SBS Sermon Notes Note 01/12
Study
'Study:' The word means, to give one's attention to acquiring knowledge, to examine
attentively, to read or to observe with concentration and purpose.
| 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.
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The Greek word translated 'study' in this passage is 'speudazo.' This implies to use diligence
and speed. In other words 'be quick' be diligent to present yourself to God an approved
student. No one will doubt but that study is important. In every school around the world
students of all ages and grades are being encouraged to 'study', to be diligent and eager to
present themselves approved. The youth at school or university who ignore the advice to study,
later regret their foolishness. If study is so important in secular life, for obtaining a high
education and eventually a good job, how much more important must it be when one's very
character and eternal life are at stake! Let us examine the process of study by taking this
R.O.A.D.
1. R is for Reading
No one can study without reading. Indeed we may say that reading forms a major part of study. But reading for the sake of reading is pointless. We must be selective in our reading, else we
will waste valuable time cluttering up our minds with useless data. What should we read?
Believers, who are, in fact 'kings and priests of the Most High' (1 Peter 2:5-9) are commanded
to read Yahweh's commandments: for they contain divine directions on how to live. Here is
specific instructions to a 'king' or potential ruler. Read it carefully, because it may well
apply to you.
| Deut. 17:
| 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
|
| Isaiah 34:
| 16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD and read: no one of these shall fail...
|
Reading, or even hearing the Word of God being read out loud, is also the perfect food to increase faith.
| Romans 10:
| 17 Faith cometh by hearing (or reading) and hearing by the Word of God.
|
2. O is for Observing
People read in a variety of ways. Some skip from page to page picking up bits of information
as they go. Others read deliberately word by word, line by line, from beginning to end. Still
others only read the headlines. Styles vary from person to person; but the style is not the
important thing. What matters is how much is being taken in. A young man asked the Saviour an important question one day. In typical Jewish fashion the Master answered it with a question of equal importance, the answer to which contained the answer to the first question. Take note:
| Question:
| What must I do to inherit eternal life?
|
| Answer:
| What is written in the law? How readest thou? (Luke 10:25-26)
|
How readest thou? Not just what, but how? How are you reading Yahweh's Law? Could you not find the answer to your question there? Because it is there! In Matthew 19:17 the Saviour plainly answered a similar question by saying: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. In short, if you are prepared to read Yahweh's Law with humility, it has, believe it or not, all the answers to the spiritual problems of life. God's law points the way to salvation through the Lamb's blood and it teaches us how to live.
I will now aim that question at you. How readest thou? Not just what are you reading, but how?
How readest thou? Not what is your method or style; but what is your purpose? In other words,
Why do you read? What do you aim to learn by reading?
- Do you read just to accumulate facts, extremely important as they occasionally are, albeit
of little value if you lose eternal life.
- Do you read to acquire knowledge or skills which will benefit yourself and others? A very
good reason for reading I may add.
- Do you read for pleasure, just to entertain - to please yourself and pass the time. This is
acceptable to a degree; but is often overdone: for life is more than frivolous entertainment.
- Or do you read to understand the purpose God has in putting you on earth. Do you read to fit yourself to live eternally with Him?
Here are some rare examples of deep reading:
Compare Psalm 8:2 with Matthew 21:16 about babes and sucklings: would you have seen the
connection?
Compare Psalm 118:22 with Matthew 21:42 about the cornerstone: would you have seen the
connection?
Compare Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40. Did you know that Jonah's experience was prophetic?
Notice how the Apostle Paul read:
He explained how Christ was the Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
We are the oxen God uses to plough His spiritual fields with in 1 Corinthians 9:7-10
And how the sacrificial system pointed to Messiah's work in Hebrews Chapters 5 to 10.
Reading with purpose will always unveil the deep spiritual truths in Scripture which a casual,
surface browsing will always miss.
3. A is for Analysing
Analysis: to separate into parts, to identify, examine and interpret the meaning of things in
order to arrive at an opinion or decision.
When, with Yahweh's help, you analyse what you have
read, you will arrive at the real aim of the lesson. You will not just accumulate information.
Instead you will recognise that Bible information is in fact detailed instruction on how to
live.
| Revelation 5:
| 4 I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to
look thereon.
5. And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (the Messiah), the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
|
NOTE:
- John's interest and concern. He wept - much! He really wanted to know: good for him - and for us!
- Yahweh's search for qualified readers. No man was found worthy to open and read the book.
In other words a search was made and personal holiness was the qualifying credential. Now think
of that word 'prevailed.' It means to strive, conquer and to obtain victory. In other words, the privilege to
read and understand the little book was not won by Yeshua the Lamb without effort,
without a personal battle against Satan. This means that 'spiritual understanding' is
invariably linked to personal victory over sin and the attainment of holiness. Bible prophecy
confirms this.
| Daniel 12:
| 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do
wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
|
Bible Shadows, Types & Prophetic Illustrations
| 1 Corinthians 10:
| 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for
our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
|
In other words, those recorded Old Testament experiences were types, examples, figures, prophetic illustrations and spiritual blueprints of world-encompassing events scheduled to occur in these last days. When you grasp this fundamental truth, one that is repeated over and over again in
the Sermon Notes and other articles published by this School, you will read the Old Testament with a
completely different outlook. You will see that those ancient stories do not merely provide
good moral instruction; but are 'dramatised prophecies,' 'miniature demonstrations,' 'living
predictions' of events in our day!
Examples are:
- The story of Samson. He prefigured the church whose power depends upon its sanctification, obedience and dedication to God. Samson's seven locks, (the Sign of his Sanctification) represent the seven annual Sabbaths of God. When Samson lost his seven locks he became powerless. In like manner, when the early church gave up celebrating the Feast days of the Almighty, which are specified in Scripture as the divine Sign of Sanctification, it lost its amazing power. But sanctification is returning. Samson's hair is growing back. True believers all over the world are beginning to keep the Almighty's Feasts. Yes, sanctification is returning and with it will come real power!
- Shadrach, Meshak and Abednego. (Daniel 3) That prophecy is a guarantee of how
commandment-keeping believers will in the last days refuse to bow down to the image of the
Beast (Revelation 13 and 14). The story in Daniel is a 100% guarantee that no amount of fiery
persecution will succeed in wiping out Yahweh's church.
- Behind the Ark. When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests
the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. (Joshua 3:3)
This prophecy tells of how true believers in the last days will return to the obedience of Yahweh's law, a copy of
which is still inside the ark of the testament in heaven.
| Revelation 11:19
| And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark
of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake,
and great hail.
|
4. D is for Doing
| Revelation 1:
| 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
|
The R.O.A.D. to lasting happiness is only trodden by those who do Yahweh's will. The Greek word
'makarios' means happy. Happy is he/she that readeth, heareth and keepeth those things that
are written therein. In other words, keep Yahweh's commandments, live out in your life all
that you have learned to be right and true and good. So shall you prosper in all that you
undertake. Bible prophecy plainly tells us that the end-time church, the remnant, will be keeping the commandments of God.
| Rev. 12:
| 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
|
| Rev. 14:
| 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
|
| Rev. 22:
| 14 Blessed are they that do the commandments...
|
| R = Read
| You must read Yahweh's Word for your faith to grow.
|
| O = Observe
| How readest thou? Read with purpose, Search the Scriptures.
|
| A = Analyze
| Identify, examine and correctly interpret Scripture.
|
| D = Do
| And keep His commandments. This is the whole duty of man. (Eccl.12:13)
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SBS Sermon Notes
Elder: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
Updated: May 1999