"The Unexpected Journey"

Raw Emotions

(Just over a week ago my family and I started an "Unexpected Journey" when I was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. As you will recall from my last post, statistically that means a life expectancy of about 6 months. On Tuesdays and Fridays I will try to post a new update to share the journey with you in hopes that perhaps it might help you as you journey through the unexpected journeys of life.)

I told you I’d journal this "Unexpected Journey" because it would be therapeutic for me and perhaps helpful for others who go through troubled waters (if not now, just wait, it will come).     Well, this is going to be messy. If you don’t want open, honest, raw emotions then turn back now before its too late.    Close this blog and go back to what you were doing and stand clear.    Life is messy and dealing with it is fraught with nitty gritty emotion when you can’t make sense of it all.

Let me clearly state  up front that my faith in my loving heavenly Father is rock solid.     I believe He is sovereign and can do whatever He pleases but that He is also loving and gracious and knows so much more than I can see or comprehend.     I do not question the goodness of God nor His plan for my life, or death.    Like Job, I would say, "Though He slay me, still I will hope in Him. "     Still, I am a human being created by God with emotions.    It is not ungodly to express emotion in fact it is healthy and good.    So if you’re not ready to hear some raw emotion (which is not always expressed with rationality) this is your last chance to turn back.

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I did not sleep well last night knowing that I had my first appointment with the Surgical Oncologist this morning (Tuesday March 11,2014).    Though there was a hidden hope that either he’d say there had been some mistake or that he could deal with the cancer, I knew that was not rational and that in reality he was going to tell me what I already knew.    That Stage IV Pancreatic cancer is an appointment with death in 6-12 months with a little chemotherapy.    It felt like I was preparing for a visit to my executioner who would put one more nail in my coffin.    This would be the authoritative voice telling me the bad news I already knew.

The "Unexpected Journey" began today at 5 am when I woke up and did a little bit of work and as I mulled things over in my mind my emotions began to surface.    Just before my wife Wendy woke, I found myself on our bed trying to choke back the tears.    Soon I was sobbing and calling out to God looking for some kind of answers. He seemed so far away.

My cries went on for some time and were something like this.    "God, I love you and I trust you, I trust your goodness, but I just don’t get it."     I was sobbing and shaking.     "God, I just don’t get it. I don’t get it. I don’t  get it. I don’t get it ....    Wendy and I have given ourselves to you.    We have poured ourselves out.    We’ve left it all on the table and held nothing back, and this is how its going to end."     I just couldn’t get my head and my emotions past the fact that we had sacrificed so much for the cause of Christ and the Kingdom (Remember this isn’t necessarily rational or theologically correct. It’s raw emotion and it takes time to process the emotions and bring them in line with the truth in which we trust).

"God, you have every right to do whatever you wish with your servant.    I have not been a perfect servant and certainly not your best, but have I been such a bad man, a bad husband, father, pastor, that you have to take me out like this?"    These words were spoken between great big sobs and tears so that the sheets on our bed were visible wet.
  

"Wendy doesn’t deserve this.    I know you can use this to bring growth in her life and I trust you for that.     She’s so scared.     She doesn’t deserve this and I can’t do anything to stop it.    Why God? Why?   (Not why as in what right do You have but why in the sense that I just don’t understand. Don’t give me that nonsense that you can’t ask God why?)

Wendy woke and gently put her hand on my shoulder but did not interrupt.     (Sometimes you just have to allow people space to grieve).    Deep sobs.    "We have sacrificed so much for ministry Father, we have tried to be faithful, we’ve sacrificed time together for the sake of the church, we’ve pushed our own needs aside so many times for others and here we are and you seem so far away.   Is this how it's going to end?     Where are you, where are you, where are you, where are you?    You seem so far away.      I know you’re here but you seem so far away. Come and embrace us. God where are you."

It flashed through my mind that I was like a slave tied to a post having my back lacerated. Not by God, but by this disease, this fallen world, this brokenness, whatever.    "It hurts God. It hurts.   Oh God, Oh God, Oh God ..."

