Practical Application of Biblical Stories: Building Spiritual Virtues and Faith Through the Lessons of the Stories of the Bible

By Pastor (Dr.) Segun Obatusin

“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Important messages are communicated to us by God through stories written in the bible. Stories connect events and people and create meaning. They serve as vehicles that carry us on engaging, dramatic journeys to destinations of resolution that we find satisfying and fulfilling to the extent we desire to repeat the same experience.

While we may not fully comprehend the grace or knowledge of God, He in his infinite mercy has provided us the opportunity to improve our understanding through the lives of great men of the Bible. The works of grace and how it operates in the lives of these men of faith were all documented for us (some) in the form of easy-to-read stories that we may learn from their lives. The Bible is a book of stories and parables that are meant to help us understand God better, gain deeper insight to His plan for us, and help us live better lives. We can read the stories it presents while also being attentive to the lessons being passed on to us.

This guide helps decode the hidden messages of great Bible stories with a view to helping readers develop spiritual virtues and faith needed for this end time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664236677

Pastor (Dr.) Segun Obatusin

Pastor (Dr.) Segun Obatusin is the founding pastor of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Austin, Texas. He is a graduate of the prestigious University of Lagos, where he obtained his MBA degree, and the University of Phoenix, where he obtained his doctoral degree. He was the first National Coordinator of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Campus fellowship. He and his wife, Modupe, are blessed with three children.

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Copyright © 2021 Pastor (Dr.) Segun Obatusin.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3666-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3668-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3667-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021911617

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/23/2021

To the martyrs who fought the battle of faith and passed on the baton.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

—Revelation 6:9–11 (KJV)

Contents

Introduction

Foreword

Chapter 1: The Triumph of Faith: The Story of David

and Goliath

I. Praise and Worship: The Neglected Spiritual Weapon

a. What Is Praise?

b. How to Praise God

c. What Is Worship?

d. Attitudes That Can Hinder True Worship

II. The Tragedy or Consequences of Parental Mistakes

III. The Challenge of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:9–16)

IV. The Secret of Divine Connection/Success (1 Samuel 17:17–30)

V. The Voice of Promotion (1 Samuel 17:31–39)

VI. The Battle (1 Samuel 17:40–48)

VII. The Victory Celebrated (1 Samuel 17:48–58)

VIII. The Inquiry (1 Samuel 17:55–58)

IX. Summary of Lessons

X. Deliverance Prayers

Chapter 2: Enlisting in the Army of God: Gideon and His Valiant Three Hundred Men

I. The Disqualification

a. Lack of Self-Denial

b. Fear

c. Spiritual Negligence or Carelessness

d. Unfaithfulness

II. The God of Gideon

III. Deliverance Prayers

Chapter 3: Lord, This Is Not What You Showed Me: The Story of Joseph

I. The Bridge of Destiny: The Test of Obedience

II. The Conspiracy and the Stripping of His Coat of Many Colors

III. Is Life Not Worth More Than Twenty Pieces of Silver?

IV. Agent of Divine Impact

V. The Test of Faithfulness (Psalm 105:19)

VI. The Lessons of Joseph Faithfulness (James 5:11; 1 Peter 5:6–11; Psalm 66:10–12)

VII. The Lessons of the Story of Joseph

Chapter 4: Death in the Pot: The Story of the Sons

of the Prophet

I. Deliverance Prayers

Chapter 5: Becoming Twenty-First Century Berean Christians

I. Lessons from the Berean Christians

II. Deliverance Prayers

Victory Tidbits

Introduction

God loves to communicate with us (His children), and to do that, he seeks ways and mediums to present the messages to us in a way that will help our comprehension or understanding. One of those ways is through storytelling. Stories connect events, create meaning, and connect people. Stories fill our lives in the way that water fills the lives of fish. Story is a vehicle that carries us on an engaging, dramatic journey to a destination of resolution we find satisfying and fulfilling to the extent we desire to repeat the same experience.

From prehistoric times, stories have always been a medium or means through which experience, information, knowledge, attitude, expectations, or point of view are transferred from the storyteller to the listener. It is the telling of an event in a way that the listener experiences or learns something just by hearing the story. My experience as a college professor, a researcher, and a minister of the Gospel revealed that stories have the potential to reveal and describe a complete lived experience. Storytelling paints a picture, a character drawing in the listeners or readers’ mind.

