2 Peter 3:15 And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also
our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are
some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their
own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
2 Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest
you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the
wicked;
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Rule #6: The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted.
Rule #7: “A Text taken out of Context is a Con”
Ask yourself, “Is the verse a new thought or the continuation of the previous thought?”
This rule “A text taken out of context is a con” applies to Bible books as well.
For example, do not isolate the writings of Paul from the gospels of Christ or vice versa.
I. WHAT PAUL WROTE WAS SCRIPTURE.
2 Peter 3:15 …our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has
written to you,
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are
some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their
own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
There is a false teaching out there that the books of the Bible were chosen hundreds
of years later in the fourth century by the church and prior to that there was no
agreement on books that should be in or out of the Bible
J.I. Packer “The Church no more gave us the New Testament canon than Sir Isaac
Newton gave us the force of gravity. God gave us gravity, by His work of creation,
and similarly He gave us the New Testament canon, by inspiring the individual books
that make it up.”
Peter Gomes is an homosexual priest wrote in his book entitled ” The Good Book ”
“To base the church’s principle objections to homosexuality and homosexuals
on the basis of Paul’s imperfect knowledge is itself unprincipled …”
Thomas Jefferson letter to William Short, 13 April 1820
“I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely
benevolence: and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much
untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such
contradictions should have proceeded from the same being. I separate therefore
the gold from the dross; restore to him the former, & leave the latter to the stupidity
of some, and roguery of others of his disciples. of this band of dupes and impostors,
Paul was the great Coryphaeus, and first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus. these
palpable interpolations and falsifications of his doctrines led me to try to sift
them apart. I found the work obvious and easy …”
The Scriptures cannot be divided up, they have to be taken as a whole.
Jesus and Paul were full and complete agreement
II. WHAT PAUL WROTE WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which
are some things hard to be understood …”
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB) For the word of God is living …”
Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures.
Mark Twain said, “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother
me, it is the parts that I do understand.”
III. WHAT PAUL WROTE WAS TWISTED BY OTHERS.
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are
some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their
own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Clarence Craig said “The Bible has often been treated as if it were a wax nose
which may be twisted at the whim of the interpreter.”
Romans 3:8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are
slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
Romans 5:20 “…. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
Certainly not!
Can a person be saved and go on in the same ungodly sinful life pattern?
Can there be a true salvation experience and divine transaction that takes place
that has no impact on our life?
Because when we are born again, we are changed.
Because we are changed we can and will change.
God’s grace: 1. forgives us 2. changes our nature 3. changes our desires.
Romans 6:4 “… even so we also should walk in newness of life.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Rule #6: The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted.
I. The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted,
So we don’t want to interpret it wrong.
II. The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
because if it isn’t interpreted, then it can’t be put into action.
Psalms 112:7 They will have no fear of bad news;
Jeremiah 16:1-2 “The word of the LORD came to me: You shall not take a wife,
nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.”
Proverbs 21:19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and
fretful woman.
Matthew 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic.”
Leviticus 27:10 He shall not alter it, nor change it, …”
Revelation is what God said. Interpretation is what we think God said.
Somebody has to decide what it means, which is the interpretation of the text.
III. The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
and to interpret the Bible is hard work. It requires study!
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
What does it mean period is the issue, not what does it mean to you.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
IV. The Bible not only has to be read, it has to be interpreted —
but if interpreted wrongly, it must be unlearned in order to relearn.
Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,
and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without
a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother,
‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in
danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not
commit adultery.’
Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has
already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him
give her a certificate of divorce.’
Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason
except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries
a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Matthew 5:33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not
swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
Matthew 5:34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is
God’s throne;
” You have heard that it was said … ” (Unlearn this interpretation)
” But I tell you ” (Learn this interpretation)
Unlearning is twice as hard, and it often takes twice as long.
The celebration or observance of Christmas and Easter
Jesus was Born on December 25th
The Jews crucified Jesus
The devil has horns, a tail and a pitchfork
The devil can do whatever he pleases, He is as powerful as God
Satan rules hell, He can be all places at all times like God
There were only two of each animal on Noah’s ark
Elijah was taken up in a chariot (he was taken up in a whirlwind)
Samson was a muscle bound He-man
A whale swallowed Jonah
Mary Magdalene was a prostitute
Angels with wings
There are guardian angels
The word or even the concept of a “halo.”