"I am your servant God, I surrender to your will." (Sob after Sob). Over and over again I repeated,  "I don’t get it. I don’t get it. I don’t get it. I don’t get it."     How can it all just end like this.    There are so many things we need to do in our ministry in Cuba through Calvary Road Gospel Association.    There are some good things happening in our church at Parkway Bible Church.   There are things at home that have to be put in order.   "God, I just don’t get it.  I don't get it.   I don't get it  ....."

It has been an exceedingly emotional day.     I don’t ever remember one like it.    There are still things I don’t understand.     Why would God take me out now?     If He’s going to heal me, why is He taking so long (I actually can think of reasons why but not when I’m in the throws of grief).     How could it be that just when my wife, who has given so much in service, would have to leave her church family when she needs it the most?      How can it be that literally thousands and thousands of Christians around the world are praying and asking God for healing and I have no assurance that He will?     (This is not lack of faith. Watch for a blog post on "Faith, Prayer, and Healing").

We went downtown to the Doctor and got the official word.    There is nothing they can do but perhaps relieve a little pain and give just a little precious time.    I believe absolutely that God can heal.    He did it in my life 18 years ago and we are grateful for those years.    There are thousands of people all over the world praying for my healing.    Perhaps He will show favour and spare me one more time that I might serve Him,  but if not, He will use this for His glory and I believe for the good of many others.

What keeps my emotions from winning the day, is my rock solid faith in Christ my Saviour who has been my Rock since I was 12 years old. Though He may seem a million miles away, I know that He is near,  and I will trust Him in the midst of this "Unexpected Journey" until I see Him face to face.

(Oh, and if you want to pray that God would heal me and keep me out of heaven for a few more years then please join the thousands of others who are praying the same prayer).

THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

I had mentioned in the last post I'd try to give you updates on this Unexpecred Journey God has chosen for us.   I am hoping to update each Tuesday and Friday but I'm  running a bit behind this week.  Saturday I'll be teaching all day about the Holy Spirit but will try to post an update on week one sometime Saturday evening

Pastor Rick

You Never Know What

A Week Can Bring

When you wake up on Monday morning you never know what the week will bring.    This week our family experienced the shock of a life time.    I had a Ultra Sound scheduled for Monday morning and by Friday afternoon I had been diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer with a life expectancy of about 6 months.    Obviously our family has been on a roller coaster ride of emotions, disbelief and confusion.   

I will be hopefully seeing an Oncologist this coming week to see what the options are.   This is going to be a journey like none other fraught with all sorts of unknowns, spiritual lessons and trials.     God does not abandon us in times like this, nor has He promised that we would not experience them.    Because my experience and what God teaches me through this might be helpful to others I will try to journal this journey both for the benefit of others and because it will be good therapy for me.     I'm thinking Mondays and Thursdays or Fridays I'll post something about the Journey we are experiencing.   

Today,  I preached from Luke 7:35-50 on what it means to love Jesus.    I left church immediately after the service and the following statement was read to our beloved congregation.    We are so blessed to have them at our side during a time like this.

March 1, 2014

Dear Parkway Family:

God has given me the pleasure of being your Pastor for these past 13 years. You have welcomed Wendy and I and our family with open arms. You are our church family and we love you all very, very, much. You know how hard we have worked and served among you for the cause of Christ and His people here at Parkway. Like Paul, we can say with sincerity, " So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

But now it is apparent that we are in a season when we must call on our church family to support and hold us up.

As many of you know I have been feeling unusually tired since just before Christmas.    On a Doctors advice we went away to Florida a little earlier this month for some rest. Returning home and still feeling tired, I thought perhaps I had a bacterial infection that would require some antibiotics and I’d be as good as new. Such has not turned out to be the case.   Following a visit to our family Doctor on our return from Florida he ordered an Ultra Sound which I had on Monday of this past week.   That Ultra Sound revealed significant cancer on my liver, spleen and left kidney. He immediately scheduled me for a CT Scan which I had this past Thursday.

By Friday noon, the verdict was in. It has been confirmed that I have Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.   The Pancreas is the primary site and the cancer has metastasized to the other organs.   Pancreatic Cancer is fast moving and deadly.   Apart from a miracle of God there is no cure and from this point, life expectancy is no more than 6 months.

