Reading the Bible and understanding how to approach the Scriptures is the first step toward receiving all the goodness God has for you. Learning how to interpret God’s Word and grasping the basics will help you walk in the light of His Kingdom.

The Bible is a profound book. The power of God’s Word will affect you, spirit, soul, and body.

‘For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.’ Proverbs 4:22

Brother Duane was supernaturally healed of dyslexia through reading the Bible. It is more powerful than any other book in the history of mankind. Approaching and understanding the Word is more than reading or even studying. Through the Holy Spirit, the Word becomes part of you.

‘Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ 2 Timothy 2:15

‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

There are divisions in the Word and we must learn to rightly divide it. In time, we can see the entire Word of God as the story of Jesus. From the story of the creation of the world, through the fall and restoration of man, we can find Jesus. 
The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word for us when we approach it with reverence and a heart to know God. Without a heart to seek God, we may become confused or have head knowledge without a true relationship with God. Even the devil knows the Bible.

The Word of God is the ABSOLUTE truth. Everything has context, and the divisions in the Word help us with context. One of the first divisions involves covenant.

The Bible is filled with covenants, and God works with man based on covenants. There is a major division between the old covenant and the new covenant. There are 66 books in the Bible, over 40 writers, but one author. The Holy Spirit is the author, but He moved on holy men who wrote it down over a span of more than 1,500 years. It was written for us.

Another division is between law and grace. We must rightly divide between God speaking under the law to Israel, versus God speaking under grace to us all. One of the divisions between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is the cross. The cross actually divided history and time as we know it today.

Before Christ and measured time, and after Christ and measured time—this is another division. When reading the Bible, we need to understand these divisions. Even with a lifetime of study, we still need others in our lives to help us rightly divide His truth.

Places

Take note of places in the Bible and how God reveals something about Himself or His kingdom in those places.

People 

Study people in the Bible. We can learn a great deal from studying David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, and the lives of those in the Word. The things written in the Bible about Moses were for Moses and to Moses, but they are also intended to help us.

Principles

Look for principles, spiritual laws that are consistent, constant, and eternal in God’s kingdom. These principles will help you interpret the Word of God properly. Get the big picture, the Spirit of the Word of God versus the letter of the Word of God.

When approaching the Bible, remember it’s one book in our hands, but it is actually 66 different books, written in 3 different languages, encompassing many different cultures. It includes a storyline spanning the beginning of time to today, featuring narrative, poetry, instruction, history, and more.

The story of the Bible tells us we cannot save ourselves or live holy lives without God. Here is the major thread throughout the Bible: God the Creator loves us. We rebelled against Him. We are hopeless and helpless without Him. God intervenes in the affairs of man and sends a Messiah. The message of the Bible is Jesus. Jesus is the central focal point and narrative of the Bible. It all points to Jesus. 

Jesus is the WORD made FLESH. He is the Bible with eyes, hands, and feet. Jesus is God’s selfie—a picture of an invisible God. He is the visible image of an invisible God.

‘Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ John 8:31-32

The power of the Word of God is made evident when we approach it with reverence.

‘That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,’ Ephesians 5:26

The darkness and evil of this world can saturate our minds, and we need to be washed with the Word. When we get into the Word, it cleanses and changes us.

‘I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’ John 15:1-5

Truth cleans out (prunes) what is not producing fruit. It cleans us and separates us from the darkness of this world.

‘Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.’ Psalms 119:11

Simply putting the Word in your heart and developing a rhythm of discipline in the Word has a cleansing, sanctifying effect that sets us apart.

‘You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.’ John 5:39

We need to be looking for Jesus in the Bible. The Word (Old and New Covenant) testifies of Jesus. We cannot separate Jesus from the Word.

‘And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.’ Luke 24:27

He showed those disciples throughout the Word where He is the Lamb, the Temple, and so much more. He is the wisdom of Proverbs and the Revelation of Jesus in the final book.

‘But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’ Matthew 4:4

Jesus connected God’s Word to bread.

‘As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.’ 1 Peter 2:2-3

Scriptures talk about the milk, meat, and bread of God’s Word. We need to feed on the Word for our sustenance. The primary way we feed on the Word of God is meditation—praying the Word and speaking it aloud. To grow and become spiritually mature, we must feed on the Word.

‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that go

es forth from My mouth;It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’ Isaiah 55:8-11

We’re not going to understand overnight and have our thoughts immediately renewed. He gently waters the seed of His Word, planted in our hearts. Reading the Word needs to be a daily way of life.

‘And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”’ Mark 4:13-20

God’s Word must get into the ground of our hearts, or it won’t profit us. We need to plant the seeds in our hearts for them to take root and, in time bear much fruit.

‘My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.’ Psalms 89:34

God’s word is written in covenants. The covenants God made with Adam and David, the covenant of the law, the New covenant, and more. His Word, His covenant is unbreakable—He binds Himself to it. When God says something, it will endure FOREVER. 

God’s Word is a covenant. You can count on it. You can mix faith with it. You can bet your life on the Word of God. Heaven and earth are going to pass away, but God’s Word will endure.

God’s Word is direction for how to live our lives.

‘Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.’ Psalms 119:105,130

God’s Word teaches us the way to go. Making the Word of God a priority in our lives allows God to illuminate, lead, and guide us through His Word.

‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Word of God equips, corrects, improves, and instructs us in righteousness. In God’s Word, we learn His nature, His character, His personhood, His heart, and His love.

‘But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.’ 1 Corinthians 2:14

Reading and understanding the Word of God requires discernment from the Holy Spirit.

There’s a reason why we call Jesus the Lord.

‘But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.’ Luke 6:46-48

God’s Word is the final authority, the final answer when making decisions in our lives.

Remember to reverence the Word of God, and approach it with a heart to find Him. Ask Him questions, seek, knock, and let Him illuminate Himself to us.

Brother Duane has taught in depth about thanksgiving on his broadcast, which you can watch on our website, app, YouTube, or on TV. Tune in to hear about the law of thanksgiving.

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