Reading the Bible And Understanding
By Apostle Jean Mulovery
of APGCI GLOBAL UNITED CHURCHES PRAYER CENTER INTERNATIONAL
Reading and understanding the Bible can be a rewarding and life-changing experience. Here are some tips to help you:
*Preparation*
1. Choose a translation: Select a Bible translation that’s easy to understand, such as the New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), or English Standard Version (ESV).
2. Set aside time: Commit to regular reading, even if it’s just 10-15 minutes a day.
3. Find a quiet space: Identify a comfortable, distraction-free spot for reading.
*Understanding*
1. Contextualize: Consider historical and cultural contexts.
2. Use study resources: Commentaries, study Bibles, and online tools (e.g., Bible Gateway, Blue Letter Bible) provide insight.
3. Join a study group or find an accountability partner: Discussing with others enhances understanding.
*Reading Plans*
1. Chronological: Read the Bible in historical order.
2. Topical: Focus on specific themes or topics.
3. Book-by-book: Read each book individually.
*Additional Tips*
1. Pray for guidance: Ask God to illuminate your understanding.
2. Take notes: Record insights, questions, and reflections.
3. Reflect and apply: Connect biblical principles to daily life.
Some popular reading plans and resources:
– The Bible in a Year (Bible Gateway)
– Our Daily Bread (ODB)
– Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)
– The Message Bible
Remember, understanding the Bible is a lifelong journey. Be patient, persistent, and open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
apgciprayercenterlancaster@gmail.com
apgciunitedchurches.com
Apostle Jean Baptiste Paluku Mulovery
Apostolic Power of God CHURCH International Ministries APGCI Bible college
By Apostle Jean Baptiste Paluku Mulovery
August 20/23
Being transformed
THE DEFINITION OF TRANSFORMATIONA. Not Merely a Perceptible Change Outwardly in BehaviorOur transformation in the life of God is not merely a perceptible change outwardly in behavior. After a person is saved, he might think that he was a mess as a non-Christian, but now that he is going to church and is also carrying a Bible, he should change his behavior. Many Christians change their behavior this way, and their relatives praise them, saying, “It is good to be a Christian. See, my child has changed since he believed in Jesus.” The fact is that inwardly he has not changed; he has changed only outwardly. If after you believe in the Lord Jesus there is a change only in your outward condition, then this change is merely an outward, perceived change in behavior. This is not to be saved in God’s life. I lived in China when I was young, and I observed many disciples of Confucius. Sometimes their improvement in behavior was quite remarkable. What is the difference between the behavioral improvement of Confucius’ disciples and the transformation of Jesus’ believers? When I was young, I heard some missionaries, who were not clear concerning the truth, say that the teachings of the Bible are exactly the same as the teachings of Confucius. They did not realize that what the teachings of Confucius produced, at most, was an improvement in behavior and not a transformation.B. Being a Metabolic Transformation Inwardly in EssenceTransformation is not merely a noticeable change outwardly in behavior; rather, it is a metabolic transformation inwardly in essence. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image…even as from the Lord Spirit.” In this verse, the word changed is not used. In the New Testament the word transformed is used twice. It occurs once in 2 Corinthians 3:18 and another time in Romans 12:2. This term denotes an inward, metabolic change and not an outward change.What is the difference between change and transformation? We may use the example of a person who has been ill and looks thin and pale. Because of this she puts cosmetics on her face to try to improve her appearance. After applying some powder and lipstick, she has some color and looks nice. This is not transformation but is altogether an outward change. It is just like a Chinese opera singer who may turn his face into a white face, a black face, or a red face. However, whether white, black, or red, it is not transformation; it is a performance. For a person to be transformed means that after he is sick, he nourishes himself properly; then after two months when people see him, they will say that he has good color and looks nice. That kind of healthy look is not something added outwardly. It is a manifestation of an inward physical metabolic transformation in essence.II. THE STEPS OF TRANSFORMATIONGod wants us to be transformed, but we cannot transform ourselves. There are steps in transformation. If we follow these steps, we will be transformed.
APGCI GLOBAL UNITED CHURCHES PRAYER CENTER INTERNATIONAL
Apostolic Power of God CHURCH International Ministries APGCI Bible college 
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