Good evening and
welcome to Give Me The Bible
00:00:20.19\00:00:23.03
with Pastor Kenneth Cox.
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Tonight's subject is a very
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important one: it's
How To Study Your Bible.
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You know, I know that Pastor
Cox knows how to study the Bible
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because I've had the
fortune of staying in his home
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and even the fortune of
sitting nearby when he was
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working on a sermon. I've
seen him study the Word of God,
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and I will tell you,
he's one of the most efficient
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and organized human
beings that I've ever known.
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And you're going to
learn something tonight.
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So be sure that you sit
by and watch this program
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or you listen by radio
and that you call a friend
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and invite them to join
in listening tonight as well.
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By the way, some of you have
asked about this entire series.
00:01:06.41\00:01:09.81
There are going to
be sixty presentations
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when it's all over: 12 months,
5 presentations each month.
00:01:13.80\00:01:17.93
Each of those 5
presentations are on a subject.
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And these are available by DVD.
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Now, these are large DVD sets
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and they cannot be given
away, you understand that.
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But if you'd like to find
out how you can secure one,
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call 1-888-747-1844.
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Now even I can
remember that number!
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So... and I'm not real good
at remembering phone numbers...
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but 1-888-747-1844.
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Call that number. Talk
to one of the operators
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who are people just like you
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and they will help you to find
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out how you can secure this
00:02:01.26\00:02:03.23
and how you can use it as a tool
00:02:03.43\00:02:06.63
of witnessing to your
friends and to your neighbors.
00:02:06.83\00:02:09.57
And especially some
of the prophecy series.
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This one is Five Have Fallen,
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and it talks about the end times
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and signs that
have taken place already
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and some things
that are still to happen.
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And you'll want
to get this series.
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Right now we're
going to enjoy some music -
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as we do every night.
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And tonight it is Dona
Klein who's going to be playing
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on the organ for us a
beautiful number entitled
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Inside Those Pearly Gates.
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Thank you, Dona.
Appreciate that very much.
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And welcome to each of you.
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Welcome to all of you
that are watching by television
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or listening by radio.
Very glad to welcome you
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to Your Bible and You.
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We've come down to the
last presentation on this series
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of Your Bible and You.
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And so we're studying tonight
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How To Study Your Bible.
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What's the best way to study
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your Bible? And I might mention
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that if you've got
pencil and paper...
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it's a good night
for it if you have it
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because we'll be sharing
some things that I hope will be
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helpful to you. Our
next presentations -
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next series, next month -
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is entitled The Elijah Message.
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The last book of the
Old Testament, Malachi,
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the last chapter, last verse
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says "Behold I will
send you Elijah the prophet
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before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the Lord.
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And he shall turns the hearts
of the fathers to the children
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and the children to the fathers
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lest I come and smite
the earth with a curse. "
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So what we're
going to be looking at
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is what's the Elijah message?
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What did Elijah have to say?
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When is he coming back?
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It says: "Behold I will
send you Elijah the prophet. "
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When is he coming back?
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What does it mean by the great
and dreadful day of the Lord?
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Those are some of the
subjects that we'll be covering
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as we talk about
The Elijah Message.
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A very important one,
particularly for people that are
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living today
because it's talking about
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right down the time
that you and I are living.
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So we hope that each of
you will be sure and tune in
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next month as we talk
about The Elijah Message.
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Now tonight: How
To Study Your Bible.
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I'm going to share
with you to start with
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principles, OK?
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And I really consider
the principles more important
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than how to study the Bible.
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OK? So we'll
share those with you.
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And then we're going to look
at ways to study your Bible.
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And just an effort,
folks, to make this book
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more meaningful to
you, more enjoyable,
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and also something that
will bless you in a special way
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spiritually.
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We talked about that
in our last presentation:
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what the Bible can do for you.
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And we talked about what
it'll do for you, but you need
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to get into the Word.
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So that's what we're
going to look at tonight.
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And we hope that it will
offer to you some practical
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suggestions on how
to study your Bible.
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Well, we've enjoyed this series
having Joe Pearles with us.
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He's blessed my soul.
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And he's going to sing
a wonderful song tonight
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entitled The Lamb.
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So many times I've strayed away
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from Jesus.
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As a lamb that leaves the flock
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without a care.
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Then the time soon
came when I'd gone too far
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and stumbled.
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And the last time that I knew
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He'd take care of me.
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I'm the lamb that the shepherd
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left the flock for.
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I was out in the cold
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all alone.
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So in need when Jesus found me;
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He put His arms around me.
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And I'll never be
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alone anymore.
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I was out in the cold
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all alone.
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So in need when Jesus found me;
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He put His arms around me.
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And I'll never be
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alone anymore.
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Now I'm back where I belong
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and I'm so happy.
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I can hear the shepherd's voice
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all the time.
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And I'll follow in the path
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where He may lead me.
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For this shepherd - Jesus -
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is a friend of mine.
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I'm the lamb that the shepherd
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left the flock for.
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I was out in the cold
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all alone.
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So in need when Jesus found me;
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He put His arms around me.
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And I'll never be
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alone anymore.
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So in need when Jesus found me;
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He put His arms around me.
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And I'll never be
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alone anymore.
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Oh no, I'll never be
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alone anymore.
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Heavenly Father,
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We come to You this evening
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as we open Your Word
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asking for Your presence.
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Lord, send Your Spirit.
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May it illuminate our minds.
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May our eyes be open.
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May we have ears that hear.
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Give us understanding, Lord,
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that as we look at Your Word
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we may understand how
to communicate with You...
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to be drawn into Your presence.
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Bless each one here.
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We ask in Christ's name, Amen.
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Well as I mentioned, I'm
going to start out talking about
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principles because there's
principles in understanding
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the scripture that make
a great, great difference.
00:13:59.13\00:14:02.23
And if you do
the principles right,
00:14:02.43\00:14:04.89
how to study it will
just kind of fall in place.
00:14:05.09\00:14:07.88
So it's real important that
you get the principles right.
00:14:08.18\00:14:11.59
And the first thing
I'd like to mention to you
00:14:11.79\00:14:13.93
as far as I'm concerned, if
you're going to study God's Word
00:14:14.13\00:14:17.43
you need to be in
the right frame of mind.
00:14:17.64\00:14:21.01
Be in the right frame of mind
00:14:21.21\00:14:24.15
if you're going
to study God's Word.
00:14:24.35\00:14:26.60
And one of the
best ways to do that
00:14:26.90\00:14:29.10
is to take time in the morning.
00:14:29.30\00:14:31.36
Get into God's Word before
all the pressures of the day
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come and all the
things that you have to do...
00:14:36.78\00:14:39.14
Get into God's
Word in the morning.
00:14:39.44\00:14:41.35
And if you're having trouble
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being in the
right frame of mind...
00:14:43.51\00:14:44.78
In other words, if you got
out of the bed on the wrong side
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of the bed, well get back in bed
and get out on the right side.
00:14:48.09\00:14:51.30
But you need to be in
the right frame of mind.
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If you're all out of
sorts and angry and stuff,
00:14:56.70\00:15:00.82
you're going to have a hard
time understanding God's Word
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and having it do you some good.
00:15:05.10\00:15:07.14
So approach the Lord
early in the morning.
00:15:07.34\00:15:11.29
And one of the best ways to
be in the right frame of mind
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is to spend some time in prayer.
00:15:16.31\00:15:19.14
When you get up... in fact,
I pray even before I get up.
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I pray just laying
right there in bed.