We have not yet seen an Oncologist but hope to this coming week.   They will be able to give us a better take on exactly where we are in the disease and what if any treatment I should have.   Needless to say, this is a huge shock to our family and there are so many things swirling around in our heads at this time as we seek to come to grips with what is before us.

We are confident that the same God who has lead us all these years is the same God who will lead us in the frightful days ahead.   We remain steadfast in our faith in the goodness, the greatness and the loving care of our God.   We have many unanswered questions about what lies before us.    Though we do not know the answers to these questions we know to whom to take them.   He is our rock, our fortress, our strong tower to whom we run. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling (Psalm 46:1-3).

Right now we are numbed. We are simply allowing ourselves to feel the grief, the fear, the uncertainty with full confidence that we are in the Father’s care.    In the next few days and weeks we will need to make many decisions about Wendy’s future and regarding Amy and Tim.   I will need to know if it is advisable for me to make a planned trip to Cuba March 12-26 to say good bye to our friends and ministry partners there etc. etc.

We would appreciate your love, your hugs, and certainly your prayers.   You are our extended family and we know you will be there for us.   We do not want to burden you with our troubles but knowing your loving hearts we know you want to walk with us through this dark journey.   We can all pray for Divine healing that perhaps God would grant us this for His glory.   Would you pray that God would help us walk through this journey in a way that exalts the Lord Jesus and that God would give us, especially Wendy and our children, sustaining grace for wherever the journey takes us.

As long as God allows me, I intend to continue loving and shepherding the flock of God here at Parkway Bible Church and praying that together God would allow us to fulfill the Great Commissions in seeing people saved and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ to the Glory of God. May God bless and sustain you all.

Because of Calvary

Pastor RickRev. Rick Hayden

Senior Pastor: Parkway Bible Church

Some R & R

The importance of Sabbath

Some one once said, "If. You don't come apart, you'll come apart."     So Wendy and I needed a break from a busy fall and winter of ministry and thanks to some wonderful folks in our church we were able to  obtain a condo in Florida for a week at a pretty reasonable price.  

I seem to know only one speed and that is flat open, peddle to the metal.    I work hard and when I get a chance, play hard.    The other day, we  rented a speed boat  and spent several hours bombing around Tampa Bay.  Full throttle of course.  They don't call them piddle around boats, they call them speed boats.   Only when you are going full tilt do they level out and give you a relatively smooth ride.  That is until you  run across the wake of a really big boat, then you can take a little air.    We were fortunate enough to have a dolphin give a little demonstration of it's jumping abilities right close to our boat.

As a high energy guy,  I've had to learn the importance of sabbath and how to practice it in my daily life.    As I've already  already indicated

As a high energy guy,  I've had to learn the importance of sabbath and how to practice it in my daily life.    As I've already  already indicated,  I usually operate wide open and slowing down is not easy for me.    Yet the truth is that God did not intend for us to operate wide open all the time.   In fact,  He built the concept of Sabbath right into the Creation Order.    When God had created everything, He saw that it was very good and rested on the seventh day.   So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:3)

We often think of the Sabbath as  applying only to the Jewish people.  Of course it was part of their covenant relationship with God as His choosen people but the idea of Sabbath  as part of the Creation Order is meant for all of us for all time.   We just were not designed to go flat out all the time.   This is important for us to remember in  a driven culture like ours where we feel we must always be productive.   The fact is that God has designed us for Sabbath.   We are designed to  need to come apart, lest we come apart.

Even Jesus, in the midst of His busy, and essential ministry, had to come apart to recharge His physical and spiritual energy.    In Mark chapter one Jesus has begun Him ministry.  He is assembling His team of  Apostles and is conducting a heavy ministry of healing, casting out demons, and teaching the gospel.  And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1)    Even the Son of God while on earth recognized the need of Sabbath.  He needed to recharge His physical and spiritual batteries.  

