The Word of God is a seed.
Seeds grow.
God's word is alive!
We are called to STUDY the word.
Theres levels to knowing God's word.
Knowledge = information
Understanding = illumination
Wisdom = transformation
Why do we believe the bible?
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
God's Word is 'God breathe'.
How to study God's word?
#1 Prayer
We must always pray before we read God's word.
There should never be a time to NOT pray before getting into God's word.
Prayer is a form of humility before God.
#2 Ask
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
Have not because you ask not.
Ask the right questions.
Ask for God's will to be done.
God's will.
God's word.
God's way.
Who is writing this?
What is the context behind the verses?
Who is this being written to?
#3 Seek
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
Seek by wanting to know God.
But we don't just seek just to seek... we seek with an open heart.
God wants our heart.
Make sure your heart is right when you seek for revelation on His word.
#4 Search
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17: 10-11)
We are called to continue to search the scriptures.
When we hear something about the word of God, we should go back and search it privately for ourselves.
I once heard "test everything you hear against the scriptures".
Our search comes with us studying His word.