Bible studies for January 2003

 

Study 4: QUIET TIME AND CHRISTIAN GROWTH

 

 

Much dryness and defeat in the lives of many christians can be traced to the absence of an enriching quiet time. The ones that do it at all, their quiet time is a mere religious observance like a pile of bricks in a futile attempt to build a tower of Babel to reach heaven (Genesis 11:3-5).
Christian growth is only possible through personal quiet time on a daily basis. However barrenness can still come if the proper approach, attitude and application are not followed. This study is to help us get into the glorious experience of abiding in God’s holy hill and enjoy the fruits of Canaan on a continual basis.
 

 

 

SUSTAINED APPROACH
Isaiah 50:4, 5; Luke 10:39, 42; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Romans 12:11

Christian growth through our quiet time is only possible through a sustained approach. The christian that makes do with a ‘dip and grab’ method of searching for a promise through the so-called promise chest or the one that gestates on wherever he opens arbitrarily or the one using the ‘one look and a promise’ method will not grow. The christian that seriously desires growth must move away from this hit and miss business to a much more sustained approach.
Find out how to embark on a systematic coverage of the scriptures. Develop a well mapped out plan of quiet time Bible reading.
Spend more time in God’s presence. Much time is needed to read, mediate on what has been read and making notes on helpful or relevant things to our life. Record whatever God teaches you in your quiet time notebook.

 SUPPLICATING ATTITUDE
Mark 1:35; Genesis 19:27; Psalm 5:3; 55:17; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6

Come to your quiet time with a supplicating, prayerful attitude and with a great expectation to receive from the Lord. Saturate your quiet time with prayer – begin and end with prayer. As you come to the Bible each day, take time to pray that God will help you to understand what you are about to read and meditate on. Pray that God will help you to live out the implications of whatever particular truths God impresses upon you during your time of study and meditation.

STEADFAST APPLICATION
Romans 2:1-3; 2Peter 1:5-10; 1Corinthians 9:24-27; Romans 15:4; John 2:5; Jeremiah 15:16

Always apply the Bible to your life. Many christians only take the promises but their prayers will be abomination to the Lord (Pro. 28:9). As you read the Bible during your quiet time, keep track of the warnings to heed, tasks to perform, commandments to keep, promises to claim, behaviours to emulate, pitfalls to avoid, dispositions to eschew, conduct to cultivate, corrections to make etc.
Take the totality of the scriptures for yourself. Ask yourself, what is God saying to me this morning through this passage of scripture?

WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT (John 2:5).

 

 

 

Please email your comments to pastor@deeperlife-liverpool.org.uk