There is much more we could say about Sabbath but there are two important aspects that I want to mention here.    1) Physical Rest    and  2) Spiritual Refreshment

1. Physical  Rest
Our bodies just were not meant to go flat out 7 days a week and that's part of the reason God mandated one day in seven as a day of rest.    At one time our culture here in North America.    Stores closed on Sundays,  businesses ceased to operate and there was no school.     Today, it is vastly different.     Culture goes flat open 24/7 and to me at least,  it seems like our whole culture is tired.

Each of us ought to seek to slow down at least one day a week.      It may not always be possible to do that on Sunday  (The Jewish regulated Sabbath in Saturday)  but there should be one day a week for rest.  

Of course it is a bonus when you can take a week like we just did to unplug (literally.    My cell phone was turned off and only for emergencies.   I limited internet use to finding our way around and for only important communications.    I only opened  essential email.   Three to be exact).      We enjoyed some wonderful activity but were careful not to busy ourselves all day long.     Sometimes we sat on the deck, took a walk or read.       A home it always seems like we are in a sense of rush running from one event to another.     Sabbath meant we had a much lighter agenda that gave our bodies time to rest.

2. Spiritual Refreshment
The other aspect of Sabbath is spiritual refreshement.     The opportunity to slow down, to reflect on life and commune with God is a vital aspect of Sabbath.     Sometimes you just have to slow down to do that.     I know for a fact that business in ministry can be detrimental to your spiritual well being as I know that business in the pursuits of life can also be.      Sabbath means you take time to slow down and listen to the voice of God.

This week for us was not a prayer or spiritual retreat,  it was a vacation,  but slowing down did allow us time to reflect,  to think about where our lives are going, and to spend some extra time in unhurried communion with God and reflection on God's  Word.    

The Sabbath my friend was meant for you and I.   It's not  a legal requirement of the believer,  neither is in an unnecessary option.     God instructed us to keep the Sabbath because He knows we need it.   It is good for our souls,  good for our walk with Him and good for our bodies.  

The Quiet Time Series

Part 7
 

The Bible And

The Quiet Time (C)

The Word of God is central to your Christian maturity. However, it is not just the intellectual understanding of the Word that you need, you need to apply it to your daily life. James said, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).     He says we deceive ourselves if we are not doers of the Word.

In the previous Posts on "The Bible And The Quiet Time" we pointed out that there are three major aspects to Bible Study.      1) Observation: What does it say? 2) Interpretation: What Does It Mean? 2) Application: How Does It Apply?

The reality is that in your regular daily Quiet Time you most likely don’t have time to do any kind of real in depth study.     So, though it is always important that you understand what the passage is really saying and what it really means; in your Quiet Time you’re really looking at the Application aspect.      You want to know how does it apply to your life today.

Your daily QT doesn’t have to be complicated so let me share with you a simple Acrostic that you can use to help apply any verse or passage of Scripture to your life.     It’s called SPECS? and it involves a few simple questions you ask yourself about the passage and your life.
　

•    S Are There Any Sins To Forsake

•   P  Are There Any Promises To Claim

•    E  Are There Any Examples To Follow

•   C  Are There Any Commands To Obey

•    S  Are There Any Stumbling Blocks To Avoid

•    ?  What Should I Do Now.

You won’t necessarily have an answer to every one of these but they will help you dig the application out of the passage.     For example, you may read 1 Thessalonians 4:3, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality."     You will want to examine your own life to see if any form of sexual immorality is seeping into your life.     What are you watching? What web sites are you visiting?     Are you getting too friendly to someone who is not your spouse?     Be very specific about the sin you need to forsake and then in your note book record your action plan.     For instance "I will install a net nanny on my computer" or "I need to eliminate some of the novels I’ve been reading. Remember, be specific.

Sometimes the application is not quite so obvious.     Suppose you’ve been reading the story of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.     Okay, so you haven’t gone and sold Him out but as you think about Judas’ life you may realize he is not a very good role model.     As you think about it you realize that perhaps Judas had stronger allegiance for money then he did for the Lord. So you begin to think about where your allegiances are.      Is there anything more important to you than the Lord?     Write it down in your note book and then write down what you are going to do about it.      "My love for _____________ seems to be drawing me away from Christ."     Maybe you need to adjust your schedule.     Perhaps you need to limit or eliminate something from your life.

