The writer is Luke, and he gives us the history of the early church. He was in the company of Paul and Silas. In Berea the people were commented of very highly. When they heard the preaching, they searched the scriptures to see if it was so. This is a compliment we all could use. It shows our confidence in the Bible.
Acts 17: 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
With every part of these verses we’re taught how important the Bible is. It anchors us to the Lord. Because of the Bible we have a church; we have each other. We have the gospel and know truth in our life and in this world.
Notice how impressed Luke was with the people of Berea. They were noble and honorable. The Greeks were noted for their learning and intellect. It takes more than brains to be saved. Salvation is of the heart and soul. When Paul and Silas preached in the synagogue, they preached the gospel and expounded it. The people worshipped under Old Testament ways. When they preached, they brought in the writings of prophets and Psalms. The people searched the scriptures to check what they heard. They proved it was right. Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. He was more than a political Messiah; he was the Savior of the soul.
The Word of God is important for us. It has an important place in our life. How much time do we spend in it? How knowledgeable are we in it? Remember this. Our faith is a product of the Word coming into our heart. It comes through hearing and reading. The Bible requires us to be students of it. It’s a privilege to own a Bible. In some countries the Bible is illegal. Some people only have portions of it. The devil has not been successful in keeping Bibles away from us in the US. He doesn’t care if we have an erroneous version. He doesn’t care if we have a good one…as long as we don’t read it. The connection of our faith lies in a clear passage to the Word. We have eyes that see, ears that hear. Our heart must be willing to receive it.
They searched the scriptures daily. We have a daily need of the Bible. Job 23:12 says neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. We can’t have it served to us all the time. In church it’s taught and preached. Most of our days are spent outside the church atmosphere. The daily connection is up to us. The Lord has given us a magnifying glass—our mind—and we must use it. We have eyes to read it, hands to hold it. It is to be taken into our heart and used as a guide for our life.
Consider what we have. Bible means Book. The word Bible is not within the Book. It’s referred to as the scriptures. This means it is holy and pure, a divine writing. It was recognized by Jesus and the early church as scriptures. When people from other countries visited Israel, they referred to the writings as scriptures. Even the devil acknowledges the Bible is the Word of God. He quoted it to Jesus.
This is the basis for your searching. Otherwise it wouldn’t mean much. It’s a special Book. II Timothy 3:16-17 says all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The essence of the Bible is that it is God’s inspiration. Don’t look at inspiration as we define that word. It means breathed upon. The words are not man’s words. II Peter 1:21 states for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The author is God; man just wrote it down. With the Bible we hold the voice of God—the breath of God—in written form. Don’t neglect or misuse it. John 6:63 says it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. The Word is alive. It’s different from reading the newspaper. We’ve had one book all our lives, and it does its job. There is something that connects the heart and soul.
God gave us a brain to learn and think. What we read, we think on. We learn. It goes into our heart, the seat of our soul and the center of our being. The Bible says as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. It ultimately guides our lives. We are governed by what we read, so don’t be led by error. Psalms 34 says the word of the Lord is right. Don’t listen to too many voices. We’re prodded in every way, and if we don’t search the scriptures daily, the other voices will get to us. People who have changed their minds about sin and God have turned their back on the Book. God gave us one Book. That’s why we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God; it’s his gift to us.
Do you ever feel like you’re not getting anywhere when you read it? You can read a magazine or book and understand it, but do you have trouble with the Bible? I want to deal with that next week.
Searching is looking for something in particular. Do a search on the scriptures and see what the Bible tells us about itself. Let’s face our fear and frustration of studying the Bible. Learn the technique of searching and rightly dividing the Word. Jesus promised if we ask, we’ll receive. If we’ll knock, it will be opened.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 