OCTOBER 2014
READ IT
for YOURSELF
In this issue
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What are the Keys to Answered Prayer?
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Why You Can Have Confidence in the Bible charles r. swindoll
6 Punctuating Your Faith with Doctrine robyn roste
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11 When in Doubt, Check it Out steve johnson 14
Q & A: How do I get something out of the Bible without using study tools? steve johnson
8 Eating God's Words scott tolhurst
Copyright Š 2014 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Insights is published by IFLC, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NASB. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Laura Vanderwel. Printed in Canada.
hat is your final authority in life? Before you answer too quickly, think about it for a few moments. When you’re cornered, when you’re facing an intimidating obstacle, when you’re forced to deal with reality, upon whom or what do you lean? There can be no more reliable authority on earth than God’s Word, the Bible. This timeless, trustworthy source of truth holds the key that unlocks life’s mysteries. It alone provides us with the shelter and protection we need in times of storm. But we need to understand why. Why does this book qualify as our final authority?
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God’s Book Is God’s Voice Scripture is God’s Word (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Think of it this way: if our Lord were to make Himself visible and return to earth and speak His message, it would be in keeping with the Bible. His message of truth would tie in exactly with what you see in Scripture. When you rely on God’s voice—His very message—you are standing on a sure foundation; you have trustworthy truth. God’s Word Will Endure Do you realize there are only two eternal things on earth today? Only two: people and God’s Word. Everything else will ultimately be burned up. Kind of sets your priorities straight, doesn’t it? The stuff we place on the shelf, the things we put frames around, the trophies and awards we shine and show off—it’s all headed for the final bonfire (2 Peter 3:7, 10–12). But not God’s truth! It “endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). Grass will grow and then it will wither; flowers will bloom and then they Why You Can Have Confidence in the Bible continued from p. 3
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will die. But God’s written message, the truth, will abide forever (Isaiah 40:7–8). His Word will endure! God’s Word Is Inspired But wait. How can we get so excited about something that was written by men? We have no problem with the Giver of truth. He gave it . . . but wasn’t the truth corrupted when He relayed it to earth through the hands and minds of sinful men? This is the perfect moment for you to become acquainted with three doctrinal terms: revelation, inspiration, and illumination. Revelation occurred when God gave His truth. Inspiration occurred when the writers of Scripture received and recorded His truth. Today, illumination occurs when we understand and apply His truth. The critical issue—your confidence in the Bible—is directly related to your confidence in its inspiration. How then can we be sure that God’s Word is free from error, absolutely true, and therefore, deserving of our complete trust? Paul provides great help in answering this question: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) When God revealed His truth for human writers to record, He “breathed out” His Word. But did the writers of Scripture simply take dictation? When we read the Bible, it’s clear that Peter doesn’t sound like John; John doesn’t sound like David. Somehow each writer’s personality was preserved without corrupting the text with human weakness and error. That rules out the notion of dictation. So how did God cause this to happen? Second Peter 1:21 gives us a further clue:
“For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” The English phrase moved by is translated from a Greek nautical term describing ships at sea. When a ship has lost its sails and is at the mercy of the winds, waves, and currents of the sea, it is “moved by” a power apart from its own. That’s the word used here. When writers of Scripture received God’s Word, the Holy Spirit supernaturally guided their writing instruments as they were “moved by” His leading to write His truth. God’s Word Will Hold You Up Our conclusion is this: in the Bible we have the preservation of a completely dependable, authoritative, inspired text. So we must ask ourselves: Can I rely on it, especially when I go through chaotic experiences in life? My answer—and I pray it is your answer—is absolutely and unequivocally YES! The wonderful thing about relying on God’s Word is that it gives you stability. It gives you that deep sense of purpose and meaning. No other counsel will get you through the long haul. No other truth will help you stand firm in the storms of doubt and uncertainty. No other reality will give you sufficient strength for each day and sure hope for tomorrow. No other instruction has the power to give new meaning to your life. Taken from The Living Insights Study Bible by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1996 by Charles R. Swindoll. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com.
Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.