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In fact, that's what it tells
you to do in the 4th Psalm.
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That you pray in your bed.
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It says "while on your bed.
" And I just talk to the Lord
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then and, you know,
communicate with Him.
00:15:37.98\00:15:41.41
It says to talk to the
Lord and pray to Him then.
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And then it says: "be quiet. "
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Just, you know, be
quiet and listen...
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because some of us are so busy
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we never stop to
listen to the Lord.
00:15:53.31\00:15:55.61
Listen to what He has to say.
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So take some time to do that.
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But pray, and if you will pray
00:16:00.23\00:16:03.81
it will help you understand it.
00:16:04.01\00:16:07.41
And I'll assure you,
it's well, well worth praying
00:16:07.51\00:16:11.01
in the morning. Five
minutes of prayer in the morning
00:16:11.22\00:16:15.28
saves 1/2 hour of
confession at night.
00:16:15.48\00:16:18.89
OK? So take the
time to talk to the Lord.
00:16:19.19\00:16:23.26
This is what the scripture says:
00:16:23.46\00:16:25.13
So it's very
important that I pray.
00:16:40.41\00:16:43.22
As far as I'm concerned,
you should never sit down
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to study the Word
of God without praying.
00:16:47.51\00:16:49.96
Asking God to
give you understanding
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to help you know
what it's talking about.
00:16:55.23\00:16:57.62
Have you ever had this
experience where you've
00:16:57.82\00:17:00.45
read something and
you came across a text
00:17:00.65\00:17:03.68
and you just
didn't understand it?
00:17:03.88\00:17:06.09
Huh? You ever have that?
00:17:06.29\00:17:07.82
And, oh, a few days
later... a week or so later
00:17:08.02\00:17:12.23
you were reading in the
same area and came across that
00:17:12.43\00:17:14.51
text and you
didn't understand it.
00:17:14.71\00:17:16.90
And some time
later you read it again.
00:17:17.10\00:17:20.35
Still wasn't clear.
00:17:20.55\00:17:21.98
And then one day you're
reading it and all of a sudden
00:17:22.18\00:17:25.31
you understand it.
00:17:25.51\00:17:27.59
It's clear. You
ever have that happen?
00:17:27.80\00:17:29.06
Well that isn't
because you got smart.
00:17:29.26\00:17:31.93
That's because the Holy
Spirit guiding, leading you,
00:17:32.13\00:17:36.81
directing you. That's
why you and I need to pray.
00:17:37.01\00:17:40.66
We need to get into the Word
00:17:40.86\00:17:42.33
and understand
what it's talking about.
00:17:42.53\00:17:44.62
And the Holy Spirit which
God gives to us as we study
00:17:44.82\00:17:48.99
the scripture... it
helps us understand.
00:17:49.19\00:17:52.68
It illuminates our mind,
opens up the Word of God.
00:17:52.71\00:17:56.21
That's what it does for us.
00:17:56.41\00:17:57.96
It's the Holy Spirit
that gives us knowledge.
00:18:12.38\00:18:15.80
Gives us wisdom.
Helps us understand that.
00:18:16.00\00:18:18.97
So by all means, one of
the principles you need to
00:18:19.17\00:18:21.84
understand is if you're going
to sit down and study God's Word
00:18:21.94\00:18:25.75
take time to pray first
00:18:25.95\00:18:28.53
and ask the Lord to guide and
direct you in understanding it
00:18:28.73\00:18:32.49
so that you're going to have
the support - God's Spirit -
00:18:32.69\00:18:38.13
as you read His Word.
00:18:38.33\00:18:39.77
OK. All right, so that's one
principle you need to put down
00:18:39.97\00:18:43.69
and you need to
understand. Another one is
00:18:43.89\00:18:46.29
you've got to
search the scriptures.
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.82
You've got to search
the scripture. You can't
00:18:49.02\00:18:53.26
just give it a casual reading.
00:18:53.46\00:18:55.77
That isn't the way it comes.
00:18:55.97\00:18:57.71
That isn't the way you learn.
That isn't what stays with you.
00:18:57.91\00:19:00.73
You've got to
spend some time in it.
00:19:00.93\00:19:03.03
This is what it says:
00:19:03.23\00:19:04.29
So... I need to read the
scripture and I need to dig
00:19:12.54\00:19:18.27
in it. You understand what
I mean by that when I say dig?
00:19:18.47\00:19:23.14
You need to get in
and search it, study it.
00:19:23.38\00:19:27.46
Make sure you
follow. Folks, this is truth.
00:19:27.67\00:19:31.23
You understand that?
00:19:31.44\00:19:33.94
This is truth,
00:19:34.04\00:19:35.68
and truth will
always stand investigation.
00:19:35.88\00:19:40.57
You don't have
to worry about that.
00:19:40.97\00:19:43.58
That was one of the
greatest reliefs I ever found
00:19:43.78\00:19:46.89
when I was no longer afraid
of what I was going to read.
00:19:47.09\00:19:50.95
It was truth... and I
could read it and accept it
00:19:52.25\00:19:55.22
and believe it.
00:19:55.43\00:19:56.63
And the more I dug into it
00:19:56.83\00:19:58.69
the more it stands up.
00:19:58.89\00:20:00.90
So take time;
search the scripture.
00:20:01.10\00:20:04.49
It'll help you immensely.
00:20:04.69\00:20:06.24
They accepted the
scripture with all readiness.
00:20:21.64\00:20:25.01
They were ready to seek the
Word of God and to search it
00:20:25.21\00:20:29.99
and they opened up their hearts.
00:20:30.19\00:20:32.63
Let me tell you something...
00:20:32.93\00:20:35.08
I told you this the other night.
00:20:35.38\00:20:37.97
The scripture
won't do you any good
00:20:38.17\00:20:42.38
in the head.
00:20:42.58\00:20:44.19
It won't do you
any good in your hand.
00:20:45.41\00:20:48.76
Won't do you any
good in your pocket.
00:20:48.96\00:20:51.01
Won't do you any
good on the shelf.
00:20:51.21\00:20:52.89
It's only the scripture in
the heart that does some good.
00:20:53.09\00:20:57.50
That's what it's saying here.
00:20:57.71\00:20:59.11
With all
readiness they accepted it.
00:20:59.31\00:21:01.22
They searched the scripture
to see if the things that
00:21:01.42\00:21:04.59
Paul was saying was so.
00:21:04.79\00:21:07.05
So you and I need to
search the scripture.
00:21:07.25\00:21:10.24
We need to make sure we under-
stand what it's talking about.
00:21:10.44\00:21:13.61
The thing that people
get into trouble about
00:21:13.82\00:21:16.44
is they don't take time to dig.
00:21:16.64\00:21:18.89
See, there's all kinds
00:21:19.87\00:21:24.07
of nuggets of gold in here.
00:21:24.27\00:21:27.23
OK? And you've
got to dig them out.
00:21:27.43\00:21:30.18
I was talking to an
old minister one time
00:21:30.38\00:21:33.01
and asked him where he
got some of those things.
00:21:33.21\00:21:36.15
He said: "Oh, I just study
the scripture. Pull it out by
00:21:36.35\00:21:38.37
the hair of its
head, you know. "
00:21:38.57\00:21:39.84
And he just... into
the Word of God... digging.
00:21:40.04\00:21:43.45
And that's what
you and I need to do.
00:21:43.66\00:21:45.83
As gold, I need to
look for it, search for it.
