(1) It is not important to study for God will show you, and…
(2) Education is the key to Bible Learning.

THE FIRST ERROR OF BIBLE LEARNING
It is not my intention to disparage the Charismatics. Many of them believe in study and they have begun to sponsor Bible Schools and Seminars. Yet their leaders, especially their t.v. ministers, often say "God told me," or "God showed me this." If all you know of Bible Truth has come to you by this method you may have some weird ideas about God and His Word. We will discuss this further down.

God's word commands diligence in dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). This diligence certainly will involve much reading (1 Timothy 4:13). But it also involves much prayer, and it particularly involves a diligent application of what one has learned in reading. In other words, one must practice what he knows if he is to learn more. Here we have stated three principles concerning learning what the Bible has to say: Reading the Scriptures, prayer and worshipful consideration of what one reads, and Putting into practice those portions which call for an immediate application of Bible principles.

Reading the Scriptures naturally calls for an ability to read. If one passes sloppily over the words as he reads he likely will miss the thought. Such reading prevents one from grasping context, seeing historical connections, or even getting a true idea of the story. A certain limitation will become evident in one's learning if his reading is restricted by a lack of knowledge of words, or a carelessness in the observation of which words are there.

The place of prayer and a worshipful attitude in one's reading is most important because "the things of the spirit are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). This means that the God Who gave us the Bible by moving holy men to write it knows His own mind and thinks thoughts beyond man's imagination, so unless a man has "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) he will be drawing conclusions in the light of his fleshly reasoning. Such a "mind" comes as a result of the Spirit's giving us some grasp of the sense as He intended us to understand Him.

Finally, God's Truth is not for everybody. Before you think I said, "God did not mean for us to understand a particular Truth," let me caution you to apply a little ordinary logic. Someone has said, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." This is true; and God does not turn over His profound Truth to babes, or to men who might use it maliciously. The simplest Truth is profound in its implications. When wicked men have an explanation of such things they tend to ridicule it because it does not fit their carnal thinking, or they pervert it because they do not see its fullness in the light of God's glory.

For example, remember how news people during the Carter administration, and ever since, have used the expression "new birth," or "born again"? Jimmy Carter may, indeed, have been a child of God, but his emphasis on being born again became ridiculous to most people of the world when his policies failed to confirm the wor1d's idea of a social Gospel and of economic prosperity. To the man of the world "right" is expressed in man's having plenty of food, good health, a home, and the comforts of an easy life. None of these things have anything to do with whether or not one is "born again."

Putting it simply, we are saying that God has "hidden" certain of His truths from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes (Matthew 11:25, 26). So it seemed good to Him to do. His most profound truth is foolishness to many men of great minds, but to the called it reflects the power of God and t he wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:21-29).

There is more to learning spiritual truth than being wise in the wisdom of men. God desires the glory for ali His ways, so men cannot discover His wisdom merely through an application of worldly wisdom. When we say "worldly" we do not mean necessarily what is base or ugly, but we are referring to that which pertains to this present world.

THE SECOND ERROR OF BIBLE LEARNING
This has been touched on in the statements above. One's knowing the ancient languages is not a guarantee that he will be able to understand the Bible. Nor should we conclude that one has to have such knowledge to understand great portions of the Scriptures. Education or technical knowledge may add to our appreciation of what we find in the Bible, but knowing what God is saying does not depend on such technical knowledge. I feel it is a mistake to claim that one cannot understand the Bible because he never had a chance to get an advanced education.

Anybody, even a lost sinner, can read the Bible and understand what it says about there being a God, about His being the Creator, and al of the history which is written there. Some history of God's people may be enhanced by the reading of what scholars have learned outside the Bible, but the history of God's people, Israel, the history of the churches of the New Testament, and the whole historical record of the life and ministry of Jesus and the apostles is understandable to anyone.

The significance of certain of the words and of the events of the life of Jesus and the apostles may not be appreciated, and this because those words or events may be hidden in such a way as to require spiritual discernment. This is God's doing and we accept it with humility, believing He has spoken to men in various ways to serve His own purposes. This speaking (Hebrews 1:1-3) is for our good, true. But it is for His own glory. The intelligence of men has little to do with whether or not they give God glory.

