In view of the fact that these devotions have expanded to touch hundreds
of women, the question has been posed to me as to whether or not Rise
and Shine is available in book form, or soon will be. While I think this
is a good idea, I am still heavy hearted about something. Along with their
desire to see these writings published, a particular personal comment
accompanying nearly every request has caught my attention. Loads of ladies
have testified that they cannot find a "decent devotional book" and I
wholeheartedly agree with that report! However, let me tell you why this
troubles me so… It has become clearer than ever before that there is a
rapidly growing need for women to know how to study the Word of God on
their own! Ladies, if our personal devotions were flourishing, none of
us would be looking so desperately for a "decent devotional"; we would
experience private fulfillment using just the scriptures. First-hand information
is the best! Countless believers are satisfied to receive all their truth
filtered through the mind of some teacher, preacher, or commentator. While
feasting exclusively on pre-digested material, they seldom personally
search the scriptures in independent study. Yet Jesus has told us to do
that very thing....
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and
they are they which testify of me.
Ladies, somewhere along the way we have lost the art of personal Bible
study! Many Christians are simply "echoes" of the opinions of others and
not grounded or founded upon the Word themselves! They are led foolishly
from echo to echo when they are not rooted in truth learned firsthand
in the Word of God. What is first needed is membership in a local fundamental
Bible believing church and full submission to the authority there! Under
the influence of sound doctrine and firm preaching believers are taught
how to study the Bible and discern truth from error…
Romans 16:17-18
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. [18] For
they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
In these last days, I believe more Christians are being led astray through
Christian book stores where philosophies and vain deceits carry them down
the path of false teachings in their quest for help in daily living. Silly
women laden with sin have been unknowingly taken captive by the devil
in this subtle, "spiritual" fashion. Be on guard - many teachers, preachers,
and commentators today are intoxicated with false doctrines and notions
concerning the kingdom and salvation of God! They not only err themselves,
but lead multitudes astray - sincere people like you ladies, wanting to
do right! Christian women who lean less on the bookstore and more on the
preaching within the local church will be spared from Satan's subtleties!
What false doctrines have destroyed the faith of someone you know? Man
cannot always be trusted, but Jesus Christ tells us in the verse above
that we can trust the scriptures to testify of Him! The King James Bible
is where we can be assured of finding the truth, the WHOLE truth and nothing
but the truth. Are you interested in searching the scriptures yourself,
or only in probing the shelves of the Christian bookstore for someone
who has done that for you already?? Yes, scores of men and women have
applied their heart to searching and studying the Bible, but what about
your heart…
Eccles. 1:13
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things
that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons
of man to be exercised therewith.
Eccles. 7:25
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and
the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness
and madness..
I want to provoke you ladies today to purpose in your heart to be more
diligent in searching and studying the scriptures yourselves. I'm pleased
you enjoy Rise and Shine and I'm honored that you want to see it published
etc., but it's nothing like discovering these things about the Lord on
your own! I'm nobody special; it is God and His Word that is exceptional!
He can show you the same nuggets of gold in the scriptures as He shows
anybody else. All you have to do is search for them… Is your delight in
the law of the Lord or are you experiencing more pleasure of another author?
Cleanse yourself from insignificant pursuits; it pleases our heavenly
Father when we are workmen of His Word. It's time to grow up, to form
that habit yourself of daily going to the ORIGINAL source of spiritual
truth for your own personal nourishment. The world doesn't need another
book; it needs more Christians spending time in THE Blessed Book! (And
also living by it!)
Eccles. 12:12
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there
is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Other publications, when studied, will bring only weariness of flesh,
yet when we study the Word of God, we find life, wisdom and profit for
ourselves! Col. 3:16 tells us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly
in all wisdom. Are you luxuriantly saturated with God's viewpoint or someone
else's viewpoint? The scriptures alone point the way to truth, for the
Bible admonishes man in a way that he is led straight into a proper fear
of the Lord, a character quality that is almost extinct from the lives
of Christians today! Ladies, you and I can be connected to a certain favorite
worldly author and still live a profitless life as a Christian. We can
spend all our money on a certain person's writings and still be a bankrupt
believer. But when we make diligent search of God's Word in order to know
Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we will flourish and prosper
our whole life long! Praise the Lord!! What are you waiting for?? Don't
be lazy - dig in with your whole heart…
2 Tim. 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all
your heart.
Yes, God, by His Word, calls us to what is really for our advantage and
good. Don't let the devil lie to you and tell you that you can't do it
yourself, that you need to lean on another book. All you need is a vision,
a plan for systematic study of the Bible and a heart to do it! The haphazard
reading of a few verses in the scriptures every day is better than nothing,
but it isn't real Bible study. You need to sit down to a decent meal,
not just a snack! There are various methods of searching the scriptures
for your soul's profit. For our instruction in the things of God, it is
needful however, that the same precept and the same line should be often
repeated to us over and over again, that we may better understand those
truths. Survey the deep things of God one layer at a time - not all gold
lies on the surface of the soil!
Isaiah 28:10
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line,
line upon line; here a little, and there a little…
Here are some ideas for methods of study:
1.) Topical Method - selection of a subject and tracing it through the
scriptures, breaking down even single words and studying them too.
2.) Character Studies - study of various scripture characters and what
you can glean from their lives.
3.) Study of the Books - select a book in the Bible and exhaust it, while
searching the book, find the answers to the questions: who is it speaking
to, what were the circumstances under which it was written, when were
the events taking place, where was it taking place, how can I apply it
to my life today, why did the events take place etc., it's purpose and
main teachings can be discovered this way.
4.) Study of Chapters and Important Passages - get familiar with those
Biblical gems! Study to obey, to know, to do, to be and to share.
5.) Memorize Scriptures - hide them in your heart (that you might not
sin against God!) and have them available for instant use for any occasion
that may arise.
**~~**~**~~**~~**~~**
Mark 12:24
And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye
know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
No other author can supply you with real power for living a fruitful Christian
life but God! If we carry the truth in our hearts by searching and studying
the scriptures, we will not have to be worried about being carried about
by various false teachings! What a blessing, and what protection the Word
of God affords us, amen? Are you living in the power of God? Are you carrying
the truth today, or being carried around by a lie? You won't know unless
you search the scriptures yourself…
Ephes. 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive…
Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good
thing that the heart be established with grace…
I hope you've all been challenged today to do what God has commanded us!
Perhaps you are ashamed of the quality of your personal devotions or sorry
for your lack of Bible study, even weary of the surmounting selection
of "spiritual" authors from which to choose… Let's get out of that devilish
rut and become highly skilled at the lost art of personal devotions!
Isaiah 34:16a
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read…
Lament. 3:40
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
