It is said of Martin Luther that when he died a scrap of paper was found in his pocket with Latin and German written on it. The Latin said: "No one can understand the Bible who has not walked with it for one hundred years." In German was written: "This is true. We are all beggars."
If it's that daunting, why do it?
For me, it is a necessity. The first time I heard the Bible taught in a verse-by-verse way (expositionally), I was astounded.
Up to that point I had been brought up in a church. I was baptized when I was about seven. Later I went to the confirmation class and was accepted as a member of the church. I memorized Scripture and wrote pages on the questions we were required to answer. At the end of it I still was aware that I did not know God. Nor did I know anyone who I thought DID know Him. I may have accepted Jesus 20 or 30 times, wondering when I would ever connect with God. Was it even possible?
A friend invited me to a home Bible study. I wrestled with the invitation for a week. The day came and I was still torn. Should I GO? Or should I NOT go? I went around and around with it. I put on loud music so I could better think, as was our custom in those days. In the midst of the noise and confusion I received an impression, almost as though I heard a voice, but it wasn't audible. It was simply the impression: "Go." That ended the conflict. I called my friend, picked her up, drove to the place, sat down in the living room. A guy with long hair and a beard played a guitar, we sang songs. What a bunch of Mickey Mouse. Already I regretted saying yes.
Then the guy began teaching. He was in the Epistle to the Romans. He began at chapter 12 with the first two verses. He emphasized the word "therefore" and said it referred to the teaching Paul had given from chapter one. He proceeded to give a recap of chapters 1-11. Then he showed how the exhortation from verses 1-2 applied the teaching of chapters 1-11.
I sat on the sofa and felt like the top of my head had come off. I was utterly convinced there was a God, that Jesus was real, and that THAT GUY KNEW GOD. I said, "This is home. I'm not leaving this place till I know God like that guy knows God."
What happened that night has repeated itself many, many times in my life since. But that time was special, because it was the first time that the word of God came to me in power. That's what I love. That's what I expect every time I sit to hear the word taught. I am irritated when it doesn't happen, because I know that it CAN happen, and either that person isn't really teaching in the power of the Spirit, or my ears are dull. I have mourned when I teach badly and the word doesn't come to the listeners in power. When the word comes in power people come to KNOW GOD.
The whole world is dying for lack of this word. Hosea 4: 6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." God's solution is: "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions," (Psalm 107:20).
My experience is that studying and teaching demand more character, understanding and ability than a human being has. It demands God's insight and enabling and severe mercy as He builds character in me. If only others can experience that word of God coming to them in power, I count it a high privilege to submit to God, and spend and be spent on their behalf.
