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            The Bible is a divine Book and only God can reveal its divine truth.  John 3:27 “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”  God is our only Teacher and only He can open our minds to His full Truth from the Holy Scriptures.  John 17:17 ”Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

            Millions of people talk about faith in God, but do not walk in the Truth of His Word, because they have not allowed God to teach them His plan of life.  We must be in a position to learn before anything can be learned.  It takes humility and a willingness to listen.  As with any instruction, we must have confidence in the author before we can learn anything from the material.

            The Bible is a hidden Book to the human mind and intellect.  No matter how much education a person may have, spiritual truth cannot be obtained unless God opens their mind to it—that is proof the Bible is a divine Book which can be understood only by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

            A person can read the Bible many times, and be as interested as anyone could be in the material, but when they were finished they would not know one vital principal of God’s Truth.  People can memorize numerous verses or Bible facts, but the hidden secret of God’s Truth would still be unknown.  Matthew 11:25 "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

            Before reading the Bible, we should pray for God to open our mind to understand His Truth, and be able to apply the principle of trust on Him we have just read.  Matthew 18:3 ”Unless you are converted and become as little children,” we will not know how to enter the kingdom of heaven.  We should ask God to show us something new every time we read His Word.

            The Bible does not have direct statements on divine healing—like; Thou shalt not take medication, but when a person gives their life to God and allows Him to teach them spiritual truth, they will see that divine healing is all through the Bible—right there in bold print as a divine principle of faith and trust in God.

            It is remarkable that a person in their natural heart attitude—and regardless of their education—still cannot see the divine principle of trust on divine healing or finances.  Such basic teaching is hidden from the wise and learned, but is revealed to little children—those who have put themselves in a position to learn it.

            We must be converted to the attitude of a child—who learns quickly because they are open to new information and are willing to accept what is told to them.  It is important that we ask God to open our mind to receive new spiritual light from His Word.  It is our responsibility to trust God to open His Truth to us.  Jesus said Matthew 23:10 "Do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”

            Every Christian is responsible to read God’s Word and to receive divine light from God Himself—that is true Bible study, and that is how one learns God’s Truth—to read the Bible in our own room; to pray for enlightenment of the holy Scriptures, and to have an open mind to apply every principle of truth the Holy Spirit shows us.  Nothing will replace that type of Bible study.

            Any advice we accept must be in agreement with the Word of God.  Psalm 1:1 ”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.”  Satan often masquerades as an angel of light, and he has us think it is divine light.  We are to be guided only by the teaching of God’s Word.

            Satan uses suggestions to our mind and has them be close to the Scriptures.  The only safe guidance is advice from the Bible, because the Word is the only thing the devil cannot change.  He may twist it, but he cannot change it.

            The devil tries to give some Scripture reference to have us follow his suggestions, but he always twists the true meaning of the Word.  He even said to Jesus when overlooking the city.  Matthew 4:6 “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written,”—twisting the true meaning Psalm 91—“He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

            We can claim divine protection, but we cannot deliberately test God’s promise by intentionally placing ourselves in danger.  We always need the effective weapon of the Word to combat the lies of the devil—or we can fall in the day of battle.  Ephesians 6:11 ”Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  The sword of the Spirit is the Word of the Lord.

            Following the first verse helps us obey other verses.  Psalm 1:1 ”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”—but accepts godly advice from the Word, because 5 ”The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”

            The Word of the Bible is how we guide our life.  Psalm 1:2 ”His delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.”  We are to live by the entire word of Scripture—not just the Ten Commandments and the Psalms, but all of Scripture.  The law of the Lord is the rule of our life.  We live Matthew 4:4 “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

            If we are willing to conduct our life by the instructions of the Bible, we will prosper spiritually.  Psalm 1:3 ”He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”  That pertains to being happy and contented in life—two things everyone wants.

            We read and study the Word because God speaks to us through His Book.  The Bible is where His Truth is written and learned and applied.  The entire teaching of the Bible—Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21—is that we are to learn how to trust God for everything.

            It always comes back to the Word of God—a Word that we use to combat the lies of the devil and the plans of this world.  Our super effective weapon is the divine Word of the Lord.  The advice of the ungodly will deceive us.  Jesus said John 17:16-17 ”They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

            The only way Satan can deceive us is by suggestions to our mind.  He continually places thoughts, desires, ideas, or plans in our mind—but they are always something that is not according to the Word of God.

            The deceptive part about it is, these thoughts can seem to be our own thoughts.  If we think it is our own reasoning, we can readily accept them as correct, right, and sensible—even though they are not according to the Word.  The only effective weapon we have is the Word from God.  If it is not according to Scripture, then it is from the devil—that is how important it is to be familiar with God’s Word by meditating on it every day.

            Any suggestion, thought, or plan that does not dovetail with God’s Word, is from the devil and designed to deceive.  It would not matter if a person is religious or have no religious convictions, if they knew actually that the suggestion, thought, or idea which came to their mind, was from the devil, they would not accept it.  The problem is, however, most people do not know it is from the devil, so they do accept it.

            Jesus warned about the possibility of even a believer being deceived.  Matthew 24:24 ”For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

            The serpent who deceived Eve, is still deceiving the world today.  Revelation 12:9 He is “called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”  Therefore we must be very careful of any thought, idea, plan, or advice accepted—it must be in full agreement with the Word of God.

            The Deceiver directly tempted Jesus by saying Matthew 4:3 “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”  It would be a very strong temptation, however, because Jesus was very hungry—after a forty-day fast.  The way Jesus answered is the way we have to respond when Satan tempts, or suggests, or inserts a thought.  Matthew 4:4 “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

            The apostle says we are to Ephesians 6:14 ”Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”  He knew that the analogy would be understood because a belt was part of Roman attire.  The apostle used that to illustrate God’s truth.  A belt has to be complete if it is to be any good—if it is short, it is useless.  That was why we are to live by Matthew 4:4 “every word that comes from the mouth of God."

            After the second temptation, the devil continues to twist Scripture, but Matthew 4:7 ”Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”  Not willing to give up after two effective rebuttals, the devil tries again by standing with Jesus on a high vantage point.  From there the kingdoms of the world could be seen at once.

            Matthew 4:9 “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”  The devil is saying to Jesus, as he still says today—if you will follow my plan and suggestion instead of the Word of Scripture, you will be happy, successful, and possessing everything anyone could desire. 

            But if it is not according to the will and Word of the Lord, it is not true.  We must use our super effective weapon to combat Satan’s deceptive lies.  Jesus replies as we must reply Matthew 4:10 "Away from me, Satan!  For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’" 

            We are to worship, serve, trust, and depend only on the Lord our God—not trust any thing or any one else.  We must know the Word, so we can use it as a super effective weapon—striking a critical blow to the enemy of our soul.