00:21:46.03\00:21:49.28
It'll make a great,
great difference as you do.
00:21:49.49\00:21:52.88
OK? All right.
00:21:53.08\00:21:56.04
A little at a time...
I'm giving you principles.
00:21:56.25\00:22:00.70
Take a little at a time.
00:22:00.90\00:22:04.41
All right. Listen to
this... what the scripture says:
00:22:04.61\00:22:07.40
He told these people: "You
should be eating solid food.
00:22:27.08\00:22:30.15
You should be
teachers now... but you're not
00:22:30.35\00:22:32.56
and therefore you're
going to have to drink milk. "
00:22:32.76\00:22:35.51
In other words, they weren't
ready to take the solid word of
00:22:35.71\00:22:40.04
scripture. And so if
you're just starting...
00:22:40.24\00:22:43.01
If you're just
starting to read God's Word,
00:22:43.21\00:22:45.68
you can't jump in and
take great gobs of it, folks.
00:22:45.71\00:22:51.07
That's not the way it works.
00:22:51.27\00:22:53.45
That's not the way you
study trigonometry, is it?
00:22:53.65\00:22:56.83
You don't get into the middle
of the book and get into the
00:22:57.03\00:23:00.01
heavy theorems and all that.
00:23:00.21\00:23:01.64
You've got to
start a little at a time.
00:23:01.84\00:23:03.82
Same thing is true
with the scripture.
00:23:04.02\00:23:06.59
You've got to take a
little at a time to understand
00:23:06.80\00:23:10.48
what it's talking about.
00:23:10.58\00:23:11.65
That is how you
study the scripture.
00:23:21.25\00:23:24.27
And as you begin and
you study a little of it
00:23:24.47\00:23:27.56
and more of it and more
of it you can eat more of it.
00:23:27.76\00:23:30.67
That... that's what it takes.
00:23:30.87\00:23:32.82
I run onto these
people... I hear them say:
00:23:33.02\00:23:35.56
"Oh, I'm going to
read the Bible through. "
00:23:35.76\00:23:37.56
And they start out to read it
00:23:37.96\00:23:40.84
and they get through Genesis
and Exodus and they bog down
00:23:41.04\00:23:43.83
in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
00:23:44.03\00:23:45.61
And that's it. If
they make it to Ezekiel
00:23:45.81\00:23:48.82
and so forth, that does them in.
00:23:49.02\00:23:50.60
You know. No, they're
trying to take off too much.
00:23:50.80\00:23:54.60
You need to take
a little at a time.
00:23:54.80\00:23:58.36
As you do that,
then it will open up
00:23:58.56\00:24:01.66
and you'll begin to
understand God's Word.
00:24:01.86\00:24:04.97
So the principle is:
00:24:05.17\00:24:06.58
don't try to take too
much of it at one time.
00:24:06.78\00:24:10.02
Probably this one
thing keeps more people
00:24:12.45\00:24:17.27
from understanding it than
any other thing that I know.
00:24:17.48\00:24:21.82
You have to be willing to
follow what the scripture says.
00:24:22.02\00:24:27.32
There's a lot of
people that read God's Word
00:24:27.52\00:24:30.73
but if it crosses
them then all of a sudden
00:24:30.94\00:24:35.98
they're ready to...
Maybe they're like the lady,
00:24:36.18\00:24:37.91
you know, the preacher
was preaching and she was
00:24:38.11\00:24:39.84
amen-ing him.
00:24:40.04\00:24:41.32
And he would say
something that she agreed with
00:24:41.52\00:24:43.61
and she would say "Amen! "
00:24:43.81\00:24:44.94
And boy, said something
else and she said "Amen! "
00:24:45.14\00:24:48.04
And then all of a sudden
he said something that cut her
00:24:48.24\00:24:50.93
right to the
heart. And she said:
00:24:51.13\00:24:52.81
"Ooh wee, he's quit preaching
and started meddling. "
00:24:53.01\00:24:55.33
See? And that's the way some
people feel like is there...
00:24:55.53\00:24:58.96
But when you're
reading the Word of God, folks,
00:24:59.16\00:25:01.82
I've got to be willing to
accept what the scripture says.
00:25:02.02\00:25:06.68
And it won't
help you if you don't.
00:25:06.88\00:25:10.97
If I'm going to
throw up resistance,
00:25:11.17\00:25:13.18
I'm going to harden my heart,
00:25:13.38\00:25:14.69
the Holy Spirit
can't do you any good.
00:25:14.89\00:25:17.11
But I've got to be
willing to accept it.
00:25:17.31\00:25:20.02
In other words, if I'm
willing to do God's will
00:25:34.76\00:25:38.26
then I can know
what the doctrine is.
00:25:38.46\00:25:41.42
In other words,
what the Bible teaches.
00:25:41.62\00:25:43.53
See I find out that I've
got to be willing to listen;
00:25:48.01\00:25:52.84
I've got to be willing
to accept the Word of God.
00:25:53.04\00:25:57.09
Talking about the
people of Christ's day.
00:26:10.80\00:26:12.87
And they couldn't... they read
the Old Testament with a veil.
00:26:13.37\00:26:19.33
In other words, they weren't
willing to accept what it said
00:26:19.53\00:26:23.04
and the revelation.
It's still true today.
00:26:23.25\00:26:25.43
There's many
people unwilling to...
00:26:25.63\00:26:27.44
and as a result
they don't understand it.
00:26:27.65\00:26:30.07
That opens their
eyes; they begin to see,
00:26:39.31\00:26:42.98
understand the Word of God.
00:26:43.18\00:26:45.51
And so you and I must be willing
00:26:45.54\00:26:49.32
to accept what the
Word of God tells us.
00:26:49.52\00:26:53.00
I can't be like the fellow...
I was studying with this family.
00:27:04.89\00:27:08.56
And we were studying
the scripture together
00:27:08.77\00:27:13.50
and there was a
knock on the door.
00:27:13.70\00:27:14.94
They went to the door,
and a friend, evidently,
00:27:15.96\00:27:21.28
this gentleman was
there and they invited him in.
00:27:21.48\00:27:23.65
And he sat down and
we... after a little bit
00:27:23.85\00:27:26.76
continued our study.
00:27:26.96\00:27:28.34
As we continued our
study and going through it
00:27:28.54\00:27:31.52
he said: "I
don't believe that. "
00:27:31.72\00:27:33.88
And I said: "Well, that's OK. "
00:27:34.09\00:27:38.04
Said: "We live in a
country where you can believe
00:27:38.24\00:27:41.30
different if you want to
and that's your privilege. "
00:27:41.50\00:27:43.51
He said: "Well, I just
don't believe that at all. "
00:27:43.71\00:27:46.41
I said: "That's all right. "
00:27:46.61\00:27:48.68
He said: "Well, I
don't think that's right. "
00:27:48.88\00:27:51.16
And I said: "Well, can you
show me something different? "
00:27:51.36\00:27:54.44
Said: "You know, if
you don't believe that,
00:27:54.64\00:27:56.88
show me something
different in God's Word. "
00:27:57.18\00:28:00.13
And he said: "OK. "
00:28:00.33\00:28:03.25
He said: "You show me
00:28:03.45\00:28:05.05
where that's
taught in the scripture. "
00:28:05.25\00:28:06.85
And I said: "OK. "
00:28:07.05\00:28:09.03
And I said let's turn over
here to the book of Isaiah.