Anyone praying with hands folded
Making the sign of the cross before doing anything
Any mention of the New Testament church celebrating Ash Wednesday, Advent, or
Lent.
Any mention of Mary remaining a virgin after Jesus’ birth
Any mention of Mary being worshiped or anyone else being worshiped but Jesus and
God the Father
Praying through any mediator other than Jesus
Purgatory exists
Religious titles such as pope, cardinal, archbishop, father, reverend, curate
Any mention that church leaders should wear different clothing than lay people
such as clerical collars, robes or rings
Any mention that there should be separate “departments” in the church for kids
Sunday School, youth groups, or men’s and women’s ministries
Any mention of how often to have church
Any mention of pews, pulpits, Lord’s tables, offering plates
The sinner’s prayer, altar calls
Women pastors
Women can’t wear pants.
Women can use makeup or not use makeup
Church music styles or musical instruments to use or not to use in worship
Promises of health/wealth/success, Name it, claim it, binding & loosing in spiritual
warfare, Seed faith (Sowing a seed as in financially)
New revelations/Prophetic words, deliverance ministries,
Slaying in the Spirit, Being drunk in the Spirit, Laughing in the Spirit
Speaking things into existence (only God can do that)
A second blessing
Evolution
The Earth is millions of years old
Any specific “age of accountability” for baptism.
Baptism by any means other than immersion
Christians can be demon possessed
We must never judge
Soul sleep
Suicide is an unforgivable sin.
V. The Bible not only has to be read, it has to be interpreted —
but not through the lens of liberalism or legalism.
Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,
and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without
a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother,
‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in
danger of hell fire.
Trent Horn, an author, speaker and podcaster, is a Roman Catholic and an opponent
of abortion rights.
“The Bible does not explicitly mention abortion, so it doesn’t say that abortion itself
is wrong, but it also doesn’t say that infanticide is wrong or that pedophilia is wrong.
Instead, I use scripture to inform me with general principles. The Bible is clear in
Exodus 23:7 and Proverbs 6:16-17 that it is wrong to kill innocent human beings.
Proverbs 6 says that God hates the hands that shed innocent blood.
If the Bible says that it’s wrong to kill innocent human beings, and science and
sound reasoning tell us that human embryos and human fetuses are human beings,
then the Bible informs me that it is wrong to kill them.
What’s more relevant is that the Bible says human life exists in the womb (Luke 1:41)
and the Bible prohibits killing innocent human beings (Exodus 20:13). This prohibition
would apply to abortion as it would to any other homicide. Because the unborn are
just smaller, more dependent human beings, those differences don’t nullify their
jinalienable right to life.”
Laura Ellis supports legal abortion rights and is project manager at Baptist Women
in Ministry, a National Baptist group that advocates for women in ministry.
We have to be really careful when we try to take a topic as complicated as
abortion and try to justify it or condemn it through a single verse or a couple
of verses that are taken out of context. The Bible is an incredibly complicated
book written by multiple people over different historical and social contexts.
It could be irresponsible to just pull out a sentence or two and relate them to
21st-century America. The Bible does not talk explicitly about abortion, pro or
con in any kind of way. It’s just not there.
When I think about the kind of scriptures that people who are anti-abortion pull
out, they are often about murder, sexual immorality and blaming women.
They are so taken out of context. I fall back to drawing from the life and ministry
of Christ. Jesus really advocated for women in a beautiful, unique way for the time
period he was living in. Even by being with women and speaking to women, he was
honoring them and breaking social conventions. Both in Jesus’s day and in our day,
women’s bodies are too often tossed aside. I think Jesus would not approve of that.
There are biblical stories where Jesus advocated for and empowered women.
In John 4: 1-42, Jesus engaged with the woman at the well and empowered her to
spread his teachings. In Luke 8: 43-48, Jesus dropped everything to speak with and
help the woman who touched his garment. And in Matthew 28: 1-20, Jesus entrusted
the good news of his resurrection to women.”