EXPERIENCE IN LEARNING THE BIBLE
It is always easier to explain something to someone who has had the same experience as that we are trying to explain. If one has been saved by trusting in Jesus, he knows whether he has trusted in Him or not. At least I know whether I am depending on certain things as fact, or depending on a person for certain things. I believe anyone can know when he is trusting.

Science depends on demonstrating in an experiment those points that they claim. They are grossly inconsistent, of course, when it comes to the beginning of the creation. They talk learnedly about how it all began, never considering the possibility of a Creator. This is very inconsistent. In fact they seem to have a fear of any theory that they themselves do not accept, yet they expect the world to believe their claims even without an experiment. It is true that Christians accept some things on faith, but this faith is not as blind as they claim. When we have experienced the transforming power of God in our lives and have the peace that comes from simple trust in Him it is not difficult for us to believe that He has the power to make all things out of nothing.

When we speak of the place of experience in learning the Bible we are saying that God has designed His truth so that it becomes meaningful to those who have had such an experience. Further, He unfolds His truth to those who have been willing to accept what was previously revealed to them. His granting of discernment is little by little, precept upon precept, line upon line (Isaiah 28:10). These must have enough age or experience to be able to accept each new "little" or "line." (Isaiah 28:9-13). Further, in addition to the need for some growth in understanding, there must also be a willingness to learn, else they may have to be broken and this takes yet more time.

In this consideration, also, is the fact that the things of the Spirit cannot be appreciated by one who has not had certain experiences in spiritual things. It would be a waste of effort to teach one who has not first learned certain lessons. Do you wonder that some things do not clear up to us until we reach an advanced age, if at all?

One of the weaknesses of the Bible School or seminary system is that it seeks to bypass the realm of experience and pour the facts into a young man which he may need for many years to come. This may run into one or more of many errors. He can become proud and useless in Christian work if his understanding is far beyond his immediate need.

Another is the implication that if one learns the Hebrew and the Greek he has an "open sesame" to the problems of Bible understanding. There are some things that he likely will not learn or appreciate as soon or as well until he knows certain words of the inspired Scriptures. Even there, though, a little consideration will show that words have shades of meaning that sometimes place the same English word in a different light in other contexts.

ILLUSTRATING THE LEARNING BY WORDS
We began this article by a reference to the word time. A good dictionary will show this to have many meanings, depending on usage in context. The first is duration. Whether short or long this idea is the primary idea at first. It covers the whole course of existence. Then time refers to a period or interval. When a man says he did not have time, or could not find the time, he means that the interval for doing or thinking of what was at hand was interfered with by other events at the beginning or end of the interval. Depending on what is being considered this interval might he en hour, a week or a month or a year or a lifetime. In this usage we sometime speak of it as times. This idea may be only an instant, as when we say "his time had come" or that instant may extend to longer periods.

Without going into detail as t o all of the usages of the English word, when we look at the Bible we find that context will place enough restriction on the use of a word that usually we can grasp the sense without any technical understanding of words.

In the original Greek New Testament there are several words that are translated time, times. One is chronos which refers to duration, short or long. It is usually translated "time," and always refers to that duration specified. Occasionally it may be rendered by season, while, before, space.

Another word is kairos which is rendered, time, season, while, opportunity, much as the other word, yet the significance is evident in each context. Kairos refers to a specific time which belongs to the matter being considered. "Fruits in their seasons" explains that it is not just time which is necessary to bear fruit, but a specific time is indicated when each fruit will bear.

When Jesus said "My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready" (John 7:6), He had two specific times in mind. One was the time for His offering Himself; the other was that time when they should accept Him as their Messiah. This last may not be a specific day on the calendar to which they must wait before they could do this, but it does mean that it does not come because a certain amount of duration has rolled around.

There must be a point-in-time giving of one's self to a proposition for that to be his time. I believe that coming to first faith is like that. It make take many days or years for one to be pressed to see himself a sinner and in need of a Savior, but his becoming a believer in Jesus must be at a specific time, an appropriate time. It is not that one had to wait till a later date to do it, but it will be specific when it is done.

