Embracing a journey of refinement under God's authority with an eternity mindset. Jeremiah 24:7
Together, let us intentionally Crown the Sword, allow God’s Word to reign over our spiritual walk, and forever posture our lives under the influence of Scripture.
~Love and Prayers…until we meet again.
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)
…We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:9b-10 (NIV)
Hello friends! First, let me thank you for the opportunity to walk with you through the book, Crown the Sword. This journey has been a fantastic time to grow together. I pray these twelve weeks have allowed you to discover ways to draw closer to God through Scripture. May it spur your Bible intake to new levels and encourage you to study books of the Bible with a small group of like-minded Christians weekly.
I pray the affirmation you find in Chapter 12 will be an invitation to have a candlelight time with God and define your commitment with Him. Dedicate some time to focus on your Bible reliance and revisit the main topics presented in each chapter of Crown the Sword. Think about your take-aways.
What are three things you want to do differently when engaging in His Word? How will you hold yourself accountable?
One quote in this chapter that really stood out to me was “Your growth hinges upon your willingness, devotion, and commitment, which become your personal affirmations.” I had to stop and ask myself, “How dedicated are you to God?”. Often times I feel I have very good intentions, but my follow through is not always up to par. Then I think, “Where would I be today if the Father’s intentions had not been backed by the willingness, devotion, and commitment of Jesus?”. Goodness, that is humbling for me.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
Each week I took some time to summarize my thoughts over each chapter and chose one word which represented the information. Let me share those words with you starting with the introduction chapter of the book: invited, partaker, surrendered, listening, devoted, absorbing, dependent, seeking, attentive, consuming, conforming, transforming, dedicated. These words are helping me reflect upon my own personal affirmation and what I am willing, devoted, and committed to do in the days ahead. I look forward to my candlelight time with the LORD and setting some goals for the next 12 months.
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Colossians 3:23-24 (Amplified)
May your sincere Crowning of the Sword lead you to a lifestyle completely alive in Christ Jesus. I pray this book has touched you in such a way that you will always be found seeking God and consuming His Word. Be empowered to tell others about your experience. God’s Voice will always be alive and active no matter the generation. I pray this message reaches a thousand generations and increases the desire of hearts for God and His Word.
I cannot think of a better way to end this study than direct words from His sweet voice…
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)
Until we meet again…
What comes to mind when you reflect upon saturation? Maybe the dog soaked in mud the day after a bath? Or possibly the teenage odor implanted in that once cute room you designed? Could it be the sopping wet towel in the middle of the bathroom floor you requested her to hang up after bath time every single night?
How about Scripture saturation? Where does your mind wonder now?
For many, it takes them to ways they can infuse God’s Word into their day-a chance to plan out methods to instill Bible intake into a busy schedule. Just google the topic—there are tons of suggestions out there—read your Bible during lunch, get up 20 minutes earlier, give up some TV time, listen to an audio Bible while exercising, cooking, showering, waiting, etc. Absolutely wonderful ways to carry out the “attention” stage of AMPS. However, this is a different type of immersion from the saturation found in the AMPS method.
When focusing on the “S” stage, perhaps I should have used synonyms such as fortified, infused, or implanted. Why? Because (yes, I just started a sentence with that word!) this final piece is the life submission in this skeletal Bible intake plan. It is the adeptness to unite Scripture to daily living and opening the door to God’s miraculous transformation. It goes beyond drenching your day with reading and hearing God’s Word. This is the step of faith where we learn to immerse God’s truth into daily circumstances and embrace our sanctification journey.
I once heard this explained as the 12-inch pathway from head knowledge to a heart transplant. It is taking what we read, hear, and learn then letting the power of God’s Word permeate through us and flow into our veins to make us more like Him. This saturation is a time where we grow to become solely dependent upon His truth and use Scripture as essential nutrients needed to cultivate spiritual health.
It requires us to find ourselves in His story and realize those promises and commands are designed to guide our actions as we navigate life on earth. His Word was not intended for us to pick and choose how we can make Scripture fit into our life, but to recognize ourselves in His Word and live life accordingly. God gives us everything we need and He invites us to be part of His wonderful creation. He calls out to His children with an invitation to partner with Him through prayer and application of His Word. He bids us to conform to biblical counsel and come to the foot of His throne for everything. EVERYTHING!
