the Bible what you want to read into it. Oh my goodness that is a curse of the age.

I'm telling you Ami and I have known preachers who just have one theme and it doesn't matter what text are used, they go to the hobbyhorse. The theme that the preacher from but that's dangerous. That is extremely dangerous. Six.

I'm moving quickly. The six deadly sin by Bible reading is this don't think ever that your brilliant enough to understand the Scripture without the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Listen to what the apostle Paul said to Timothy in second Timothy chapter 2 verse seven reflect on what I'm saying here comes for the Lord will give you insight into all things is a I have never open the Scripture.

In the early hours of the morning every day as I wake up and I'll start with the word of God without prayer Holy Spirit, open my eyes that I may see wonderful truth from your work illuminates my mind so that I can learn from your word.

What you want me to learn otherwise. The Bible will become either just an intellectual exercise in reading it, or we just twist the words to make it what you wanted to make. Finally, number seven, failing to apply what you have just read in the Scripture. I know I know I know it takes time to do it. It takes.you cannot microwave the Scripture you cannot microwave application and a heightened hoe.

This is the age of social media. We just don't have an attention span. We have really taken all of that into our reading of the Scripture.

But, beloved, you will not grow. You will not learn and you will not apply the word of God. If you're constantly in a hurry if you have to wake up half an hour early, got about half an hour later I beloved to read the Bible for its maximum effect for its maximum impact upon your life, you must avoid those seven deadly mistakes, but then I want to go on to give you very quickly.

Three questions that you must ask yourself as you read and heed and obey the word of God very quickly. The first question to ask yourself is, what does this part of the Bible that I am reading say to the original readers of it because each one has a continent was written or said to people at a certain time, so you must ask the question, what did it mean to the original reader. The first person who read it to whom it was written. Secondly, what is the real meaning of this passage that I'm reading.

And thirdly how can I apply this to my life. Let's look at them very very quickly. What did it mean to the original reader. For example, the given example Moses was speaking to the Israelites for 400 years were up to their eyeballs in idolatry of Egypt. They knew very little about Yahweh just what they heard through oral tradition and so they really had very little knowledge. So Moses speaking to people who did not know who Yahweh is, or experiences power as they did later on the cross the Red Sea and on into the wilderness.

On the other hand a thousand years later, Ezekiel and Jeremiah remember God that this God did this. God did this so they knew Yahweh and the other turned their backs on him, they saw him perform miracles before their eyes, and yet they wanted to worship bail and so Ezekiel and your mother talking to rebellious people versus what Moses was doing the rejected God's instruction. They rejected God's command or look at the New Testament. The apostle Paul is written to many churches, different cities. Philippi: Thessalonians, but each letter was addressing and giving answers to certain problems that that church was facing. He was dealing with a specific problem and giving them biblical ungodly answers so it is very important to know what the problem was and what the solution is secondly, you have to ask yourself what does the Bible mean what it says. Make no mistake about it. The reason today, many people reject the Bible then it will really read it, but they reject the Bible as the word of God because it runs contrary to man's nature is really that the Bible's counterculture. For example, the world says suck at your enemy right we say yeah I mean this is very natural right of a lesson very nature says yes suck at your enemy. And then Jesus comes in and said love your enemy, what bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you see the world says that's bonkers. The world says look out for number one is all that matters. Number one but Jesus comes in and he says whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. Listen to me. It does not make sense to the world. That's why they reject the Bible.

It does not make sense to them and it is laziness on the part of preachers to say what ever so hard to understand is hard to accept rejected.

You don't have to accept it MoveOn take what you like, leave out what you don't like. That's laziness instead aware called of God is preachers and teachers of the word of God to explain the difficult things that is why you must always ask the question what does the Bible mean but what it says. So how do I know this will first of all, as the Holy Spirit already said that twice as the Holy Spirit to illumine your mind and you will ask him, he will do it. Secondly, use a good trusted common tree on the Bible. A good trustworthy common tree. Keep it handy. Look up if you get into an issue is so difficult and you don't know.

