God Is A Friend (7)

Experiencing God’s Friendship through Bible Study

Jim Davis

In the previous lesson about God’s friendship we contemplated the Holy Spirit’s desire to be our guide. We allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives through Bible Study. The Scriptures are designed to guide so that we can experience God’s friendship.

The greatest advantage of Bible study is renewal. Renewing our lives only becomes possible as we renew our thought process. The only way to effectively make this world a better place is to purify our thoughts.

Philippians 4:8-9
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. NIV

Bible study will increase your effectiveness in prayer. An effective prayer life depends upon wholesome Bible study that is determined to put in practice what is learned. As our Bible study renews our minds with the thoughts of God it makes it possible to know what we need to pray for. A proper study of the Bible will direct our prayer lives into the will of God as we gain an understanding of what is lacking in our personal lives.

Ephesians 1:15-23
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. NIV

Bible study helps us meditate upon life’s issues properly. When I face an issue in life where I have difficulty knowing what to do or knowing how to answer the difficult question, I usually meditate upon those issues until I come up with an answer. Too often when the difficult question is asked we dismiss it as an inappropriate question. However, you should store that question in the recesses of your mind for the purpose of pondering it to find an answer. I have been know to store questions for years until an appropriate answers are found.

Psalms 119:97-104
97Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
102 I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path. NIV

J. I. Packer describes meditation: "Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, thinking over, dwelling on, and applying to oneself the various things one knows about the works and ways and purpose and promises of God.

It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communication with God. Its purpose is to clear one's mental and spiritual vision of God, and to let his truth make its full and proper impact on one's mind and heart. It is a matter of talking to oneself about God and oneself.

It is, indeed, often a matter of arguing with oneself, reasoning oneself out of moods of doubt and unbelief into a clear apprehension of God's power and grace." (Quoted in Citation: J. I. Packer, Knowing God (InterVarsity Press, 1973), pp. 18-19;)

Bible study can equip you to do what God has called you to do in the circumstances you find yourself.

2 Timothy 3:10-17
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. NIV

Bible study equips us to walk in the Spirit. Author Tony Evans says: One day I was in an airport rushing to catch a plane. I was sweating and puffing when I looked to my right and saw a man walking half as fast as I was, but going faster. He was walking on a moving sidewalk.

When we walk in the Spirit, he comes underneath us and bears us along. We're still walking, but we walk dependent on him.

Bible study will enhance your ability to counsel others who have problems. The world needs capable counselors who are able show the relevance of what the Bible teaches to everyday life.

Proverbs 15:22-25
22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--
and how good is a timely word!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise
to keep him from going down to the grave.

25 The LORD tears down the proud man's house
but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact. NIV

Bible study will empower you to make decisions that will give your life guidance.

Psalms 119:24
24 Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors. NIV

Bible study will provide encouragement when you are discouraged.

Romans 15:1-4
15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. NIV

Bible study will strengthen you are when tempted.

Psalms 37:30-31
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip. NIV

Bible study will increase your faith.

Romans10:17-18
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV

Bible study will help share the gospel of Christ with others.

Acts 8:34-40
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. NIV

1 Peter 3:15-16
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. NIV

Conclusion:

Understanding the value of Bible study should motivate us to study the word of God.

Focus on the benefit of Bible study.

Know the meaning of the scriptures.

Use your imagination in Bible study.

Constantly review what you already know.

Involve others in your Bible study.