How to study the bible (Part 2)

oge okonkwo

April 2, 2015 1:31 PM

Fellowshipping with God with a life full of sin, does more harm than good to us as it restrains us from getting God's actual blessings

The Bible

Bible verse for today:Psalm 119:14"I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches" (NIV).

One thing to do before studying the bible is pray. Asking the Lord for forgiveness of sins and telling him to fill you with his presence so that you may truly understand his words with a open heart, eyes and mind.

Fellowshipping with God with a life full of sin, does more harm than good to us as it restrains us from getting God's actual blessings.

The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a heart filled with filth, rather, after we are free from the guilt of sin, we are transformed by the power of the spirit as we begin to long more for God's word and grow in our faith.

The Word for Today devotional by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) says:

Spend time in prayer before you study the Bible. Ask the Lord to cleanse you from all known sin and fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you’ll be in fellowship with Him during your study time. Again, the purpose of Bible study isn’t to get new revelations and new rules; it’s to build a relationship with the Author of the Bible. The Psalmist said, ‘How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word’ (v. 9 NKJV). Sin doesn’t cancel your relationship with Christ, but it hinders your fellowship with Him. And you have to be in fellowship with Him to understand and apply His Word.

So before you search the Scriptures, ask God to search your heart. Paul says, ‘The unspiritual self…can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit…Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion…’ (1 Corinthians 2:14-16 TM). It’s possible to read the same portion of Scripture many times, yet fail to see what God wants you to see until He ‘opens [your] eyes…’ (Psalms 119:18 NKJV). Once that happens, your attitude toward Bible study will be transformed. Like a hungry man or woman at a table overflowing with good food, you’ll long for and relish God’s Word and your faith will grow. Like Paul said: ‘…No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined…what God has arranged for those who love Him. But you’ve seen and heard it because God by His Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you’(1 Corinthians 2:9-10 TM).

oge okonkwo