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by robyn roste
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hose who know me well understand my passion for grammar. But I wasn’t always this way. In fact grammar didn’t mean much when I studied writing and journalism at university. I knew I was a decent writer and assumed I didn’t need to put the work into mastering the rules since I was a “natural.” Part of my degree included courses on punctuation. I had no time for it—I should
have been in the field, making waves and wowing readers with my reporting prowess. Instead I was stuck in a classroom combing through worksheets searching for comma splices. What a waste! But then one day something clicked and my grammatical life was forever changed. Commas WERE important. In fact, commas were IMPORTANT! It was like an awakening and from that point on I studied grammar with enthusiastic voracity.
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And, wouldn’t you know it, my writing the truth stick in my life. An opportunity I may not have recognized had I not been improved. Something so mundane as the rules of jolted into action. There seems to be a cultural trend to grammar proved to be the foundation I needed to find confidence and establish let other people tell us what we think. It’s subtle but we often take what we read my voice. When I think of doctrine in the Christian online and hear on the radio as fact, when it should simply be a life, I liken it to gramlaunching point into mar. Doctrine is boring. "There seems to be a our own research. And It’s old school. But wait… is that true? Maybe cultural trend to let this goes for what we doctrine is actually the other people tell us learn from the pulpit at church or around the key to a passionate and what we think." table at home as well. vibrant faith. What we hear from othI have one more story from school, which takes this idea a bit ers may very well be true but it’s important we develop our own research and discernfurther. As embarrassing as this is to admit, it took ment skills. This means taking what we’ve learned till I was nearly 20 before I was even suspicious of how sheltered my life was. I grew up and weighing it against what the Bible says. Chuck Swindoll says sound doctrine is assuming everyone else was just like me. My first whiff of something different invaluable and it’s the key to combatting was when I attended a Bible school whose biblical illiteracy. He also lists six reasons denomination was not the one I was raised for why we should continue to study what in. As the year progressed there were more the Bible says, even though we “already and more instances where I realized how know what it says.” different I was from the majority. Their lingo wasn’t familiar. I didn’t 1. It gives substance to my faith know the answers to seemingly simple 2. It stabilizes me during times of testing questions. Their comfort food references 3. It enables me to handle the Bible correctly 4. It equips me to detect and confront error were foreign. I felt like an outsider. It made me ques- 5. It makes me confident in my walk tion everything including my faith, which 6. It filters out my fears and superstitions1 is what we were supposed to have in common at Bible school. If we don’t know what we don’t know Turns out the traditions and rote of my then it’s easy to believe what’s not true. It’s upbringing were intertwined with the only with a solid grasp of what the Bible articles of my faith. This sharp awaken- says (and doesn’t say) that we can be confiing launched me into arduous process of dent in what we believe and why. separating what was “Christian,” what was 1. Charles R. Swindoll, The Value of Knowing the Scoop “denomination,” and what was “tradition.” (Insight for Living, 1985). Although this wasn’t an easy process I am so thankful I went through it. I had the Robyn Roste is the Living Bridge Media manager at opportunity to sort out my faith and make Insight for Living Canada.
Eating
GOD'S WORD
by scott tolhurst
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There are five paths to the brain. Minds are informed in our capacity to touch, taste, see, hear, and smell. aste was a path of insight for Jeremiah. He found wisdom through his stomach. When God spoke to the prophet, he didn’t just listen. He ate what God said! “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16 ESV). The prophet devoured God’s truth and found His Word tasty. He assumed that others called by God’s name would also be gourmets of wisdom. There were others. Both Ezekiel and John dined on what God had to say (Ezekiel 3:1, Revelation 10:9). Three meals. One principle. We feed on the Word of God. Three pictures. One word. Meditation—by which the truth becomes part of us. Meditation is highly valued within Scripture. Joshua was commanded to meditate upon God’s Law day and night (Joshua 1:8). The book of Psalms begins with an assurance of blessing upon those who meditate upon God’s Word (Psalm 1:2). Clearly, meditation is an appropriate response to God’s Word. It’s not our default response. We’re prone to treat the Bible like a textbook and we’re cram-
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ming for a test. We know how to read, analyze, colour code, timeline, and graph the Scriptures, (all good!) but meditation is a neglected skill. In fact, meditation is suspect by some. Christians are not the only ones who meditate and non–biblical practices create an “arm’s length” attitude when it comes to this discipline. But, just because others eat in unhealthy ways, it does not mean we all should avoid eating. So allow me to offer a brief corrective. Some picture meditation as a process of discharge—carving out internal empty space. Biblical meditation is not a void to maintain with empty head and heart. There is content to biblical meditation. We are to consider deeply the works and words of God. Paul commanded that we think on things that are just and excellent (Philippians 4:8). The cup is to be filled, not emptied. Some view meditation as a skill for self-improvement. Meditation is a verb where we are both the subjects and objects. But God is the focus of our soul’s attention. Biblical meditation is not a route for self-awareness or a ladder to achieve self-fulfilment. Gospel people embrace the good news that our Saviour does for us what we could never do or
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receive on our own. This grace is for His glory. He is always centre stage. So while there may be some overlap of language and practice, biblical meditation is as distinct from its popular expressions as day is from night. It remains a command and a promise from God.
