Biblical Illiteracy! Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time ye

ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first

principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But

strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use

have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

How many of us are daily Bible readers?

How many of us can honestly raise our hands?

♦Too often we fail to see our need to feed ourselves spiritually!

♦Right food! “Word of God” (1 Pet. 2:2)♦Right nourishment! “Comes from

Christ” (Col. 2:18-19)♦Right exercise! “Unto godliness” (I Tim.

4:7-8)

The problem of “Biblical Illiteracy” is not just affecting

the world, but the church!♦A man by the name of George

Gallup, from where we get the “Gallup poll” once said our our country, “Americans revere the Bible, but by and large, they don't read it, and because they don't read it they have become a nation of biblical illiterates!”

What is “Biblical Illiteracy?”Biblical = relating to the Bible; illiterate = unable to read or write; ignorant in a particular subject

or activity!♦This is not a new problem, it is one that

many have always had! (2 Pet. 3:15-18)♦Rom 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart's desire and

prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

No real direction!Without a proper understanding of

God’s Word!♦Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to

my feet And a light to my path.♦Ps 119:165 Great peace have those

who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

♦How many are stumbling through life? How many people’s lives are being destroyed because they remain in darkness? (Cf.2 Tim. 2:15)

I. The Poison!There are 3 areas to consider!

♦It affects the individual!♦Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed

for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Cf. Hosea 4:1!

♦When there is a lack of God’s Word the people faint! (Amos 8:11-13)

It affects the community!Our standard of morality becomes

corrupted!♦Is 5:20 Woe to those who call evil

good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

♦No Bibles, no prayers in schools, but they want them in prisons!

♦We kill the innocent (abortion) and then spare the guilty!

It affects the Church!♦Many congregations have turned

away from the truth of the Bible because of “biblical illiteracy!”

♦I am told that 50 years ago you could go to any congregation of the Lord’s church and know the Bible would be preached, and that every member could tell you the plan of salvation, but is this true today?

♦There has always been a danger of this happening! (Heb. 5:12-14)

II. The Antidote!Antidote = a medicine taken or given to

counteract a particular poison!♦When do we need an antidote?

♦When we have been bitten!♦The serpent is still active today!♦1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

♦Jas 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We need to be daily Bible readers!

♦Ps 1:1-2 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

We need to give time to Bible study!

♦2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

♦Jn 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Need for mutual edification!I need you, you need me and we all

need Jesus!♦Heb 10:24 And let us consider one

another to provoke unto love and to good works:

♦Heb 3:12-13 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

We need preachers that are willing to stand for the truth!

(1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5)

♦It is only by the truth that one can be set free! (Jn. 8:31-32)

♦When one fails to teach the truth, they fail to save themselves and others!

Conclusion:♦It is my hope & prayer this lesson

today is an eye opener for us!♦That we will see our need to

know God’s Word and to apply it!♦Have we come to know and

believe in the God of the Bible?♦Are we seeking to live by God’s

Word in your life?♦Are we continuing in the Word so

that we will know it?

Are we truly standing on the promises of

God?