HEARING THE WORD OF GOD DOES NOT MEAN UNDERSTANDING

PROCLAMATION

“They read from The Book of The Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”  Nehemiah 8:8 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In chapter five of The Bible Book of Nehemiah there is a report of an outcry from the people that they were suffering because of the famine and the taxes which they had to pay. (Nehemiah 5:1-5)  Then it detailed the actions that Nehemiah took to solve the problem. (Nehemiah 5:6-13)  After this, King Artaxerxes appointed Nehemiah to be the governor over the land of Judah. (Nehemiah 5:14)  Chapter six presents the continuing opposition from their enemies over the rebuilding of the wall. (Nehemiah 6:1-13)  In spite of this, the wall was completed in fifty-two days. (Nehemiah 6:15)  Chapter seven of The Bible Book of Nehemiah included the names of the men of Israel who had returned from exile, as it is reported in chapter two of The Bible Book of Ezra.  Afterwards, Ezra the priest read to the people from The Book of The Law of Moses and the people were instructed in The Law. (Nehemiah 8:1-9)  The people were taught the meaning of The Law so that they understood it. (Nehemiah 8:7-9)

APPLICATION
The Holy Word of God does not make sense to non-believers. (Matthew 13:13)  Parts of The Bible can even be confusing to believers. (Matthew 13:36)  That is why we are told to study The Word of God in order to be able to correctly understand it. (2 Timothy 2:15)  Preaching is more than just reading God’s Holy Word to the people, it also includes some explaining and teaching.  However, for a more in depth understanding of God’s Holy Word, one needs to attend Bible study sessions.  It is not enough for us to hear The Word of God; we need to also be doers of The Word (James 1:22) and we cannot do that if we do not understand it.

THE BOOK OF THE LAW IS THE HOLY WORD OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found The Book of The Law in the temple of The Lord.’  He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. … Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’  And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.  When the king heard the words of The Book of The Law, he tore his robes.”  2 Kings 22:8-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After the assassination of King Amon, his son Josiah became king of Judah and he did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord. (2 Kings 21:23 to 22:2)  He ordered the priest to use the money which had been entrusted to them to pay the workers who were to repair the temple. (2 Kings 22:3-7)  As work was being done on the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found The Book of The Law, the original Pentateuch, the first five Books of The Bible written by Moses. (2 Kings 22:8)  Hilkiah gave it to Shaphan the secretary who read it in the presence of the king.  Knowing the significance of The Book of The Law, Josiah the king of Judah sought the opinion of the prophet Huldah to learn the meaning of The Book for him and for the people of Judah. (2 Kings 22:12-14) 

APPLICATION

There is power in The Holy Word of God.  Reading The Word of God can change those who read it.  Reading it out loud can change those who hear it.  The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword and it can pierce the soul and the spirit of man. (Hebrews 4:12)  We all need to read and study God’s Holy Word so that we know the truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)  We also need to become doers of The Word and not just hearers only. (James 1:22)

MEN WILL LIE TO YOU AND LEAD YOU AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“I have been told by The Word of The Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return the way you came.’  The old prophet answered, ‘I too am a prophet, as you are.  And an angel said to me by The Word of The Lord: Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’  But he was lying to him.  So, the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.”  1 Kings 13:17-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam succeeded him as king. (1 Kings 11:42-43)  But Rehoboam consulted the elders of Israel and rejected their advice.  This eventually caused him to lose the support of the people (1 Kings 12:16-17) and led to the division of Israel with only the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin supporting him.  Jeroboam, Solomon’s son who had rebelled against him in his old age, became the king of the ten northern tribes, built shrines and two golden calves to be their gods and led them to worship idols. (1 Kings 12:28-33)  King Jeroboam was standing by the alter when a man of God came and cried out against the alter of the idols.  When the king stretched out his hand and told his men to seize the man of God, his hand shriveled up and he could not move it. (1 Kings 13:4)  The king then begged the man of God to pray for him, which he did, and his hand was restored. (1 Kings 13:6)  To reward him the king invited him to dine with him and offered him a gift, but the man of God refused per his instructions from The Word of God. (1 Kings 13:7-10)  The sons of a prophet in Bethel saw this and told him what had happened to the king, then he went after the man of God and invited him to dine with him.  The man of God declined, and the prophet lied to him saying that he had been sent to get him by an angel of The Lord.  The man of God listened to the lying prophet and disobeyed The Word of God.  When he left the prophet’s house he was attacked and killed by a lion. (1 Kings 13:23-25)  

APPLICATION

We can get all kinds of advice and requests from people who make false claims which will lead us away from The Word of God.  That is why we need to read and study The Word of God for ourselves.  Just because someone claims that The Bible says something does not mean that what they are saying is the truth.  We all will pay a price for our disobedience to God’s Holy Word.

SOME THINGS CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE AID OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD

Proclamation:

“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived,’ the things God has prepared for those who love Him; these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul began this chapter by telling the believers in Corinth that he only spoke to them about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  He said that his message and his preaching were not full of enticing words or reflective of human wisdom but they were a demonstration of the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)  He declared God’s wisdom and power and said that no man has seen, or heard, or imagined what The Lord God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:6-9)  Here Paul quotes from the Old Testament scriptures. (Isaiah 64:4)  It is by The Spirit of God that he preaches and not by anything that he learned from man. (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)

Application:

It is possible to learn some things by what we see or by what we hear.  However, there are certain things which can only be learned and understood through the aid of The Holy Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)  This is why we as believers should prayerfully read and study The Word of God.  There are some things which will never be understood by non-believers. (1 Corinthians 2:14)  Some things are only for those who love The Lord and who wait on Him.  “Wait, I say, on The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)  “Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

BE CONSIDERATE AND HUMBLE WHEN YOU HELP AND SHARE

Proclamation:

“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos … had been instructed in the way of The Lord … he spoke with great fervor … though he knew only the baptism of John.  He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.  When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately … he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the scriptures that Jesus was The Messiah.”  Acts 18:24-28 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that in Corinth Paul met a Jewish believer named Aquila and his wife Priscilla.  Because Aquila was also a tent-maker, Paul stayed with them. (Acts 18:1-4) After a year and a half, Paul left Corinth (Acts 18:11) for Syria and Aquila and Priscilla accompanied him. (Acts 18:18-19)  However, when they arrived at Ephesus Paul left Priscilla and Aquila and went on alone.  It was here in Ephesus that the met Apollos, a Jewish believer, who was knowledgeable in the scriptures.  Priscilla and Aquila had learned about Jesus, The Christ, from Paul when he stayed with them and privately they shared what they knew with Apollos, an eloquent speaker, and helped him to become even better.

Application:

None of us knows everything, especially about Jesus, The Christ.  Those who heard the apostles preach learned a lot, and those who hear the Man of God preach today can learn a lot.  Those who also read and study The Word of God regularly will learn even more than those who don’t.  However, we should be very careful regarding how we share that which we know with those who are less informed.  The goal is to help edify others and not to put them down publicly or in private.  The purpose is not to show off how much we know, but to enhance the knowledge of others.  Every serious Bible student is not necessarily a good teacher.  If we cannot help someone with what we know, then our knowledge is useless.  Be humble when you help.