METHODS OF THE STUDY OF GOD'S WORD
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS:
METHODS OF STUDY
1.
When we read scripture we need to prepare our hearts to hear God speak to us. In most cases, if we don't hear from God as we read His word it is because we are not listening or our hearts were not tuned into God's Spirit. In those cases, we need to re-read the passage until we get something.
Usually, it is because we are not paying close enough attention to what He is saying or we may not have read His word enough to understand the context of what was going on. Either way, perhaps we need more prayer before we start reading again. Above all else, the first method of study is to always humble your heart to receive what He is saying.
2.
There are some methods of study that can be dangerous because they can be used by the enemy of God to divide people against one another. Once again this is tied into not having our own hearts in the right place when we read. It has to do with taking the word of teachers about what the word is saying instead of doing our own study to prove that word is true. We need to be able to confirm the teachings we hear because if we are off even a small degree it can lead us to the point where down the road we will find ourselves off track degree by degree until at some point we are completely separated from God in the ways we intended. There are so many cases where people try to prove a point they have decided to take up rather than teach the truth. In those cases, they may take a small snippet of scripture that says what they want to prove out of its context then teach it as though it were the truth. In most cases when we prove this kind of teaching by reading the entire passage of scripture these concepts cannot be proven in scripture.
It is much easier than we think to get caught up in a theme of teaching that leads us in a direction that may have a good general or moral thought like "God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle" while the truth is that there will be many things that happen that we are unable to handle on our own. I can tell you truthfully that I have gone through many things that I could not handle on my own, and the only salvation in those situations is my close relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
3.
Trying to study before unloading burdens ( prep time for the heart) This is different than the kind of preparations we need when we are involved in reading the word. While we are learning we are also worshiping Him. It is a communication between us and God that brings us closer to Him than almost any other way we can worship, and that is why prayer becomes so important in the time we are studying the word. Unlike any other time, we come before God when we study we need to expect to have an awesome experience. The world around us teaches us to read quickly and to catch the most important highlights of what we read. When we do that we gain information and perhaps knowledge, but we do not gain wisdom. I want to get into that aspect in the next blog. It is my prayer that these things help you in seeking the truth in scripture. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
METHODS OF STUDY
1.
When we read scripture we need to prepare our hearts to hear God speak to us. In most cases, if we don't hear from God as we read His word it is because we are not listening or our hearts were not tuned into God's Spirit. In those cases, we need to re-read the passage until we get something.
Usually, it is because we are not paying close enough attention to what He is saying or we may not have read His word enough to understand the context of what was going on. Either way, perhaps we need more prayer before we start reading again. Above all else, the first method of study is to always humble your heart to receive what He is saying.
2.
There are some methods of study that can be dangerous because they can be used by the enemy of God to divide people against one another. Once again this is tied into not having our own hearts in the right place when we read. It has to do with taking the word of teachers about what the word is saying instead of doing our own study to prove that word is true. We need to be able to confirm the teachings we hear because if we are off even a small degree it can lead us to the point where down the road we will find ourselves off track degree by degree until at some point we are completely separated from God in the ways we intended. There are so many cases where people try to prove a point they have decided to take up rather than teach the truth. In those cases, they may take a small snippet of scripture that says what they want to prove out of its context then teach it as though it were the truth. In most cases when we prove this kind of teaching by reading the entire passage of scripture these concepts cannot be proven in scripture.
It is much easier than we think to get caught up in a theme of teaching that leads us in a direction that may have a good general or moral thought like "God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle" while the truth is that there will be many things that happen that we are unable to handle on our own. I can tell you truthfully that I have gone through many things that I could not handle on my own, and the only salvation in those situations is my close relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
3.
Trying to study before unloading burdens ( prep time for the heart) This is different than the kind of preparations we need when we are involved in reading the word. While we are learning we are also worshiping Him. It is a communication between us and God that brings us closer to Him than almost any other way we can worship, and that is why prayer becomes so important in the time we are studying the word. Unlike any other time, we come before God when we study we need to expect to have an awesome experience. The world around us teaches us to read quickly and to catch the most important highlights of what we read. When we do that we gain information and perhaps knowledge, but we do not gain wisdom. I want to get into that aspect in the next blog. It is my prayer that these things help you in seeking the truth in scripture. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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