00:28:09.23\00:28:11.72
He said: "Just a minute. "
00:28:11.92\00:28:14.71
He said: "I don't accept
anything in the Old Testament. "
00:28:14.91\00:28:17.50
He said: "The only thing I
go by is the New Testament. "
00:28:17.70\00:28:20.69
Said: "That's all I go by. "
00:28:20.89\00:28:22.88
And I said: "OK,
that's fair enough. "
00:28:23.08\00:28:25.01
I said: "Let's turn
over to the gospel of Luke. "
00:28:25.21\00:28:27.11
He said: "Just a minute. "
He said: "Now Matthew, Mark,
00:28:27.31\00:28:31.35
Luke, and John were all
written about Jesus' life
00:28:31.55\00:28:35.01
up until His death. "
00:28:35.21\00:28:36.57
And he said: "But what
I take is what took place
00:28:36.77\00:28:39.43
after His death. "
00:28:39.63\00:28:41.04
So he said: "That's what I
go by is just what took place
00:28:41.24\00:28:43.81
after His death. "
00:28:44.01\00:28:45.45
And I said: "OK. "
00:28:45.65\00:28:48.20
I said: "Let's turn over here
to the book of Revelation. "
00:28:48.40\00:28:51.57
He said: "Just a minute. "
00:28:51.77\00:28:53.92
He said: "Now this book
of Revelation, " he said,
00:28:54.12\00:28:56.57
"that's all kinds of symbols
and that kind of stuff. "
00:28:56.77\00:28:59.92
And he said: "Nobody
understands that book. "
00:29:00.12\00:29:01.78
He said: "That's just
theories and visions and stuff
00:29:01.98\00:29:05.06
nobody understands. " He said:
"I don't go by Revelation. "
00:29:05.26\00:29:08.03
I said: "OK. "
00:29:08.23\00:29:10.12
I said: "Let's turn over
here to the book of Hebrews. "
00:29:10.32\00:29:13.73
He said: "Just a minute. "
00:29:13.93\00:29:15.43
He said: "Now that book
of Hebrews, " he said, "that
00:29:15.63\00:29:18.09
was written for the
Jews. " He said: "I'm a Gentile
00:29:18.12\00:29:20.89
and I don't go by
what's written... "
00:29:21.09\00:29:22.34
When he got through,
that's all I had left.
00:29:22.54\00:29:24.71
Now you can't, folks, you can't
00:29:24.91\00:29:27.93
understand God's Word that way.
00:29:28.03\00:29:30.27
You've got to spend
time in the scripture.
00:29:30.47\00:29:34.00
And as it says: "ALL scripture
00:29:34.20\00:29:36.79
is given by the
inspiration of God. "
00:29:36.99\00:29:39.62
And if you're going
to understand this book
00:29:39.82\00:29:41.86
you've got to
take the whole thing
00:29:42.06\00:29:43.67
from Genesis to Revelation.
00:29:43.88\00:29:46.77
That's what...
what you have to do.
00:29:46.97\00:29:49.88
So don't start in, you
know, dissecting the Word of God
00:29:50.08\00:29:54.61
and saying "Well, I'll accept
this and I won't accept that. "
00:29:54.81\00:29:57.17
You've got to look at it all.
00:29:57.37\00:29:59.09
And if you look at it
all it all comes together
00:29:59.29\00:30:03.37
if you just look at
the whole thing, all right?
00:30:03.57\00:30:06.66
So take the Word of God.
Spend time with it, study it.
00:30:06.86\00:30:10.98
It'll make a
great, great difference.
00:30:11.18\00:30:13.50
All right.
00:30:13.70\00:30:15.10
Well, the scripture
is very clear on that.
00:30:24.07\00:30:26.81
This is what it says:
00:30:27.02\00:30:28.42
Yes, a preacher can help
you understand God's Word
00:30:42.03\00:30:46.87
because that's what
he's spent his life doing
00:30:47.07\00:30:49.74
is studying God's Word.
00:30:49.95\00:30:51.47
So, yes. He can
be an assistance;
00:30:51.57\00:30:53.69
he can be a help to you.
00:30:53.89\00:30:55.43
But there has to be
guidelines for that.
00:30:55.63\00:30:59.82
Never, never, never
00:31:01.39\00:31:03.84
permit somebody
else to think for you.
00:31:04.04\00:31:09.07
Now dear friends... all of you -
00:31:10.54\00:31:13.09
those of you that are here,
those of you that are watching
00:31:13.29\00:31:14.82
by television and
listening by radio -
00:31:14.92\00:31:16.55
God gave you a mind,
and you need to use it.
00:31:16.75\00:31:21.90
You know, and don't let
somebody else think for you.
00:31:22.10\00:31:26.77
If you have a
question about God's Word
00:31:26.97\00:31:30.52
and you don't
understand something about it,
00:31:30.72\00:31:33.15
get into the book.
00:31:33.35\00:31:34.64
Study it. Search it out
00:31:34.84\00:31:37.41
until you know in your
heart what it has to say.
00:31:37.61\00:31:42.19
That's what you
and I need to do.
00:31:42.39\00:31:44.57
In fact, this is what
the scripture tells us:
00:31:44.77\00:31:46.70
When it talks about
the law and the testimony
00:31:55.64\00:31:58.40
this is the law and
the testimony, folks.
00:31:58.60\00:32:01.08
And it says if... if it
doesn't speak in accordance with
00:32:01.28\00:32:04.45
the Word of God,
there's no light in them.
00:32:04.65\00:32:06.98
So, yes. A minister
definitely can help you,
00:32:07.18\00:32:10.60
and that's what he should do.
00:32:10.80\00:32:12.38
That's what his purpose is.
00:32:12.58\00:32:14.19
That's what God
called him to do.
00:32:14.39\00:32:16.44
But he must teach you in
accordance with the book.
00:32:16.64\00:32:20.94
That has to be.
00:32:21.14\00:32:23.86
That's a principle
that you need to understand.
00:32:24.06\00:32:27.02
He has to guide and
lead you as the book teaches.
00:32:27.05\00:32:31.05
What is that telling you and me?
00:32:42.74\00:32:44.66
That's telling us that
this book is perfectly capable
00:32:44.86\00:32:48.90
of interpreting itself.
00:32:49.10\00:32:51.09
What we have to do is we
have to spend the time in it
00:32:51.29\00:32:56.09
so that we can see
it interpret itself.
00:32:56.29\00:33:00.05
Now there's people that
approach the scripture this way.
00:33:00.25\00:33:04.34
And that is, they have
some idea in their mind...
00:33:04.54\00:33:09.11
They have an idea in their mind
00:33:09.31\00:33:11.71
and then they go to the
scripture trying to find support
00:33:11.91\00:33:14.58
for their idea.
00:33:14.78\00:33:16.31
That is not the way you
want to approach scripture.
00:33:16.51\00:33:19.83
You're there to find
out what it has to say
00:33:20.03\00:33:23.92
not what you think.
00:33:24.12\00:33:25.60
And so you need to
come to the Word of God
00:33:25.80\00:33:29.05
with an open
heart, an open mind,
00:33:29.25\00:33:32.08
to see what the Word
of God is telling you.
00:33:32.28\00:33:35.63
And as you read it and it will,
like it says, reveal itself
00:33:35.83\00:33:40.81
to you, then you and I
must have hearts that are open
00:33:41.01\00:33:44.59
to accept it.
00:33:44.79\00:33:46.37
Accept it. And
sometimes... sorry...
00:33:46.57\00:33:49.96
but sometimes
what you learn is hard.
