Bibliographic Topic: - HOW TO STUDY-Christ. Life Sermon O

Text: - Men of God in all ages have been lovers of the Sacred Word.
Successful soul-winners have constantly used it in leading sinners to the
Savior, and efficient preachers and teachers whose ministry of Christ has
fed and edified the children of God, have drawn their supplies direct from
the Fount of Truth, under the teaching and guidance of the Divine Spirit.
Spiritual condition, godly walk, successful service, and refreshing
ministry, are all maintained by godly personal dealing with the Word, in
daily reading, study, and meditation.
Personal Reading of the Word for edification is a necessity of the spiritual
life. This should never be neglected, nor allowed to fall into disuse, from
any cause whatever. A set time each day should be fixed for prayerful
reading and meditation, alone with God. This is the sanctuary of spiritual
life, without which no freshness of soul or fruitfulness in service can be
sustained. Meditation on what is read, and personal application of it to the
soul in the presence of God, sanctifies and strengthens.
Thomas Newberry wrote, "A short portion, attentively marked and prayed over,
becomes spiritual food. It should be borne in mind, however, that food
naturally does not become vitalized until, after passing through various
processes, it is brought, in the lungs, into communication with the
atmospheric air - the air of heaven, so the Sacred Scriptures only become
vital and quickening in the soul's experience, as they are realized in the
presence of God, and held in communion with Him."
Study of the Word, to gain acquaintance with it as a whole and in its
various parts - patient, accurate study, comparing Scripture with Scripture,
using such reliable aids, helps, and researches of godly men who have spent
their lives in the compilation, translation, and elucidation of the Sacred
Text, as are within reach - is a necessity in rightly dividing the Word of
truth. Miles Coverdale, in his preface to the English Bible (1535) wrote:
"It will greatly help you to understand Scripture, if you mark not only what
is written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where,
to what extent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before and
that which follows." Never was there more need for such accurate study of
and acquaintance with the Book of God, than in this day of doubt, disbelief,
and distorted teaching, when men of subtle minds "wrest" the Scriptures to
support their own errors and lead astray the untaught. As one has well
said - "When students draw from the Scriptures what they have already put
in, their object in investigation is to force the Bible to corroborate their
own views. Such students are eisegetes and not exegetes."
The uses of God's Word thus dealt with are manifold. Among others, the
following may be named: In the Family, for daily instruction and
conversation (Deut. 6:6-9; Ps. 78:4). In the Social Circle, when
fellow-believers meet (Col. 3:16; Eph. 4:29), or walk together by the way
(Luke 24:13-17, 29), for the help of such as are untaught and need to know
the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:24-26).
Bible classes, composed of young believers and taught by godly and
intelligent persons fitted for such service, are a means of much help and
blessing, and of great importance in the early years of Christian life. Many
of the subjects have been used in such classes.
A Bible students' class, for the mutual consideration of the Scriptures, in
which chosen subjects on which all have been engaged the previous week are
taken up, opened by one and contributed to by others, is found to be one of
the best adapted forms of Scripture study. Hundreds of such classes exist.
Meetings for ministry of the Word, at stated times and on special occasions,
when many of the Lord's people, freed from the daily toils of family and
business life, assemble, to sit before the Lord (1 Chron. 17:16) to hear
what He will speak (Ps. 85:8) through the lips of His servants, have been
and are abundantly blessed unto the edification, reviving, and refreshing of
the Lord's heritage. It is of the first importance that those who speak on
such occasions have the Word dwelling richly in them, and are so guided by
the Spirit as to be able to give not only God's truth, but His message for
that time to those there gathered. It is in view of such occasions that the
words of "the Preacher who was king in Jerusalem" (Eccl. 1:1) are of
especial interest to all who preach and teach the truth of God to others:
"The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was
written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as
goads, and as nails fastened by the master of assemblies, which are given
from one shephered" (Eccl. 12:10, 11).
May the Lord accept and abundantly own these "handfuls of purpose" - "pulled
out from the bundles" (Ruth 2:16, R.V.) - which, throughout a period of
thirty-six years of busy life, have been gleaned and gathered from the
fields of Scripture, to be used in the joyful work of seeking to win souls
to the Savior and to feed and lead the lambs and sheep of the Lord's flock.