How to Study God's Word Effectively - Session 2 Why study the Bible

 Why we do something is the motivating force behind our actions. The same thing applies to studying God's word. We've got to be purpose driven. Our why gives us the purpose and focus to commit to studying God's word. Often many are challenged to study because it takes time and afford and they are not biblically motivated to study God's word. And in some cases, there are those who prefer to be entertained or just inspired, opposed to being informed, taught and educated. So they are not motivated to study God's word either. Studying God's word is a choice we make principled in our desire to know God through His word. 

Consider focusing your motivation to study God's word on your desire to grow in your relationship with Him, to grow in your faith walk, to grow in your understanding of God's word and His kingdom principles. Below are a few motives to study God's word. Choose to be motivated to read and study God's word regularly. It will impact every area of your spiritual and natural life. 

To be approved by God means that you have a rock solid understanding of a biblical fact or principle and that you are standing on it, living it out in your life. It's solid enough to build on, you are approved by God to move forwards in your development. Moving forward without God's approval is not wise because you are not prepared. The word you have heard must be understood in your thinking and alive in your heart, tested and tried. Often many avoid tests and take the road of less resistance to avoid the challenge.

But that route does not provoke growth and transformation. The test confirms what you have studied and seals it in your heart and thinking. That impacts your life, your faith walk and your relationship with God. 

God allows and may even orchestrate test for our growth and preparation. 

He wants to solidify His word in our hearts and minds. He wants us to grow and be approved and prepared for our next season. 

And He wants to build strong testimonies in our lives. There is no testimony without the challenge or test. And God's word is not real to us until it is tested, confirmed and we are approved. Once God's word has been approved in your heart and life, no one can persuade or talk you out of it. It become a solid rock to continue building on. We study to be approved of God that our knowledge of His word is solid enough to stand on, trust God and move forward in our lives from glory to glory, season to season. 2nd Corinthians 3:18

This means to study the scriptures precept upon precept, text upon text in its correct context, with understanding. This way we are not misunderstanding God's word or taking it out of context. You don’t want to follow error. And don't take man’s word for granted, no matter who they are. Keep in mind, we all make mistakes, often unintentionally. Following error may lead you to a ditch. Matthew 15:9-14.

How often have we seen well intentioned people follow error to their demise. You want to know God's word FOR YOURSELF.

Studying God's word, learning, and rightly dividing it for yourself is your responsibility. It comes through effectively study.

No matter how tall your father is; you still have to do your own growing yourself. It's your responsibility to study and rightly divide God's word for yourself. We study because we want to be misled and to learn and know God's word for ourselves. 

Sense knowledge is knowledge gained from our five sense gates. Revelation knowledge is knowledge revealed to us by God's Spirit.

You’re not studying to prove that someone else is wrong or that you are super spiritual. You 're studying to gain further wisdom insight and revelation of God's word for your life and those in the sphere of your influence. God's wisdom and revelation knowledge builds our faith, enhances our relationship with Him and increases our ability to be successful and experience His influence, liberty, wisdom and guidance for life. We will not live or experience God above what we know. Psalm 119.98 / Psalm 119:105 / 2nd Timothy 3:15

When you got born again, your spirit was recreated. 2^nd Corinthians 5 5:17. However, your mind was not. If you desire to walk in God's kingdom, know His will and grow you relationship with Him effectively you have to change how you think. Your mind must be renewed or converted through reading, studying and applying God's word. Every human has a map of reality in their minds. It's been writing your truth all your life. It's your perspective and reality. We will not live above it. Proverbs 23:7

That reality is impacted by what you know in your thinking. Change and true liberty starts in your thinking. Our minds must be renewed in favor of God's perspective. As your mind is renewed, you are better able to comprehend and perceive the things of God and His possibilities for your life. Studying renews our minds and develops the mind of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 2:16

Just like any other discipline, the more we know about it, the more we are able to maximize it. God's word is the same way.

We will not live or experience God above what we know concerning His word. And to not read and study is a form of spiritual neglect. 

Think for a moment about how we matriculate in our education system. Removing a child from it and not providing them any education is looked upon as neglect. To not read and study is neglecting your spiritual and natural growth. 

If you desire to grow, be intentional and put yourself on a regular reading and study plan. Consider enrolling in a discipleship program or a bible education learning program that requires you to study. This is helpful because it places you on a learning track and challenges your expectations of your self in regards to studying and it holds you accountable to study. This cause spiritual and natural growth. We study God's word to grow spiritually and naturally. 

One of the most important things in our lives is to know God and develop a personal relationship with Him. Knowing who He reveals Himself to us as, is heart, His will and intent for our lives and the world. And to know and understand His Kingdom principles. Knowing God is the intent and one of the reason He gave us His word. He is too vast and unlimited for our own natural understanding. So, He has to reveal Himself to us through His word. Desiring to know God through His word makes reading and studying imperative. We study God's word to position ourselves to know Him.

God is not mysterious as some would say. If that were so, He would not have given us thirty nine divinely inspired and recorded wittings that we recognize as the Old Testament and twenty seven that we recognize as the New Testament. They reveal creation and humanities history, God's heart, will and intent for us and the world. Often, some misunderstand God's sovereign nature as mysterious.

As the sovereign one, He allows and orchestrate whatever He chooses to do or allow. And just because we don’t understand it all doesn't make Him mysterious. He's not mysterious. He's sovereign. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. As we grow in God's word, our thinking will be raised in that area of our live to heavenly places and we will learn to trust Him more. Isaiah 55:8-9. 

By reading and studying God's word yourself, you will be better able to resist deception and doctrinal error. Otherwise, you could be following a particular teaching or doctrine that is not biblical. This compromises your growth and leads to bondage. And in some cases, cult practices and even death. Know that the enemy has sown error and deception into the world. And he uses leaders to spread them. By reading and studying God's word yourself, you better position yourself to not be deceived and led astray. 

It will impact your understanding of Him, His will and intent. It will raise your walk and you thinking to a higher level and impact every area of your spiritual and natural life.