My story with the Bible, the Word of the Living God, has two chapters:
Before the beginning of chapter one, the Bible was for me like any other book on the bookshelf!
Part One
I was almost 19 years of age when I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, or I should rather say when the Lord Jesus Christ accepted me, a sinner.
I have mentioned before on this blog that I have learned that 38 things are happening the moment a sinner accepts Christ, things in relation to God the Father, to God the Son, to God the Holy Spirit, to sin, to satan and to others.
The six things that are happening to us in relation to God the Holy Spirit are: We are born again, we are anointed by the Holy Spirit, we are a temple of the Holy Ghost, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit and finally we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
From the time I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ I had a relationship with God the Holy Spirit and from that time on I understood the Bible. Why did I understand the Bible? Because God the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible!
The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and teaches us. We are reading that in John 14:26 and First Corinthians 2:13. The Holy Spirit also brings to remembrance the things that we have faithfully learned. In John 14:26 we are reading that.
Part Two
However, for many many years I was not satisfied at all with my reading of the Scriptures.
I read here a little bit and there a little bit , but I knew that it was not good enough. Then something happened. I was in Kaikohe working as a missionary (United Maori mission) at that time and if I remember correctly, I read the Bible twice from cover to cover in one year. From that time onwards I was able to read the Bible from cover to cover.
What happened, before I was able to read the Bible from cover to cover? I received THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Lord Jesus Christ did that.
When all that happened I read the book JOY UNSPEAKABLE by D. Martin Lloyd – Jones. And I must have also bought the book PROVE ALL THINGS by D. Martin Lloyd – Jones at the same time.
If you can get hold of the two books, please do so, and read them. They are of great value.
Now, how do I read the Bible from cover to cover?
Like any other book. Some days I read more than on other days. And yes, I use a book mark. I always stop after I have turned the page where a new chapter starts. And that’s where I place the book mark.