Saturation-a call from the Lord to comply and conform by taking action. An invitation to infuse our thoughts and behaviors with a direct subservient approach-going beyond just claiming Scripture to living it out through obedience to God and submission to His Word. Yes, a very different definition than “saturating” your day with God’s Voice.
This type of AMPS saturation is more of a spiral depth leading to a transformed life.
I pray one day my fleshy being is hardly recognizable because of the miraculous makeover resulting from my relationship with God, relying on His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead. I cannot do this on my own.
What about you? What will it take to declare God’s attributes and power over the entirety of your existence and every life situation?
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:7-10 (NIV)
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)
The Bible study begins and the facilitator states, “Hello, thank you for coming tonight. Our focal verse this evening, as we walk through Deuteronomy, is 4:29. Can someone read that for us?…So, let’s open the floor for discussion. Please share what this verse means to you.” Does this sound familiar? Then everyone begins to share and it seems as though anything goes. All opinions and thoughts are embraced.
There have been times in my life where I have walked away from encounters such as this and wondered, What is the real meaning? If we only heard God’s voice responding to the prompt, would it have resembled anything we shared? Yet, we were in God’s house and we all love the LORD deeply so surely our personal discernments are aligned when it comes to interrupting Scripture. Right? Maybe? Possibly?
Okay, let’s follow a squirrel for a moment. Have you ever said something and then it was misunderstood? Has anyone ever found a different meaning in the words you uttered? Miscommunication can play havoc on relationships, jobs, families, and you name it. So, who has the right to define the words you spoke? You! They were your thoughts, whether clear or not to others-whether well articulated or poorly communicated. Only you can truly clarify the meaning or the actual message you were trying to convey. That is your authority.
Back to the original thought…I have often wondered why my upbringing in the church never spoke directly about the perspective of God nor did they ever mention making time to just listen to His voice. God’s Word is His thoughts, promises, commands, love, revealing character, and lessons, yet I was never taught how to focus on text meaning according to God. It seemed I was more exposed to the opinions of other writers, preachers, teachers, believers and the like. Please do not misinterpret what I am saying. I am not trying to communicate that their thoughts and teachings were wrong. However, I do not believe that human understanding can be correct 100% of the time. BUT, God’s discernment is always spot on! So, why not teach others how to go to the LORD to gain His view. It will always be true.
Please give me grace to go deeper. How can we ensure our Bible intake is not swayed by our own intuition and “all about me” stance? How can I safeguard the meaning I digest from Scripture to align with the pureness of God’s ways? How can I fit my life into God’s story instead of twisting His Word to fit into my life? (Oh, this is my inner thoughts speaking to myself. I am so convicted, guilty, completely ashamed of the Bible abuse I have displayed!)
My sweet friends, I had (and I am still doing this) to train myself to approach God’s Word differently. I had to find reverence and honor beyond my “good Christian” outward knowing. I had to learn how to posture and position myself on a level far from comfort by pulling my understanding out of the equation. Somehow, I had to find a foreign mindset and stance beyond my self-centered being. God taught me the importance of the Holy Spirit’s leading, the need for depth in my Biblical intake, and the significance to sit at His feet and listen. He even spotlighted the need to know when Scripture was not represented accordingly. It was almost like He said to me, “Stop manipulating my Words and accepting anyone’s interruption. Come to me…I am the author.”
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s interpretations of things.” 2 Peter 1:20 (NIV)
Submitting to God’s will and leaning not on my own understanding is how “P” of AMPS came about. It was generated by many excellent role models, pastors, and authors who instilled the significance of comprehending Scripture in alignment with the Father’s intent. The Holy Spirit made an impact on my heart and mind by highlighting where I should go for true wisdom.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 (NIV)
“Our mere knowledge of Scripture cannot achieve or maintain the support His Holy Word was meant to uphold without being rooted deep in prayer, submission, and faith. God’s perspective is essential as we absorb Scripture and come to know Him more. As we gain biblical knowledge and sharpen our skills under His authority, the more we will realize the significance of being in a relationship with the LORD. God wants us striving daily to grow in spiritual maturity through prayer, reading His Word, and meditating upon Scripture to receive His wisdom for daily living.” (pgs. 124-125 of Crown the Sword)
May His knowledge be regarded as the most valuable asset you can obtain. I pray we remember to hold it in high esteem and treasure it always-a precious, priceless gem only defined by God.
