Episode 4: Why is it Important to Study Your Bible?

We have reached our final lesson through our Foundational Series.  Over the last 3 weeks we have discussed how sin entered through Eve, Salvation and Sanctification so what are we ending with today?

Something that is consistent that we hear in ministry are excuses as to why people don’t study their Bible so we thought it would be good to end this series with a brief, easy chat on why it’s important to study but also to address the excuses that we often hear.  

Why is it important to read/study the Bible? In simple terms - because the Bible says 🙂

As we always do let’s take a look at the Old Testament Deuteronomy 11:18-23 says,

“Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates; That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.  For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways and to cleave unto him/ Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.  

So let’s briefly talk about the context of this verse.  The children of Israel were rescued from Egyptian bondage then given laws or ways to righteous living. Last week we discussed sanctification and how we are called to live holy and righteous lives. God gave the Israelites directions to holy living through the laws given.  He gave them everything they need to enter the promised land - Now, he’s telling them, hold on to MY words, memorize and talk about them with the next generation - verse 22 - diligently keep the commandments, and DO them, love the Lord and walk in his way, Hold onto the Lord - then He promises abundant life in the promised land.

But all of this first begins with knowing God’s Word.

Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

So that brings us to the New Testament today - we have verses like 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

2 Tim 3:14-17 - But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 

Remember last week, we talked about living righteously, the New Testament reiterates that it comes from the scripture, how can we learn and grow and mature in our spiritual walk - by reading the scriptures

Excuses:

Excuse # 1: I don’t have time - 

That’s just an excuse - we all have time for what we want to make time for.

It may not look like the Instagram worthy post with your coffee, your beautiful Bible, your pens and highlighters as the morning sun is creeping through your blinds as your worship music plays in the background.  

We all have different seasons in our life that our study time looks different.  Right now it may be getting up early before the kids get up but then here they come sneaking in - Even though I may have only got 5 minutes of study time to myself it’s amazing how God would take my little loaves and fishes and give me something to feast on all day long. - Don’t use time as an excuse - while kids are at your feet playing legos pull out your bible, in between hospital rounds pull out your bible, during break at work pull out your bible, in carpool - you get the picture 🙂. But you have to be intentional.

Excuse # 2: I don’t understand it when I read 

Reading doesn’t have to be difficult, there’s Seasons where it looks different - sometimes maybe it’s Study Books and others maybe you have out your Dictionaries, Highlighting and cross-referencing.  Right now for me - the Lord impressed on my heart to read through the Bible 4 chapters a day, highlighter or pen and that’s it. I pray over it and allow the text to speak to me, some days I’m overflowing with what God shows me, other days, I struggle to make it through.  Read 1 Cor 2: 10-16

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

If it’s hard for you to understand, pray for wisdom God tell us in James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally & upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  All you have to do is ask that word liberally means Bountifully; freely; largely how amazing there’s no end to the wisdom God will grant you if you ask faithfully. And a word we often skip right over in this verse is when he says he will upbraideth not this means he will give it to us without criticizing or finding fault with us because we’re asking.  He doesn’t see our lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold us for our failures, he’s happy we have realized we need him and his infinite wisdom.  What a gracious God we serve!

Through His Holy Spirit, God reveals deep truths about Himself, enables us to understand the words and works of Jesus and helps us to rightly apply those words to our lives in a way that honors His character.

Are you saved?  Then you have the spirit of God working in you to give you wisdom to understand the scriptures - once again - intentional.

What is the purpose of studying our Bible?

We discussed sanctification last week, we cannot know how to live holy without studying and knowing the scriptures - And then if we have opinions about specific topics, we can see if our belief aligns with scripture, it can refine us, we can begin to help others because we will be confident in what we believe.

Challenge for the Week:

Begin with setting aside time each day to spend time with the Lord. Be intentional  - pray before reading and don’t overwhelm yourself all at once by jumping head first into Revelation - start with the Book of John, find a Bible Study group at your church or find a good bible study to do alone at home.

Just remember, having a true personal relationship with Christ is to have that relationship with the Holy spirit who gives us wisdom and understanding that comes only through studying his word allowing it to speak to you and through you and through prayer in all things.

We hope this study has helped encourage you to want to dive into the word of God and to seek that personal relationship with the Holy Spirit.