How to Benefit from the Bible

by Reyvie Manalo

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Bilang mga Kristyano, hindi natin ikinahihiyang sabihin na ang Bibliya ang ating batayan sa ating pananampalataya at pamumuhay. Ito ay isang napakagandang patotoo. Sa atin na mga Baptists na nagfe-Facebook, nakalagay sa ating profile na ang Bible ang ating favorite book.

Subalit kung nais nating makakuha ng pakinabang sa Aklat na ito, hindi sapat na sinasabi lamang natin ito. Kaya hayaan nyo akong magbigay ng ilang pamamaraan kung paano tayo makakakuha ng tunay na benepisyo mula sa Bibliya.

I Must Receive the Word of God

Kung nais talaga nating makinabang mula sa Salita ng Dios, dapat natin itong tanggapin sa ating mga buhay.

Sa ating teksto ay gumagamit si Santiago ng isang ilustrasyon ng isang binhi at isang lupa. (...receive with meekness the engrafted word). Sa Matthew 13, binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng isang talinhaga na kapareho ang klase. Sinasabi Niya ang tungkol sa binhi (ang Salita) at sa lupa (ang puso). Paano yun na parehong uri ng binhi ang ginamit, ngunit nagbubunga ng iba’t ibang resulta? Ang sagot ay nasa lupa! Yung isang lupa ay tinanggap ang Salita nang may tamang pag-uugali, habang ang iba ay hindi.

How do I receive the Word with right attitude?

1. Be careful - Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Maging mabilis na makinig. Ibigay ang iyong buong atensyon. Maging alerto. Don’t miss the message!

2. Be calm - Jas 1:19 …slow to wrath.

A relaxed attitude increases receptivity. Kung ikaw ay relaxed, mas kaya ng tao na makipag-usap sa’yo nang higit at kaya mong makaintindi nang malinaw. Sa kabilang banda, kung tayo ay galit, balisa, nagdaramdam, mapait, nagiging balakid/harang ito sa pagpapanatili sa ating mapakinggan ang Salita ng Dios.

3. Be clean - Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Nangangahulugan ito na pagtigil sa paggawa ng anumang imoral o masama. Bago ka makapagtanim ng isang binhi, mahalaga na bunutin muna ang mga damo. Ang mga damo ay nagiging balakid sa paglago ng halaman. Kapag tayo’y may kasalanan sa ating mga buhay, hinaharangan nito ang pakikinig ng Salita. Pinipigilan ng kasalanan ang Salita ng Dios na lumapit sa ating mga puso. Kaya hangga’t hindi tayo malinis, hindi tayo masyadong makikinabang mula sa Salita.

4. Be compliant.  Jas 1:21  ..and receive with meekness the engrafted word,..

Ito ay nangangahulugan na pagtanggap nang may kababaan ng loob. Ito ay nangangahulugang yung pwedeng maturuan, mapagpakumbaba, at bukas sa pagbabago. Huwag kang umakto na parang alam mo na ang lahat. Kapag iniisip mo na alam mo na lahat, mawawalan na ng silid para sa Salita na bigyang-pakinabang ka sa iyong buhay-Kristiano.

I Must Reflect on the Word of God

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Gumagamit dito si Santiago ng ilustrasyon ng isang salamin. Ang Salita ng Dios ay tulad ng isang salamin. Ang gamit ng salamin ay para suriin ang ating mga sarili. Anong silbi ng salamin kung matapos mong makita ang iyong sarili, ay wala ka namang gagawin patungkol dito?

Ang Salita ng Dios ay isang salamin ay kailangan nating gunitain!

Binibigyan tayo ni Santiago ng tatlong praktikal na mga paraan sa kung paano magbubulay-bulay sa Salita:

1.      Read it. Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Ito’y nangangahulugan na dapat ay hindi tumigil sa pagtingin. Hindi lang ito basta pagbabasa, kung mas mailalarawan pa ng mga salitang research at investigation. Ang salitang look ay na nangangahulugang to stoop down and gaze in.

May dalawang paraan ng pagtingin sa salamin. Maaari kang sumulyap rito (glance), o tumitig rito (gaze). Kapag sumulyap ka lang, mabilis ka lang na aalis at kakalimutan kung ano ang iyong nakita. Ngunit hindi iyon ang gustong gawin natin ng Dios kapag nagninilay-nilay tayo sa Kanyang Salita. Nais Niya na tayo’y tumitig rito (pagmasdan ito nang mabuti). Magbigay ng mas mahabang oras/atensyon/tuon sa Salita.

Maraming mga Kristiano, para lamang masabi na nag- “quiet time,” ay susulyap lamang sila sa kanilang Biblia, at yun na yun. Hindi iyan ang ibig-sabihin natin kapag sinasabi nating I Must Reflect on God’s Word.

