Study

'Study:' The word means, to give one's attention to acquiring knowledge, to examine attentively, to read or to observe with concentration and purpose.

The Greek word translated 'study' in this passage is 'speudazo.' This implies to use diligence and speed. In other words 'be quick' be diligent to present yourself to God an approved student. No one will doubt but that study is important. In every school around the world students of all ages and grades are being encouraged to 'study', to be diligent and eager to present themselves approved. The youth at school or university who ignore the advice to study, later regret their foolishness. If study is so important in secular life, for obtaining a high education and eventually a good job, how much more important must it be when one's very character and eternal life are at stake! Let us examine the process of study by taking this R.O.A.D.

No one can study without reading. Indeed we may say that reading forms a major part of study. But reading for the sake of reading is pointless. We must be selective in our reading, else we will waste valuable time cluttering up our minds with useless data. What should we read? Believers, who are, in fact 'kings and priests of the Most High' (1 Peter 2:5-9) are commanded to read Yahweh's commandments: for they contain divine directions on how to live. Here is specific instructions to a 'king' or potential ruler. Read it carefully, because it may well apply to you.

Reading, or even hearing the Word of God being read out loud, is also the perfect food to increase faith.

People read in a variety of ways. Some skip from page to page picking up bits of information as they go. Others read deliberately word by word, line by line, from beginning to end. Still others only read the headlines. Styles vary from person to person; but the style is not the important thing. What matters is how much is being taken in. A young man asked the Saviour an important question one day. In typical Jewish fashion the Master answered it with a question of equal importance, the answer to which contained the answer to the first question. Take note:

How readest thou? Not just what, but how? How are you reading Yahweh's Law? Could you not find the answer to your question there? Because it is there! In Matthew 19:17 the Saviour plainly answered a similar question by saying: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. In short, if you are prepared to read Yahweh's Law with humility, it has, believe it or not, all the answers to the spiritual problems of life. God's law points the way to salvation through the Lamb's blood and it teaches us how to live.

I will now aim that question at you. How readest thou? Not just what are you reading, but how? How readest thou? Not what is your method or style; but what is your purpose? In other words, Why do you read? What do you aim to learn by reading?

• Do you read just to accumulate facts, extremely important as they occasionally are, albeit of little value if you lose eternal life.
• Do you read to acquire knowledge or skills which will benefit yourself and others? A very good reason for reading I may add.
• Do you read for pleasure, just to entertain - to please yourself and pass the time. This is acceptable to a degree; but is often overdone: for life is more than frivolous entertainment.
• Or do you read to understand the purpose God has in putting you on earth. Do you read to fit yourself to live eternally with Him?

Here are some rare examples of deep reading:

Compare Psalm 8:2 with Matthew 21:16 about babes and sucklings: would you have seen the connection?
Compare Psalm 118:22 with Matthew 21:42 about the cornerstone: would you have seen the connection?
Compare Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40. Did you know that Jonah's experience was prophetic?

Notice how the Apostle Paul read:
He explained how Christ was the Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
We are the oxen God uses to plough His spiritual fields with in 1 Corinthians 9:7-10
And how the sacrificial system pointed to Messiah's work in Hebrews Chapters 5 to 10.

Reading with purpose will always unveil the deep spiritual truths in Scripture which a casual, surface browsing will always miss.

Analysis: to separate into parts, to identify, examine and interpret the meaning of things in order to arrive at an opinion or decision.
When, with Yahweh's help, you analyse what you have read, you will arrive at the real aim of the lesson. You will not just accumulate information. Instead you will recognise that Bible information is in fact detailed instruction on how to live.

NOTE:

• John's interest and concern. He wept! He really wanted to know: good for him - and for us!
• Yahweh's search for qualified readers. No man was found worthy to open and read the book.

In other words a search was made and personal holiness was the qualifying credential. Now think of that word 'prevailed.' It means to strive, conquer and to obtain victory. The privilege to read and understand the little book ; in other words was not won by Christ without effort, without a personal battle against Satan. This means that 'spiritual understanding' is invariably linked to personal victory over sin and the attainment of holiness. Bible prophecy confirms this.

In other words, those recorded Old Testament experiences were types, examples, figures, prophetic illustrations and spiritual blueprints of world-encompassing events scheduled to occur in these last days. When you grasp this fundamental truth, one that is repeated over and over again in the Sermon Notes and other articles published by this School, you will read the Old Testament with a completely different outlook. You will see that those ancient stories do not merely provide good moral instruction; but are 'dramatised prophecies,' 'miniature demonstrations,' 'living predictions' of events in our day!

Examples are:

The R.O.A.D. to lasting happiness is only trodden by those who do Yahweh's will. The Greek word 'makarios' means happy. Happy is he/she that readeth, heareth and keepeth those things that are written therein. In other words, keep Yahweh's commandments, live out in your life all that you have learned to be right and true and good. So shall you prosper in all that you undertake. Bible prophecy plainly tells us that the end-time church, the remnant, will be keeping the commandments of God.