Daily Friendship with God #10 The Book

The English word Bible is derived from Koinē Greek: τὰ βιβλία, Romanized: to biblia, meaning "the books". There are volumes of information written on the history,  and authenticity of the Bible. I have included some links to messages on those subjects. The purpose of this Daily friendship with God is not to teach you those facts, though I personally found that type of information valuable to substantiate my faith. 

The focus of this Daily Friendship with God is on the heart of the author of the Bible. To get to the heart one must first go through the head. Let me explain what I mean by that statement. Every feeling we experience starts by information being presented to us through our senses (which includes our eyes, ears, touch, taste, smell and spirit) which is interpreted by our mind and spirit. Then from that feelings and emotions are produced. This means information is the initiation to feelings and emotions and from that actions occur. All of humanity is designed to be in growing healthy productive relationships. There are many components to having a growing healthy productive relationship. One component that is necessary is you have to spend time together in relationship interacting for growth to occur.  No interaction means no growth of relationship. The exchanging of information (our thoughts) and our emotions(our feelings) are a vital aspect for the growth of a relationship. Healthy and productive relationships happen when individuals experience positive feelings and emotions which lead to interactive actions of love. God who is Love has eternally been in interactive relationship. God is really into healthy productive interactive relationships. God filters all His feelings and emotions through His complete knowledge and acts out of all of those components in each and every relationship. He is all knowing, which means God knows all the information about everything and every situation. This concept is mind blowing because we are confined by limited knowledge and information, but God is not. The bible is a book that contains information and the reason God gave us the information is in order to invite us into conversation which in turn will deepen our relationship with Him. 

All time spent in the book/bible is designed to be productive in deepening your relationship with God. This starts by taking in the information. Next start a conversation with God in order to deepen your relationship with Him by asking Him questions about the information you have read. Jesus said

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) 

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

The way God typically speaks to us is by communicating to us in our spirit. This is not to say that He cannot, does not and has not at times spoken audibly to individuals. There are many ways that God communicates with us through the information that goes into our senses. When He communicates with us His end game is to impact our spirit by and through communicating with us by His Spirit.  The reason why God speaks to us by His Spirit is because the spirit is the way He connects us to His eternal nature, realm and plans. 

God loves us so much that He gave us the bible as a foundation by which we are to check to see if any other form of communication is from God or not. If there is anything that comes into the mind of someone that contradicts the Bible then it is not from God and will end up being unproductive in your relationship with Him an others. 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture (Gods written words) ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

Another thing about reading the book to take into your heart and mind is that you do not have to read it… You Get to Read It. Individuals who love God have over many centuries suffered and even died to pass on the Bible so we can read and enjoy growing in relationship with God through the words of the Bible. Therefore we do not have to but get to read it. Have to equals Law, get to equals Love. God loves you has given you the only book that you get the privilege of communicating with Him the Author every time you read it. He did this in order for you to know exactly what He wants to communicate with you when you are reading it. Again this happens as you ask Him questions about the information in and through the words found on the pages of the book. 

But He(Jesus) answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'  (Matthew 4:4)

Remember Jesus said His words are Spirit and life. To live all humans have to receive nutrition. For those that have eternal spiritual life the way they receive nutrition is by assimilating spiritual food better known as the word of God. Every time you read your Bible relationally you are assimilating spiritual food which in turn gives you spiritual nutrition. Here is a few questions to consider. Does anyone have to tell you to eat every day? Do you ever choose not to eat for days? If you do not eat do you feel weak? If you apply each one of these questions to reading/eating the word of God you will come to the same conclusion as to how reading the Bible will effect your spiritual life. Here is another question to apply to this principle. If you want to get healthy and become fit will you have to change your diet? Eating Gods words, found in the Bible, is like eating super food for your spirit. As I have stated our relationship with God is the most important factor for our lives. Relationships need to be nurtured for them to grow. Taking time to have relationship with God by reading His words in and through the Bible is a foundational way to nourish your spirit and soul as well as your relationship with God.    

The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Remember I said at the beginning of this Daily Friendship with God that this is focused on the heart of the author of the Bible. God’s word is designed to impact our spirit, mind and hearts. Gods words found in the Bible may seem to be just print on a page (and they are if you just read them as such) but according to what God says His words are living and powerful. Hebrews 4:12 is a scripture that validates the relationship aspect of reading the Bible. All people are designed to live in healthy productive relationships in and through interaction with others. The words of God found in the Bible are alive and they are powerful to separate the things of the natural human soul from the things of the new spiritual life that is found in relationship with God. 

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

The new life we have is nourished and strengthened through God’s words which are living and powerful. 

all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose… to be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29)

There are many things in my life that God has used to change (conform) me more into the form of Jesus. Without a question of a doubt the most impactive thing that has done this is spending time alone with God in relationship with Him in the Bible. The greatest depth of relationship building has occurred by asking Him questions and getting to know His heart and mind in the time I have spent alone with Him in the Book which He wrote as a love letter to guide me into His Heart of Love.  

One of the ways this occurred is by taking each thought God has written in the book and observing what that thought is saying and then asking God to explain it to me from His Heart. Below is an example of breaking down a section of the bible into thoughts. Take some time and ask God to show you His heart in each of the following thoughts. 

1)    Our Father in heaven, 2) Hallowed(Holy) is Your name 3) Your kingdom come 4) Your will be done 5) On earth as it is in heaven. 6) Give us this day our daily bread. 7) And forgive us our debts, 8) As we forgive our debtors 9) And do not lead us into temptation 10) but deliver us from the evil one 11) For Yours is the kingdom 12)  and the power 13) and the glory forever. 14) Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

I have broken down the above verse into the fourteen thoughts that I could see. You may find even more as you observe it. When you read the book you have the opportunity to get to grow deeper in relationship with Him. God has recorded enough of His thoughts in the book to build a great relationship with Him as you ask Him about them. 

The above verse is the record of Jesus teaching His disciples a model for prayer which is the subject of the next Daily Friendship with God #4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s9Em2_iBTQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOPkbXWOnYI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJPKtJiDk2A&t=3002s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wfCCQLsu8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81T_w18JaV0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQYPEn-jmpE&list=PL-zs3W_XawX48oeDlL44gK91HwenlN620