00:33:50.16\00:33:53.93
You know. There's sometimes it
just cuts right directly across
00:33:54.13\00:33:59.54
and I have to be
willing to accept it.
00:33:59.74\00:34:03.17
You see, that's part of
the sword of the Spirit, folks.
00:34:03.37\00:34:07.22
And unfortunately,
it's a double-edged sword
00:34:07.42\00:34:12.21
and it hurts going in
and it hurts coming out.
00:34:12.41\00:34:16.31
See? But I have to be willing
00:34:17.36\00:34:20.38
to let God do
His work in my life.
00:34:20.58\00:34:24.02
And it's only as I
spend time in this book
00:34:24.22\00:34:28.93
that He can speak to me and
talk to me through His Spirit
00:34:29.13\00:34:34.44
and He can bring about those
things that need to be changed
00:34:34.64\00:34:37.97
in my life. And so
part of studying scripture
00:34:38.17\00:34:43.38
is not... is not just
studying a particular subject.
00:34:43.88\00:34:49.82
Part of studying
scripture is getting into it
00:34:50.02\00:34:53.77
and seeing what I need to learn
00:34:53.97\00:34:56.96
and what changes
need to take place in me
00:34:57.16\00:35:00.03
so that I become
more and more like Him.
00:35:00.23\00:35:04.33
That's what it's about.
00:35:04.53\00:35:06.47
So take the time to
study the Word of God.
00:35:06.67\00:35:09.71
Those are principles that
you need to apply in your life
00:35:09.91\00:35:14.19
and particularly as
you study God's Word.
00:35:14.39\00:35:17.54
So, how do you study your Bible?
00:35:17.74\00:35:20.44
OK. If you'll take those
principles - apply them - then
00:35:20.64\00:35:24.28
you can study your Bible and
you'll get something from it.
00:35:24.32\00:35:27.77
OK? So let's see
how to study your Bible.
00:35:27.98\00:35:31.22
To begin with... you
need a Bible dictionary.
00:35:33.07\00:35:36.32
Get you a good Bible dictionary.
00:35:36.52\00:35:41.10
A Bible dictionary
will clarify words.
00:35:41.31\00:35:44.13
It will clarify places.
00:35:44.33\00:35:46.19
It will tell you
things that you need to know
00:35:46.22\00:35:48.84
when you're reading your Bible.
00:35:49.04\00:35:50.28
If you read something and
you don't know what it is,
00:35:50.48\00:35:54.07
you come across it and you don't
know what it's talking about,
00:35:54.27\00:35:56.56
you need to look it up.
00:35:56.76\00:35:58.10
You need to understand
what it's talking about,
00:35:58.30\00:36:00.80
and a Bible dictionary
will help you that way.
00:36:01.00\00:36:04.05
So there's lots
of them out there.
00:36:04.25\00:36:06.49
Just find you a good
Bible dictionary and use it,
00:36:06.70\00:36:11.16
because it's one thing
that you're going to need
00:36:11.36\00:36:13.31
in your study of God's Word.
00:36:13.51\00:36:15.70
The other thing that you
need in the study of God's Word
00:36:15.90\00:36:19.09
is what's called a concordance.
00:36:19.29\00:36:21.41
There's a couple concordances...
one called Strong's,
00:36:22.84\00:36:26.63
another one called Young's.
00:36:26.83\00:36:28.40
A concordance is a
book that will give you
00:36:28.60\00:36:33.30
a word that's mentioned all
the way through the scripture.
00:36:33.50\00:36:38.76
In other words, if I wanted
to look up the word faith,
00:36:38.96\00:36:43.19
I can look in a concordance and
it will give me all the texts
00:36:43.39\00:36:46.70
in the Bible that
uses the word faith.
00:36:46.90\00:36:48.54
And so I can take that and
I can begin to put together
00:36:48.74\00:36:53.20
what the scripture
has to say about it.
00:36:53.40\00:36:56.65
That's what a Bible
concordance does for me.
00:36:56.85\00:36:59.67
And you need a
Bible concordance, and so
00:36:59.87\00:37:02.32
find you a Bible
concordance that you can use
00:37:02.52\00:37:05.73
that will help you understand
00:37:05.93\00:37:07.89
what the
scripture is talking about.
00:37:08.09\00:37:09.98
Then you need a Bible
that is a good translation.
00:37:10.12\00:37:15.45
OK? Be careful!
00:37:15.65\00:37:18.98
Don't get some of these
Bibles where they've left out
00:37:19.18\00:37:22.59
portions of scripture.
00:37:22.80\00:37:24.94
You need to get a Bible
that's a good translation
00:37:25.14\00:37:28.76
and use it for your study.
00:37:28.96\00:37:31.68
It may not be one that
you particularly want to use
00:37:31.78\00:37:36.15
just for reading.
00:37:36.35\00:37:37.46
But you need to have a
study Bible that you can study
00:37:37.66\00:37:41.89
that will help you
00:37:42.10\00:37:43.45
in understanding God's Word.
00:37:43.65\00:37:45.19
Those are some of the things -
00:37:45.39\00:37:48.77
mechanical things - that you
need to have if you're going to
00:37:48.97\00:37:51.88
take the time
to study God's Word
00:37:52.08\00:37:54.03
and find out what
it's talking about.
00:37:54.24\00:37:56.11
OK. What are some
of the things to study?
00:37:56.31\00:38:01.31
Well, one of the things I
enjoy most is biographies.
00:38:01.52\00:38:05.71
I like biographies, and they've
been a great, great blessing
00:38:05.91\00:38:09.89
to me. Do you
understand what I mean by that?
00:38:10.09\00:38:11.69
You need to study the lives
of some of these great people
00:38:11.89\00:38:17.31
in the Bible. For instance,
one of the great, great men
00:38:17.51\00:38:21.63
in the Bible as far as
I'm concerned was Joseph.
00:38:21.83\00:38:25.18
And so if you want to
read the life of Joseph,
00:38:25.38\00:38:29.72
you find the life of
Joseph given from Genesis 37
00:38:29.92\00:38:34.17
to Genesis 50.
That's the life of Joseph.
00:38:34.37\00:38:36.90
So if you want to study
his life then read that part:
00:38:36.93\00:38:41.17
Genesis 37 to 50.
00:38:41.37\00:38:43.18
I would suggest
that you get a good book
00:38:43.38\00:38:47.32
that also goes through that.
00:38:47.52\00:38:49.46
For instance, on the life of
Joseph, one of the best books
00:38:49.66\00:38:52.15
I've ever read on his life was
one called A Man Called Joseph
00:38:52.35\00:38:56.65
by... by Carlyle B. Haynes.
00:38:56.85\00:39:00.93
That is a fantastic
book on the life of Joseph.
00:39:01.14\00:39:05.42
Another book that you would
enjoy on the life of Joseph
00:39:05.62\00:39:08.53
is called
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:39:08.74\00:39:11.42
That's another one that
gives the life of Joseph.
00:39:11.62\00:39:14.68
Get those. Read them.
Compare them with scripture.
00:39:14.88\00:39:18.58
How should I put this, folks?
00:39:18.78\00:39:21.80
If you've got
the Word of God here,
00:39:22.00\00:39:25.02
and you've got a book on -
let's say - the life of Joseph,
00:39:25.22\00:39:31.17
understand that what this
book says is a whole lot more
00:39:32.80\00:39:37.82
important than
what this book says.
00:39:38.02\00:39:39.55
You with me?
00:39:39.75\00:39:41.09
You don't judge the
scripture by this book.
