would you agree with this statement by keith Daniels

Hi i listened to a sermon by Keith Daniel last night...He said quote "You love God as much as you love this book false stop!!""you love God as much as you gave this book time today..

He also said you know ur saved if you love this book..Did you read it like a baby wants milk at birth when you were first saved etc..

Do you think thats true??

my concern will be obvious 'cause i can barely read it..I'm just being open here not rude,but frankly it bores me to death half the time..its a real struggle for me to read a chapter a day if i'm lucky..
aj

I edited to say exactly what he said in the sermon

brother id have to say brother Keith Daniel is right on this, was the sermon called Word of God? if it wasent i recomend you listend to it, by Keith Daniel, of course there is always exceptions... but if anyone loves christ but dont want to read his "word", thats like saying i love my wife but her love letter to me bores me and i dont wanna read it .... do you se my point?

aj, I believe that God has his hand in your life and is drawing you to himself - bit by bit.

Really, he is the only one who can rightfully assess you. But from my persective, it seems that your love for the Lord is growing. You are asking a lot of good questions, you are trying to be honest. And your interest in the Bible is growing ( I can tell by your PM’s! ) My goodness, you just purchased your Bible last week. Don't expect to be Spurgeon overnight!

I confess, I am prone to view myself in comparison to others, and that can be good and bad. I see someone who knows the Bible far better than me, and then I think, “Oh, my, I’m such a lousy Christian. I don’t love God.”

There are all kinds of reasons that the Bible can be dull to people, or turn them off. It could be a dullness of the mind, or hardness of the heart. It may be the way it was “rammed down their throat” in their early years. It may be the result of bad influences - like hypocritical Christians who tooted the word but lived ungodly, hardened lives. It may be false perceptions ex: The Bible is the cause of all the conflict in religion. It may be reading difficulties. It may be fears. It may be religiosity, ie, dependency on religious experience. It could be an inability to forgive someone. It could be other personal sins that they are not ready to acknowledge. (The Bible is a very blatant mirror!)

There's all kinds of ways that the devil tries to rob the word from hearts in order to drive them away from God.

I am confident that the Lord will help you get past what is blocking you - be it old mindsets, or whatever is getting in the way of your love for the word. And he will do it in his time. You will love the word more and more!

I pray for you. You are precious to the Lord. He loves you and so do I. He is not willing that any should perish! Don’t let the devil drive you into discouragement!
Diane

I believe it was Watchman Nee who said that introspection does not bring about sanctification, or something to that effect. The degree to which we love God in return to His unyielding love for us is a work of sanctification. Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit. Attempting to measure how much you love God can be frustrating at times and often can bring about an inner condemnation. This will not bring about the fruit you desire. Trust that God has His hand on your life and on your heart. Ask [i]Him[/i] to give you a love for His word. Ask [i]Him[/i] to bring it to life in your heart as you read. Scripture cannot be understood using your intellect. It must be imparted to us by the Holy Spirit first, then and only then can we grasp it in the intellect. When it is learned in this manner it is life giving and life changing. The other way around and you will most likely end up with a religious mentality that leads towards legalism.

In His Love,

Doug

Hi There,
Yes, While I agree with Brother Daniel you might think about this though.

A pastor friend of ours said once, learning to love something that you struggle with and that may require some hard work IS IN itself love.

WE love Christ and since we love Him we want to know what HE says, and even though it may be difficult for us to read it, we show our love for Him by putting our nature underneath our love and just keep reading it anyway!

It's always the perfect place to start!

There are many things in this life that I didn't start out so enjoying when I first started, but after I did it for awhile, it became a part of me that I sorely missed when I didn't have it.

When I first was born again I got a New King James Bible

and while many say start in John
(which is a very good place by the way),
I read Luke

and the stories of Jesus's birth and all that surrounded His life, of His words to the people, of the miracles that He performed... they were BEAUTIFUL to me...especially when I thought about the fact that He came to earth knowing that he would suffer... for my sake...

We love Him because He first loved us.

Blessings in your pursuit!

I also would agree with what you have quoted from Mr. Daniel. This is what the Lord has so graciously provided to nourish our spirits, to grow strong in Christ.

Oh, you might say, "I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work. I don’t understand the Bible and I can’t concentrate in prayer." But remember that the manna that Israel ate in the wilderness had to be gathered early, ground, beaten, baked and eaten. It took some hard work to be nourished by that bread. How much time have we spent in Bible study and prayer? Don’t be tempted to call it off until you have tried to fulfill the conditions. He will be found by those who diligently seek Him.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.(Jer 29:13)
In Christ,

Ron

I agree with Bro Daniel. I can only speak on my view of things.

The Word to me is like a love letter from my Beloved. When I first fell in love with the Lord I wanted to be with Him all the time. I wanted to know everything about Him. I wanted to know what He wanted me to know. I am still the same.

I believe you are being honest, and that is great! Maybe have been convicted and deep inside are afraid to face up to something not dealt with in your life. Don't give up - keep pressing on, it will be worth it.

Absolutely agree and think every christian should listen to that sermon The Word Of God by brother Daniel at least once a month.

Hi thks for the replies..

Firstly the sermon i heard was Assurance of True Salvation..

