Sunday 030225
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; Jonah 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:16.
This morning, maybe I should take the time and talk about this Bible that we have in front of us today.
There are the original Hebrew and Greek letters that make-up our Bibles today.
As of today, there are 66 different English versions found on Biblegateway.com.
The Bible is more than the Authorized King James Version (AKJV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the Good News Translation (GNT) and the Easy English Bible (EASY) versions.
These different interpretations allow each one of us to understand what we are being told by the writer.
The Bible and its ‘INTERPRETATION’ is meant to be only that, the interpretation of God.
This morning, I began to watch a previously recorded Bible study on the Book of Revelation. It was led by Les Feldick, who died back in 2023.
Around four years ago, I participated in a different study on the Book of Revelation that was run by pastor Stephen Armstrong of VBVMI (Verse-By-Verse-Ministries-International). Pastor Armstrong has also died, from a covid related illness back in 2021.
Maybe ten years ago I did a different study on the Book of Revelation with a pastor friend of mine, pastor Mike Bass.
I know over the years I’ve been involved in two, maybe three other studies, all in the Book of Revelation.
Every study was different. Each teacher taught the book according to their own interpretation and I’m not sure God intended on it being that way.
Some years ago, I told people they needed to read the Bible for themselves and there was a comment made regarding all the different interpretations.
Since writing this lesson, I have to admit, every time a person reads the Bible, they probably do interpret what they read, according to what they know.
I would read a passage from the Bible, and I’d have an interpretation. You could read the same passage from the Bible, and you may get an entirely different interpretation. And then every other person reading the same passage from the Bible, they could all get different interpretation of the same passage.
There is only one correct interpretation and that is whatever God intended to be said. His is for sure, the ONLY one that is, for sure, correct.
What can we do when we get a different interpretation from someone else?
1 Corinthians 2:13
‘…Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…Those are the things that we speak about. We do not use clever words to speak about human ideas. Instead, we speak the message that God’s Spirit has taught us. In that way, we explain a spiritual message to people who have God’s Spirit…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
This is where a strong group assists us when we are trying to interpret what we’ve read.
Our ability to voice with someone can be so beneficial to our study of the Word.
2 Timothy 3:16
‘…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God’s Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
This is a very profitable verse that more people should pay attention to. ALL Scripture has been Inspired by God but NOT all of that Scripture has been given to us for ‘ALL’ of us to FOLLOW every part of ALL
Scripture.
The example I use is Jonah 1:1-3. It is written that Jonah was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh and let the people know that God knew they were doing evil things. Jonah fled so he didn’t have to hear God’s demands anymore and he bought a boat ticket to Spain so he could escape.
We are NOT shown this passage for us to FOLLOW Jonah and flee from God’s presence. We’ve been shown this passage to keep us from repeating what Jonah did wrong.
Jonah 1
vs1 ‘…Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…’
vs2 ‘…Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me…’
vs3 ‘…But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so, he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
vs1 ‘…The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…’
vs2 ‘…Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me…’
vs3 ‘…But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
vs1 ‘…One day the Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai…’
vs2 ‘…He said, Go to Nineveh, that great city, and speak out against it; I am aware of how wicked its people are…’
vs3 ‘…Jonah, however, set out in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord. He went to Joppa, where he found a ship about to go to Spain. He paid his fare and went aboard with the crew to sail to Spain, where he would be away from the Lord…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
vs1 ‘…The Lord spoke a message to Jonah, Amittai’s son…’
vs2 ‘…He said, Go now to the great city of Nineveh. Tell the people in the city that I know how wicked they are. Tell them that I will punish them because of their sins…’
vs3 ‘…But Jonah did not want to obey the Lord’s command. He decided to run away to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa. There he found a ship that was ready to sail to Tarshish. After he had paid for the journey, he got into the ship. He wanted to go on the ship to Tarshish, to get far away from the Lord…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
It is easy to sit back and rely on what someone tells you is in the Word … but what if the person told you a lie and that message isn’t in the Word?
Who’d be more at fault …
Him for lying to you or you for not double checking what was actually written.
Here is some very wise wisdom given to us in the Word.
2 Timothy 2:16
‘…But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…But stay away from people who talk about silly things that are not important to God. A message like that causes people to live more and more in a way that does not please God…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
Keep your Bibles always open and continue to study the words that He has given us.
There are going to be those times in this life when we will find hardships in just about anything and everything that we try to do.
Just always remember God has given us His helper to be there for us when we need His help.
All you have to do is ask and He will already be there in front of you waiting to help out.
Interpretations can be both too easy and yet too hard.
God didn’t give us something that we will not be able to handle on our own.
If you need His help, use your head and just ask Him for His assistance.
I love ALL of y’all.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>