Five Rules for Prosperous Bible Study
- Study the Bible
Prayerfully. Before a person ever open his Bible, he should
fall down on his knees and ask for God’s blessings. Paul reminds us of
this principle as he prays for the Christians at Collosae. “For this
reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9).
- Study the Bible
Carefully. One must never study the Bible with a flippant and
irreverent view of God and His Word. Paul taught Timothy to, “Study to
show yourself approved unto God a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
- Study the Bible
Practically. For the Word of God to do us any good in this
life, we must apply its’ teachings to our daily life. Paul reminded the
Christians in Phillipi of this when he said, “The things which you learned
and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will
be with you” (Phil 4:9).
- Study the Bible
Impartially. To study God’s word correctly a person must put
aside all prejudice, bias and preconceived notions of God and His Will.
We must have the attitude of Samuel who said, “Speak Lord, for your servant
hears” (1 Sam. 3:10). We must remember the words of the Proverbs writer;
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way
of death (Prov. 16:25).
5.
Study the Bible
Expectantly. For a person to receive the full blessings of Bible
study, he must study it expecting several things. For example, we should study
the Bible expecting to understand it (Eph. 3:4). We should study the Bible
expecting its principles to bless us as they are applied to our life (Ps.
1:1-3). We should study the Bible expecting to learn how to be set free from
sin (John 8:32). We should study the Bible expecting to learn how to be saved
(Acts 2:38).
May God bless each one of us as we apply His will to
our lives!
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