Greg no ones called me young man for a while :-)..

The irony is i do understand the Bible very clearly when i do read it..The sermon comments on that though,its not hard to know a thing mentally and say the right things,hear the right things..But knowing it in ur heart & be frilled to open this book with relish,is another story..

Ive been a fence sitter for 25 years.I left church 25 years ago,and only recently joint my local Calvary Chapel..

Greg maybe ur right,often times ive felt like Wesley before his return from America,the first time..

Keith mentions a interesting thing in the sermon above,about still births into Christianity..Maybe thats what happened,if it happened at all..I wasn't convicted,i read Nicky Cruz book and was wowee i want that...You can't make yourself convicted can you!!

It kind of worries me though as my first church was Charismatic and said i spoke in tongues whoops!!

I'm not being flippant

andy

PS Greg thks but ive already heard that sermon..I respect Paul Washer greatly..Others i listen to are David Wilkerson/Pastor Carter and Art Katz etc..Im not short on great solid sermons thks to ur great site..

aj

Hey Greg i thank you for ur post!!!

I read a book 25 years ago and said a prayer..I went across the road told some Christians,they said amen phone the elder..He said get the spirit!!! They sat me on a chair,4 guys laid hands on me and said have you got any unusual words?I stuttered i'm not sure maybe one,they said hallelujah ur done,just repeat it over and over later and ur get more..

That was my introduction to charismatic church..Then i start acting up and asking question after questions,and their like wowee arnt you moving on from all these questions..

That was the routine for a year,me angry them frustrated..Year or two latter i leave..

But the book stays with me run baby run i could never shake it..So i read other stuff through the years,always hopng for more.Im glad i always wanted something more to be frank,because if thats all there is God help us..

the always more is in Keiths voices!

aj

aj,

I agree with the other responces on this thread...

Mind if I make a comment on your ability to speak in tongues? The ability to speak in tongues is not evidence of the gift of the spirit! One time I had a client at CPC, who was in a cult, who told me how they spoke in tongues at their meetings...and she was a very ungodly person...Just thought I would share this, hope it might help you to understand that the miraculous can be counterfeited by the enemy of our souls. Matt. 7:22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have we not cast out devils?and in thy name have done many wonderful works?" Brother, when you study this verse carefully, it is enough to impart some holy fear into your soul, lest you become deceived like as they were. I know whereof I speak...

Blessings to you in your journey of faith...

ginnyrose

Hi i don't deny that Ginny..It wasn't something i based my salvation on completely,just something i may of said once "if i can do this i must be that" etc..

I was very aware that it didn't come with any Holiness, which concerned me.. e.g i could walk around my room praying in the spirit and stub my foot and cuss mid stream..So it wasn't anything i was banking on!!!

That people like Roy/Keith Wilkerson inspire me when i listen to them,that i get spiritually hopeful at their message,does make me think it must be connecting with something inside me..

This Daniel family really is something else!! Jenny Daniel is so beautiful to listen to as well,so humble..Im so inspired by them..

aj

Andy, It’s interesting that you referred to your reading difficulty as an issue of being ”bored” Apparently that is typically how kids hide that very weakness. Maybe it’s less embarrassing for them to say they are bored.

Regardless, It looks like you are one of the countless who have slipped through the cracks of the education system, and have managed to get along well all these many years (no doubt because of your strengths) – until now – when God is drawing you into his word.

What about googling some audio recordings of the Bible and follow along with a written word version. That should greatly enhance your reading skills.

You are listening to a lot of great sermons. What about including Bible teachers: Vernon McGee (an expository preacher) Ron Bailey, Earnest O’Neil, … and there’s lots more.
Bailey’s Abraham series are both on audio and in text here on SI, and maybe you would enjoy following both at once.

That's just some thoughts... There’s nothing like catching the fire that burns in somebody’s heart.

”His word is in my heart like a fire… Jer.20:9

Diane

Hi Diane maybe i gave the wrong impression about my reading ability..My poor grammar/spelling has not given the greatest impression..

Its true academically i really do struggle..But ironically i'm know for always reading..I always have a book in my coat..In fact the book would come before me buying the coat..Saying that i have had problems reading the KJV as you know,so i have addressed that issue recently :-)

anyhow hope ur well Diane

aj

Hi Strawrifle,
That statement below may be true but remember back to the first time you knew you were saved it was'nt that knew you were saved because you read scripture it was because the Holy Spirit told you so and opened up understanding to you.
Don't let people put you on a guilt trip about reading the bible,it will come.Most Christians on this web(its a really great web)like breaking down scripture to the enth degree,alot of christians take a more simple approach and may not get into greek or hebrew translations etc but it doesnt mean they love God anymore.I have gone through phases when I didnt read the Bible and always knew I was saved;I Know I'm saved whether I read the bible or not but the enjoyment when reading the scripture comes when you realise that its you thats reading and The Holy Spirit thats showing you what your reading and giving you understanding.In fact studying scripture without the Holy Spirit is perhaps an unrewarding exercise.We can go through this life and not read the bible much and still have salvation but we will miss out on the rewards and blessings.Grace,Grace,Grace not guilt,guilt,guilt
Keith Daniels Quote:
He also said you know ur saved if you love this book.
rgds Staff