May isang magandang aklat akong natapos ilang buwan ang nakalilipas na pinamagatang Bible Study Methods. Sa aklat na iyon, ang awtor ay nagmungkahi ng siyam na bagay na dapat tingnan habang nagninilay-nilay sa Salita.

Gumamit siya ng isang acronym para rito para madaling maalala:

S – Is there a Sin to confess  

P – Promise to claim

A – Attitude to change

C – Command to obey

E – Example to follow

P – Prayer to be prayed

E – Error to avoid

T – Truth to believe

S – Something to praise God for

Simula noong matutunan ko ito, ginagamit ko na ang pattern na ito para magnilay-nilay sa Salita.

2.      Review it.  Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein..

Ito ay pagbabasa ng Biblia at pag-iisip tungkol dito nang paulit-ulit. Pagbubulay-bulay ang tawag dito ng Biblia. Ang pagbubulay-bulay ay nangahulugang pag-iisip nang seryoso tungkol sa isang bagay nang paulit-ulit.

Kung alam mo kung paano mag-alala, alam mo kung paano magbulay-bulay. Kumuha ka ng isang negatibong ideya at isipin mo ito nang paulit-ulit, iyon ay tinatawag na “worry” o pag-aalala. Ngunit kung kinuha mo ang Salita ng Dios ay pinag-isipan mo ito nang paulit-ulit, ito ay tinatawag na “meditation” o pagbubulay-bulay.

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

The Lord told Joshua Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night..

Maaaring ikaw ay nagmamaneho, ngunit ikaw ay nagbubulay-bulay; maaaring ikaw ay nagluluto/naglilinis ng bahay/naglalaba ng mga dami, ngunit ikaw ay nagbubulay-bulay. Dapat tayong magsanay na pagbulay-bulayan ang Salita ng Dios.

3.      Remember it. Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer..

Dito na pumapasok ang kahalagahan ng Scripture memorization. Kabisaduhin mo ang mga kasulatan sa iyong isip at ingatan ito sa iyong puso. Sinabi ng psalmista, Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

Huwag mong tingnan ang pagkakabisado na isang pabigat. Dapat blessing ang memorization, hindi burden.

And speaking of remembering, sila na nanag-take note ay may malaking lamang sa mga iba na hindi. Meron silang mababalikan na material in case makalimutan nila ang mensahe na kanilang napakinggan before.

So those are the practical ways to Reflect on the Word: Read it, Review it, and Remember it.

Para sa panghuling bahagi, kung nais nating mapagpala ng Salita ng Diyos, kinakailangan nating tumugon sa Salita ng Diyos!

I Must Respond to the Word of God

Going back to the book of James, Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Huwag lang basta makinig sa Salita—sanayin ito, isabuhay ito, kumilos ayon dito, at gawin kung ano ang sinasabi nito!

May mga Kristiano na gusting ma-church, making sa mensahe, ngunit umaalis sila nang walang intensyon na tumugon sa anumang napakinggan nila.

Sinasabi ni Santiago na dinadaya natin ang ating mga sarili kung hindi natin hahayaan ang Salita na baguhin tayo. May mga Kristianong nag-iisip na sapat na ang biblikal na kaalaman upang lumago. Ngunit sa nakikita natin, ang sukatan ng pagiging malago ay hindi kaalaman—ang sukatan ng pagiging malago ay ang karakter.

May mga Kristiano na nag-iisip na sila’y mga ispiritwal na higante dahil sa dami ng biblikal na impormasyon sa kanilang ulo, ngunit sa paningin ng Dios sila ay mga ispiritwal na kutong-lupa, mga wala pa sa gulang, sapagka’t hindi nila matutunan na tumugon sa kanilang nalalaman.

Dapat natin alalahanin na ang kaalaman ay nagdadagdag ng responsibilidad. Kapag mas marami tayong alam, mas mrami tayong pananagutan. Sinabi ni Jesus, To whom much is given, much is required. Sinabi ni Santiago, To him who knows to do good and doeth it not, it is sin.

Kaya ang tanong sa atin ngayon ay ito, “Ano ang gagawin ko sa aking nalalaman? Ako ba ay tumutugon sa Salita ng Dios?”

Naalala ko na may nabasa akong kwento tungkol sa isang myembro ng church na dumating nang huli isang Sunday ng umaga. Habang siya’y nakaupo sa tabi ng isa pang myembro, tinanong niya ito nang mahina, “Tapos na pa yung preaching?” Matalinong sumagot ang myembro sa kanya at nagsabi, “Na-preach na yung message, pero hindi pa natin nagagawa!”