"We’re prone to treat the Bible like a textbook and we’re cramming for a test." So how do we do it? What does meditation look like? If you allow me to over squeeze the metaphor, I will quote my mother with table wisdom. If meditation is like eating God’s Word, then: “Chew Your Food.” Scripture is to be chewed. Spend time with it. In meditation we return to a text, not just to swallow, but to process its truth reflectively for our whole life. “Take Small Bites.” Gulping chapters of Scripture may provide chunks of information, but meditation is not about data. It’s
about heart change, which is often incremental. Small bites will go a long way. “Eat Slowly.” The way we hurry our devotional space, God must wonder if we have somewhere better to be. Meditation by its nature can’t be rushed. Take time to be present. There is no spiritual fast food. “Don't rush after eating.” Indigestion results from eating and running. Let the pace of meditation guide your day. It invites us to rest in the truth God has given. Our feet may scurry but our souls don't have to. “Eat frequent small meals.” David turned his soul Godward seven times in a day (Psalm 119:164). Seven times may be more than you can handle, but meditation is a discipline that flourishes with repetition. “Don’t skip the table.” Loss of appetite signals ill health. Avoiding reflective heart engagement of Scripture may suggest deeper problems. Scott Tolhurst is the lead pastor at Richmond Bethel Church in Richmond, BC.
ON THE AIR IN NOVEMBER
Adventuring With God Following in the Apostles’ Footsteps Do you ever find yourself stuck in the stale rut of sameness? Chuck’s study exploring the extraordinary Acts of the Apostles isn’t just about their lives—it’s about your adventure too. Reject motionless Christianity and embrace the thrilling passion modelled by age-old examples of genuine faith.
UPCOMING MESSAGES INCLUDE: Touching Others’ Lives Being Transformed Prevailing through Prayer Adjusting to Change
by steve johnson
f there is a God why is He allowing the things around the world to happen? The more I read and listen to what is going on I become more and more doubtful that there is even a God….” So began a letter I recently received. Questioning the Bible is not new. What’s new is people now have greater access to information than ever before. Information can be a good thing, but if not handled properly then confidence in Scripture is weakened and faith is undermined. Scripture shows us three ways confidence in Scripture is undermined and what we can do about it.
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1. Unresolved Doubt. God and His Word were first doubted in the Garden of Eden. For many, the journey into unbelief begins as unresolved doubt and unanswered questions. We see doubt arise when Satan twists God’s Word by asking Eve, “did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NLT). What God actually said was, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Satan’s questioning was motivated by pride and setting himself up as judge of God and His Word. It made Eve doubt God’s goodness toward her. Doubts are not a bad thing if they are couched in humility and move us toward greater knowledge, faith, and growth instead of toward unbelief. We can use our doubts to move us to faith by confronting them and finding answers to our questions. Like doubting Thomas, we ought When in Doubt, Check it Out continued from p. 11
to look and see (John 20: 24-29). When in doubt, check it out. Put your finger on the issues and prayerfully explore them. Don’t allow doubt to go unresolved or harden into unbelief. For questions we may never have answers for, we need to remember to focus on the Lord and what we do know. Like Paul said, “I know whom I have believed…” (2 Timothy 1:12). Focusing on the doubt, questions, or what we don’t know won’t help—focusing on Him whom we do know does.
"We can use our doubts to move us to faith by confronting them and finding answers to our questions."
