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The Holy Spirit's Illuminating Power in Bible StudyWe always say to Christians the author is always present every time we read the Bible. What if we got up every morning and Bill O'Reilly was in my study to explain why he wrote certain sections of his new book: "Killing Lincoln". It surely would make it easy to understand.Patterson: Though many matters may be successfully communicated based on human knowledge, the spiritual truth of revelation does not fall in that category. £>.L. Moody said, The Bible without the Holy Spirit is trying to read a sundial by moonlight.There are times I have witnessed to others not thinking I was making much headway. But after I did, God took what I said, and as Lydia opened people's hearts to the gospel. The Methodists say, "open minds, open doors, open arms. How about open hearts? Only God can do that. When we use God's Word, He will do it. Acts 16:14.Many years ago in a Moscow theater, matinee idol Alexander Rostovzev was converted while playing the role of Jesus in a sacrilegious play entitled Christ in a Tuxedo. He was supposed to read two verses from the Sermon on the Mount, remove his gown, and cry out, "Give me my tuxedo and top hat!" But as he read the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted," he began to tremble.Instead of following the script, he kept reading from Matthew 5, ignoring his fellow actors' coughs, calls, and foot-stamping.Finally, recalling a verse he had learned in his childhood in a Russian Orthodox church, he cried, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). Before the curtain could be lowered, Rostovzev had trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.What if I am a believer and have difficulty understanding scripture? You can begin to understand through constant usage and cross-referencing. You can understand more through gifted teachers and when you prioritize the Bible in your daily study. Keep a journal, ask questions, and pray for understanding. It will come, for the Holy Spirit is on our side. That makes our pursuit of truth in God's Word much more worthwhile.--- Dan Nelson