00:39:41.29\00:39:44.32
You judge that
book by the scripture.
00:39:44.52\00:39:46.60
And always keep
that clear in your mind
00:39:46.80\00:39:49.52
that this is the Word of God;
this is the way it is to be.
00:39:49.72\00:39:53.15
That's what it's
supposed to talk about.
00:39:53.35\00:39:55.00
And so follow it, and it
will help you very, very much.
00:39:55.20\00:39:59.70
Another one that
I enjoy is Moses.
00:39:59.90\00:40:03.37
Great, great life.
00:40:03.57\00:40:08.16
And you'll find Moses' life
taught in Exodus the 1st chapter
00:40:08.36\00:40:13.22
to the 20th chapter.
Gives you the life of Moses.
00:40:13.32\00:40:16.14
The 24th chapter and
then the 31st chapter to the
00:40:16.34\00:40:20.07
35th chapter.
All that's in Exodus.
00:40:20.24\00:40:22.87
And then Numbers
chapter 10 to chapter 27.
00:40:23.07\00:40:26.11
That gives you
the life of Moses.
00:40:26.31\00:40:28.59
And... fantastic man
00:40:28.79\00:40:32.80
when you read about Moses.
00:40:33.00\00:40:35.07
I mean, tremendous individual.
00:40:35.27\00:40:38.02
Again, that book
Patriarchs and Prophets
00:40:38.22\00:40:41.78
has great, great sections
in it on the life of Moses.
00:40:41.98\00:40:47.57
What he did. It's
in their lives, folks,
00:40:47.78\00:40:51.45
that you begin to see
and understand how God works.
00:40:51.65\00:40:56.53
You begin to see and
understand God's mercy
00:40:56.73\00:40:59.81
and God's kindness and all
00:41:00.01\00:41:02.59
as He deals with different ones.
00:41:02.79\00:41:04.95
Like He did with Moses. I
mean, these men and these women
00:41:05.15\00:41:09.61
are just like us.
00:41:09.71\00:41:11.62
They had failures just
the same as you and I do.
00:41:11.82\00:41:14.89
They had victories
just the same as we do.
00:41:15.09\00:41:17.09
And so you need to read their
life; it will encourage you
00:41:17.30\00:41:20.98
as you read their life.
00:41:21.18\00:41:22.76
David. Fantastic story.
00:41:22.96\00:41:27.68
If you want to read one that
will kind of set you on the edge
00:41:27.71\00:41:30.77
of your seat,
read the life of David.
00:41:30.87\00:41:32.71
Find it in I Samuel the 16th
chapter to the 31st chapter,
00:41:32.91\00:41:37.65
the whole book of II Samuel,
00:41:37.86\00:41:41.99
and then I Kings
the 1st and 2nd chapter.
00:41:42.19\00:41:45.23
That gives you
the life of David.
00:41:45.44\00:41:47.76
And, of course, if you've
never taken the time to read
00:41:47.96\00:41:52.00
the life of David, well
then just get into the Bible
00:41:52.20\00:41:55.98
and spend some time with it.
00:41:56.18\00:41:57.19
I've read it time
and time and time again.
00:41:57.39\00:41:59.91
I have to be honest... I mean,
00:42:00.12\00:42:02.32
I think the first time I
read it all the way through
00:42:02.52\00:42:05.08
I came out disgusted with him.
00:42:05.28\00:42:07.51
You know... Because God
said "don't do it, " he did it!
00:42:07.71\00:42:11.30
You know? But nevertheless,
you can go in and you can see
00:42:11.50\00:42:15.36
the mercy and the love of God.
00:42:15.46\00:42:17.63
Because this man who
loved the Lord - and by the way,
00:42:17.83\00:42:21.23
folks, God loved him because
he never passed the buck...
00:42:21.44\00:42:27.02
You understand that?
00:42:27.22\00:42:29.37
he never passed the buck.
00:42:29.57\00:42:31.51
He never blamed
somebody else for his fault.
00:42:31.71\00:42:34.71
He said: "I'm the one
that did it; I'm to blame. "
00:42:34.91\00:42:37.76
And great, great man.
00:42:37.97\00:42:40.06
And because of that God
loved him and blessed him
00:42:40.26\00:42:44.80
in a marvelous way.
And He will do the same
00:42:45.00\00:42:46.85
for you and for me.
00:42:47.05\00:42:48.63
But we need to learn to quit
- you know - passing the blame
00:42:48.83\00:42:52.74
to somebody else. We need
to learn to take it on the chin
00:42:52.94\00:42:55.73
and say "Well I did
this. I'm at fault. "
00:42:55.93\00:42:58.79
And another one you
might enjoy is Elijah.
00:42:58.99\00:43:02.43
Great man, Elijah. By
the way, in the book of James
00:43:02.63\00:43:06.36
it says that Elijah was a man
00:43:06.47\00:43:08.28
subject to like
passions as we are.
00:43:08.48\00:43:11.47
That's what it says.
00:43:11.63\00:43:12.64
So it says that he
was very much like us.
00:43:12.84\00:43:15.40
And you'll find his life there
in I Kings the 17th chapter
00:43:15.60\00:43:19.91
to II Kings the 13th chapter.
00:43:20.11\00:43:22.94
That whole
section deals with Elijah.
00:43:23.14\00:43:25.44
Great, great prophet.
00:43:25.65\00:43:27.48
And... but he had
failures, you know.
00:43:27.68\00:43:30.76
Here he had this
tremendous experience up on top
00:43:30.96\00:43:33.74
of Mount Carmel, see.
00:43:33.94\00:43:36.13
And here he was the hero by day
00:43:36.33\00:43:39.34
and became the coward by night.
00:43:39.55\00:43:41.69
See? And so you have to
read his life and see how God
00:43:41.89\00:43:47.17
blessed and what
God did in his life.
00:43:47.37\00:43:49.89
Wonderful way to
study the scripture.
00:43:50.09\00:43:52.54
Of course, the life of Christ.
00:43:52.75\00:43:54.86
I... I don't know of
anything that I can tell you
00:44:00.03\00:44:05.06
that is more important
00:44:05.26\00:44:07.85
than spending time
in the life of Jesus.
00:44:08.05\00:44:11.19
Without question, folks,
00:44:11.39\00:44:14.46
His life will touch your heart,
00:44:14.66\00:44:17.80
thrill your soul.
He is indeed wonderful.
00:44:18.95\00:44:24.12
Read and understand what
He did for you and for me.
00:44:24.32\00:44:28.42
And, of course,
then there's Paul.
00:44:28.45\00:44:30.41
The life of Paul:
Acts the 7th chapter
00:44:30.61\00:44:33.82
to Acts the 22nd chapter
00:44:34.02\00:44:36.96
gives you the life of Paul.
00:44:37.16\00:44:39.65
And what a
marvelous life that was.
00:44:39.85\00:44:43.34
And, folks, the thing
I think I enjoy the most
00:44:43.54\00:44:48.41
about Paul is his
complete and total trust in God.
00:44:48.61\00:44:53.61
I mean, he just trusted
Him totally and completely.
00:44:53.81\00:44:57.91
And that's the way his life was.
00:44:58.11\00:45:00.97
And so if you like biographies
00:45:01.17\00:45:04.14
here's a good way to read
and study the scripture...
00:45:04.34\00:45:07.43
and enjoy it - you know
- in a very special way.
00:45:07.63\00:45:11.07
Helps you. OK.