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing
the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Jude 1:4 (NLT) I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way
into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral
lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have
denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:4 (NIV) “… They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into
a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
“Both women and men are seen as vessels through which the Spirit works, and the
Spirit equips all believers for myriad ministries including the role of pastor within
the church. This basic understanding affirms the inherent worth and potential of
all followers of Christ.”
Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,
Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause
Matthew 5: 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom
of heaven.
The letter of the law is “Thou shalt not kill”
The spirit of the law is “Thou shalt not hate”
1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer
has eternal life abiding in him.
John 15:24 “… but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
John 15:25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in
their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
VI. The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
and it takes a good deal of humility to interpret it correctly.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise
and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Luke 24:27 (ESV) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to
them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation,
2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Acts 8:30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said,
Do you understand what you are reading?
Acts 8:31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip
to come up and sit with him.
Rule #1: Unless we’ve been born again we cannot understand the Word of God
Rule #2: All the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, Prayer, and Worship go through
Meditation that honors God.
Rule #3: We must read our Bible prayerfully
Through His Word, God talks to us, through prayer we talk to God,
Rule #4 We are to take God Word, His every Word, as Food for living.
Rule #5: All of the Bible is about Jesus
Rule #6: The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
Luke 24:27 (ESV) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to
them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
I didn’t have potatoes,
so I substituted rice.
I didn’t have paprika,
so I used another spice.
I didn’t have tomato sauce,
so I used tomato paste.
A whole can not a half can –
I don’t believe in waste.
My friend gave me the recipe –
she said you couldn’t beat it.
There must be something wrong with her,
I couldn’t even eat it.
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from
it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Revelation 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of
this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are
written in this book;
Revelation 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this book.
I. The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted,
So we don’t want to interpret it wrong.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation,
2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will
be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even
denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
“Unity describes itself as having no particular creed, set dogma, or required ritual.
It maintains that there is good in every approach to God and holds that one should
focus on the potential good in all—that the essence of every human is divine regardless
of current behavior.”
Unity teaches the divinity of Jesus and of all human beings.
Unity considers Jesus an “elder brother” or “wayshower”
2 Peter 2:1 “… denying the Lord who bought them, …”
2 Peter 2:2 (ESV) And many will follow their sensuality …”
The word “sensuality” refers to uninhibited sexual indulgence without shame and
without concern for what others think or how they may be affected.
J.I. Packer said, “Heretics are those preach tolerance of sins, Christians are those
who preach repentance of sin.”
2 Peter 2:2 (ESV) “… and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed
2 Peter 2:1 “…. and bring on themselves swift destruction.
II. The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
because if it isn’t interpreted, then it can’t be put into action.
Acts 8:30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said,
Do you understand what you are reading?
Acts 8:31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip
to come up and sit with him.
Somebody has to decide what it means, which is the interpretation of the text.
Now if it isn’t interpreted, then it can’t be put into action.
A Bible passage may have many applications but it always has one intended meaning.
Acts 8:31 “… And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a
sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened
not His mouth.
Acts 8:33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His
generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
Acts 8:34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the
prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached
Jesus to him.
Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch
said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Acts 8:38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Isaiah 35:8 A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway
of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever
walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.
Isaiah 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them
in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from
their sight.
Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He
talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
The Lord was alive from the dead, and so were the Old Testament Scriptures.
Luke 24:33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found
the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
Luke 24:34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
Luke 24:35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and
how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them,
and said to them, “Peace to you.”
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while
I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law
of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures.
In the book of Joshua, Jesus could say” I am the scarlet cord in the window.”
Joshua 2:18 Unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord
in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father,
your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.
Joshua 2:21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them
away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
John 1:29 John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!
1 John 1:7 … the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
In Judges, Jesus could say, “I am the ultimate Judge of judges.”
Judges 2:16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the
hand of those who plundered them.
James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.
Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
In Ruth, Jesus could say ” I am the kinsman redeemer.”
Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you
must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the
name of the dead through his inheritance.”
