TEXT:  Acts 8:30

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE EUNUCH: HONORABLE, DEVOTED, INQUISITIVE, LOST.

B.      ACCESS TO SCRIPTURES A WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE ( Rev. 1:3 ).

C.      READING IMPORTANT, VAIN WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ( 1 Tim. 4:13 ).

I.      THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE.

A.      BLESSING IN UNDERSTANDING.

          1.       Happiness ( Psa. 1:1-2 ).

          2.       Strength ( Prov. 24:5 - 1 Cor.10:13;  Eph.6:16;  Rom.10:17 ).

          3.       God's approval ( 2 Tim. 2:15 ).

B.      DANGER IN MISUNDERSTANDING.

          1.       What if a pharmacist misunderstands a prescription?

          2.       More important to understand that which pertains to the soul

                    ( 2 Pet. 3:15-17 ).

          3.       In view of the danger, the Bible demands close scrutiny.

II.     THE POSSIBILITY OF UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE.

A.      GOD IN HIS MERCY MADE IT UNDERSTANDABLE.

          1.       God expects us to understand ( Mat. 15:10;  Eph. 5:17 ).

          2.       Understood in the past. How? ( Eph. 3:3-4 ).

          3.       A reflection on God if not possible ( 1 Cor. 14:33 ).

B.      THE BIBLE IS A UNIQUE BOOK WITH REGARD TO OUR UNDERSTANDING.

          1.       God has come down to our level in communicating with us.

          2.       God hasn't revealed all ( Deut.29:29;  1 Cor.15:51-52 ).

          3.       Some things are hard to understand ( 2 Pet.3:16;  Heb.5:11 ).

          4.       Some passages are easy ( Mark 16:16;  Acts 2:38 ).

          5.       All we need is found in understandable truth

                   ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17;  2 Pet. 1:3;  1 Cor. 2:16 ).

C.      IS IT POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENTLY?

III.    WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?

.         TRUST IN IT AS GOD'S WORD.

          1.       Curiosity will not take one far.

          2.       Understanding what it is will aid in understanding what it says ( 1 Thess. 2:13 ).

          3.       Inspired, God's word, Truth ( 2 Pet.1:20-21;  1 Cor.2:12-13 ).

B.      WE MUST HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE - OBJECTIVE.

          1.       Desire to know its teaching, not prove our point.

          2.       Must see the thought intended( 2 Thes. 2:10-12 ).

C.      MUST MAKE AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND.

          1.       Desire for truth will result in a search( John 5:39 ).

          2.       An investigative spirit, an inquisitive mind

                   ( Luke 10:38;  Acts 17:11;  The eunuch ).

          3.       The answer to "What must I do to be saved?" can be found in a search of the

                   Scriptures.  They must be read, meditated on, and rightly applied.

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE GOSPEL IS GOD'S POWER TO SAVE ( Rom. 1:16 ).

B.      WHERE IS ITS POWER? ( vs. 17 ).

C.      UNDERSTANDING ALONE WILL NOT SAVE ( James 2:24 ).

D.      "WHAT MUST I DO?" ( Acts 2:38; 8:35-36 )