00:45:11.28\00:45:13.07
Then you can study
the Bible by subjects.
00:45:13.37\00:45:16.46
OK?
00:45:16.56\00:45:17.65
But here you have to be careful.
00:45:20.00\00:45:24.37
Here you have to be careful.
00:45:24.57\00:45:28.24
And so I'm going to
give you some guidelines
00:45:28.44\00:45:32.24
to studying the
Bible by subjects.
00:45:32.44\00:45:34.87
What do I mean by that?
00:45:41.99\00:45:43.40
If you're studying
a particular subject,
00:45:45.30\00:45:48.92
and as you're studying
that subject if you have
00:45:50.69\00:45:54.14
questions on it...
00:45:54.34\00:45:56.14
If you have questions on it
00:45:57.79\00:46:00.65
and you're trying to
know what it's about,
00:46:00.85\00:46:04.82
then find out what
the whole Bible has to say
00:46:05.02\00:46:08.83
on that subject.
00:46:09.03\00:46:10.60
In other words, find out
what Isaiah said about it.
00:46:10.80\00:46:14.36
And find out what
Jeremiah said about it
00:46:14.56\00:46:18.44
and what Luke said about
it and what Paul said about it
00:46:18.64\00:46:22.12
and what Matthew said about it.
00:46:22.32\00:46:23.72
Find out what
they all said about it.
00:46:23.92\00:46:26.45
But, folks, when you're through,
00:46:26.66\00:46:32.06
let me just tell you, line
it all up with Jesus Christ.
00:46:32.26\00:46:36.07
Line it up with Him
00:46:36.27\00:46:38.91
and keep your eyes on Jesus.
00:46:39.11\00:46:42.11
That way you're
going to come out right
00:46:42.42\00:46:45.66
if you keep Christ
in view all the time.
00:46:45.86\00:46:49.74
OK. Next:
00:46:51.38\00:46:55.04
You can't be like
the fellow, you know.
00:46:59.68\00:47:01.50
His... his way of
studying the scripture
00:47:01.60\00:47:04.34
was that each morning he
got up and he looked up a text.
00:47:04.54\00:47:08.07
That was his guidance
and direction for the day.
00:47:08.27\00:47:12.14
So he opened his Bible up.
00:47:12.34\00:47:15.10
The first text
his eyes fell on said:
00:47:15.30\00:47:17.55
"Judas went and hung himself. "
00:47:17.75\00:47:20.04
You know... that wasn't very
encouraging you know and all.
00:47:20.24\00:47:23.96
So he closed his Bible up.
00:47:24.16\00:47:26.33
Opened it up again and
00:47:26.53\00:47:28.38
the first text his eyes fell on
00:47:28.58\00:47:29.99
said: "Go do thou likewise. "
00:47:30.19\00:47:32.49
You see, you can't
study the scripture that way.
00:47:32.52\00:47:36.08
You've got to study it,
and you can't build a belief
00:47:36.28\00:47:41.40
for a doctrine on
one text. Never...
00:47:41.61\00:47:43.95
never build a
belief just on one text.
00:47:44.15\00:47:48.68
Don't do that... and I find
a lot of people that do that.
00:47:48.88\00:47:53.10
They build it
just on one scripture.
00:47:53.30\00:47:55.67
There's many
different ways to look at that.
00:47:55.87\00:47:58.36
Just like this podium here.
00:47:58.56\00:48:01.30
You see, I can stand here
and I can look at it this way
00:48:01.50\00:48:04.20
and I get one view.
00:48:04.41\00:48:05.61
But if I go over here,
I get another view of it.
00:48:05.81\00:48:10.39
Same thing is
true of a single text.
00:48:10.59\00:48:13.61
You can look at
it different ways.
00:48:13.82\00:48:15.89
But when you find out
what all of them said about it
00:48:16.09\00:48:18.81
all the way through
you're going to only look at it
00:48:19.01\00:48:21.33
one way and specially if you
line it up with Jesus Christ.
00:48:21.54\00:48:25.14
OK. Thirdly,
00:48:25.34\00:48:27.63
Now Isaiah, listen to me,
00:48:31.39\00:48:36.73
Isaiah will never
disagree with Paul.
00:48:36.93\00:48:40.84
Paul will never disagree
00:48:43.19\00:48:46.66
with Jeremiah.
00:48:46.86\00:48:49.54
Jeremiah will never
disagree with Matthew.
00:48:49.74\00:48:54.35
So find out what the whole
Bible teaches on that subject
00:48:55.20\00:49:00.72
so you are not
in doubt about it.
00:49:00.92\00:49:03.19
You can know what
the Word of God says.
00:49:03.40\00:49:06.27
What it's telling you.
00:49:06.37\00:49:07.48
You'll find that that
makes a great, great difference
00:49:07.68\00:49:11.06
when you study God's Word
00:49:11.26\00:49:12.85
and find out what
it has to say on it.
00:49:13.06\00:49:15.41
OK. Also, you can
study the Bible by book.
00:49:15.62\00:49:20.86
OK? But you've got to remember:
00:49:20.89\00:49:23.31
how many books
are there in here?
00:49:23.51\00:49:25.61
Sixty-six books.
00:49:25.81\00:49:27.99
Each is a book, so if you're
going to study it by book,
00:49:28.17\00:49:32.88
you need to take a look at
what that book is talking about.
00:49:33.08\00:49:36.98
What it has to say.
00:49:37.18\00:49:39.01
The writer. You need
to know who the writer is.
00:49:39.21\00:49:43.08
John or Moses or Isaiah?
00:49:43.28\00:49:47.89
You need to understand
the culture, the background
00:49:48.29\00:49:51.81
of that book. You need to
find out what was going on
00:49:52.01\00:49:55.52
at that time so you
can put it together.
00:49:55.72\00:49:57.91
Like the book of Hosea.
00:49:57.94\00:50:00.15
If I'm going to
understand the book of Hosea,
00:50:01.49\00:50:03.34
I need to know who Hosea was.
00:50:03.54\00:50:05.30
Do you know who
he was? What he did?
00:50:05.50\00:50:08.93
You need to
understand the culture.
00:50:09.13\00:50:11.42
What was God
trying to say to him?
00:50:11.63\00:50:14.14
What was God trying to
say to the Jewish nation?
00:50:14.34\00:50:16.84
You know, who? What is all this
00:50:17.05\00:50:20.36
that he... he had to say?
00:50:20.56\00:50:22.44
I need to put it all together
00:50:22.64\00:50:24.74
so that I understand it
00:50:24.94\00:50:26.47
and I can see it
00:50:26.57\00:50:27.62
and I know what
it's talking about.
00:50:27.82\00:50:29.61
That's the way you
understand a book in the Bible.
00:50:29.81\00:50:32.23
Spend time on it.
00:50:32.43\00:50:34.23
OK.
00:50:34.33\00:50:35.76
Say that again.
00:50:40.01\00:50:41.95
Don't get into it
and just all of a sudden
00:50:46.14\00:50:49.36
start trying to dig
through as fast as you can.
00:50:49.56\00:50:53.31
Stop. Sit down
and read it slowly.
00:50:53.51\00:50:58.09
Read it carefully; make sure you
understand what it is saying.
00:50:58.30\00:51:03.55
I would tell you don't go on...
00:51:03.75\00:51:07.29
Don't go on to another verse
00:51:07.49\00:51:10.03
until you understand that verse.
00:51:10.23\00:51:12.26
See? Just take the time.
00:51:12.46\00:51:15.54
Read it slowly so it sinks in.
