Over and over again emphasis have been made on the need to study God's word and why we must obey it.
During Sunday worship, morning devotions, and weekly church meetings, the reading, study and obedience to the word of God has received immense emphasis. It has been highlighted times without number as an integral part of a believer's life.
Why is the study of God's word so important? What are the benefits you can derive when you study God's word?
I would be showing you ten (10) benefits you can gain from God's word as it pertains to your building, growth and development.
#1. God's Word Makes You Wise
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." – 2 Timothy 3:15
The word of God is able to make you wise. If you seek true, godly wisdom then God's word should be a must-study for you.
Wisdom as Proverbs 4:7 suggests is the principal thing and it is a must-have for everyone. It is important that we are wise and Apostle Paul shows us a recipe for wisdom; God's word.
#2. God's Word Keeps You From Sin
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." – Psalms 119:11
God wants us to lead and live holy lives. He expects us to live sinless even though we live in a sinful world.
This task can be very daunting but then David shows us how we can achieve this. God's word can help us live holy and sinless in this unholy and ungodly world.
The import of Psalms 119:11 is that the sufficiency of God's word that you have hid in your heart is able to keep you from falling into sin.
To live a holy life you must hide God's word in your heart... To hide God's word in your heart you must study it!
#3. God's Word Teaches You True Doctrine
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" – 2 Timothy 3:16
One of the deficiencies in the Body of Christ is the lack of true doctrine. Our pulpits have become factories for the production of false and inaccurate doctrines concocted from the intellects, intelligence, carnal interpretation, and philosophy of men.
The Body of Christ no longer knows the right things to believe in as fake apostles, pastors, bishops, prophets e.t.c have mounted the stage.
To get undiluted and true doctrine you must give yourself to the study of God's word. The word of God teaches you doctrine. The perspective of God's word supersedes the perspective of the greatest of apostles, prophets, bishops or prophets.
If only we have more diligent students of the word, fake doctrines and teachings would be eradicated and rooted out from the Body of Christ.
#4. God's Word Gives You Direction and Guidance
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." – Psalms 119:105
Life is too complicated to depend on your sense of sight and your intellect to offer you direction and guidance.
Without divine direction and guidance we would keep going on and on in circles; undergoing motion but not making progress.
To make the most of your brief time on the Earth you must come under divine guidance and direction and God's Word offers that to you.
The Psalmist affirms this in Psalms 119:105;
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
If you need divine guidance and direction become a student of the Word.
#5. God's Word Strengthens Your Faith
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." – Romans 10:17
Christianity is founded upon faith in God. To thrive as a believer you would need to have an increasing depth of faith.
Knowing that you need faith in order to be a good Christian and to be found pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6), there's need for faith to be continually deepened and strengthened in us.
God's word has the potency to strengthen your faith. It is able to make your faith find deep-roots so much so that the quality of your Christian Life may be greatly improved.
Just incase you seem not to have faith at all, God's word is able to breed faith in you.
#6. God's Word Heals
"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." – Psalms 107:20
Do you desire healing from sicknesses and diseases? Do you desire healing in your family? Healing in your relationship? Healing in your community? Healing in all ramifications of your life? Then try God's word. It has got capsules for sicknesses of whatever kind.
#7. God's Word Instructs Into Righteousness
When you study God's word you get tips for living a righteous life as the word of God is laced with instructions that pertains to righteousness.
The Bible is prophetic hence even though it was written thousands of years ago it is still potent enough to make impact in our lives today.
The writings of the apostles are as applicable as they were they when they wrote them. These writings were written with the intent that believers would be guided on the path of righteous living.
Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, His son, said;
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable...for instruction in righteousness:" – 2 Timothy 3:16
Therefore, in order to live righteously we must give ourselves to the instructions which the Bible is embedded with.
#8. God's Word is a Tool For Reproof
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable...for reproof" – 2 Timothy 3:16
Before I explain this point let me share a short story about myself.
When I gave my life to Christ, I struggled between living righteously and living in sin. I was like Paul; doing the things I ought not to do against my desires to do the right thing.
But then I noticed that, anytime I do something wrong and I pick up my Bible to study, it would be as though God called me and asked me why I committed that sin and when I keep reading I'd feel as though God was punishing me.
This has continued even up till now. Whenever sin is figured in me, God's Spirit is quick to drive me to a scriptural reference calling me back to order.
That's one of the benefits of God's word; it is a tool for reproof and the convicting of sin. God's word has the ability to reproof you just incase you're a believer and to convict an unbeliever of sin.
You cannot be a diligent student of God's word and live in sin. God's word would perpetually reproof you until you retrace your steps back to Him.
#9. God's Word Corrects Errors
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" – 2 Timothy 3:16
In our walk with God, we may uphold certain wrong standards believing they were true. We may practice Christianity in ways we think is right meanwhile we're working and walking in absolute error.
In the Body of Christ, there are so many who believe and promote doctrines which are false and inaccurate, thereby misleading gullible believers.
There's no pain like walking in error.
With walking in error comes correction and God's Word is able to correct whatever wrong perspective, teaching, doctrine or lifestyle we have upheld.
Remember what I wrote when I was explaining the point on how God's word teaches us doctrine?
I wrote that the views and perspective of the Bible supersedes the views of any Apostle, Prophet, Bishop e.t.c
To know the correct way Christianity should be practiced we must look diligently into scriptures as it is our only reliable option.
#10. God's Word Facilitates Growth
One characteristic of a living thing is growth. When you become born again, you become a living being in the Spirit and it is important that you grow.
When a living thing stops growing, it starts dying. This principle is also applicable to you as a believer. When you stop growing in God you start to die.
God's word helps us facilitate growth. Apostle Paul in his farewell charge to the Ephesian leaders said;
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up..." – Acts 20:32
If you would grow you must love, read, study, meditate on and obey the word. God's word is able to make you grow.
Apostle Peter also affirmed this fact in 1 Peter 2:2
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
If you desire growth in your life you've seen where you can get it undiluted and unhindered. This is the reason why new converts are subjected to discipleship classes. If we must grow, the balanced diet is God's word.
God's Word has got immense benefits, much more than the ten I have listed above. For you to unravel all the benefits in God's word and to make them yours you must give yourself diligently to God's Word in studying, in meditating, and in obeying.
Read this article on "How to Activate The Power Of God's Word"... Click HERE to read!
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