Remember, be very specific in answering the SPECS? questions and be very specific about what you are going to do about it.    Also remember that you cannot live the Christian life on your own and you can not transform your own life.     This is not about self improvement.     You need the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you so be sure you acknowledge that.     Ask the Holy Spirit to help you apply the Scriptures to your life and for Him to transform you after the image of Christ.

I don’t what you to forget what we talked about in the previous Posts about "The Bible And The Quiet Time" but you can use the SPECS? very consistently in your daily QT.      In fact for many years my QT Journal had SPECS down the side of the page and I’d use it every morning in my QT.

As you use your SPECS? Your QT will be something you look forward to as you see God transforming your life, not instantaneously, but little by little, deeper and deeper, almost without realizing it, as you apply the Word of God, God will be transforming your life after the image of Christ and bringing you to spiritual maturity.     God bless you my friend.

If you have any questions about the QT or if you have any comments or suggestions that others might like to hear,  please click on the "Comment" section and share them.   There are people from around the world who read  Pastor Rick's Study who might benefit from what you've learned or have the same kinds of questions that you have.    My purpose in spending so many Posts on the Quiet Time is because I believe it is the single most important thing you can do for your spiritual growth and I also know it is the single greatest area where Satan will attack you.     So leave your comments below and lets help each other.



(In the next two Posts we’ll finish off the "Quiet Time Series" with a look at " Prayer And The Quiet Time).

The Quiet Time Series

Part 6

The Bible And The Quiet Tim (B)

Well, its been a while since our last Post.    I hope you have enjoyed the Quiet Time Series and that you have found it helpful. The last time we talked about why the Bible is important to your QT and the attitude with which you should approach it.
 

In this Post I’d like to give you some very practical tools to use in your Quiet Time.    But first let me give a word of caution regarding a pitfall that we can all very easily fall into. In fact, I think it might be the single biggest mistake we make when we open our Bibles.

You see, the purpose of Bible Study is not to fill your head with more knowledge or facts. Now don’t get me wrong, you will gain Biblical knowledge in ways that you won’t with simply reading the Bible.　 However, knowledge is not the ultimate goal, life transformation is.

The Purpose of Bible Study Is Life Transformation

Our aim in Bible Study is to see Jesus, to get to know him and to allow Him to change our lives.    In Bible Study we should be seeking to hear the voice of God, to bow to His will and to enthrone Him in our hearts.    It is as we encounter God in the Scriptures that our lives are transformed after the image of Christ. 

Receive with meekness the implanted word,

which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

  

When we receive the Word it ought to lead to being transformed into His likeness.    Old habits begin to go, attitudes begin to change and our outlook on life is transformed as we become more like Him and He is enthroned in our hearts.

 

The Aim of Bible Study Is to See Jesus and

Allow His Word to Transform Your Life.

  

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Obviously we’re not able to cover everything about Bible Study here.     In fact you can take a whole course on Methods of Bible Study at College and I’m even working on writing a course on "How The Study The Bible For Yourself."     However, here are some basic tools that will really help you get the most out of your Bible Study during your QT.      So, grab yourself a pen/pencil and a notebook and lets get started.

There are three parts to Bible Study

Observe the passage by asking the question: What do I see?"

Interpret the passage by asking the question: "What does it mean?"

Apply the passage by asking the question: "What do I do?"

　

Observation: - What Does It Say?

Your first step is observation.    Here you’re not looking for answers but rather trying to understand what the verse or passage says and in particular how would the original readers have understood it.     The question you are asking yourself is, "What does it say?"

You may have read the passage a dozen times before but don’t assume you know what it says.     Read the passage and note the context.     That is, read the verses before and after so you get the setting of the passage you are studying.

All observations are valuable.    Write them down.     Use the questions of good journalism; Who? What? When? Where? Where? Why? How?     Here are some questions you can use as a guide.

• Who is writing or speaking and to whom?

• What is the passage about?

• What are the commands?

• What are the promises or cause/effect relationships?

• What are the repeated words and ideas?

• What problems were the recipients facing?

• Where does this take place?

