Chapter One B: Knowing the Word

[ronilee1963]

KNOWING THE WORD

How well do you know the Word of God? Are you daily developing a personal relationship with Him through Scripture, or are you perishing from a lack of knowledge?

I remember when I was perishing from a lack of knowledge.  I had been in full-time ministry for less than a year when I became very aware of the fact that I had nothing new to say, and the old that I was saying was so old that it had become routine. I was hurting in my soul and was embarrassed to try and continue on in ministry. I wanted to quit and become an algebra teacher. I felt like I was dying.

I shared what I was going through with a dear friend, and she suggested that I go to a Bible study that was being held on Tuesday mornings. I readily agreed to go. I knew I needed water for my thirsty soul. We were going to study the Book of Romans, for two years! Yeah, right. I thought I would be the smartest one in the class and just leave them all in the dust. It could not possibly take that long to study a letter that came in the mail.

Well, it did take two years. The Book of Romans is the constitution of the Christian faith. I never realized that there was so much I did not know from the Bible. For two years, I struggled through my emotions. I was excited that I was learning so much. I was extremely frustrated when I did not understand. I bubbled over with joy when understanding came. My heart broke because I had missed so much for so long (and I grew up in church and in a Christian home). I wept for my lost friends and family. How would I ever get this good news to them? At the writing of this book, I am studying the Book of Romans again! I just cannot get over the astounding truths that are there for the Christian faith.

Here is the question I really want you to answer. In reference to the Bible, do you ask yourself and others, "What do you think that means?" If this is your only approach to God's Word, you will never know.

Remember, worship is a response to truth, not a response to what we as individuals think that truth is. If you and others, maybe even your Sunday School class or Bible study group, are still trying to decide for yourselves what you think God's Word means, then you are probably leaving your study times with fifteen or twenty different opinions about any given passage.

Psalm 119:160 says, "The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting." Oh, how we need to understand the whole counsel of God's Word and to live lives that are constantly responding to it. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul wrote to Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (KJV). The word study here comes from the Greek word spoudazo, meaning to hasten, or to exert oneself, to put forth effort, to be diligent. The New American Standard Bible says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth."

God has scolded us for our lack of knowledge and has commanded us to be diligent students of the Word. Why? Because He means to be understood!

What a great verse! Study and be diligent because the person whose approval you want to meet is God. Remember the sum of His Word is truth.  When we choose to respond to His truth, we are living a lifestyle of true worship.

I have found that when I take this attitude toward the Bible--that is to diligently study it and know God through His Word--I am able to answer three very important questions that help me clearly understand what God is saying.

The questions are:

     1.  What does God's Word say?

     2.  What does God's Word mean?

     3.  How do I apply what it says and what it means to my life?

You may recognize this as the inductive method of studying the Bible. You are right. I have found that the most effective way to know God through His Word is by observing what His Word says. That is called observation. Secondly, by allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, I am able to determine what a passage means. That is called interpretation. Note that I have not yet  gone to a commentary or book about the Bible. Thirdly, after I know what a passage says, and after I know what the Bible says about that particular passage, then and only then am I able to apply what it says and what it means to my life. That is called application.

Observation, interpretation, and application lead to a great transformation. This is God's purpose in sending us His Word. He expects us to know what His Word says and means, and then allow this transforming truth to cause us to live differently. After we have carefully observed the text and have cross-referenced it, we can go to commentaries and other resources that may bring us deeper understanding.

God's Word will either change our lives or it will leave us without excuse. The life that constantly responds to God is the life lived in true worship! Second Peter 1:3 says that God's divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him.

As New Testament believers, we have such a tremendous advantage in gaining knowledge about our God. We have the Bible, which is the inspired Word of God, and we have the Holy Spirit, our resident teacher, teaching us all that God's Word says and means and showing us how to apply it to everyday life.

Second Peter 1:4-7 goes on to say, "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness,  brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love."

Now it is obvious that these things will take some time and effort on our part. This process will take our developing a relationship with God through Scripture, as well as our allowing His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Look at what we will gain through the "true knowledge" of God.

"For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8). When we possess a true knowledge of Jesus Christ , and are increasing in that knowledge and in that relationship, we become useful and fruitful. Now this is the lifestyle of a true worshiper.

We live in response to God and not in response to our circumstances. I have found that the things we make a big issue over (like the simple gesture of raising hands in a worship service) becomes a non-issue. When we see God as Abba, that gesture makes all the sense in the world. Every child will come to a loving Papa with arms wide open, full of love and trust.

         

[Charlie]

I love what your sharing here,we sometimes let doing good get in the way of studying the word of God.

We look for ways to learn and study his word when they are so clear and so easy if we just open the Bible and do as you said above. Observe,interpretation and application.

Wow don't that seem like nothing to do,but most of us do just that nothing.

We need to be following these simple rules to grow in knowledge and to produce fruit,amen.

Now I didn't say that to say that nobody is studying Gods word.I know lots of us are,but even some of those who are doing it are seeking ways to do it and this is the best way.

I look forward to what else you have to say in this study.

Thank you YSIC Charlie

 

[Prisma]

Awesome study Ronda.

You know I was in church perishing spiritually. I read my bible, prayed, worshipped, and praised God.

I lacked the Knowledge of the Word and the power of God's Word!

I came home from the hospital and was too weak to stand and do devotion, then all of a sudden revelation hit me and i was Like IT IS THE WORD OF God that is going to save me!!! That moves mountains and changes me. WOOO!!! I started dancing in the spirit as my SIL held me!

So Know Word Know God! Hallelujah!

No Word No God!

Love and Blessings

Priscilla