This is very good and It is great that you shared this deotion with us. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carleeta Manser" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 5:33 PM Subject: {dbilg} Where did our bible comes from
> >> 2. Where Did Our Bible Come From? >> >> 1. Who wrote the Bible? >> >> "Above all, here is what you must understand. No prophecy in Scripture >> ever >> came from a prophet's own understanding. It never came simply because a >> prophet >> wanted it to. Instead the Holy Spirit guided the prophets as they spoke. >> So >> prophecy comes FROM GOD" (2 Peter 1:20, 21). >> >> There are sixty-six (66) different books in the Bible. Many different men >> wrote these books. They lived in different lands. Some lived hundreds of >> years >> before others. They could not talk to one another, but their writings all >> agree. What does this tell us? This tells us that there was Someone who >> told >> them what to write. The Holy Spirit told them what to write. >> >> All the books in the Bible fit together perfectly. Because the Holy >> Spirit >> told the writers what to say in the Bible, these books tell parts of the >> same >> story. >> >> Jesus is the Son of God. He knows all things. When Jesus was here on >> earth >> as a man He used the part of the Bible which we call the Old Testament. >> The >> Old >> Testament was written before Jesus came to this world. Jesus taught >> people >> many things from the Old Testament. >> >> The books of the Bible that we call the New Testament were written after >> the >> death of Jesus. There are thirty-nine (39) books in the Old Testament and >> twenty-seven >> (27) books in the New Testament. Together they make the Bible. >> >> 2. What does Jesus say about the Scriptures (Bible)? >> >> "You study the Scriptures carefully. You study them because you think >> they >> will give you ETERNAL LIFE. The Scriptures you study GIVE WITNESS ABOUT >> ME" >> (John >> 5:39). >> >> The Bible is important. It shows us the way to eternal life, a life that >> has >> no end. Study the Bible carefully, then you will learn about eternal life >> with >> Jesus. It shows us GOD'S WAY to heaven. >> >> 3. The Bible is called the written Word of God. Can we believe the >> written >> Word of God? >> >> "Use the truth to make them holy. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). >> >> Jesus tells us that God's Word is truth. We can be sure the Bible is true >> because Jesus says it is true. >> >> 4. Who gave us the Scriptures (Bible), and why? >> >> "GOD HAS BREATHED LIFE INTO ALL OF SCRIPTURE. It is useful for teaching >> us >> what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for >> making >> our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. >> By >> using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good >> thing" >> (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). >> >> The Bible says "ALL of Scripture." The Bible is ALL God's book. We cannot >> believe one part and then not believe another part. God's plan for our >> lives >> is >> in the Bible. If we take away any part of the Bible, or if we do not >> believe >> some parts of it, then we spoil God's plan. >> >> 5. What does God say to the gods [idols] that people make from wood or >> stone? >> >> "Tell us WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE DAYS AHEAD. Then we will know that you >> are >> gods [idols]" (Isaiah 41:23). >> >> "I am God. There is no one like me. Before something even happens, I >> announce how it will end. In fact, FROM TIMES LONG AGO, I ANNOUNCED WHAT >> WAS >> STILL >> TO COME" (Isaiah 46:9, 10). >> >> God tells us what will happen in the future. He tells us about the early >> times of the world. The gods of men or idols cannot tell about the >> future. >> Only >> the Bible can answer these questions: >> >> Who made the world? >> Where did man come from? >> Why are we here? >> Where are we going? >> >> The Bible is the only book that tells us the future of man. Because of >> this >> God says, " All of you who live anywhere on earth, turn to me and be >> saved. >> I am God. There is no other God" (Isaiah 45:22). Only the Bible points us >> to >> a Savior who can save us from our sins. >> >> 6. God did not want His Word to be lost. He wants all people to know >> about >> it. What did He tell the Bible writers to do? >> >> "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'That is something to be remembered. So >> WRITE >> IT ON A SCROLL [IN A BOOK]. Make sure that Joshua knows you have done >> it'" >> (Exodus >> 17:14). >> >> "The Lord commanded Moses to record their journey. Here are the places >> where >> they stopped" (Numbers 33:2). >> >> "Never stop reading this Scroll [Book] of the Law. Day and night you must >> think about what it says. Make sure you do everything that is written in >> it. >> Then >> things will go well with you. And you will have great success" (Joshua >> 1:8). >> >> "This is the disciple who gives witness to these things. He also wrote >> them >> down. We know that his witness is true" (John 21:24). >> >> The prophets of God and the disciples of Jesus wrote down the messages >> God >> gave them by the Holy Spirit. They were told to write these messages and >> keep >> them. This is why we have the Bible today. It was God's plan to have >> these >> messages in a book. >> >> 7. What did the prophets do with the messages God gave them? >> >> "He [Joshua] RECORDED [WROTE] those things IN THE SCROLL [BOOK] of