CLOSER: DRAWING NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD
Part 3: “Don’t Miss The Story”
READING THE BIBLE IS SIMPLER THAN YOU THINK & MORE REWARDING THAN YOU IMAGINE.
Proverbs 2:1-8, “ My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.
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.
For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.”
When we read the Bible it is important to set our hearts to seek what God is wanting to reveal to us through it. Solomon knew that wisdom was found through what God revealed to us. Do you see a recurring theme over the past several weeks? It is all about our hearts. When we set our hearts to seek God, understanding and revelation will come. He will give us the one verse that we need in every season as He meets us in our needs. And the more time we spend seeking, the more we grow in intimacy with Him and the less we want to do in life without Him.
Acts 17:11-12, “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.”
Darkness wants to hide the light, and lies want to silence the truth. That is why we have to seek the light and the truth for ourselves. Paul and Silas encountered so much resistance when they tried to preach the truth in Thessalonica, and they were forced to leave to travel to Berea. If our hearts are set to seek, the truth will be revealed. This is also where seeking in community is helpful. When we come together to read and learn about Scripture, we are stronger in our habits and in defeating the lies of the enemy when they come, as well as recognizing any attempts at deception.
Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
When we seek God through Scripture and memorize the verses His Spirit guides us to, we gain something that can never be taken from us. In this ever-changing world as we head toward eternity we would do well to store as much Scripture in our hearts and minds as we possibly can, and as we do, we cannot help but be changed to be more like Christ.
Revelation 1:3, “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.”
God spoke through John in Revelation to specifically tell us that blessings come from the obedience that follows the reading and listening to Scripture. When we set our hearts to know Jesus better through Scripture, we will be met by the Holy Spirit to increase our understanding.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO READ THE BIBLE TODAY THAN THERE WERE EVEN 20 YEARS AGO. STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND JUST START SOMEWHERE. FIND SOMEONE TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO SPENDING TIME DAILY, HOWEVER YOU DO IT - ONE VERSE A DAY, ONE CHAPTER A DAY, ONE READING PLAN DAY… SEEK!! JUST READ AND MEDITATE, ALLOWING THE SPIRIT TO WORK IN YOU AND DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOUR SOUL.
1 John 2:27, “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
John also tells believers in 1 John that we have the Holy Spirit within us, so we can trust that He will teach us what is true. This applies to Scripture and anywhere we are seeking God’s guidance. But to hear clearly, we must abide - we must “remain in fellowship with Christ.”
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
Spending time reading and meditating on Scripture is a great way to draw closer to the heart of God. God’s heart for His people is poured out all through the pages of Scripture. Reading it really is as simple as picking it up with a heart posture to receive and willingness to obey as we wait for the blessings God wants to send.
Read Ezra 7. Now re-read Ezra 7:10.
What do you notice in Ezra 7 about what happened as Ezra set his heart to study the Law of the Lord? Have you ever experienced God’s favor as a result of being intentional in seeking and obeying? What are some other thoughts that come to mind as you read this passage? Discuss with your small group.
If you do not yet have a habit of “examining Scripture daily” and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you, take some time now to ask God to show you a way to begin. Maybe it is to start with the gospel of John, or perhaps there is another book of the Bible that the Spirit is putting on your heart. Just start somewhere today.
Reading the Bible is not meant to be hard. Look at the early believers in Acts and how they read together. God brings people into our lives to help us understand, to encourage and to motivate us to keep reading and listening for the Holy Spirit to speak.
God wants us to understand Scripture, so we can trust He will bring people alongside us to help us grow in understanding. Read Acts 8:26-40.
How can this passage encourage you as you contemplate beginning or re-starting a habit of reading the Bible? If you have had a Philip come into your life, take some time to think about how they have helped you grow in your understanding of Scripture and journal a prayer of thanks to God for sending them to you. Discuss with your small group.
Before you finish journaling, ask Him if there is someone He is leading you to be a“Philip” to in your own life. Take time to keep this prayer in front of you through this week.
Scripture is truly a lifeline which we cling to in the raging waters of this life. Not only do blessings come when we spend time in Scripture, but it also serves the very important purpose of reminding us of the difference between right and wrong as it prepares and equips us for what God has called us to do.
Read 2 Timothy 3.
How is God speaking to you through this passage about the importance of spending time with Him in Scripture? What jumps out at you when you think about our world today? Take some time to read 2Timothy 3:16-17 again and journal your thoughts about it. Take those thoughts to your small group and see what insight others have gleaned.
Read Romans 15:4. Paul knew that Scripture was given to guide us as well as to give us a hope in Christ. If you do not yet have a habit, a practice, of reading Scripture daily, commit today to taking the next 30 days to step out in faith and begin. Write a prayer asking God to give you His strength to persevere and to bring people into your life to help hold you accountable. Write out Romans 15:4 and any other verses that spoke to your spirit this week and put it where you can see it and memorize it.
