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“Help in Understanding the Bible”

(Revised from 7/15/2012)

John 6:21… Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. (NKJV)

For all of you that have read this opening piece of scripture from the Bible…I am curious as to how many actually took notice that this scripture has a minor miracle, thrown in with one of Jesus’ more memorable miracles. The opening scripture was written by the apostle John…and comes at the very end of Jesus’ walk on water…John 6:15-21…

Notice in this opening scripture, this immediate transfer of the boat from out in the middle of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:24)…to their final destination in Bethsaida (Mark 6:45).

We see the miracle of Jesus walking on water in two other gospels…Matthew 14:22-33…&…Mark 6:45-52… I find it interesting that all three accounts give us a little different perspective on this memorable miracle performed by Jesus. Only Matthew records the fact that Peter jumped out of the boat, and started walking on water when he saw Jesus. And only the apostle John recorded this minor miracle, which both Matthew and Mark did not document. This is why we must read all 4 gospels of Christ, to get a complete picture of the life of Jesus, and His disciples.

The point of today’s writing, is to give all of you two things that have helped me personally, get more out of my Q/T(quiet time) reading the Word. Several years ago, my now ex son-in-law Scott, was teaching the youth group at my previous church, where I was sitting in the back of the class as one of the leaders. He suggested to the teens that they say a little prayer before they start to read their Bible…and the Holy Spirit will help them understand what they are reading.

The apostle James teaches us this about spiritual wisdom, in…James 1:5-6… If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (NKJV)

God gives all Christian’s the Holy Spirit, the moment they become one of His redeemed children. And the apostle John writes this about the Holy Spirit, in…John 14:26… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (NKJV)

Indeed the Holy Spirit will help the Christian understand what they read in the Bible…IF… #1 – They are indeed a Christian in God’s eyes to begin with… And #2 – It helps if the Christian is Spirit filled; and not relying on their own wisdom without seeking His help.

After the first 3 months or so of my then daily writing, I remember going to the pastor of my church, and asking him if he had any thoughts about what I could write on. You see, I was relying on my own wisdom to look for good topics, because I had taken back control from the Holy Spirit. He was always there with-in me…but He was just sitting back, waiting for me to give Him back control of my life. My peace and my joy that I once had were gone. And so was the help of the Holy Spirit, to give me ideas on what to write about.

Immediately…when I humbly prayed to the Lord to take back control of my life on 6/04/2009…my peace and my joy returned with the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20). With the Holy Spirits help, in the small chapter 3 of Colossians…I made notes on 11 topics for possible future writing !!

I now always try to remember to pray before my daily Q/T reading. But I am also doing my best to allow the Holy Spirit to completely control of my life. This one fact alone, about being helped by the Holy Spirit with topics to write about…is to me, 100% positive proof in my own life, how the Holy Spirit can help the Christian who allows Him total charge of their lives. This is the very important lesson for today’s writing.

The Bible is packed with big, life changing treasures God wants us to find…as well as things like this small, obscure miracle I noticed this last time I was reading the Book of John. I just went back and counted 252 topics I have noted to write about, since that day less than 3 months ago !! (This was back in 2009)

This is an actual realized benefit in my life…along with the absolute peace and joy I was missing. For me, this is only because I try to remain filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit. He will take a back seat, and let us flounder in life…if we take back control from Him, thinking we know better than God Himself.

May God be glorified by His presence in my life, as revealed in today’s writing.

Heavenly Father, I pray my actual life experiences will be seen and understood as absolute proof…that total control of our life by the Holy Spirit, will make a big difference in all areas of our lives. I pray Lord, that all of Your children would humble themselves, allowing the Holy Spirit to totally control their lives. I pray for this total submission, and the richest blessings it will bring into the lives of all of Your children…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce

P.S. Here is a link for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, after first being drawn in by God…John 6:44… https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/gods-group-thoughts-for-7112013-the-truth-about-sin/