Lesson 1, Why Bible Study? To Encounter God.

Studying the Bible Invites God's Presence into our Life. In my bedroom, I spent an enormous amount of time in bible study. I read through the text repeatedly to learn all the strange terminology. I marked passages, memorized verses, and looked up theological terms.

When I first started to study the Bible, I didn't notice anything special about this ancient book. In fact, I probably wouldn't have spent as much time reading it had I not been sidelined by an incurable autoimmune disease, MyAsthenia Gravis. I simply mumbled through the pages in frustration because many of the Scriptures seemed to promise healing. I begged God, "Here I am Lord, heal me!" I laid on my face quoting bible passages desperate for good health. I had no one else who could help me but God. I had to depend on Him to survive.

The more I aligned my life according the text the more I sensed the real living God behind it. I'll try to describe this type of encounter. Have you ever had an eerie feeling that someone was watching you when you were all alone? Many can relate. Experiencing the Presence of God feels exactly the opposite. You sense that Someone is there but you sense an overwhelming feeling of peace, love, and joy. I experienced this peace whenever two youth prayed for me and God touched my eyes. He didn't completely heal me of MG, but my eye ball drifted back to normal.

In my bible study classes, I learned about all the different biblical criticisms. I didn't have all the answers about the Scriptures, but God had revealed Himself to me enough times that my view of His Word would never change. I bonded with God many times with my Bible open. In the prayer rooms, I'd lay on my face praying through relevant bible verses. God's Presence would comfort me in my distress. When my eyes burned and double vision plagued me, I'd listen to the Bible on tape. I still don't have all the answers in the debate over the Word of God, but its text has become a part of who I am.

Some people try to study the Bible a few times, feel intimidated at its jargon, and then conclude that it's only a human book -- lacking divine inspiration. Others have been hurt by bible bashers. If someone has hurt you and tried to justify it with the the biblical text, that person has more than likely misrepresented the Scriptures. I challenge you to dedicate time each day to try and encounter God through the sacred text. If you take the Bible seriously, in time the Holy Spirit will break into your world.