• When does this take place?

• Why does the speaker or author say/write what he does?

• What do I learn about God?

• What do I learn about Jesus?

• What do I learn about the Holy Spirit?

• What do I learn about me (or mankind)?

Try to answer the questions by reading the passage over, and looking at surrounding verses.     For some of the tough ones you can (for your QT) use a one volume Bible Dictionary or a Commentary.     However, don’t go to these first.     Do your own investigation and you’ll have joy discovering it for yourself and it will stick with you better.
 

Interpretation: - What Does It Mean?

Your second step is Interpretation.     Now that you know what it says, you’re looking to figure out what it means.    The question you are asking yourself is, "What does it mean?"

You’ll want to discover the "Big Idea", that is, what is this passage about?     What’s the big idea the author is trying to communicate.     Write it down in your notebook.    In fact, I encourage you to summarize it in 4 words or less and write that down.

You’re looking for the principle truth being taught in that verse or passage and you want to capture it in a snap shot of no more than 4 words.

Steps to Interpreting the Passage

To help you interpret the passage, answer questions like the ones listed below. Use as many or as few as you need to.

• What are the meanings of the words?

• What does the immediate context suggest?

• What does the broader context suggest? (chapter and book)

• What do other cross references suggest?

• What is the cultural meaning? (What did it mean to those to whom it was originally addressed?

Once you’ve tried to interpret the passage and get the meaning for yourself, you can check out a commentary if you like, but don’t do that first. By doing your own investigation first you will really begin to find Bible Study an exciting and joyful experience.

Once you understand the meaning of the verse or passage you are ready for the third step.

Application: - How Does It Apply?

The Third step in Bible Study is Application. Remember, the purpose of studying the Bible is to encounter God and have our lives transformed.    The question you are asking yourself is, "How does it apply to my life?"    I have found it profoundly beneficial to always apply scripture to my life or to the circumstances I observe around me. 

Every verse applies to your life.

Not ever verse applies to your life.

Once you understand what the passage is saying you will want to ask yourself " how does this truth apply to my life?"     That raises the question, "does every verse apply to me?" Well, the answer to that is a categorical, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Let me explain.

Suppose your study includes Matthew 27:5 where it talks about Judas hanging himself. Does that apply to you? 

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple

and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matt 27:5)

 

If you’re not careful you may conclude that the application is to go out and hang yourself just like Judas.      I wouldn’t recommend you doing that.    Okay, this may be a bit of a stretch but you get the point.    This verse does not directly apply to your life.    However, if you see this in context you might conclude that a practical application here is that we must be aware of the consequences of willful sin, well then it does apply to you.    At this point you ask yourself about possible areas in your life where you are in willful disobedience to God’s revealed will.

"What should I be doing in response to this passage?"
 

In the next Post, I’ll share with you a simple plan for applying the Word of God for your life in a very practical way.    For now, remember that at the end of your QT you should always be asking yourself, "What should I be doing in response to this passage?"     I have always found it to be very helpful to write in my notebook what I am going to do in response to what I’ve just studied. More about that in the next Post. God Bless You!

Because of Calvary
Pastor Rick

The Quiet Time Series

Part 5

The Bible And The Quiet Time (A)

So far in the "Quiet Time Series" we’ve looked at why the QT is important in you life and how you can carve out the time to practice the QT.     Now its time to move on to some of the mechanics and the tools you’ll use in your QT.     Over the next 4 Post we’ll look at, "The Bible And The Quiet Time" and "Prayer And The Quiet Time" in which I’ll try to give you some hints about how to use both for an effective QT.     Now remember, the purpose of the QT is not just learn more of the Bible or even to bring your prayer request to God.     The purpose of the QT is to spend time with God.     Your Bible and Prayer are simply tools to do that and not end in themselves.     Remember that less you end up just practising religious ritual.

Obviously the Bible is going to be an important part of your daily QT.     Through it God is going to speak to you.     Its pretty much impossible to have an effective QT without the Bible, the Word of God.

