The scary thing is that by our actions as Christians in America, what we’ve been declaring to God for some time now is that the Bible doesn’t matter. When nine out of ten Americans, even non-Christians, have a Bible, fifty-two percent of believers never read it at all and only fourteen percent read it daily. That means the majority of Christians today are declaring to God that they really don’t think that it’s that important in the broad scheme of things going on in their lives.
However, the evidence shows something vastly different. Those who “get in the Book” at least four times a week experience the active power of God in their lives. They get face-to-face with the actual Truth. When we open the Book, conviction comes into our heart and it draws us to the heart of God. By cracking open the pages of the Bible, a resolve hits our heart to seek him and it gives us new strength, and it connects us with the purpose for which God created us from the beginning.
It shows us our identity in Jesus Christ and gives us wisdom and clarity about the Book that’s so full of God’s promises to us like freedom, deliverance, fellowship with him, and lives that compel others to want what we have. The more we read the Bible, the more we retain it mentally – up to four hundred percent more – as the Holy Spirit reminds us of his Word. But, if we’re not reading our Bible at least four times per week, then we won’t make any significant choices or changes different than someone who never reads the Bible.
Even though we live in a culture that’s full of corruption and sin, it all gets displaced as we fill our hearts with the Word of God. The Bible alone contains the key to every single thing that ails, perplexes, and snares mankind because it’s the only roadmap that will lead us to the very feet of Jesus Himself and into the presence of our Maker. He alone knows what breaks us and what fixes us and he will not share his glory with another. If we want to know Jesus, we have to know his Word, because he is the Word made flesh.
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Eph. 6:17 NLT
“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Heb. 4:12 NLT
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
Matthew 10:34 NLT
“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.”
We need to take the sword with us. It’s only useful when it’s strapped to us at all times. The more we use it the sharper it gets, and as it gets in us, the sharper our spirit will become, as well as our ability to deal with everything we will face in life. It cuts to the heart, exposes truth, and brings freedom. It’s our tool of defense and our weapon of authority against the enemy.
“The Bible is the Word of life. I beg that you will read it and find this out for yourselves – read, not little snatches here and there, but long passages that will really be the road to the heart of it. You will find it not only full of real men and women, but also of the things you have wondered about and been troubled about all your life, as men have been always; and the more you read, the more will it become plain to you the things that are worthwhile and what are not… When you have read the Bible you will know that it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.” – Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S. – July 28th, 1917
“I have said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands…The Bible makes the best people in the world.” – Thomas Jefferson
What comes out of our mouths can change our nation, but first, we need to get the Word in our hearts before it can burst out of us. We’re the ones with the words of Life – not the sinners we sometimes complain about.
Dr. George Washington Carver, African-American genius of the Tuskegee Institute, world’s greatest biochemist – best known for the discovery of hundreds of valuable uses for the peanut and the sweet potato – in 1921 was invited to testify before the United States Senate Ways and Means Committee on the possibilities of the peanut. Initially given ten minutes, he so captivated the committee that the chairman said, “Go ahead, Brother. Your time is unlimited.”
He then went on to speak for an hour and forty-five minutes. After the chairman asked, “Dr. Carver, how did you learn all of these things?”, Carver replied, “From an old Book.” “What book?” the Senator queried. Dr. Carver replied, “The Bible.” “Does the Bible tell about peanuts?” the surprised Senator inquired. “No, Sir,” Carver replied, “but it tells about the God Who made the peanut. I asked Him to show me what to do with the peanut, and He did.”
Psalm 119:99 AMP
“I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word], for Your testimonies are my meditation.”
The Word of God speaks into every detail of life because God Himself speaks in and through His Word. In a million years, we will still be learning about the wonders of His Word that we didn’t realize were there. That’s how rich and deep and powerful His Word is because His Word is perfect and draws us to our perfect eternal Heavenly Father. He says what He means, and means what He says.
He got it right the first time with no need for adjustments, alterations, or amendments. He gives the diligent seeker glimpses into its perfection to strengthen our confidence that we can trust Him and His Word in every moment, decision, trial, tribulation, and temptation to bring us safely to Him. Every detail matters and nothing in Scripture is by accident. If it seems boring and irrelevant, then we just haven’t unearthed the treasure of it yet.
