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Pastor Paul Van Noy at Steeling The Mind Conference

It has often been said that to understand the Bible, you let Scripture interpret Scripture. This means the Bible never contradicts itself; so if you run across something you don't understand, you can always find a less difficult passage to clarify the text in question. This is true - and good advice.

Another very important thing to remember when reading the Bible is to consider the context, audience, historical and cultural background and purpose for the text. And the most important context is the dispensation to which the Scripture is referring.

You will be amazed at how easy it is to understand the Bible when you read it in the context of an accurate dispensational model. Pastor Paul Van Noy's presentation on biblical dispensations may be viewed in the above play list.

The Bible should always be read prayerfully under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, in John 14:26, "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative - that is, the Holy Spirit - he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." Speaking of the disciples, Luke 24:45 says Jesus "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures."

1 John 2:27 states, "But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true - it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ." And the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:14, "But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means."