How to Read Scripture for Breakthrough

This topic is adapted from the Navigator’s Word Hand.

We’re heading into our last breakthrough discipline today and it’s probably the discipline you expected us to lead off with – reading the Bible. Hopefully, in this series, you’ve discovered that it isn’t the discipline in and of itself that gives us the full and abundant life Jesus promises; it’s what the discipline does.  In John 15:5, Jesus said “I am the vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.”  What all of these disciplines do is help us stay connected to the vine. Prayer and fasting, solitude, slowing, and silence, and spending time in God’s Word – all help us stay connected to Jesus.  

We’re going to discuss 5 strategies to allow the Bible to transform us like Paul talks about in Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  

Hearing

Hearing the Word is reading through someone else. What can you learn about a passage from a godly pastor or mentor?

• Right now you’re hearing from us, but a lot of what you’ll be hearing is the Word of God.  You’re hearing God’s Word through us.  That’s a very biblical concept.  Going to church, having a mentor, listening to a podcast or online sermon are all simple ways to let God’s Word get into your life.  The question you should be asking when you’re doing this first thing is what can you learn about a passage from a godly pastor or godly mentor in your life.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

• Faith comes from hearing.  Think about this in the context of the early church.  We don’t realize how blessed we are to have bibles as individuals or to have the bible on our phone.  To think that each of us can have access to a personal copy of the inspired Word of God would have been mind blowing to Christians in the early church.  In the early church, only the very wealthy had books.  Very few people had scripture in their personal possession.  It was mainly hearing in the synagogue, hearing when they would come together in house churches.  They would listen as someone else read from the scroll.  Someone would read from the Old Testament, someone would read one of Paul’s letters to the churches and the majority of the people received God’s Word by hearing. 
• The same is true even for sharing the gospel.  The scarlet thread of the gospel winds itself through the bible from the very first book to the very last book.  But the gospel is a great example of something most of us heard before we read it

Reading

Reading the Word (devotionally) is reading for application. What does the passage mean for you today?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

• One of my favorite passages in the Bible.  I think men like things that are useful and helpful.  To know that the Bible is literally God-breathed makes it unlike any other book in history. It means that when we read the Bible, it’s like sitting at God’s feet and listening to his words, listening to him tell you how much he loves you, how he created the world, how he wants you to live, how he’s coming back again to make all things new! We have such a privilege to have access to the very words of the almighty God of the universe! It’s no wonder Christians in places like North Korea and China weep when they get their hands on a copy of the bible.  It’s no wonder people risk their lives to get bibles into countries that are closed. It’s no wonder Christians who are in those persecuted countries would rather lose their life than lose God’s written word – because it is God breathed.  And yet, in many of our homes, it sits on a shelf somewhere collecting dust.  
•  When you read the Word devotionally you’re asking yourself, what does this passage mean for me today? How does it apply to the situation I am facing?  How does it impact the way I love my spouse or parent my children?  Does it address how I should spend my time today, or how I should spend my money today?  
• There are different ways to read devotionally.  Maybe you’re reading a daily devotional book that incorporates thoughts from the author with scripture.  Maybe you’re reading a chapter a day in your bible, or you’re trying to read through the entire bible in a year.  Some people make it a goal to read through the bible chronologically.  There’s no absolute way to do it.  These are all good ways to read the bible devotionally. And when we read it, we’re asking, how does this impact me right here and right now. 
• When I read devotionally, I like to ask myself four questions about the passage I am reading. 
  •  1. The first question I like to ask is does this passage tell me anything about God’s character?  Do I learn something about the nature of God as I’m reading this? 
  • 2. Second, I ask, “Do I learn something about my character as I read this passage?”  I’ll never forget the first time I really paid attention to Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is above all else deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?  I’ve never looked at my feelings or their trustworthiness the same way because that verse tells me something about my heart- that without Jesus, it is desperately wicked.  I can’t trust my feelings.  
  • 3. Is there a command I need to obey in this passage?  
  • 4. Is there a promise I can claim in this passage?  There are so many wonderful promises we can hold onto in the bible. And there are a lot of promises that people will tell you are made to us in the bible, that aren’t.  They only way you’ll know which is which is if you spend time reading the Word. 

Studying

Studying the Word is reading for interpretation. What did the passage mean in its original context? 

Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

• If reading devotionally is for application, studying the Word is for interpretation.  This may be new for some of you.  When you’re studying the Word, you’re not just looking at how it applies to you, but you’re asking what did it mean in its original context.  What was being said to the original audience?  How does this passage fit into the greater context of the bible or into the gospel story?  Is this a fulfillment of a prophecy from earlier in scripture.  You can study God’s word individually or you can do it in a small group or as a family.  
• I would encourage you to invest in some good, solid bible commentaries for this kind of reading.  There are great, Godly professors and experts on this who have spent more time studying God’s word.  I won’t say they’re smarter than you, but they’re definitely smarter than me.  They’re often experts in the original languages that were used by the authors and they’re more familiar with the culture in which the original audience lived.  This is so helpful when we’re asking, “How would the original audience have received this?” 
  • New Bible Commentary
  • Expositor’s Bible Commentary
  • Enduring Word Commentary
  • Pillar New Testament Commentary
  • Olive Tree Bible App
• There are also great, free tools online where you can read the passage side by side in the original Greek or Hebrew language and the English translation.  I mentioned John 15:5 earlier “I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.  Apart from me you can do nothing.”  I remember looking at the Greek lexicon for that several years ago and seeing that the original word that’s translated “remain” can also mean “to tarry with.”  All of a sudden that verse had an even deeper meaning to me.  Did I want to tarry with Jesus?  Did I want time to slow down when I was hanging out with Jesus?  You remember when you were first dating your spouse and it always seemed like it took an hour to say goodnight?  And I’m not talking about the goodnight kiss.  I just mean how you wanted just five more minutes in their presence before you left.  I started asking Jesus to give me that same kind of desire for my time with him, that time would slow down when I was having my quiet time with him.  That deeper understanding of the verse wouldn’t have happened without slowing down and studying that passage.

Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

• Think of how radical Paul’s message would have been to them.  He was saying some crazy stuff to them.  He was saying, “Hey! I’ve got great news! Jesus came to save us.  Jesus is the Messiah! We’re not saved by following the Old Testament Law.  We’re saved because Jesus perfectly followed the law and we’re saved when we place our faith in him.” They didn’t just take Paul’s word for it.  They dug into the scriptures.  Which in this case would have been the Old Testament.  Maybe they looked in Genesis, Isaiah, or other Old Testament prophets and they started putting 2 and 2 together.  They started to confirm the message Paul was preaching to them.  They believed it because they studied the scriptures.  
• Some of you may want to push back and say, but why is it important that I dig in?  I’ve already put my faith in Jesus.  I believe He is who He says he is.  Well, Jesus answers this for us in John 8:32.. 

John 8:32 And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free

• The truth matters, and that means you need to study God’s Word.  I encourage you, be a student of God’s word.  It will provide blessing and freedom. 

Memorizing 

Memorizing the Word is reading for readiness. Will you be able to recall the passage in a moment of crisis? 

• One of the things you’ll find as you read devotionally and study is that, from time to time, a verse or passage is going to jump right off of the page at you.  That’s a good thing.  And sometimes, when that happens, you should say, “I’m going to memorize this one.”  You’re going to see things in scripture that speak to an area where you need breakthrough.  You’re going to find things that bring you encouragement. You want to memorize those verses so that you can recall that passage in a moment of crisis.  You can use it when you need it.  
• Men, when you’re on your phone at night and that image comes across the screen that you know you shouldn’t click on – 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality” Flee it! Don’t fight it.  Don’t see how close to the line you can get without going over, run away!.  Put the phone down, go in the other room, use your phone to look up a passage of scripture, whatever it takes.  But let that verse be your trigger to get out of the situation.  
• If you’re in a season of life where you seem to be struggling with a lot of worry or anxiety.  Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything.  But in every situation with prayer and Thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  
• If you’re going through a trial or a loss in your life, and you just don’t see why God would allow this to happen, Romans 8:28 “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose” Being able to recall that verse, in the moment, has helped me many times through the years.  
• When you’re stuck behind that guy in the fast lane who obviously doesn’t understand the concept of keep right except to pass – Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  

• When I hide his Word in my heart, I have it with me at all times. 

Matthew 3:3-4 During that time, the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”  But Jesus told him, “No! The scriptures say people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 

• So immediately following his baptism, we read in scripture that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where he would fast for 40 days.  The devil tempts Jesus to break his fast. Look at what Jesus does when he’s tempted.  He uses scripture! If Jesus, God in the flesh, used scripture when faced with temptation, how much more should we have it available when we face the schemes of the enemy?  In fact, if you read though the full story in Matthew chapter 4, you’ll see the devil would tempt Jesus three different times and in each case, Jesus uses scripture to refute him.  I also want to point out that the third time Satan tempted Jesus he tried to use distorted scripture to tempt Jesus.  That’s why the disciplines of studying and reading devotionally that we looked at earlier are so important because the devil will even try to use twisted scripture to tempt and trick you.  Satan hates God’s Word.  He’ll try to distort it.

Meditating

Meditating on the Word is reading for transformation. Will you allow the Author of the passage to do his work within you?

Psalm 1:1-3 Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.  

• I love the imagery of that. He doesn’t say “Oh the drudgery of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.  He says, “Oh the Joy!”  Do you want a life that is joyful? Then delight in the law of the Lord! As you delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it, you’re like a tree planted along the riverbank.  You will bear fruit.  You’ll be a refuge and provide shade for others. You’ll have strong roots that grow deep.
• Our wives, children, and communities need men with strong roots. 

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 

• That’s why it’s hard to read sometimes, isn’t it?  We’ve got those thoughts and desires that we stuff down and we can kind of ignore them in the busyness of the day, but when we slow down and get in God’s Word, it exposes them.  There they are, staring us in the face. When you meditate on God’s Word, He begins to do his work in you.  It’s like a surgeon’s knife.  There are many places in scripture where God’s Word is likened to a sword.  That’s a good thing.  Let him operate on you.  Let him do the work that only He can do.

Close

The goal isn’t to get through the scriptures; the goal is to get the scriptures through us

• When we let God’s Word work through us, it will change the way we think.  When we change the way we think, it doesn’t stop there.  It will naturally lead to breakthroughs in the way we act and speak as well.