Hello and Happy Spring! I hope you are seeing signs of warmer weather and a few daffodils sprinkled throughout your day. My full extent of Spring is defined by newness and Easter (my favorite holiday). I love seeing the violas and tulips displayed around town. It is exciting to watch the buds begin to form on the rosebushes and trees in the yard. These signs bring the meaning of hope to mind for me and help me better understand the purpose of winter.
REVIEW: ATTENTION STAGE
Today we are discussing the “M” stage of AMPS: Meaning. However, I feel I need to revisit and clarify the first step, Attention, before moving forward. The Attention stage is the breadth of Bible Intake, a time to simply read and/or listen to God’s Word by engaging in at least one chapter at a time. It is crafted to give you an overview and allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas.
This is a stage where you are reading the Bible with the knowledge that all Scripture points to Christ. Think of this type of Bible intake as basic reading and/or listening for the broadness and entirety of God’s Word. The basic points are 1) Pause, pray, and posture your heart to hear God every time you approach His Word; 2) Read and/or listen to full chapters at a time (safeguards from cherry picking); 3) Think about how the chapter/s point to the full story of Christ; 4) Allow the Holy Spirit to highlight words, phrases, verse/s for you (be in tune to hear the active-living Word).
Please, if you have any questions or concerns about the Attention steps of AMPS, ask me. Remember, this is a skeleton framework for you to build your own Bible study methods and techniques. There is nothing more or nothing less to the Attention stage than the four basic points listed above. Now, the way you respond to those or what you do with your Attention experience can vary.
MEANING STAGE
Let’s move into the Meaning stage. In this aspect of Bible intake, this stage can be referred to as the depth step. Why? Because it is where you have to consume God’s Word through discovering its original implication and importance in history. It equips us to intensify our Scripture knowledge and invest in the Lord’s meaning.
Where do I begin? How do I start? What does this entail? I know, I have had those very same questions. So, let me try to share what I have discovered through three basic areas.
3 MEANING FAQs
Where to begin: I would encourage you to study one chapter at a time. Maybe read/listen to a chapter for your attention stage and then study it in depth for several days. AMPS is not designed to be carried out daily. (I would love to do go through the entire process every day!) Want a suggestion? Start with John.
Another suggestion would be to study the background of the entire book you are reading. The main take away is for you to go deeper into understanding and comprehension of what you are reading.
When I first began, my primary purpose was to achieve and establish true clarity for the Scripture that seized my attention when reading a chapter at a time, listening to a sermon, reading a devotional, etc. It was my starting point and it gave me “spot knowledge” so to speak. Since then, I would have to say I have found it essential to continually concern myself with the meaning of all biblical text to obtain the distinctness and focus of God’s words. With that being said, please understand studying the “attention” areas or highlighted portions after reading/listening is a great beginning.
Start where you are!
How to start: Study Bibles are extremely helpful when digesting Scripture. It gives some insight to true understanding and even the context in which it was written. Pay attention to the subheadings. They are tools to help our minds “chunk” the information and attach it to similar knowledge in our schema. There are many Bible commentaries online you can reference as well. Let Scripture define Scripture–so, you may want to invest time into reading some of the cross reference verses provided. My favorite technique is to read my “attention” verses in various translations.
Getting started is basically taking a step to deeper understanding! Please don’t make it complicated. It can merely be one thing that deepens your understanding. This is an ongoing adventure to strength your relationship with the most important person in your life, GOD! Try several strategies and research more to incorporate throughout your journey.
Start where you are!
What meaning entails: I might define meaning as anything that helps you dig into the context and build a firm foundation of knowledge according to God’s connotation. The primary goal is for you to open your Bible in confidence by knowing God will provide you with complete comprehension if you are willing to do a little extra work.
