HOW TO READ THE BIBLE?

In the emails we receive, many questions are recurring. And this one is a classic! Here is what we can answer you…

The Book is a single volume containing a library of 66 books! It is the universal book. And much more than that, the Bible is God's Revelation to humankind. Some forty authors, living between the 5th ^{century BC} and the 1st century AD, benefited from divine inspiration and transmitted to us, through Hebrew and Greek, the message that God intended for humanity.

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human , spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit . (2 Peter 1:21)

Each of the 66 books of Holy Scripture is a link in the same chain, a vital element forming part of a whole; ancient exegetes called this collection the sacred "canon" (in Greek, " canon " means " rod ," " rule "; by extension, a rule of doctrine). The Bible is indeed a rule of doctrine filled with divine power; a truly living organism, it is permeated by the breath from on high; the apostle Paul wrote about it: [...] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness . (2 Timothy 3:16)

It is up to you to discover the true life emanating from the sacred pages; if God has chosen you as his interlocutor, it is because He desires to communicate His message and His love to you. The first Christians, for their part, valued the biblical text; of those in Berea, it is written: “[…] they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what they were told was true .” (Acts 17:11)

Read your Bible every day or at least on the Vibratory Day of your Angel:

Ariel : Tuesday

Barachiel : Thursday

Gabriel : Monday

Jehudiel : Wednesday

Mébaël : Saturday

Méhaël : Friday

Mikaël : Sunday

Nikaël : Tuesday

Raphael : Friday

Séhaltiel : Wednesday

It is not necessary to read several pages at once. It is better to meditate carefully on a few verses, and the Spirit of God will enlighten you. The Lord Jesus will reveal himself to you: […] receive My instructions, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls . (Matthew 11:29)

Thus, you will gradually assimilate the message of the Word of God. Facing the future, the living and practical knowledge of your Bible will become a source of assurance and hope, which will reflect on those around you.

Don't be surprised if you don't get the full message of the Bible right away. The opposite would be surprising. It contains mysteries that must be respected: some of its pages become clearer in the light of prophetic events in the process of being fulfilled; others are illuminated only by the comparison of biblical texts dealing with the same subject. Through their objective study, you will see the obscurities dissipate; instead of stumbling over seeming contradictions, you will discover the transcendent harmony of Scripture.

The most assiduous reader of the Bible will never have finished probing it, even less fully understanding it. Faced with the infinity of God, we are finite beings. By nature we are sinners, while the Author of the Book is holy. Our reason is fallen, and our mind is unable to grasp by its own resources the wonders of the Almighty. The wisdom of man can brazenly rise up against the wisdom of God and hinder the work of Revelation in us.

Begin then by believing; make an act of faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Savior of all men. Your discovery of the Bible will then become an exciting search, and you will gradually understand what escaped you at first.

To climb a ladder, you only ascend one rung at a time. Do the same with the Word of God. Don't strive to fill your mind at the expense of your heart. Reading the Bible in the simplicity of faith is always refreshing; the true light must rise upon you, growing brighter day by day until its zenith: […] Jesus spoke to them again (the Israelites of His time) and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life . ” (John 8:12)

Do you recognize your incompetence in this matter and your limitations in the face of God's infinity? Then here's a good piece of advice: before opening the Book, ask the Lord Jesus to bless you and enlighten you with His Spirit. […] Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law! (Psalm 119:18) You can recite the following prayer before reading:

"Lord, Lord of lords, give me your spirit to remind me of all the things you have said.

Lord, order my Angel to engrave them deeply in my heart and to remind me that if I keep your word, you will come to make your home in my home.

Make me understand, O Lord, what a great privilege it is for me to know your word of truth. But also give me the strength to put it into practice.

May your supreme truth penetrate to my heart, touch it and enliven it.

Grant me also the strength to preach your good word to those who turn away from you or who do not yet know you. Amen. »

Believe that your Creator is entering into a dialogue with you through the pages of your Bible. He desires to speak to you personally and bestow upon you the spiritual treasures you long for. Therefore, seek His help: […] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you . (James 1:5) […] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened . (Matthew 7:8)

The divine Author even goes to meet those who do not care for Him: […] I have answered those who did not ask Me, I have allowed myself to be found by those who did not seek Me . (Isaiah 65:1)

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God . ( Matthew 4:4)

Yes, the Bible is soul food. You give a lot of care to your body which is mortal and it is completely normal but, don't neglect your soul which is immortal. The Word of God responds exactly to the longings of your soul, for which Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross of Calvary.

