Conditions For Bible Study

R.A. Torrey wrote a book in 1896 about studying the Bible. In one of his chapters, he gives several conditions that would help Bible study. These conditions will help your study become real, authentic, and alive. I want to share those conditions with you.

• You must be born again. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)) Being Christian is living with spiritual insight which can only come from the Holy Spirit. This is why trying to understand the Bible, without a heart that is seeking the truth, falls on deaf ears. Unfortunately, many who claim Jesus to be their Lord and Savior are not studying the Bible and missing out on the beauty that it holds for them.

• You must have a love for the Bible. "I have not departed from his commands,but have treasured his words more than daily food." (Job 23:12 (NLT)) If you do not desire the Word of God you will always find Bible study to be tedious and mundane. People cheat themselves of the world's greatest treasure when they do not have a desire to learn from God's Word. The more you study the more you grow a love for God's Word.
  

• You should be willing to do hard work. "Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver;seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God." (Prov 2:2-5 (NLT)) Have you ever mined silver or panned for gold? It is hard work, so is Bible study....

• Your will should be wholly surrendered to God. "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" (John 8:31-32 (NIV)) Just studying the Bible will not make Bible study worth your time. You have to apply what you learn. Applying what you learn starts with a definite determination to follow God.

• Similarly, you should follow through with action. Torrey says that if you use it, then you gain more. If you refuse to use what you learn, then you lose all.
  

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

• You should have a child-like mind. "At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."" (Matthew 11:25 (NIV)) According to Torrey, a child is not full of his own wisdom. Coming to God as a child means removing your grown up attitude and learning a whole new way of life.

• You should study the Bible as the Word of God. Seems obvious but many people read it only as a blueprint or as a guide to life. The Bible is God's initial communication to us. Through reading it as the Word of God, the promises reveal themselves, and we hold them as God's personal promise to us. It also makes us more aware of our intended obedience. Besides, since it is the Word of God, do you not realize that God is present with you as you study?
  

• One word - Prayerfulness. "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions." Psalms 119:18 (NLT) Bible study is a searching, and should include an attitude of prayer. Study is a desire to communicate with the communicator. A seminary professor once said that he worked out most of his teaching from on his knees. When we approach the Word of God in prayer we open our heart, mind, and soul to hear.

So I ask you, what are you listening for when you study? Who are you listening to?