Here are a few things you could include:
Write down your questions.
Reread God’s Word in several versions (NIV, ESV, NLT, TPT, …)
Use commentaries, reference other Scripture, and read resources such as Bible book summaries
Cultivate an interrogative mindset (author, author’s background, historical setting & culture, original recipients of the message, events)
5Ws & H: (historical references)
Who wrote it? Who are the people?
When was it written?
Where are they? Where does the passage fit in the unfolding of Scripture?
What is occurring? What is being said? What is the author’s intended meaning?
Why was this written? Why is this part of God’s Word?
How was this applicable then? And now?
Identify keywords: Maybe use a Bible dictionary (language concordance) & find the Greek/Hebrew meaning
Deal with reproof & new revelations: Did you discover a flaw in your past comprehension/application?
WOW! I know…it may be overwhelming but remember… Start where you are!
PRIMARY GOAL: Discovering the Full Meaning of God’s Word by growing in relationship with the LORD.
ONE PRIMARY TIP: Let it be pure joy!
YOU GOT THIS!
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
Acts 9:3 (ESV)
Did I capture your attention? Can you imagine your lips telling the world what you just ate through chameleon color-changing abilities? Mine might appear like dirt since my favorite thing to savor is the darkest chocolate possible. (YIKES!) What about you?
Matthew 6:22 states, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body can be full of God’s pure light. Our eyes are arrested by many things throughout the day. Vision is an intake device controlling what can charm our senses, entice our minds, and even sway our hearts. This is why good marketing schemes can invoke our thinking and cause us to react outside of our norms. Oh those eyes!
Lets look to the Bible for some vision advice:
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27. (NIV)
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. Matthew 5:29
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain. And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; Isaiah 33:15 (NIV)
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119:37 (ESV)
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)
Our attention will be engaged in any environment we entertain, healthy or not. Bright and flashy or dark and luring-humans have an eye for things that standout. Marketing experts profit from this sense by leaps and bounds. Just ask Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow-Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable. (Side note: maybe we should make all Bibles purple poke-a-dotted) It is a known fact that the eyes tend to be drawn to things out of the ordinary. Ponder this: Remember seeing something you wish you had not seen but were drawn to it? You can’t seem to get it out of your head.
“The almighty Father provides Scripture as a method to procure our attention.” (pg. 89). “However, it takes effort on our part to place ourselves in God’s environment…” (pg. 90). The Holy Spirit gently draws us to particular verses as we engage in God’s Word and He does so according to God’s purpose and will.
Let us not forget, Scripture is the Voice of God-the very words which separated light from dark and brought everything into existence. Why wouldn’t we want to hang out among powerful, life-giving words and let it capture our attention? Well, I don’t know about you, but I have overused all the excuses you could probably utter…”I’m too busy, I’m not sure it all applies to me, I need to focus more on my career, I lack the motivation to stay in the Bible daily, I don’t understand some of Scripture so…, I’m not ready for God’s disciplined lifestyle, I don’t know where to start, etc.”
However, when the bright light was placed on my life, much like Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus, it exposed my excuses, sins, and flawed ways. I stood before the LORD guilty in so many ways. God had to use drastic forces to get my eyes back on what really mattered-Him! I wasn’t placing myself in Scripture so He could speak to me nor spending the time I needed in “listening” prayer to fully hear His words of discernment and guidance. I was doing life “my way” much like Saul.
“The LORD longs for our awareness of Him. God knows exactly what ensnares our interest. He is never surprised by what is attractive to us because His attention is continually on us. The Lord longs for us to reciprocate interest in Him.” (pg. 88-89). He knows how to captivate us, but He is gentle and patient–not to mention He gives us free will.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8a (NIV)
Chapter 8 of Crown the Sword is all about what to do once God draws our attention to certain passages of Scripture when we spend time reading His Word.
See your story in the Bible as you read it.
Highlight it and date it in a manner that is right for you.
Heed to His promptings and write out those verses to reflect upon throughout the week.
Place the verses in prominent area you frequent regularly.
Fill your environment with His Voice-Scripture.
Keep your Bible open as an invitation throughout your day to stop and read a bit.
