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I have an appendix in my book,
New Age Bible Versions,
that tells how to understand spiritual things. Basically it is
a "heart problem; it is not a "head" problem.
First Corinthians 2:14 says that the bible's words "are
spiritually discerned." So, anything relating to
the bible has to be "spiritually discerned."
Appendix C
talks about the seven seals on the bible. The bible tells us
that is is a "sealed" book.
Romans 1:31-32 says those who
are "without understanding...are worthy of death."
Not understanding something spiritual seems to be related to
sin, not to a lack of information. In Daniel 12:10 we read that
"none of the wicked shall understand." So it
is not a lack of information; it is a question of whether the
person's heart is right with God. Jesus said to the Pharisees,
"neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?"
(Mark 8:17). It is amazing how many times the word "understand"
and the word "heart" appear together within the same
sentence, or verse or two in the New Testament. There seems to
be a connection between understanding things and one's heart.
The first seal which opens the
bible relates to being "born again." "Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
(John 3:3). So a scholar would have to be "born again."
The second thing is that the
scholar would have to pray before he studies. I do not know that
this happens in the classroom. James 1:5 says, "If any
of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." God has a seal
over spiritual information unless someone asks him first.
The third thing the scholar
would have to do would be to study the bible. Proverbs
17:24 says, "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding;
but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth."
Are scholars scanning books from all around the world? Are they |
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looking at television, magazines, catalogues, or is the actual
word of God the predominant element before that person's eyes
every day?
The fourth seal relates to what
we think about all of the time. It says in Psalms 119:99: "I
have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies
are my meditation." In order to meditate on the word
of God, that is, think about the word of God all of the time,
we have to have it memorized. With the introduction of the new
versions, memorization and meditation seem to have moved right
out the door.
Seal number five relates to
studying the bible daily, not skipping any days. Proverbs 8:34
says, "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily
at my gates." This is something that we have to do on
a daily basis, not skipping days, or weeks, or months. The children
of Israel had to go out and get the manna every day. They
were not allowed to keep it overnight. I think that is what a
lot of us do in our daily lives, and I am often guilty of it
myself.
The sixth seal on the bible
has to do with obedience to God. Psalm 119:100 says, "I
understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy
precepts." So, someone who obeys God will understand
more about spiritual matters than someone with a Ph.D.
who has a head knowledge of theological matters but has hidden
sin in his life.
The very last of the seven seals
relates to what makes us happy. Psalm 1:2 says, "But
his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he
meditate day and night." If you want to delight yourself
and have a real good time, do you have an extra dessert, or buy
yourself something new? What do you do? Do you think, "Oh,
I'll go read the bible." Those are the people who are going
to understand spiritual things." |