Ruth 4:6 “… You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.
name of the dead through his inheritance.”
Ruth 4:6 “… You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.
other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
Ruth 4:10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as
my wife,
Hebrews 9:12 “… with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all,
having obtained eternal redemption.
1 Peter 1:18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like
silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot.
In 1&2 Samuel, I was the pure-hearted shepherd king, who rushed out to face your
giants all alone.
In 1&2 Kings, I was the righteous ruler.
In 1&2 Chronicles, I was the restorer of the kingdom.
In Ezra, I was the faithful scribe.
In Nehemiah, I was the rebuilder of the walls.
In Esther, I was your advocate, risking my life to restore you to royalty.
In Lamentations, “I am the weeping prophet.”
Lamentations 1:16 “For these things I weep; My eye, my eye overflows with water;
Jeremiah 9:1 Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
Luke 19:42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things
that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
In Ezekiel, “I am the river of life bringing healing to the nations.”
Ezekiel 47:1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water,
flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the
temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple,
south of the altar.
Ezekiel 47:8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes
down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are
healed.
Ezekiel 47:9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go,
will live.
John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water.”
In Daniel, “I am the one coming with the clouds whom every eye will see.”
Daniel 7:13 “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought
Him near before Him.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even
they who pierced Him…
In Hosea, “I am the ever-faithful husband pursuing my unfaithful bride.”
Hosea 3:1 (ESV) And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by
another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel,
though they turn to other gods.
Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
Revelation 2:4 “… I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
In Joel “I am the One who pours out the Holy Spirit.”
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Of course at the birth of church, Peter quoted from Joel chapter 2 when the Holy
Spirit arrived on the day of Pentecost
In Jonah “I am the one spending three days and three nights in the grave”
Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah
was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the
great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of
the earth.
In Micah, “I am the everlasting ruler born to us in Bethlehem.”
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands
of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose
goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king …”
In Zechariah, “I am the pierced Son whom every eye on earth will one day behold.”
Zechariah 12:10 “… then they will look on Me whom they have pierced. Yes, they will
mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves
for a firstborn.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately
blood and water came out.
John 19:37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
Isaiah 53:5 (ESV) But he was pierced for our transgressions;…”
In Amos I am seen as the Burden-Bearer
In Obadiah, I am the Sovereign Lord who goes to battle for His people
In Nahum, I am the Avenger of God’s elect.
In Habakkuk, I am the reason to rejoice even when the fields are empty.
In Zephaniah, I am the great Reformer.
In Haggai, I am the cleansing fountain.
In Malachi, I am the Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in my wings
Acts 8:27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great
authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her
treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
Acts 8:28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
Acts 8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep
to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,So He opened not His mouth.
Acts 8:33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His
generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
Acts 8:34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the
prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached
Jesus to him.
Rule #5: All of the Bible is about Jesus
Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the
eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he
answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Jesus is the hero of the Bible. Satan is the villain. Salvation is the theme.
I’m comin’ back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus
Rule #1: Unless we’ve been born again we cannot know Christ and understand
the Word of God
Rule #2: All the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, Prayer, and Worship go through
Meditation that honors God.
Rule #3: We must read our Bible prayerfully
Through His Word, God talks to us, through prayer we talk to God,
Rule #4 We are to take God Word, His every Word, as Food for Living.
Rule #5: All of the Bible is about Jesus.
Luke 24:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village
called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luke 24:15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew
near and went with them.
Luke 24:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them
in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He
talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
In Genesis, Jesus was the Word of God, creating the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that
was made
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:16 “…. All things were created through Him and for Him.
As the Last Adam Jesus came to undo everything the First Adam had done.
Genesis 2:19 “… And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.
Romans 5:14 (NLT) …Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was
yet to come.
1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
The First Adam brought death to the living;
The Last Adam Jesus brought life to the dying.
The Last Adam Jesus obeyed and regained what the first Adam had lost
Where Adam has failed, Jesus has triumphed.
In Adam there is death, and in Jesus there is eternal life.
In the seed of the woman, Jesus came to redeem the human race.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall
call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
In Adam and Eve’s covering, Jesus was the garment of salvation.