2. Blatant Denial. Once the seeds of doubt were planted in Eve’s mind, Satan followed up with a blatant denial of what God had said. “You won’t die!” (Genesis 3:4). Create doubt then assert a denial. This is one of Satan’s main strategies. Some scientific claims seem to deny Scripture. Mainstream media has created doubt and made denials about biblical truth with films such as The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Da Vinci Code (2006) and Noah (2014). There have also been questions coming from inside the evangelical church regarding the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture and the reality and eternality of hell.
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Doubt about these things prompt people to ask, “If the Bible has errors how can we trust it? If it’s wrong about some things, can it be wrong about things like our salvation? Can we have confidence in its teachings?” We need to handle denials the same as we handle doubt. Use them as springboards to discover truth and review and reaffirm facts we know to be true. When it comes to science and the Bible we also need to remember that God wrote two books: the book of nature, which is interpreted by science, and the book of Scripture, which is interpreted by theology. Because God wrote both books, they aren’t in contradiction. When they seem contradictory it’s our knowledge and interpretations of the books, which are faulty. 3. Subtle Deception. “The serpent deceived me…” (Genesis 3:13). Two things that make us vulnerable to deception are, first, not knowing what God has already revealed in His Word and, second, conjectures about things He hasn’t revealed.
When Satan told his lie, Eve was deceived because she believed something God hadn’t revealed. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (NIV). One of Satan’s key strategies is to twist Scripture. We can avoid deception by knowing what God has actually said. That means reading and studying our Bibles. Satan’s other key strategy is to lie or supply misinformation in areas God has not revealed. We can also avoid deception by knowing what God hasn’t said. Ultimately, we must be content to let God have His secrets and not question His character. And that is a choice of faith. Questions about God and His Word are natural. When questions come, we shouldn’t be afraid to ask them in honest humility. Doing that will only make our faith grow stronger. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
THIS MONTH'S FEATURED RESOURCE
Meeting God in
PEACEFUL PLACES 2015 Insight for Living Canada Wall Calendar
by steve johnson
How do I get something out of the Bible without using study tools?
There are two skills I suggest learning for improving your Bible study: how to read Scripture and how to observe. When mastered, these skills will help you unlock Scriptural truths. Reading the Bible is unlike anything else because it is a book unlike anything else. Here are five ways to get the most out of your Bible reading. 1. Approach it as if for the first time. Several things can help with this. Try to use an unmarked text without study notes. Markings and notes can be distracting or hinder fresh insights. Try using a different translation, which can help you see things with fresh eyes and bring out nuances in the text. Websites like biblegateway.com or youversion.com provide many free
Bible versions. Try reading aloud or listening to audio Bibles—you will notice things you didn’t realize were there. 2. Read slowly with a questioning, engaged, and active mind. In order to get the most out of a passage ask Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? continually. It takes time to read and ask these questions but they are the questions that unearth meaning. 3. Read a passage repeatedly. Emphasize different words as you read different passages. Mull them over. Read with a view to discovering the main idea the author was trying to convey. 4. Read prayerfully. It is the Spirit of God who opens our hearts
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and minds to understand. A prayerful mind asking God’s Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to truth is essential to Bible reading and study.
therefore or then? Are there any figures of speech like simile, metaphor, and hyperbole? Many times it is these little words we miss that are so important.
5. Read purposefully. Don’t just pick random passages. Instead work systematically through a book. In addition to your slow reading, read through the book at least once in one sitting. This will help you discover the big picture, themes, and purpose of each book. Aside from learning how to read Scripture we need to learn how to observe Scripture. The two go together. Learning to observe is necessary because there is no other writing like the Bible. In observing Scripture we need to think like a detective searching for clues. It is the art of paying attention to the details. Here are five tips for learning to observe Scripture.
"A prayerful mind asking God’s Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to truth is essential to Bible reading and study."
1. Notice the context before and after the passage. Context is a key determiner of understanding what is being said. Observing context helps determine factors that impact meaning, such as geographic location, time frame, people involved, and reasons for the writing. Without understanding the context we cannot understand what the author was trying to say.
5. Write down questions and observations. Jotting down ideas is a good way to keep our minds fully engaged and clarify our thinking. You can also write down other verses that relate to what you are reading. And keeping your notes as a reference for comparison to other passages you study will provide even more benefit to your overall understanding of God’s Word.
