Eng – A – 7 – 1/2 A Group@Relationship with God (7) the word
As you start walking as a Christian, you may hear about having a personal relationship with God, or listening to God’s voice. You may be full of questions.
A
All these truth such as God loves us or God saved us are new to you, and going to church is new also. Soyou may be bewildered to hear about personal with God.
B
But there is no worries. Having personal relationship and listening to God’s voice is available for everyone. You can start all this when you start reading the word of God- the Bible. C
The Spirit of God does not live inside the Bible. Or a house is not automatically blessed by the existence of the Bible. However, as we read the words of the Bible, or listen to the words of the Bible, life and power as the living word of God is given to us as if the frozen food is being defrosted.
D
The Bible says:
PjThe words of the Bible is God and Christ Himself.
iJohn1:1jIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
E
Acts7:38) This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,
F
QjOur spiritual food
iMatthew4:4) But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "
G
RjLife to our lives
On many occasions, we do not know what choice to make in our lives. It is as if we walk in the dark without any light.
iPsalms119:105jYour word is a lamp to my feetAnd a light to my path.
Therefore, it would be good for us to read the Bitble and meditate on the word of God every day.
H
Sjto raise us up
iActs20:32j "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
I
TjMirror
The word of God reflects ourselves and reminds us of where we stand or what lacks in our character.
iHeb.4F12jFor the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
J
Ujthe material of God’s speaking
God can speak to our hearts. And it is not done outside of the word of God. If the word of God is stored up in our hearts, we will be able to receive His voice easily.
K
”How to receive the word of God.
PjRead the Bible every day little by little
We encourage chutrch to read the whole Bible at least once within a year. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible, but you can read through the Bible in a year if you read 3 or 4 chapters every day.
L
You may not be able to understand the whole content of the Bible when you read. You may understand less if you are not familiar with the hitorial and culural background. The commentary and Bible handbook may help to read the Bible efficiently. But it is necessary to form a habit of receiving from the Bible directly.
M
Since the word of the Bible is alive, God’s word always speaks to us freshly. Therefore, unless you have learned to receive directly from the words of the Bible, you may end up being bound by the old interpretation or understanding. N
It is the Spirit of God that helps us understand the word of the Bible. That is why we need to depend on the Holy Spirit always.
Please continue reading the Bible and put down anything you did not understand or any questions. And you can ask questions to your pastors or others on other occasions.
O
All the wisdom and power of the one who created the world is resumed in this one book, so isn’t it wonderful even to be able to understand a little bit?ur
P
Qj@Through the message or sermons of the church service
If the word of God is compared to ingredients of the meals, and reading the Bible by yourself is cooking a meal at home, then messages at church services can be compared special and balanced diet cooked by professional cooks. Also, pastors share the words of God for the church and encourage and challenge the church and gives direction to the church.
Q
At SCG basically the members are required to listen to the weekly messages. CD messages or internet are available for those who could not attend the services. So please make sure you listen to the messages of The church.
R
R Bible study
It is done in small groups. And you can learn the Bible in more details.
S
SjMemorizing verses
Memorizing verses is not only about the knowledge of mind. It is stored in hearts and spirits.
(21)
TjReading aloud
Reading the Bible aloud is like confession. Faith is built up through that.iHeb.POFQRj
(22)
UjListen audibly
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.iRome10:17jThe CDs of the Bible reading are on sale. You may also read the Bible aloud and in that way you can listen to the Bible.
(23)
VjBible handbook or commentary@@@
It is important to receive from the word of God directly but it is also effective to learn from the history of the study of the Bible interpretation. You may be able to learn the Bible deeply by reading the Bible commentary or listening to the classes of the Bible school.
(24)
To know the historical backgroundF@If you think according to the Japanese customs, you may not understand the Bible correctly.
(25)
understanding from the original langugeF There is limitation in translation. Words in Japanese may be the same but in the original languague, other terms may be used. For example, ‘praise’ in Hebrew has 7 words and each has different meanings.