From the North to the South of New Zealand.

I have been to the northernmost part of New Zealand, but not to the southernmost part of the country.

Cape Reinga

Bluff

Picture / Supplied

I should actually make an effort to get to the Bluff.

“Invest in your spiritual growth with good quality Christian books at low cost!” begins the email I received not long ago.

That is important.

I have bought many good quality Christian books at low cost. A good number of my books are bought second – hand.

I think my best buy was seven volumes on ROMANS by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones second – hand in Whangarei many years ago.

But it is of uttermost importance to invest in our spiritual growth with “THE BOOK OF BOOKS,” the Bible. The Lord Jesus Christ says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” You find that in Matthew 4:4

At the beach

First Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

We can build our life on a faulty foundation, or

we can build our life on the real and lasting foundation.

THE FAULTY FOUNDATION.

Four faulty foundations have been pointed out to me in The Life Application Study Bible. They are:

WEALTH,

SECURITY,

SUCCESS and

FAME.

THE REAL AND LASTING FOUNDATION.

The real and lasting foundation is our base.

The real and lasting foundation is our reason for being.

The question is now: Are we building our life on a faulty or on a lasting foundation? We must be careful how we build

The Lord Jesus Christ is the ONLY real and lasting foundation.

“For no one can lay any foundation  other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – First Corinthians 3:11

Our letterbox today in the morning

LAST NIGHT: Terrible lightning and thunder in Kaitaia, heavy rain as well, and the strong wind did this to our letterbox.

HEART

“THERE BEATS IN THE HEART OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD THE GLORIOUS HOPE OF CHRIST’S RETURN.” – Billy Graham

In Luke 24:45 we read, “Then he [the Lord Jesus Christ] opened their minds, so they could understand the Scriptures.”

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND A DIFFICULT PART OF THE WORD OF GOD?

“THE BOOK OF BOOKS”

A. The most important thing is to pray that the Holy Spirit will open our minds. Let us also remember that it says in Acts 16:14, “The Lord opened her heart [the heart of Lydia] to respond to Paul’s message.”

“Lord, open the hearts of the unbelievers!” I think that is the most important prayer of all times, especially for the present time.

B. We must read the context. We must read the surrounding passages. A teacher at Bible school said to us something like this: “By taking verses of the Bible out of context, we can make the Bible say anything.”

C. We must ask our brothers and sisters in Christ. What is the Holy Spirit teaching other members of the Body of Christ at the present time? The Holy Spirit is the author of the Scriptures.

D. We must consult Bible Dictionaries and Bible Commentaries. One of my Bible Dictionaries is in two pieces, but I can still use it with some difficulties. In Reference Works we find what the Holy Spirit has taught the Body of Christ in centuries gone by. Dr Lloyd-Jones’ exposition of Romans is a massive series of sermons. I have several volumes, not only of Romans, but also of Ephesians.

Just as the Lord opened the minds of the disciples in Luke 24:45 long ago, the Holy Spirit is opening our minds today when we study the Bible.

One ore flower

“THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.” – Luke 24:45