00:51:15.75\00:51:18.31
In your life you'll find
that that will make a great,
00:51:18.51\00:51:22.26
great difference in your
understanding of God's Word.
00:51:22.46\00:51:25.39
If you just slow
down; take time to read it
00:51:25.59\00:51:29.65
so you know what
it's talking about.
00:51:29.86\00:51:32.10
And so the Word of God is
a very, very wonderful book.
00:51:32.30\00:51:37.89
And God will bless
you in a special way.
00:51:38.10\00:51:40.41
Maybe you can't
do it in the morning.
00:51:46.60\00:51:48.88
Maybe that just
doesn't fit your schedule.
00:51:49.08\00:51:52.11
But you ought to find some
time to study the Word of God.
00:51:52.31\00:51:57.54
Take the time and study.
00:51:57.74\00:52:00.39
Dear friend, the Bible
says that we're born again.
00:52:00.59\00:52:04.77
We're born into
the kingdom of God.
00:52:04.97\00:52:07.59
But it says we're born into
the kingdom of God as babes.
00:52:07.80\00:52:11.41
OK? This happens to
be the food for the baby.
00:52:12.29\00:52:18.25
OK? And one
thing you've got to do
00:52:18.45\00:52:22.06
is you've got to feed the baby.
00:52:22.26\00:52:24.58
Follow me?
00:52:24.78\00:52:26.97
And sometimes it's not very
convenient to feed the baby,
00:52:27.17\00:52:30.55
but you've got to
feed him just the same.
00:52:30.75\00:52:34.08
You can't say: "Well,
I'm not going to feed you. "
00:52:34.28\00:52:36.63
You've got to take
the time to feed the baby
00:52:36.84\00:52:39.71
so that he can eat, he can grow.
00:52:39.91\00:52:42.05
And so take the
time... find the time
00:52:42.25\00:52:45.79
to spend in the Word of God.
00:52:45.99\00:52:48.20
So this is what is going to
make a difference in my life.
00:53:07.81\00:53:12.12
This is what's
going to change things
00:53:12.32\00:53:14.73
is the time that I
spend in the Word of God.
00:53:14.93\00:53:17.65
Now, let me just
simply share with you
00:53:17.86\00:53:21.18
something that as
far as I'm concerned
00:53:21.39\00:53:24.20
makes a great, great difference.
00:53:24.40\00:53:26.43
That is simply this:
00:53:26.63\00:53:28.71
You won't keep it
if you don't use it.
00:53:35.94\00:53:40.69
So use it, share it,
talk to somebody about it...
00:53:40.89\00:53:46.13
but use what you learn.
00:53:46.33\00:53:48.78
And if you will use it,
you're going to retain it.
00:53:48.98\00:53:51.97
But if you don't use
it, you won't retain it.
00:53:52.17\00:53:55.58
But the Word of God will
bless you. Your soul will grow
00:53:55.78\00:54:00.88
and you will grow
spiritually as you spend time
00:54:01.08\00:54:04.00
in the Word of God.
00:54:04.20\00:54:06.05
What says the Bible,
00:54:07.20\00:54:10.75
the blessed Bible?
00:54:10.95\00:54:14.73
This should my only
00:54:14.93\00:54:18.90
question be.
00:54:19.10\00:54:22.96
Teachings of men
00:54:23.06\00:54:25.56
so often mislead us.
00:54:25.67\00:54:30.23
What says the book
00:54:30.43\00:54:32.94
of God to me?
00:54:33.14\00:54:38.03
Give me the Bible,
00:54:38.82\00:54:42.71
holy message shining.
00:54:43.01\00:54:46.79
Thy light shall guide me
00:54:47.09\00:54:50.69
in the narrow way.
00:54:50.99\00:54:54.88
Precept and promise,
00:54:55.63\00:54:59.62
law and love combining.
00:54:59.92\00:55:03.64
Till night shall vanish
00:55:03.94\00:55:08.12
in eternal day.
00:55:08.42\00:55:14.34
Let us pray.
00:55:15.56\00:55:16.83
Father, thank you for Your Word.
00:55:17.14\00:55:20.00
Lord, may we each one
00:55:20.40\00:55:24.01
each day spend time with You.
00:55:24.31\00:55:28.72
Give us an understanding heart.
00:55:29.02\00:55:33.23
May we day by day grow in grace
00:55:33.54\00:55:38.23
and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior.
00:55:38.33\00:55:40.76
For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:55:40.96\00:55:44.91
Our next series is
The Coming of Elijah.
00:55:45.22\00:55:50.32
So we hope you'll be
sure and join us next month
00:55:50.52\00:55:53.94
as we take a look at the
coming of Elijah and what God
00:55:54.14\00:55:57.56
has to say
particularly to us today.
00:55:57.66\00:56:00.50
Good night; God
bless each one of you.
00:56:00.71\00:56:03.24
Water can be both
inspiring and awesome.
00:56:04.93\00:56:09.02
As it flows from the
hills and the mountains
00:56:09.22\00:56:11.60
water changes the
destiny of every living creature
00:56:11.80\00:56:16.01
it comes in contact with.
00:56:16.21\00:56:18.39
Not a single living thing
00:56:18.59\00:56:20.05
can survive
without water for long.
00:56:20.25\00:56:22.87
But despite its beauty
00:56:23.07\00:56:24.80
the power of water can
cut channels through rocks
00:56:25.00\00:56:28.14
and change the
landscape forever.
00:56:28.34\00:56:31.18
In John chapter 7
00:56:31.48\00:56:33.42
Jesus stood and
cried out saying:
00:56:33.62\00:56:36.01
"If anyone thirst, let
him come to Me and drink.
00:56:36.21\00:56:39.68
He who believes in Me,
as the scripture has said,
00:56:39.88\00:56:43.30
out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water. "
00:56:43.50\00:56:47.17
As He did so many times,
00:56:47.37\00:56:49.72
Jesus explained the
spiritual things of God
00:56:49.92\00:56:52.97
through nature...
like flowing water.
00:56:53.17\00:56:55.71
This living water is
a life-changing source.
00:56:55.91\00:56:59.80
It can change the
landscape of our lives
00:57:00.00\00:57:02.72
and flow through us to
change the lives of others.
00:57:02.92\00:57:06.93
Folks, we all
need water to live...
00:57:08.17\00:57:12.53
but we also need living water.
00:57:12.73\00:57:15.79
Jesus is that living water,
00:57:15.99\00:57:18.16
and through His Spirit we can
bring life to those around us.
00:57:18.36\00:57:22.30
The only goal we
have at this ministry
00:57:22.50\00:57:25.43
is to offer living
water to all mankind.
00:57:25.63\00:57:29.19
There are
thousands - no millions -
00:57:29.39\00:57:32.97
who still long for this
water: the living water of life.
00:57:33.17\00:57:37.30
Won't you help us
quench their thirst?
00:57:37.50\00:57:40.48
Please consider what you can do
00:57:40.68\00:57:42.39
for those who still
don't know about Jesus.
00:57:42.59\00:57:44.93
As the Holy Spirit impresses,
00:57:45.13\00:57:46.72
please send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
00:57:46.92\00:57:49.07
Thank you for helping us
spread the light of God's Word
00:58:01.00\00:58:03.49
through television and radio.
00:58:03.69\00:58:05.30
Your gifts help bring
the blessed hope of salvation
00:58:05.50\00:58:07.70
to millions around the world.
00:58:07.90\00:58:10.08