#1. Approach studying the Bible with an open mind. God cannot teach you anything if you are not open.
Matthew 11:25 ”At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
If you read the context of this passage you will see that Jesus isn’t saying here that God revealed truth to babies, but rather to those of His followers who were open minded and accepted Him as the Son of God verses all those who were “learned” and then not. A prime example would be the plain and simple desperate fishermen, versus the upper class religious leaders who went to “religion school” their whole lives.
#2. Believe…Believe that God will reveal truth to you IF you honestly search His word with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 ‘’And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’’
John 8:31-32 ‘’Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’’
#3. Continually pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God promises that the Spirit will lead us into truth.
John 16:13 ‘’Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.’’
#4. Attempt to read as many Bible passages on a given subject as possible. DO NOT build a bible doctrine on just a single text. A concordance can come in handy for this.
Imagine that you are putting a puzzle together. Unless you look at the whole picture, you cannot know what the finished puzzle will look like based on just one puzzle piece. It’s the same with God’s Word. We are invited to study all the texts (comparing spiritual things with spiritual) before coming to a conclusion regarding a particular topic.
Isaiah 28:9-10 ‘’Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little’’
1 Corinthians 2:13 ‘’Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.’’
#5. Accept the Bible as God’s Word revealing truth to you.
2 Peter 1:21 ‘’For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’’
John 17:17 ‘’Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.’’
#6. Be willing to make any change from past ways of thinking. You will never know the truth unless you are willing to live the truth.
John 7:17 ‘’If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.’’
#7. Be willing to surrender your own ideas to the truth of God’s Word. This part is where humility plays a big role. If we are not humble in heart then this step will not be possible. Sometimes we may come across truth that goes directly against our traditions or current belief. Only a humble and earnest heart will be able to accept, apply, and follow this path while the others continue on the path that “seems right” to them.
Proverbs 14:12 ‘’There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.’’
John 17:17 ‘’Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.’’
#8. Do not listen to the voice of any counselor who attempts to dissuade you from doing what the Bible clearly teaches.
Proverbs 19:27 ‘’Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.’’
#9. All truth leads us closer to Jesus, Who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Seek Jesus in every subject you are studying. Ask, “How can this topic lead me still closer to Jesus?”
John 14:6 ‘’Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’’