“It comes as no surprise that there are numerous hidden messages in the Bible, and one of the most remarkable is found in Genesis chapter five.” Dr. Chuck Missler; Cosmic Codes: Hidden Messages from the Edge of Eternity – Genealogy of the ten men from Adam down to Noah:
Adam………………….. “Man (is)”…………………………Genesis 1:27
Seth/Sheth………….. “appointed”……………………….Genesis 4:25; 1 Chronicles 1:1
Enosh…………………. “mortal”……………………………Genesis 4:26; 1 Chronicles 1:1
Cainana/Kenan……. “Sorrow (but)”……………………Genesis 5:9; 1 Chronicles 1:2
Mahalaleel…………… “the Blessed God”…………….Genesis 5:12; 1 Chronicles 1:2
Jared/Jered………….. “shall come down”……………Genesis 5:15; 1 Chronicles 1:2
Enoch/Henoch……… “teaching”………………………..Genesis 5:18; 1 Chronicles 1:3
Methuselah………….. “His death shall bring”……….Genesis 5:21; 1 Chronicles 1:3
Lamech……………….. “the despairing”………………..Genesis 5:25; 1 Chronicles 1:3
Noah…………………… “comfort/rest”……………………Genesis 5:29; 1 Chronicles 1:4
God has hidden a vast treasure of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, blessings, promises, healing, freedom, forgiveness, purpose, and most importantly of all, himself and his presence just beyond our ability to perceive, find, and receive. He then left us a map to that treasure and said, “Seek and you will find.” God is waiting for us to seek – and keep on seeking. He’s only hidden himself just enough to draw us in and cause us to seek him. He wants to reveal himself to us and make himself real to us. He has a treasure hidden for us and has called us all to be treasure hunters.
Matthew 13:44 AMP
“The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself].”
The Bible isn’t the treasure, he is the treasure – his presence – knowing him and walking with him. The Bible is the field we purchase by throwing our whole life into it and giving everything we have to “digging” into it. We find the field as we become aware, but we have to purchase it for ourself and begin to dig! How do we “buy” the field? It doesn’t mean to go buy another copy of the Bible. It means that everything we think is more valuable in terms of the way we spend our life and our time, creating priorities and applying ourselves to this Book – to put our values, possessions, and everything we have into seeking him – then he will reveal himself and we will find the treasure that’s hidden.
Psalm 119:11 NKJV
“Your Word I have treasured in my heart… [not our head, home, church, etc…]”
Colossians 2:3 TPT
“For our spiritual wealth is in Him, like hidden treasure waiting to be discovered – heaven’s wisdom and endless riches of revelation knowledge.”
Hebrews 11:6 AMP
“…for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. (not the casual observer, not the bored reader)”
Proverbs 2:1-5 NKJV
“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”
Acts 17:11 AMPC
“Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore became believers, together with not a few prominent Greeks, women as well as men.”
2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC
“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” (He pursues you and wants you to pursue Him)
Hebrews 5:11,12 NLT
“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s Word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.”
Every disciple is called to not only learn and know for themselves but to be able to teach. Disciples make disciples by sharing accurately the message and the One the message reveals!
Hebrews 5:13,14 NKJV
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
When the trial comes, when the bottom drops out, when everything fails, when what we thought was going to happen doesn’t – then we have to decide, “Am I going to trust God, or am I going to fall apart with my circumstances?” Those who have sharpened their spirits, and who have been in the Word, and who know their God will persevere under every trial. We have to be disciples who study to know him, and to recognize things that are counterfeit to the real Jesus, and to the truth of his Word.
Like bankers who learn to spot counterfeit money are taught by repeatedly handling the real thing over and over again, so that when they touch anything but real money, they immediately know that it’s fake – it works the same way for us.
Hosea 4:6 AMP
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Hosea 4:6 NLT
“My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me.”
What destroys God’s people is a lack of understanding of his will, his Word, and who he is. We’re not meant to be deceived, but we will be if we don’t know him. Many claim to know about God – to speak for God – without speaking what he says – and we’re called to feel the difference – but only if we know him.
1 John 4:1 MSG
“My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.”
1 John 4:1 AMP
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.”
If we don’t saturate ourselves in Truth to know Jesus for ourselves, Satan and his minions will deceive us not with blatant evil, but with evil disguised as good. Satan tempted Eve to doubt what God said by twisting it. If we don’t maintain and wield the sword, Satan will wield it against us. He will weaponize and distort the Word. Eve didn’t go to God to find out for herself what he said or meant. This is not unlike what so many of us do today when we settle for what we hear from a preacher or see on a video, or what someone told us about God, rather than knowing him for ourselves – buying the field and digging for the treasure.
Practical Application – Treasure Hunting Methods
- Start your day in the Word (Put on your contacts first, set your mind) 2. Pray through, write down, meditate, and chew on what you read. Highlight, underline, circle, and write in the margins.
- Detox your tech
- Get a study Bible (New Spirit-Filled Life Bible)
- Use free and simple resources to dig (handouts, bookmarks, Biblegateway.com) 6. End your day in the Word
John 8:31-32 NKJV
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Prayer
Father, in Jesus’ name, we’re asking that You would confirm Your Word to us. Holy Spirit, we invite You in this place to reveal Yourself – to show us who You are. Lord, that we might become the treasure hunters that You called us to be. May we be those who seek after You with our whole heart and with all of our being as those who buy the field. God, we pray that You would strengthen us to follow through with that and to step into it. In Jesus’ name. Amen
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on The Bridge
Featured Image by Kiwihug on Unsplash
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