Stories are not just told; they are told with meanings and with a desire to improve the life of the listeners. If earthly stories are told with meanings, how much more biblical stories that are inspired by God able to make us wise (2 Timothy 3:15–17). The Bible is a book of stories and parables that are meant to help us understand God better, gain deeper insight to His plan for us, and help us live better lives. Sadly, the reasons why these stories were told are often not fulfilled because many of us read these stories without being attentive to the inherent lessons that are being passed on to us. No wonder we are encouraged to meditate (reflect, ruminate, think deeply, or focus our minds for a period) on the Word of God day and night (Joshua 1:8).

A prophecy had gone forth that knowledge will increase in the last days:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4 KJV)

Many believers appear contented with dogmatism, and they got so entrenched in traditions that they block out revelation from their spiritual diaries (see (Mark 7:7–8; Galatians 1:13–15; Colossians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

Whereas believers are busy running to and from churches, mountains, and houses of prophets (fulfilling the first part of the prophecy), unbelievers are busy inventing new techniques and technology that will help end-time satanic revival and distribution of the mark of the beast. This explains why people of other religions are spreading like wildfires, taking over cities and nations that were once called by the name of Jesus Christ. They are pulling down temples and turning them to places of idol worshipping as witnessed in the days of David (Psalm 74). Believers are too busy to search out the truth of the Gospels and often fail to hear from God or seek to understand the lessons embedded in the stories of faith contained in the Bible.

Solomon in his wisdom said, [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings [is] to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2 KJV). Moses also said, The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV). How can we know what to do when our eyes are shut to revelation, when our ears are dull of hearing, and our hearts are waxed gross?

Peter, one of the great apostles of the early Christian days, gave priceless advice to all believers. He charged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). To be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Christ, the church needs to rise up from the dust, shake off the breakthrough maniac, and pursue the kingdom of God and His righteousness with great passion. Peter stated clearly that in the days that we are in, many will manipulate the Word of God to suit their desires, many hirelings will come as the shepherd, and many will compromise the Word of God for their belly’s sake.

The only way to stay secure in times like this is to increase our knowledge of God and His grace. No wonder God told us in Jeremiah 9:23–24 to glory not in might, gift, or riches but in that we know Him and understand Him for it is only those who know their God that shall be strong and do exploits. Having a sound knowledge of God is a sure anchor for our spiritual life.

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23–24 KJV)

In these days of winds of doctrines, every believer must seek to search the scripture and grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the Word of God declares clearly that we must lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21 KJV).

Whereas we may not fully understand grace or comprehend fully the knowledge of God by imagining it, God in His infinite mercies hath provided us an opportunity to understand grace and its workings through the life of great men of the Bible who were described as men like us. The works of grace and how it operates in the lives of these men of faith were all documented for us (some) in the form of easy-to-read stories that we may learn from their lives.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God (in His infinite mercies) through His Word prepares and equips His people unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The Bible is a great book, authored by God, that provides a guide and a compass to help us navigate our way to eternal life. It is the light that lightens our way, the lamp that guides our footsteps, and the cleanser that cleanses us from our secret faults and keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:9, 10, 105). It is also a divine gift given to us that through it we might be able to live a goodly (a life of purpose and divine fulfillment) and a godly (righteous) life (2 Peter 1:3 KJV).

Jesus, out of the immeasurable love He has for us, instructed us to search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39 KJV). Peter also testified to the integrity of the scriptures by saying, No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20 KJV).

Knowing the power and the importance of the Bible, Christians all over the world must not consider any word or story written therein as a mere story. Instead, they should believe there is a lesson to learn from every story in the Bible. I thank God for His inspiration and the grace given me to write this book, and I pray that by the help of the Holy Spirit, this book will enlighten your eyes of understanding to the lessons hidden in the stories of the Bible, and that through such learning, we will aspire to be perfect, entire, and wanting nothing (James 1:4). I pray that you will find these lessons useful and applicable to your Christian life in Jesus Christ mighty name. Amen.

God bless you!

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

—Romans 15:4 (NIV)

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