Another word rendered time is hora. We usually translate this as hour, but it certainly does not mean sixty minutes. We speak of the lunch hour, not because we have sixty minutes for eating, but because it is a time fixed by nature or custom for lunch (Matthew 14:15; Luke 14:17). Two of these words occur in Romans 13:11:

"And that, knowing the time (Gk., kairos), that now it is high time (Gk., he hora ede, already the hour) to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

It is the appropriate and correct hour for awakening from spiritual slumber and showing response to God in a special way, because our deliverance from the presence of sin is nearer than when we first believed.

Yes, believers go to sleep spiritually and must be aroused. It may be because of the strain of the days, as when Peter, James and John slept while Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. Or, as often as not, it is because the energies of keeping up with the busyness of life have sapped our physical energies. Or it may be because we simply have not developed an interest in spiritual things that will overcome the simple laziness of the natural man. But it is high time we awakened. Life will soon be over, the Lord will soon come, and then it will be too late.

A few other words are translated with the word time occasionally. Among them is popote, ever yet. It is "at any time" in John 1:18 etc. Another word is ede, already. This is "by this time" in John 11:39. Still another word is palai, long ago, of old. This is "of old time," "in time past" (cf. Hebrews 1:1). Other English words for time are renderings of Greek words for day, now, about to be, then, since, this, upon this, generations, etc.

GOD TOLD ME
Does God tell us things? He most certainly does. Our acceptance of this statement, though, needs some particular limitations. If God did not tell you, you would never know you were a sinner. He may use a godly mother or father, a Sunday School teacher or old preacher. Or he may use a young friend. But it is His Truth and you hear it with the ears or see it in a tract or the Bible with your eyes. But it does not register in your heart until God tells you.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:12

The next verse adds tremendously to the sense of this language:

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" Hebrews 4:15

This makes a close connection between the word of God and the Person of God who knows all about us, including our thoughts and intentions. To say that the Word is living and powerful is more than saying that Jesus is God's Word, though He certainly is. It says that the language spoken by God or written in His Book is alive and powerful. It will cut through to our hearts and will make changes there.

This changing of the heart and life is predicated, of course, on your willingness to hear or heed that word. If one delays or sets his mind against heeding now or objects to having those changes made, then God will not force His will upon you.

So when we say that God tells us things we usually mean that He has conveyed a message to us directly other than what we have learned from the Bible. Yes, He does this at times. How else would one know he should preach the Gospel? Or more than this, how would one receive the sensation of shame when he has sinned, or the experience of peace or joy or gladness under certain conditions?

God does speak to us. We either say it that way, or that He laid His hand upon us. One of the blessed features about Christianity is that it is a personal or experiential relationship we enjoy with God.

Any of these communications must be understood in the light of what is given to us in the written Word. God would never tell us to do something that His Word forbids or which would in any way be contrary to the Word. The foolish things we Hear men say God told them are obviously not things which God has told them, for He never contradicts Himself, nor does He do foolish things. They may appear foolish to men, but they are not foolish to the humble man who believes the Bible. God's speaking is for the directing of our lives into fields or activities that please Him.

God's speaking to us may be for our discernment of His written Word. Knowing when He is speaking is a matter that requires time and humility. Not much talking about it to others is required. If what we come to discern is God's truth we may freely speak of it to other brethren. Some or all of them may recognize what you then say as God's Truth. Others may not. It is granted you for the strengthening of your faith, but especially that you may honor God with that information or understanding.

Just yesterday I heard one of the electronic evangelists say that God always accompanies the giving of the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in other tongues. How do I hear this statement? I hear it as a mark of deception of the speaker. He has two baptisms; one in water and one in Holy Spirit, and this is contrary to the written Word. Further, if there is a gift of speaking of tongues today, as there were in the New Testament, why do those same men have to go to school to learn Greek or Hebrew? Those tongues were given so that men who had God's Truth would have a confirmation from Him which would convey to Gentiles who did not have the Bible that they spoke from Him. Also, a man could back then go into any province, or among any people, and preach in the language of those people. It did riot require so many weeks or months to learn the language. Nobody claims this happens today. In fact, it does not.

Conclusion
God does speak to men today, but it is not in the way that some would have you believe. This is why the Bible tells us to "try the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). There are many false prophets in the world. Men do not like to think such a thought and they either are offended, or pretend offense, when some of us point out that they are there, putting a label of "judging" on what we are doing. But it is God's Word which put s the label on them and it behooves us to see the label" False Prophet" and beware.