Gradually, this reading will become a necessity for you. You will no longer approach the Bible solely to satisfy your curiosity or thirst for knowledge. Having tasted this precious nourishment, you will experience an ever-growing desire to be nourished by it. Your experience will be like that of the first ^- century believers to whom the apostle Peter wrote: “ Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation .” (1 Peter 2:2)

As you advance in your discovery of the sacred pages, learn to appropriate the promises encountered during your reading. Through them, God personally testifies to you His love and faithfulness. Obey also divine exhortations, even if this implies some renunciation on your part; you will not regret it. Do not argue with your Creator, but respond to His desires by conforming your life to His will. It will be for your greatest benefit. May the Holy Book enlighten your walk and inspire your decisions. The Bible has a say in our daily experiences:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path . (Psalm 119:105 )

Learn to rejoice in the hope that your God shines on your future as on your eternity.

Soon you will feel the need to share with others the spiritual riches you have discovered. Addressing the crowd in Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus said: […] Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them . (John 7:38)

A practical advice: write down in a notebook the main lessons that Scripture has taught you; you will have the opportunity to remember it and come back to it often...

As we have said, the divine Word is food for the soul. However, the latter has adversaries, all placed under the orders of the devil, who redoubles his efforts to take away from him the food to which he is entitled. Everything that opposes Holy Scripture is the work of the age-old enemy of God. Do you still have doubts about the sacred text? Has it been tarnished by vain reasoning, criticism or arbitrary prohibitions? Perhaps you got tired of your reading, because you didn't derive from it the riches that others have discovered there. Do not be discouraged, but discern the trap: Satan does not want you to escape him, nor that you pass into the camp of convinced believers because transformed by the Word of God. Yet this is the ambition of the Lord Jesus for you:

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come . (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 )

Your perseverance will be rewarded. After the spiritual darkness, a new day will dawn for you: […] Everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and their encouragement we might have hope . (Romans 15:4)

One last word: You desire that Jesus continue to reveal Himself to you through His Word! Well then, share with others what you have received. Blessing flourishes to the extent that it is shared. In turn, distribute copies of the Holy Scriptures (Give Bibles as gifts!). Start right away. The Lord Jesus, our Master, also calls you, as He did His first disciples: […] Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men . (Mark 1:17)

Some of the most beautiful pages of the Bible:

• The creation of the universe: Genesis 1.
• The flood : Genesis 6 to 8.
• Israel crossing the Red Sea: Exodus 14.
• Moses at Sinai and the Ten Commandments: Exodus 19 and 20.
• Joshua crossing the Jordan: Joshua 3 and 4.
• David before Goliath: 1 Samuel 17.
• The eternal is my shepherd  : Psalm 23.
• The sufferings of the Servant of the Lord: Isaiah 53.
• Daniel in the lion's den: Daniel 6.
• The Sufferings of Israel in the End Times: Zechariah 12.
• The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5 to 7, Luc 6.
• Parable of the Prodigal Son: Luc 15.
• Prophetic Discourse of Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives: Marc 13, Matthew 24 and 25, Luc 21.
• The Birth of Jesus Christ: Matthew 2, Luc 2.
• Interview with Nicodemus: Jean 3.
• Crucifixion of Jesus Christ: Matthew 27, Marc 15, Luc 23, Jean 19.
• Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Matthew 28, Marc 16, Luc 24, Jean 20.
• Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost: 2 Acts.
• The life of the Holy Spirit in the believer: Romans 8.
• The resurrection of believers: 1 Corinthians 15.
• Heroes of Faith: Hebrews 11.
• The Return of Jesus Christ here below: Apocalypse 19.

New Testament Reading Plan

The Chapters indicated here present a message of particular importance and density. This is why we recommend them to you in priority:

For the Gospels:

• Matthew 2, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 13.
• Luke 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24.
• John 1, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

For the Epistles of Paul:

• Romans 5, 8, 12 and 13.
• 1 Corinthians 13 and 15.
• Galatians 6.
• Ephesians 6.
• Philippians 2.
• Colossians 3.
• 1 Thessalonians 5.
• 1 Timothy6.
• 2 Timothy 2 and 4.
• Philemon 1.

For the Epistle to the Hebrews:

• Hebrews 1, 4, 11 and 12.

For the General Epistles:

• James 1, 2 and 3.
• 1 Peter 3.
• 2 Peter 3.
• 1 John 1, 3 and 4.

For prophecy:

• Revelation 1, 5, 21, 22.

Promises and words of circumstances: 

• To find peace of heart: John 14:27.
• Faced with the worries of life: Philippians 4:6 and 7.
• In need : Matthew 6:25-34.
• For sickness: Isaiah 41:10.
• For a time of trial: James 1:2-4.
• On the day of mourning: Isaiah 61:1-3.
• Travelling : Psalm 121: 3-8.
• In case of danger : Romans 8:31-39.
• Facing temptation: 1 Corinthians 10:13.
• In the face of perplexity: Romans 8:28.
• In discouragement: Psalm 37: 23-25.
• – Faced with the uncertainties of the future: Psalm 23.
• – Before an important decision: Psalm 32:8.