Think outside of the box and let your creative juice flow.
Post the Scripture on your social media accounts.
Talk it over with a friend.
Pray it out.
First and foremost, let it draw you to the feet of Jesus. Hang out there for a bit and let Him take your vision to heights unknown. Your eyes will be amazed at the remarkable sight revealed — discovery of a magnificent power beyond the color-changing ability of a chameleon.
(P.S. What was the last thing you ate?)
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Ephesians 6:10-12 (Message)
Hello sweet friends! I hope your week has been good. We have had tornadoes, hail, rain, blizzard, snow, sunshine, and spring days all in one week. You never know what to wear or how to prepare. It has felt a little chaotic to say the least.
How’s your daily Bible intake? Does it ever seem a little sporadic? I know mine does. There are times it is so unorganized and unplanned that it might resemble the worst junk drawer on the face of the earth. It definitely gets out-of-whack when I have too many pans in the fire. (Not that I am currently doing this or anything like it!!!)
I just wanted to pause today and share a method I created for my personal Bible intake. This corelates with Part II of the book Crown the Sword if you want to know more details. During my searching for more of God’s Word in my life, I found bits and pieces of various Bible study methods I liked, but never one that encompassed everything I needed and valued. So, over the years God revealed AMPS to me.
AMPS is a very basic skeleton for anyone to build upon. Ideally, I would love to go through the entire process daily. However, time doesn’t always allow. However, it is important to engage in every stage and not just get bogged down into one step in the process.
Just give it a try. Make it your own. Find a new way to engage with God and His Word. Start with pausing and prayer each time you begin. Please find joy in your daily Bible Intake. Don’t make it a “TO DO”, make it a celebration of drawing nearer to the one and only who loves you beyond comparison, GOD! Make it a “Ta Da” and find pleasure in each moment you spend engaging and infusing Scripture into your life.
Download your copy of AMPS in a different format than presented previously. ENJOY.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)
God wants us to present each moment to Him in obedience, let Him rule our lives, and submit all of our ways. I don’t know about you, but I struggle in doing so. I have to humbly remind myself I cannot accomplish His purpose without humbly surrendering to His leading. It starts the minute my eyes open each morning. Each day is a gift given and it is my responsibility to hand it over so the LORD can lead it. Trust me, when I depend on myself and my ability to handle life (good or bad) I fall short every time. His direction and instructions far exceed my own. Besides, He knows the future so I need to trust His jugdment!
When I made the commitment to live my life through an open Bible, I began searching for a routine to assist me. A plan to keep me from failing. A way to live out Joshua 1:8 (NIV) “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Anything to keep me plugged into God and His Word. I wanted a good connection.
If there was an approach to studying Scripture and learning to infuse it into my life, I was willing to try it. There are many of them out there. (yet, I find it hard to discover who created them?) I love the primary goal of each-to allow the very Voice of God to penetrate your soul. I think it is essential for everyone to determine ways to study Scripture and open their heart to discovering new methods and techniques for a lifetime. Also, I believe the Holy Spirit will guide and prompt you to a deeper understanding as you travel together with God.
Listen friends, ten years ago I was probably hesitant to study Scripture on my own without an associated text, facilitator, or sermon notes. God prompted me to go deeper into knowing His Voice and stop “cherry picking” verses and memorizing Scripture just to quote it and manipulate it to what I wanted it to mean.
AMPS was primarily created for my own personal Bible study because of gaps I found in other methods. They fell short on focusing and fully listening to God, gathering the entire meaning from context, praying out Scripture, safeguarding my understanding, etc. The list continues. So, I began with four categories: attention, meaning, perspective of God, and saturation. This is an extremely lean skeleton. It may even be missing a few bones, but it is the foundation on which I have begun building my Bible study methods.