Kaya mga Kristiano, kung nais talaga nating makinabang mula sa ating Biblia, umaasa ako na maaalala natin ang tatlong simpleng mga hakbang na ito: Receive the Word, Reflect on the Word, and Respond to the Word. bdj

Ang article na ito ay sinulat ni Bro. Reyvie Manalo, at pinublish originally sa Facebook in three parts under the same title. Isinalin nang buo sa Tagalog ni Bro. Elijah Abanto.

Si Bro. Reyvie ay dating myembro ng Capitol BBC, at aktibong myembro na ng Calvary Baptist Church sa Dubai, UAE. Kasama niyang nakikinabang sa Biblia ang kanyang asawang si Rio at anak na si Hannah.

They Aren't Genius But...

by Bro. Elijah E. Abanto

When my father told that the children should be with their parents in the worship service by giving an example of a child from our church, a man answered and said, "That kid must be genius. And not all kids are geniuses." I could not but both smile and be sad at the same time.

I smiled because it was such a good compliment for a child. Everyone who knows that child will be happy if she was called "genius." But in my heart I was sad because that description was used to justify the separation of kids from the actual worship service. This is not a good justification to the practice of separating children from young people and adults. Anyone who thinks will say that this man did not think what he said.

But I cannot point a finger to those who think like this man. It is because first and foremost, The first generation of believers and members of the church were grown-ups--meaning, they were saved as adults or in teens. And because of this, they are more familiar how to treat their own age, because they could understand them better. On the other hand, the fruit of this situation is that they do not know how to treat the children in the church. They were not children when they were drawn to church; they don't know what to do if this happens and that happens. So the method they derive into to remove the disorder the children make in the worship is to do what was done to them before they were saved--in other words, when they were just children--to be separated from adults. Or, they depend upon the child psychologists or experts for knowledge on how to cope with them. And in the beginning, it seems plausible enough, no problem--because really, the nuisance will be eliminated--they can worship God without "disturbance." But when the time comes we become perplexed, "Why did they become like that?"

But, with honest humility, I can say (through God's grace) that I know more on how to treat the children in the church--because I grew up in the church, in the pastor's family. I was saved as a child, I was baptized as a child--and here am I, by the grace of God, standing for and serving Jesus with all my heart and mind.

Did I have to be a genius in order to behave properly in the service, to listen, to take notes, and say, "Amen"? No. Children know and do as they learn. I learned to worship because I was raised to worship with my family in the church. I learned to read my Bible and pray because I was raised reading it, and not just listening to a Bible story in Sunday school and pray simple "Dear Lord Jesus" prayers. I was taught, that's why. I learned theology even though I was a child back then. I just needed to be saved to understand. And taught. I was never separated from them. Thank you, Daddy and Mommy. You always include me. Isn't it beautiful?

A child doesn't need to be a genius to be included in the service or serve the Lord. To encourage you, here are some examples from our church:

• Joshua, when he was just a baby, could be silenced while in the service by command of the pastor. Jemima, who was barely two years old, has just sang the whole "Jesus Loves Me" in the church as a special number.
• Daniel Joseph (also barely two years old) will always say "Amen" at the important points of our pastor's preaching. Also, other kids same age as he close their eyes while praying.
• Justin (who has just turned 7) know how to sing complicated hymns with just reading the words in the song book, like "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Make Me A Blessing" with no mistakes. The kids in our church love hymns just as choruses.
• In our church kids 3 years old are joining the visitation, and giving out tracts. Examples: Jhona (4) and Joshua (3). Many of our children ages 12 below know the 13 points of witnessing (Operation Go), and actually, two have done it in the field: John Mark (12) and Jisilyn (10). The only reason why the others can't do it in actual was because they are shy.
• Kids are included in the Bible quiz with the older ones! And they score!
• By the way, all these kids are behaved in the worship service. We have approximately 40 children in our service, members and non-members.

That and many other examples can prove that. That starts in how these people look at these little ones: the pastor, the parents, the members. They barely know doctrine, but they can be taught. They barely know issues, but they can be taught. They are naturally disorderly, but theycan be ordered, if they are taught and trained. We need to just teach them!

What Will Happen to the Church of Tomorrow?

by Bro. Elijah Abanto

A wise Christian talked to me about this article last time and made some advice to improve this article. The changes are exhibited by the following article. --editor

With very few exceptions, all the parents that I know of want their children to have a bright future. They want them to become the best they could be, the greatest potential they could be, and especially for us Christians, we want them to become saved and to live a life that's pleasing to God and His Word--doctrinally and practically.

But I'm afraid that our dreams for our children might not become a reality. We thought what we are doing is the best way to raise them, but we don't know--we might be wrong. We think that our methods are right, and they seem to be good at first--then later we wonder, "Why did that happen to my child?" And with that we must consider an important question.

