How to Study the Bible (Part 8 of 8)‏

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Today we will conclude this 8-part series titled “How to Study the Bible” for our Christian walk with our Lord Jesus Christ…

How to Study the Bible (Part 8)

Teaching the Bible

In leading a life devoted to Jesus Christ and His Word, I have discovered that the best way to retain something is to freely give it away!

That's because the only way we can effectively explain a subject is if we first thoroughly understand it for ourselves. Although we will never fully “understand” this side of glory, as Bible teachers, we must learn to “master” our subject...

For example, find someone with a true desire to learn from the Word of God who knows less than you do – and pass on to them what you are learning in a systematic way! By “feeding” someone else, you will also “feed” your own heart and mind! In fact, the motivation for studying Scripture largely comes from one's own responsibility in this area. In other words, if I didn't have someone to teach, I might not produce the necessary “good fruit” to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

And the reverse is also true…

For example, find someone with a greater understanding of the Word of God who knows more than you do – and learn from them in a systematic way! By learning from someone else who has truly studied God’s Word, has experienced more of the trails and blessings of life and is living in obedience to the Word of God, you'll feed your own "heart," "mind" and "spirit" with God’s Truth. And the Bible promises that you will experience God’s blessings in your life according to His perfect will!

As obedient children of God, we must “walk” in “good works” for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:10

Now that we've learned some practical steps to the study of God’s Word…

Reading

Interpreting

Meditating

Teaching

Let's put them into practice for His glory and honor and for the benefit of other Christians – Praise the Lord!

A FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT: My charge to you is to make each one of these important points of Bible study discipline a lifelong Christian habit – In Jesus’ Name!

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine... – 2 Timothy 4:2

In closing:

However, should we ever begin thinking we know it all… We must remember what the Lord has said:

The secret things belong to the Lord our God – Deuteronomy 29:29

We can only begin to scratch the surface of the infinite mind of God! But that is indeed a worthy pursuit because He has given us His Word so we might know Him. Our purpose in reading the Word of God, interpreting the Word of God, meditating upon the Word of God and teaching the Word of God is not to have “knowledge” for its own sake. Because as the Apostle Paul has rightly said:

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies – 1 Corinthians 8:1

The Prophet Isaiah also reminds us concerning the mind of God:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts – Isaiah 55:8-9

Here the beloved prophet is saying that God has an incomprehensible mind! No man however astute, intellectual or spiritual can fully plumb the depths of the infinite mind of God – He indeed works in ways which are mysterious to man!

Even when God does reveal Himself – His “depth,” “riches,” “wisdom” and “knowledge” – all we know is how “unsearchable” the “mind of the Lord” really is… Which often leaves us with more questions than we had before He revealed anything to us in the first place!

So, in purposeful pursuit of a godly life, here are a few final thoughts from the timeless Old Testament Scriptures concerning the Word of God and the Holy Spirit:

Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? – Isaiah 40:13

For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it? – Jeremiah 23:18

Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine – Job 41:11

The wonder in our minds should be the inconceivable and “unsearchable” eternal “glory” revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ! Our passion and purpose as Christians must be to “know“ God through His Word. And to “know“ God is to learn “humility“ through a life of “obedience“ to Him – Thank You Lord!

And Thank you for reading! It is my hope that you enjoyed our time together throughout this series and have been encouraged in your walk with the Lord! As you study the Scriptures and grow in the “grace” and “knowledge” of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I pray that you will have a better “understanding” of God's precious precepts found in His perfect Word – Lived out in faith and obedience to Him!

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect “love” “mercy” and “peace!”

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!

Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"

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