I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts from the book along with so much more I have to tell you about AMPS. Hang in there friends! Press into those study questions. They are essential in Chapter seven to help you digest the second half of Crown the Sword! Let the journey begin…
Crank up the AMPS Bible Study Method
| A: | Attention Prepare your heart-Pause Read with purpose Be aware of what catches your attention |
| M: | Meaning History: author/timeline/location/original audience/culture Identify: Attributes of God, promises, instructions Terminology: Greek/Hebrew Translations: read more than one Entire Context: main message Seek the full counsel of Scripture: investigate cross references |
| P: | Perspective of God Pray for God’s perspective Present your concerns, thoughts, and confusion to the Father Ask the Lord for the meaning, clarity, and personal message Be open to reproof Ponder the application for your life |
| S: | Saturation Ask the Lord for help to live out Scripture Infuse His instructions into your life Pray out Scripture: claim His promises over your life and circumstances |
How many of you loved diagramming sentences in school? I wasn’t an enormous fan but I did not mind doing it when necessary. It did give me a better insight to sentence structure.
Recently, I came across a picture of a very small verse diagrammed. It was broken into parts and each area was addressed by writing meaning, thoughts, and reflections on each section.
I have been putting this method into practice and shared it with the ladies attending Refining. I encourage you to give it a whirl. Reflect, ponder, study, pray, and diagram a sentence for a week. Come away with a deeper meaning and understanding while drawing closer to knowing God.
If you haven’t tried AMPS (posted previously) as a scripture study method, give it a try as well. Share your experience and thoughts. Lets encourage one another to grow in Christ and remain in His Word.
I am not a scientist by any shape or form but I long to have a constant current surging with the Lord. God’s Word permits me to remain connected and energized. The Bible is a living and active source if I am willing to be conducive with the authority of my heavenly Father. Through studying, meditating, praying, and infusing scripture into situations of life, I have strengthened my faith and knowledge. God’s Word has intensified my understanding of a steadfast existence and taught me not to be reliant on those wavering emotions and reactions.
There are numerous approaches to studying scripture. Like some of you, I enjoy orderliness when digesting God’s Word. However, I appreciate and embrace change at times because it often eliminates my tendency to become stagnate. Sometimes a new perception or concept stimulates deeper thinking or a different viewpoint.
Be encouraged to sample various techniques and methods while growing in and through scripture. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 reminds us that the Bible is the actual word of God and it is at work within each of us who believe in Him by faith. 2 Timothy 2:15 also encourages us to do our best in handling the word of truth. When reading and applying scripture, I think about Philippians 4:6. For me, I am convicted to surrender my perception and pray to receive God’s stance. I know His heavenly mindset will far outweigh my meager worldly thoughts.
Recently, while revamping a scripture presentation, I began thinking about the most impactful parts of studying scripture for me. I am aware that I need to be careful not to use scripture out of context and not to rely on my own viewpoint. My main concern is how the word of truth applies to me currently and how I need to live it out under God’s ruling.
Below is a Bible study process I call AMPS. I know an amp is short for ampere which is a unit of constant electrical current. (Please don’t expect me to explain any further because this alone is pushing the limits.) So, I knew this acronym would stick in my brain because of my desire to stay connect with God. Let me know what you think and if it works for you. Blessings to all.
AMPS:
Attention: There are passages of scripture or certain verses which capture our attention when reading God’s Word. The Spirit of truth prompts us to dig deeper to fully digest the message. Write down the scripture. As you write, take a closer look at each word and think about why God had the writer craft these words in such a manner.
Meaning: God’s Word is truth and our sword. However, as mature followers, the real meaning of His Word comes from focusing on the entire context. Read the entire book/chapter over and over. Consult various versions and commentaries. Study with like believers. Be firm in your knowledge to prevent deception or twisted thinking.
Perspective of God: Through prayer God gives us a heavenly perspective unlike our own. His ideas and thoughts are often foreign and take time to comprehend. He longs for a relationship with us and will reveal His thoughts as we talk with Him in prayer. Ask God to give you clarity of His Word. Then listen in faith to God’s angle and direction.
Saturation: God desires us to put into practice what His Word declares. Infuse the passage into life circumstances and immerse life with His truth. Instill the meaning of God’s promises in ALL areas of life: despair, peace, turmoil, joy, etc. Permeate your thinking and let His truth refine your heart by surrendering it all to His authority.
Embrace your spiritual growth journey under the refinement of a God who loves you immensely!
Refining [Spiritual Growth] 