A few weeks
back, I gave a lesson in our Ladies Bible Study on digging into the Word of
God, and making time for study of the Bible. It wasn’t a deep and theological
lesson, it was just a simple reminder to get into the Word of God and make time
regularly to study and not be content with just reading the Word. Actually studying
it and applying it!
So, I’m
posting it here on the blog in the hopes that some of you reading may be
encouraged to do some digging of your own.
Firstly, if we
want to be successful in our Christian walk, we need a manual! The origin of
success is the BIBLE. The Word of God is our manual.
Joshua
1:8
This
book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou
shalt have good success.
This book of
the law, the Bible, is God’s key to success
We read that Joshua
desired to follow God wholeheartedly.
Joshua
24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the
LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve
the LORD.
Joshua knew
that to become successful in his spiritual life, he needed to follow the Lord
and serve the Lord and encourage his family to do the same.
Success
begins with following God’s Word. Knowing God’s Word and doing
what it says.
What is the
Bible?
It is God’s
Word – 2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
It is Alive –
Hebrews 4 :12 - For the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word
‘quick’ literally means alive. The Word of God is Alive!!
It is a Force
- Jeremiah 23:29 - Is not my word like as a fire?
saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
It is a Defence against temptation –
Ephesians 6:
13-17 (the armour of God)
Matthew 4:4,7,10 –
But he answered and said, It is
written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.
In this passage, Satan tried to tempt
the Lord and the Lord used scripture to fight against him. The Word is a
defence.
It is a Guide – Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
It is Cleansing - Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. ...
It is Eternal - Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but
the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth
shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
1 Peter 1:25 - But the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached
unto you.
It is Pure
It is Perfect
It is Sure (faithful, established, stands fast)
It is Right
It is True and Righteous
Psalm 12:6 - The words of the LORD are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 19:7-9 - The law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing
the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are
true and righteous altogether.
As we read and study the Bible,
precious truths begin to seep into our hearts and minds. We begin to experience
rich blessings from the Word of God.
It is so important to read and study
God’s Word regularly.
Step 1 – Reading
Step 2 – Studying and Meditating on
it
My little analogy
Reading the Word of God is a little like flying over the
jungle. As you fly over, you look down. You see the winding river making its
way through the deep canyon. You see a dirt track cutting through the jungle
leaving a clear path to follow. You see the tops of the trees. You see some
dwellings far down below. You see a fire and some smoke. You see the picture as
a whole. You get an overview of everything in your sight.
Studying the Word of God is like actually walking that dirt
track. Handling the leaves. Feeling the dampness of the jungle. Touching the leaves
of the trees. Crossing the river. Getting your feet wet. Feeling the warmth of
the fire and the comfort of the enclosed walls of the dwellings. Experiencing
every little detail. Getting up close and immersing yourself in all the sights
and sounds.
As we read the Bible, we get an
overview. But, as we study, we begin to dig deeper and really search out the
meaning of the passages we read. We see the Word come alive. We experience the
blessings.
Now, I’m not just encouraging you to
study because I think it’s a good idea, God actually tells us to study His
Word, in His Word.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
Study has the meaning to exert
oneself, to give diligence, to endeavour, to labour
We come across the word meditate in
the Bible. The word meditate is used 14 times in the Bible and has the meaning
to ponder, to muse, to study.
Joshua 1:8 KJV - This book of the law
shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt
have good success.
Psalm 1:2 KJV - But his delight is in
the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 119:15, 48, 78, 148 KJV - I
will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. ... My
hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will
meditate in thy statutes. ... Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt
perversely with me without a cause: [but] I will meditate in thy
precepts. ... Mine eyes prevent the [night] watches, that I might meditate
in thy word.
God puts a lot of emphasis on
meditating on His Word. But study and meditating on God’s Word all comes down
to interest and desire. We have to desire the Word of God and have a hunger for
it.
Reading it is not enough.
Be careful not to fall into the trap
of reading through the Bible in a year, without studying what you’re reading. It’s
great to read quantity, but you need to gain an understanding .
There needs to be comprehension. Just
like when you did reading comprehension in school and you had to answer questions
on what you had read, in order for the teacher to see that you grasped the
meaning and content of the book.
Comprehension comes through study and
God revealing its truth to you. We need to become studiers of the Word! We need
to actually comprehend what we’re reading. And in order to do that, we need to
study!
Thankfully, nowadays, we have many
‘helps’ available to us. Commentaries, Bible dictionaries and study books
abound. We don’t have any excuses really.
But in all your study and reading,
don’t forget prayer!
PRAYER is super important. We need to ask God to reveal himself
to us. We need him to help guide our understanding. To help us to be able to
discern truth from error.
Prayer needs to be surrounding all
that you read and study. It needs to be the foundation.
“Prayer and praise are the oars by
which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ “ - Charles Spurgeon.
I came across this passage in the book
of Ezra, and it was not very familiar, not having read Ezra frequently, but in
reading it, it only highlighted the fact to me that ALL of the Word of God needs
to be read regularly, not just the ‘favourite’ parts. It’s amazing what treasures
abound as you read the not so popular parts of the Bible.
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek
the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and
judgments.
Not only was this a new verse to me,
but I found it interesting in regards to this blog. When I was trying to find a name for my blog,
I thought about how we need to learn from the Word of God, then we need to live
what we learn, then we need to love others so that we will share with them what
we’ve learned.
Learn. Live. Love. Share.
In this verse in Ezra, it says that Ezra
prepared his heart to seek God. Then he did it. Then he taught it. And to teach
it, he needed to love those he taught.
And that is one of my goals here on
this blog, is to learn from the Word and be able to share what I’ve learnt and
am learning with you.
Ezra was prepared – The word ‘prepared’ means to be
determined. Be ready. Be settled. Be fixed. Directed toward. Be established. Be
set up.
Ezra had prepared his heart!
We need to prepare our hearts to seek
God. Then we need to obey it. Then we need to share it and teach it!
It is our job as Christians to share
the gospel and to teach others what we have learned.
It’s not enough to just read the Word
of God. We need to be continually be digging deeper and studying the Word and
meditating on it and praying over it and living it.
Studying the Bible illuminates our reading!
It opens our understanding. It keeps us from error. It deepens our walk with
the Lord.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