Genesis 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and
clothed them.
Hebrews 9:22 “…. and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Isaiah 61:10 “For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered
me with the robe of righteousness …
As Noah’s Ark, Jesus became the gospel ship of salvation from the flood of sin.
Genesis 6:13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for
the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with
the earth.
Genesis 6:14 Make yourself an ark …”
1 Peter 3:20 (NLT) “… God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat.
Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
1 Peter 3:21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by
removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience.
It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Abraham’s offering Jesus revealed He is the perfect sacrifice and substitute.
Genesis 22:2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Genesis 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was
a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered
it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Galatains 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations
shall be blessed.”
In Jacob’s Ladder Jesus revealed I am the way to Heaven.
Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and
the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and
descending on it.
John 1:51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see
heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me.
In the passover lamb, Jesus was foreshadowed.
Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are.
And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you
to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
1 Corinthians 5:7 …For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1 Thessalonians 1:10 …Even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
In the Manna in the wilderness Jesus was the true living bread from heaven.
Exodus 16:14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness,
was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
Exodus 16:15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another,
“What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them,
This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.
John 6:48 I am the bread of life.
John 6:49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
John 6:50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it
and not die.
The manna came down from heaven, Jesus came down from heaven.
It was miraculous manna, Jesus was miraculous,
The manna was round, it spoke of Jesus’ eternality, no beginning, no ending
The manna was white that spoke of His purity,
The manna lay upon the ground which spoke of Jesus’ humiliation,
The manna had to be picked up which spoke of Jesus’ resurrection
The manna had to be eaten that speaks of our trusting the Lord and feeding on Him
In the water from the Smitten Rock Jesus revealed Himself as dying on the cross.
Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you
shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”
1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came
there out blood and water.
The tabernacle was a picture of Jesus Christ and His salvation.
Exodus 25:8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
Exodus 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle,
and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Hebrews 9:1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service
and the earthly sanctuary.
Hebrews 9:2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand,
the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;
Hebrews 9:3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called
the Holiest of All,
Hebrews 9:4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on
all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod
that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
Hebrews 9:5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy
seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
The tabernacle had a door. Christ said, “I am the door.”
It had a brazen altar, Jesus said He was the altar, the ransom for many.
It had a laver, Jesus said He would wash and cleanse us.
It had lamps, Jesus said He was the light.
It had bread, Jesus said He was the bread.
It had insense, Jesus said, “My prayers ascend for you.”
It had a veil, Jesus said, “The veil is my body.”
The tabernacle had a mercy seat, Jesus said, “I am the mercy seat.”
The ark was the visible symbol of God’s presence(inside was Aaron’s budded staff,
the broken stone tablets of the ten commandments, gold jar of manna)
Aaron’s Rod that Budded in Numbers 17 was a type of Resurrection life
In the Brazen Serpent in Numbers Jesus revealed His judgement for mankind on the cross.
Numbers 21:8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole;
and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.”
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus became the curse hung on a tree by His crucifixion.
Deuteronomy 21:22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put
to death, and you hang him on a tree,
Deuteronoly 21:23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely
bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving
you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become
a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
In the fulfillment of the law, Jesus took care of the curse of the Law.
Deuteronomy 27:26 ‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this
law by observing them.’
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
John 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
In the Wisdom Books I revealed I am the wisdom of God.
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!…
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God and the wisdom of God.
In the Songs of the Psalms Jesus was the Lord they are singing to.
Psalm 96:1 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Psalm 96:2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His
salvation from day to day.
Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
In Psalm 22, we have a graphic picture of death by crucifixion.
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Jesus is called the son of both David and Abraham.
Genesis 11:27 This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Haran begot Lot.
Ruth 4:22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.
Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the
Son of Abraham:
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the
throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and
justice from that time forward, even forever.
Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Matthew 22:42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
Matthew 22:43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’
saying:
Matthew 22:44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your
enemies Your footstool”’?
Matthew 22:45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
Matthew 22: 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did
anyone dare question Him anymore.
Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures.
Revelation 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
‘Revelation 3:7 “… These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has
‘the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he
shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