What will happen to the church of tomorrow? If we are not careful, the children today could be the apostate adults tomorrow--the apostate church of tomorrow. Little by little, change in doctrine and living would destroy future generations.

You don't have to look far away to see that it's happening. The trends say that. I personally know of one church that has a service for adults and a service for young people. Not that separating church services between age groups is bad, but that's not the case. The reason why they have separate church services is because the adults want hymns and the young people want the 'alive' songs! What's frightening is that most of the young people are children of the adults of the same church! What's more, the children of another church are mocking the choruses they are singing at Sunday school, and, as one of their teachers has said, they are throwing crumpled papers to the teacher while in class! Also, in an old church I know, while all the adult ladies are dressing in right apparel in church service, the young people are wearing mini skirts or spaghetti's. And they grew up there in the church!
I'm not saying it's all our fault--the example set by the adults is strong enough to make them think of the right way to do things. But, the question is, could it be that there may be something wrong with what we are doing? I'm afraid kids are getting enough of Bible stories and not a bit of doctrine. I'm afraid we are just letting (or forcing) our children to do something, and they don't have the least idea why they should do this, or why they should do that this way or that way. And so, when they grow up, they would not believe it, or do it, or at least do it the way we expect them to do it.
What's more alarming is that we are not aware of it, much more do something about it.

Let's be reminded: your children - our children, are the church of tomorrow. What we are teaching them and not teaching them will determine what kind of church we are forming for the future.

It starts with us parents. Read Deuteronomy 6. This chapter will refresh you on the importance of children to be taught and trained. Consider verses 1-2 and 7,

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged...

...And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (emphasis mine)

This principle also applies to the way the church teaches its children, because it is where families are built. The church and the family must not contradict each other, whether doctrinally or practically.
Now let's do a check-up. Try asking or observing a child (12 and below, could be your child) about certain aspects of our faith and practice. That will tell you if you are doing your job.
Doctrine. Ask him about some of the basics of our faith. How many Gods are there? How can you be saved? What do you think about the Bible? Can baptism bring you to heaven? These are some of the many basic questions you must check in the child's being. If the child answers wrong in these basic questions, that means he hasn't really learned what he must believe. Timothy learned the cardinal doctrines of the faith when he was young (2 Timothy 3:15), and it had become undeniably one of the factors why he became one of the youngest church leaders of his time.
Attendance. Do you really like attending church, or are you just forced? If you attend church, do you believe it's needed to attend all of the services and not be late? Do you need to behave in the worship service? Many parents are choosing to leave their children in their houses when attending church, basically because they think their child will just mess things up. But it's a matter of teaching and training.
Another word about church attendance: I would not recommend separate churches, or a children's church, a youth church, and an adult church, though I know that God does use them to bring salvation and spiritual growth to many. If you would look at the scriptures, you would not find any single principle about separating them; instead, scriptural examples implying a family sort of attendance are rampant. (See Deuteronomy 16, specially verse 11; also Luke 2, when Jesus turns twelve)
Offering/Giving. If children are not trained to give now, it is more probable that they will never give later, or they will be selfish. Ask, What do you think about putting money in the offering plate? Is it right? Don't think they will learn it when they grow up. It starts NOW.
One significant example of early-age giving in the Bible is the child who brought the five loaves and two fish to Jesus. (John 6:8-10) Though what stands out more is Jesus' wondrous miracle, carefully studying the passage will bring to light the giving heart of the child. Where must have that giving spirit come from?
Music. What songs to do you like, choruses or hymns? Are you bored with hymns, and want lively songs instead? Though not entirely applicable to all, it is generally reasonable to say that what children sing today will determine what they sing tomorrow. If all they sing are shallow songs without some deeper, richer language, the hymns could probably be alien to them later. What's more important, tell them why they must be singing that, and why they shouldn't be singing this--that could somewhat put strength to the belief you want to mold in them.
To have an idea of how Jesus and the N.T. believers treat music, look up the passages in the parentheses (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Acts 2:46, 47; 16:25, 26; I Corinthians 14:15, 26; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13). Though these passages are not clear on the instrument issue, not mentioning instruments can give a clue. You can also study the instruments used in the Old Testament, and see if all are used in temple worship.
Worship and Service. Think that you are in front of God, what will you do? Would you like to sing in the choir? Join the church activities? Go with an adult sharing the Bible? Or teach? Reverence to and eagerness to serve the Lord are nurtured and developed. Are they growing wanting more and more to serve the living God?

What will happen to the church of tomorrow? It depends on us. Let us examine our practices. Maybe we are ignorant about the how, but the Bible is never short of principles and guidelines to do that. All we need to do is carefully study it.
Let us learn to nurture them. And who knows? God may use them to turn the world upside down again.