Lecture: Utilizing God's Word

Introduction

• Possessing the Bible isn't enough; we must know how to use it.
• Importance of leveraging the truths of God from the scriptures.
• Emphasis on diving deeply into God's word to cultivate an ongoing relationship.

Prayer Opening

• Importance of God's word being living and active.
• Praying for everyone to hear God's voice through personal devotions.

Anecdote: Dad and Technology

• Father is technologically challenged but a dedicated pastor for 44 years.
• Writes sermon notes on yellow legal pads.
• Struggles with using computers but tried learning to follow son's football career.
• Key point: Having technology (or Bible) is useless without knowing how to use it.

Importance of Using God's Word

• In a godless culture, knowing and using God's word is crucial.
• Psalmist's advice: Hide God's word in the heart to avoid sin.
• Having multiple Bibles isn't enough; it's about how we use them.

The Enemy's Schemes

• The enemy tries to convince us that only certain people can hear God directly.
• Truth: Every believer can hear from God personally without intermediaries.
• Importance of personal engagement with the Bible.

Relationship with God Through His Word

• Prioritizing time in God's word is essential for stability and peace of mind.

The 5 Ps of Bible Study

1. Position Yourself to Hear from God
   • Spiritually and physically position yourself.
   • Have an expectant heart to hear from God.
   • Importance of physical space for quiet time (e.g., watchtower analogy).
2. Pour Over the Passage and Paraphrase Major Principles
   • Meditate on the passage, don't just scan it.
   • Quality over quantity; focus on a few verses at a time.
   • Paraphrase the verses in simple terms.
3. Pull Out the Spiritual Principles
   • Identify the principles: promises, directives, insights.
   • Ask what the verse means and its relevance to God's character.
4. Pose the Question
   • Formulate questions based on the spiritual principles.
   • Reflect on personal application and alignment with God's word.
5. Plan Obedience and Pin Down a Date to Obey
   • Create a deliberate plan to obey God’s directives.
   • Enlist accountability to ensure follow-through.

Personal Engagement with Scripture

• Engage with God’s word daily; don't wait for church or Bible study groups.
• The Holy Spirit can illuminate scriptures for personal guidance and direction.

Practical Tips

• Utilize any available quiet space: bathroom, closet, car.
• Don’t be discouraged by the mess or lack of a perfect setting.
• Make a car or any space a sanctuary for meeting with God.

Conclusion

• Focus on the one thing (God’s word) to untangle the mess in life.
• Encouragement for fresh engagement with God’s word.
• Closing prayer for fresh wind and fire over God’s people.