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A pastor from Bakersfield, California, passed away in the 1960s on a Sunday morning while preparing for church service. The pastor suffered a heart attack as he was shaving and reached for his Bible. Emergency workers could not remove the Bible from his grasp. "His hand grew weary and it clave unto the sword," an expression used to describe his final moments.
The influence of scripture is highlighted in a message encouraging people to study the Bible. It suggests different ways to approach biblical study through language analysis, emphasizing the significance of understanding various forms of language found within the scriptures.
The use of figurative language in religious texts is discussed, explaining how sacred writers employed figures of speech to convey divine truths effectively. Various categories such as historical, poetical, symbolic, and spiritual languages are mentioned alongside figures of speech like allegory, hyperbole, metaphor, and parable.
Pastor Cleddie Keith emphasizes the transformative power of scripture by sharing a personal story about two nieces who were influenced positively through studying the Word of God. One niece attended classes on studying scripture and eventually became a successful real estate agent after being restored to her family.
Keith concludes with a message to fellow believers: "We are People of the Book." He expresses his belief in their ability to continue growing spiritually through engagement with biblical teachings.