Why The Bible Is Important

The Bible Is God’s Appointed Way To Speak To Us
Through the Bible, the Written Word, we learn of the Living Word Christ.     The Bible is God’s revealed truth and thus God’s appointed way to speak to us.     I love the way the hymn writer put it "Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee Lord."      As we come to the Bible in our QT our goal is to learn about and meet God through His Word.

The Bible Is Intensely Practical
The Bible is not just good literature.     In it God Reveals Himself and shows Salvation, His Will and contains His Promises.      The very nature of the Bible is practical and always points us to Christ and salvation.     David did not just say "The Lord Is My Light"   but "The Lord Is My Light And My Salvation."       The light was given to show the way and for practical not academic purposes.

The Bible’s Focus Is Jesus Christ
The whole Bible is focussed on Christ the Living Word.     If you ask most people the purpose of the Bible the most likely answer is something like "Love and living a good life."   This of course is not correct.     Yes it does give us principles for living but the real purpose of the Bible, God’s Word, is to reveal to us Jesus Christ the Living Word.     The Bible is given not just so we can study in but that in doing so we might see Christ.

From the first chapter in Genesis to the last chapter in Revelation the Bible is about Jesus Christ.     Whenever you read the Bible you should be asking yourself what does it teach you about Jesus Christ. 
　
The Bible Teaches Us How To Live Godly Lives
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Doctrine: Path To Walk On
Reproof: Where We Got Off The Path
Correction: How To Get Back On The Path
Instruction: How To Stay On The Path

God speaks to us through His Word,

Therefore it is essential to the Quiet Time.

How To Approach The Bible
What should be your attitude when you use your Bible in the QT

We Approach The Bible Different Than Any Other Book
The Bible is different than any other book and therefore you approach it differently.     Though God used some 40 writers over a period of some 1,500 years, God Himself is the ultimate author of the 66 books of the Bible and so we want to meet the Divine Author and hear His voice speak us.     As the hymn writer put it:

Break Thou The Bread of Life. Deal Lord to Me
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea
Beyond The Sacred Page, I Seek Thee Lord
My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word.

We find Christ beyond the sacred pages of scripture. Studying the Bible is a means to

drawing nearer to Saviour.

The 3 Conditions in Approaching the Word of God

1. We Must Come With An Open Heart
We approach the Bible with the prayer, "Lord, what do you want to show me?"     We come with open hearts to hear what God has to say to us from His Word.     Those who come with their minds already made up will learn nothing.     We can make our Bible Study fruitless when we come thinking we know everything.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus, " Are we also blind?", Jesus replied, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. (John 9:41)

The Pharisees made the Word of God void by their traditions.      The world influences our thinking and our preconceived notions often hinder our understanding.     We need to come to the Word with a humble spirit ready to learn.     We must allow Him to teach us the things that are hidden from the wise and self-sufficient but that will be revealed to those with a humble heart.

2. We Must Come With Surrendered Wills
Our prayer also needs to be,  "Lord, what do you want me to do."     When we come to the Word we say with Jesus, "Father, not my will, but your will be done."     Our calling is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and do the Father’s will out of humble obedience.

Many of us want to know what God is going to say or require of us before we consent to obey but our approach must be to obey regardless.      It is an exercise in futility to go to the Bible and not submit to it’s teaching.      Our attitude must be one of absolute submission.

God demands whole-hearted obedience to His will (understanding that this is possible only in the power of the Holy Spirit).     None of us get this 100% right but absolute surrender needs to be our attitude.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me (John 14:21) 　

　
3. Must Come With Faith To Believe
Believe and expect to meet with God, and He will Reveal Himself

But without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

(Heb 11:6)

 Faith Is An Indispensable Condition In Approaching God.     The bottom line is that you must expect to meet God in your QT.     He is going to meet you and bless your life and glorify Himself.     Therefore we must come to the Bible, open to learn and hear His voice, to surrender and obey His will, and with faith to believe He will meet us and bless us.

Faith Is An Indispensable Condition In Approaching God.

God Bless You

Pastor Rick

　
(In the next Post we’ll actually work at a simple plan to show you how to do simple Bible Study in your QT and apply what you learn to your life. Then in the final two Posts we’ll look at the place of Prayer in the QT.)