the >> Law >> of God" (Joshua 24:26). >> >> "Samuel . . . WROTE IT DOWN ON A SCROLL [BOOK]. He placed it in front of >> the >> Lord" (1 Samuel 10:25). >> >> "Get a SCROLL. WRITE on it all of THE WORDS I have spoken to you. WRITE >> down >> what I have said about Israel, Judah and all of the other nations" >> (Jeremiah >> 36:2). >> >> God told the prophets to write the stories of the past, His messages for >> us >> in the present and His prophecies for the future, so that they would not >> be >> lost. >> >> 8. Did God's writers know that other men had written messages from God? >> >> "In that year I [Daniel] LEARNED FROM THE SCRIPTURES that Jerusalem would >> remain destroyed for 70 years. That was what the Lord had told the >> prophet >> JEREMIAH" >> (Daniel 9:2). >> >> Daniel studied the books of Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. In those >> books, >> he learned the plan of God for His people. >> >> "He [Paul] writes the same way in all his letters. He speaks about what I >> have just told you. His letters include some things that are hard to >> understand. >> People who don't know better and aren't firm in the faith twist what he >> says. They twist the other SCRIPTURES too. So they will be destroyed" (2 >> Peter >> 3:16). >> >> In the books of Peter, we read about the writings of Paul. Even in the >> days >> of the early church, Christians believed God told Paul what to write. >> Read >> what >> Peter had to say about Paul's writings. He calls these writings >> "Scriptures." He warns that when other people twist the Scriptures (or >> the >> Bible), they >> will be destroyed. >> >> Ezra gathered the books of the Old Testament together. About thirty >> different prophets wrote these books. People who lived before Christ came >> to >> earth, >> believed the Old Testament was written at God's command. >> >> 9. How important does Jesus say the Old Testament is? >> >> "They do not listen to Moses and the Prophets. So they will not be >> convinced >> [believe] even if someone rises from the dead" (Luke 16:31). >> >> Here Jesus says that the writings of Moses and the other Old Testament >> prophets are very important. In the New Testament, there are many places >> where the >> writers use verses from the Old Testament. >> >> God gave the Old Testament for all men everywhere. That is why the >> writers >> of the New Testament use texts from the Old Testament. In the New >> Testament, >> we read the story of Jesus and the early Christian church. There are many >> prophecies about the future of the church. As you study these lessons, >> you >> will >> see that the Bible is really God's letter to you. God writes to you about >> Jesus and His plan to save you. >> >> PROPHECIES PROVE THE BIBLE TRUE >> >> It is easy to prove that the Bible comes from God. Men can only guess >> about >> the future. Only God knows for sure what is coming. Often the Bible tells >> us >> what is going to happen many years later. We call these special messages, >> prophecies. We shall study some of these wonderful prophecies now. >> >> 10. Tyre was one of the largest cities in the world when Ezekiel was >> alive. >> What did God tell him would happen to Tyre (or Tyrus)? >> >> "'They will DESTROY your WALLS [of Tyre]. They will PULL YOUR TOWERS >> DOWN. >> I >> will CLEAR away the STONES of your broken-down buildings. I will turn you >> into >> nothing but a bare rock. Out in the Mediterranean Sea your island city >> will >> become a PLACE to spread fishnets. I have spoken', announces the LORD and >> King. >> . . . I will turn you into nothing but a BARE ROCK. You will become a >> place >> to spread fishnets. YOU WILL NEVER BE REBUILT. I have spoken. I am the >> LORD,' >> announces the LORD and King" (Ezekiel 26:4, 5, 14). >> >> Many years before Jesus was born, Tyre was a strong and rich seaport in >> the >> northern part of Israel on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It had >> much >> power >> over the nations. People were afraid to fight against this city. But God >> told Ezekiel to say it would be destroyed. Many years passed. Then >> Nebuchadnezzar, >> king of Babylon, came and destroyed the city of Tyre. But it was 250 >> years >> before the rest of the prophecy came true. The people of Tyre built a new >> town >> on an island a little way out from the shore. Then 332 years before >> Christ, >> Alexander the Great of Greece came to fight this new city of Tyre. He did >> not >> have any ships to fight the people of Tyre. He and his soldiers built a >> road >> in the sea out to the island. They used the stones and timber from the >> houses >> and stores of the old city of Tyre. They threw them into the sea and >> built >> a >> road. They even scraped up the small stones and sand from old Tyre to >> make >> the road. Then they marched along the road and captured the city. >> >> So the prophecy was right! Tyre was scraped into the sea. Verse 14 says >> that >> Tyre will never be built again, IT NEVER HAS BEEN BUILT, IT NEVER WILL BE >> BUILT >> AGAIN! The prophet said this hundreds of years before Tyre was captured >> and >> scraped into the sea. His prophecy came true because God told him what to >> write. >> The Bible is always true. >> >> 11. What did the prophets say would happen to the great, rich, strong, >> and >> proud city of Babylon? >> >> "The city of Babylon is the jewel of kingdoms. It is the glory and pride >> of >> the Babylonians. But God will destroy it just as he did Sodom and >> Gomorrah. >> No one will EVER LIVE in Babylon again. No one will live there for all >> time >> to come. Arabs will never set up their TENTS there. Shepherds will never >> rest >> their flocks there. But DESERT CREATURES [WILD ANIMALS] will lie down >> there, >> . . . OWLS will live there" (Isaiah 13:19-21). >> >> "Babylon will have all of its buildings KNOCKED DOWN. . . . NO ONE WILL >> LIVE >> THERE. . . . The Lord who rules over all says, 'Babylon's thick WALLS >> will >> fall down flat. Its high GATES will be SET ON FIRE'" (Jeremiah 51:37, >> 58). >> >> The people of Babylon thought their city would never fall. They had built >> stone walls around it, very high and very thick. The city was a strong >> fortress. >> The prophets of God said this fortress would fall. These messages or >> prophecies came true. Every word came true. Any man who reads history and >> studies >> the Bible will know that the Bible prophecies are true. This is what >> happened to Babylon: >> >> Babylon was attacked many years after the prophecies were given. Her >> great >> walls were broken to pieces. The city of Babylon was destroyed by fire. >> Babylon >> is still broken down. It has never been built again, and it never will >> be! >> Nobody lives there. Nobody has lived there for hundreds of years. Wild >> animals >> and birds are the only living things in the ruins of Babylon. >> >> We can be sure that the Bible is true because these wonderful prophecies >> came true. We can believe the Bible and follow its teaching. >> >> 12. Cyrus was the leader of the army that destroyed Babylon. What did the >> Lord say about Cyrus over 100 years before he was born? >> >> "Cyrus is my anointed king. I take hold of his right hand. I give him the >> power to bring NATIONS UNDER HIS CONTROL. . . . I break city gates open >> so >> he >> can go through them. . . . I will march out ahead of you. I will make the >> mountains level [or "make the crooked places straight" - KJV]. I will >> BREAK >> DOWN >> BRONZE GATES. I will cut through their heavy IRON BARS" (Isaiah 45:1, 2). >> >> "I say to the deep waters, 'DRY UP. Let YOUR STREAMS BECOME DRY'" (Isaiah >> 44:27). >> >> Cyrus was not born when Isaiah wrote this prophecy; but God told the >> prophet >> his name. Cyrus, the king of the Medes and Persians, would attack and >> capture >> Babylon. Here is how Cyrus was able to do this, 100 years after the >> prophecy >> had been given to Isaiah: >> >> Cyrus and his army came to Babylon and found the gates locked. He looked >> for >> another road into the city. >> The river Euphrates ran under the walls of Babylon, through the city, and >> out the other side. Cyrus made a new canal for the river so it ran a >> different >> way. The old river dried up. Cyrus marched his men along the old >> riverbed, >> under the walls and into the city. >> That night Belshazzar, king of Babylon, and his leading government men >> were >> all drunk at a feast. The guards were also drunk. They forgot to lock the >> gates >> along the inner wall. Cyrus captured the city easily. >> He cut up the gates of brass. He carried away the gold and silver of the >> city. >> >> Remember, God told Isaiah to write this prophecy 100 years before Cyrus >> was >> born. He even called Cyrus by name. You can read about it in Daniel >> chapter >> 5. Yes, the Bible is true, and we can believe all of it. >> >> GOD'S WORD IS OUR ONLY SAFE GUIDE >> >> 13. What can we be sure about while we think of the future? >> >> "The LORD and King never does anything without TELLING HIS SERVANTS THE >> PROPHETS about it" (Amos 3:7). >> >> God knows what is coming on the earth. He tells us about it in the Bible. >> We >> should not be afraid. We can trust the Bible. We can trust our God. >> >> 14. Why did God have the stories of the past written in the Bible? Why >> does >> He tell us about the future in Bible prophecies? >> >> "Those things happened to them as EXAMPLES for us. They were written down >> to >> WARN US who are living at the time when God's work is being completed" (1 >> Corinthians >> 10:11). >> >> The Bible makes clear the things that have passed. It helps us to >> understand >> the present. It gives us hope and instruction for the future. The Bible >> was >> written to make strong our belief in God. >> >> 15. What do we have today that is stronger than armies and sharper than >> swords? >> >> "The WORD OF GOD is LIVING and ACTIVE. It is SHARPER than any SWORD that >> has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. . . . It >> judges >> [knows] the thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). >> >> For more than 2,000 years, men have fought against the Bible. They have >> tried to change it. They have tried to prove that it is untrue. They have >> tried >> to hide it or burn it. Yet it still stands. God has cared for it against >> its >> enemies. Every one of us should have a Bible and read it all the way >> through >> very carefully. Look up the texts and verses in these lessons. You will >> learn to find the different books of the Bible quickly by doing this. >> Never >> let >> anyone steal away your faith in the Bible. It is your greatest help. It >> shows us sin in the heart and life. It shows you the way of eternal life. >> You can >> always trust in the words of the Bible. It will bring you salvation if >> you >> follow it always. God will speak to you from the Bible. Read God's Book >> every >> day. >> >> >> >> > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