2. Take note of things that are emphasized and recurring. Things like words, phrases, themes, or word-patterns are clues that, when collected, help render meaning.
Learning to read and observe Scripture aren’t all that is needed for getting something out of the Bible, but it’s a good place to start.
4. Analyze. Throughout the process of reading and observing we need to be analyzing. Ask, “Why is this important?” “How does this connect to what I already know?” and “Why do I want to remember this?” By doing this every time you get into Scripture your base of knowledge will increase and relating Scripture to Scripture will unlock even more biblical insight.
I hope this helps. 3. Watch for related ideas. Are there contrasting ideas signalled by words like but and however? Are there sequential ideas signalled by words like
Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
PREPARE
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HEART
A Promise Kept: Picture yourself in the real-life drama of history— A Pictorial Journey of His story, the birth of Jesus Christ. the Coming of Christ Your entire family will enjoy the spectacular photographs throughout the 25 devotionals in this beautiful softcover reg. $16.00 Advent devotional by Insight for Living.
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On Sale in
OCTOBER A Promise Kept: A Pictorial Journey of the Coming of Christ softcover Advent devotional by Insight for Living, 72 pages
Twenty-five devotionals and spectacular photographs combine to tell the Christmas story. Includes discussion questions for individuals, families, or small groups to go deeper into God’s Word during Advent.
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A Prophet We Can Trust
NIV Life Application Study Bible
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Modern-day prophets predict the time of the second coming of Christ, claiming to speak for God. But are they trustworthy? Chuck helps answer that question in this timely message.
This beautiful leather-bound Bible features information on Bible life and times and shows you how to “take it personally,” as God’s Word speaks to every situation and circumstance of your life.
order/donate at insightforliving.ca or call 1.800.663.7639 offer expires NOVEMBER 30, 2014
Absolute Essentials 4 CD messages
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The Way of Truth in a World of Fiction: Beyond The Da Vinci Code 14 CD messages + Bible companion
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Insight’s Bible Reading Guides: Old and New Testament set of two paperbacks by Insight for Living, 120 pages each
Read the entire Bible in two years with this five-day reading system. These guides will help you to apply God’s wisdom—from Genesis to Revelation—to your everyday life.
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on the air THIS MONTH Abraham: One Nomad’s Amazing Journey of Faith 22 CD messages + Bible companion + bonus CD
Abraham was called God’s friend because of his faith, not his pedigree. As you witness a weak man’s transformation into a hero of faith, you’ll learn what it takes to be “the friend of God.”
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THIS MONTH’S featured resource
Meeting God in Peaceful Places 2015 Insight for Living Canada wall calendar, 9.5” x 10.8”
As you turn from one month to the next, stunning Canadian photographs will encourage you to seek out relaxing places to meet with God, all year long.
first copy
$5.00 additional $12.00 copies: $9.00
PLUS TAX
Biblical Parenting 12 CD messages + Bible companion + bonus CD
With humour and practicality, Chuck walks you through the highs and lows of parenting. You’ll be encouraged to persevere in your pursuit of being a godly (and fun!) parent.
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Insight’s New Testament Handbook: A Practical Look at Each Book
Insight’s Bible Handbook: Practical Helps for Bible Study
paperback by Insight for Living, 172 pages
paperback by Insight for Living, 134 pages
Increase your knowledge of the New Testament with this easy-to-read handbook. It provides overviews of each New Testament book, along with helpful charts, maps, and insights.
Our handbook will equip you to do meaningful Bible studies and help you discover the who, what, where, when, why, and how of God’s Word.
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Finding and Following God’s Will booklet by Charles R. Swindoll, 52 pages
“What would God have me to do?” Chuck examines the Scriptures to help you find and follow the sometimes winding, often mysterious, and always rewarding path of God’s will.
T H IS M ONT H ’ S F EATURE D RE S O URCE
A calendar measures time’s passing in days, months, and years. We know we need to make the most of our opportunities, but we also need rest. Our 2015 wall calendar, Meeting God in Peaceful Places, is designed around this concept. Pairing stunning Canadian landscape photographs with thoughtful quotes from Chuck Swindoll, our 2015 calendar will inspire reflection and praise all year long.