Just look it up.

Double check things don't just take it for granted.

Make sure you're on the right track. Thirdly, and lastly, the final question to ask yourself is this how can this apply to me. How does this apply to me when I'm facing problems in my business and my work, my home.

How is this going apply to me.

It's very important is very important. If you're like me, I spend the first fruit of the day with the Lord in the Bible open in front of me. I found that most mornings as I open the word of God and are greeted the Holy Spirit begins to speak to my heart.

Michael, this word is for you. This encouragement is for you.

This review is for you. This challenge is for you this morning. Have I ever got more of those that I can count.

This warning is for you. This exhortation is for you Charles Spurgeon, one of the great preachers of yesteryear and just in case you think this manpower degrees after his name. He dropped out of school at the age of 15 he taught himself Greek and Hebrew. He taught himself the word of God. He allow the Holy Spirit to open his mouth open his heart and teacher. He written hundreds of books most remarkable man that I have ever read about is what is said about the Bible, he said, this book has wrestled with me. This book has smitten me this book has confronted me.

This book smiled upon me. This book frowned on me. This book clasped my hands. This book warmed my heart. This book weeps with me, and sings with me. This book worships with me and it preachers to me. It maps my going in my coming. It is a young man's best companion, and it is still my morning and evening chaplain love as I conclude the citizen of messages I want to tell you that a lot of Bible apps out there.

Lots of Bible reading plans that can be overwhelming. The Bible says that in the last days there gonna be a fireman. Listen carefully, but that sermon is not going to be for Britta water is going to be a fireman for the word of God. And when I hear that only 18% of Christians read the word of God regulate I can tell you the fireman has begun. And so it is a burden of my life and the reason for living is to equip you for those days that are coming upon us in the coming faster than we think faster than we anticipated. So get ready for the spiritual battle the Lord is on your side and the good news is we have read the last chapter and it says that we win. Father, I thank you. I praise you for your word. I thank you for preserving it for all these years of people bring to shredded destroyed it, and yet you kept it to this day you preserved it for many despots and from careless church leaders and Lord I pray that your preservative in the heart of your children, teach us a fresh as we look at the day of Jesus to be drawing near, that we would learn to read.

Heed and obey so that we be like the wise virgins who had the oil in the Lamb's and there were ready and love you like the foolish ones with pray this in Jesus name. This is leading the way with Dr. Michael you sent in for Jeanette reading heating and paying the title this morning to you too cranky to begin a conversation with one of our pastoral team members.

You can ask what ever you like. How to begin a faith journey how to deepen your faith walk or answers to life's tough questions. Start by going to LTW.Ord/Jesus back LTW.Ord/Jesus Dr. Yousef has joined me here in the studio. We thought it was a perfect opportunity to ask about his new book it's called never give up Dr. Yousef. What led you to write never give up and let your premier fidelis as they read it. There is a movement that seemed to be accelerating.

Of late. Every time I look at some Christian user. Even some secular news I hear of black pastors going through with the called deconstruction is just a nice way of saying they are backslidden they turned their back on the gospel that become apostate. And this is seemed to be like the coronavirus just spreading so fast among so-called Christian singers or Christian pastors, and I am alarmed at this and I want Bible believing Christians everywhere. You need to get this book and you give it your pastor, you need to give it to everybody that you need to read it because we are coming into this stage in our history that I have not seen and I have not even read about in history that people turning their back these people who preach the gospel.

The turning their back on Christ and so never give up on biblical truth. Never give up on biblical authority and never give up on biblical Martin never give up on any of the things the very things that are really assures us of heaven so I don't want people to sell the birthright for a pot of soup. Get more details about matter together when you visit LTW.org. We had debts and lots of other great resources for you there to make a favorite LTW.org and you can also call and speak to a ministry representative number is 866-626-4356 866-626-4356 is time to think and I think you for being with us today and plan to join Dr. Michael you sent for the next meeting when he passionately proclaims uncompromising trip.

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