Understanding God’s word helps us get to know God better. Live by His Word with guidance and support from your life coach, the Holy Spirit. This Bible study will help you.
Updated: Monday, October 17, 2022
Understanding God’s Word
Are you ready to start understanding God’s word – through His word – by His Spirit? Good, I’m glad you are here!
Get wisdom, and get understanding. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. 7 To start being wise you must first get wisdom. No matter what it costs, get understanding. Proverbs 4:5, 7 (NIRV)
Think about this
We get understanding, direction, and guidance for our lives through the Scriptures and by the Holy Spirit. Your Word makes me wiser than those who hate me, for it is always with me. 99 I have better understanding than all my teachers because I think about Your Law. 100 I have a better understanding than those who are old because I obey Your Word. Psalm 119:98-100 (NLV)
♦ As people understand your word, it brings light to their lives. Your word makes even simple people wise. Psalms 119:130 (ERV)
Key Points:
- We get encouragement and strength through God’s word; Psalm 119:28 I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word. (HCSB)
- Jesus said, God’s word is truth; John 17:17b “…your word is truth.” Whatever the Scriptures say will happen, they are true, believe God’s word.
- To understand is to know; to understand God’s word, is to know God. You need to know and obey your Savior. These people [who reject the truth] claim to know God [as Savior], but they deny Him by their actions, so they are detestable and disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16 (AUV)
Better understanding
Do your best to add holy living to your faith. Then add to this a better understanding. 6 As you have a better understanding, be able to say no when you need to. Do not give up. And as you wait and do not give up, live God-like. 2 Peter 1:5-6 (NLV)
Introduction (Intro)
And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). 1 John 2:3 (AMP)
4 Anyone who says, “I know Him,” but does not obey His teaching is a liar. There is no truth in him. 1 John 2:4 (NLV) [read 1 John 2:1-11 (2-4)]
Do you know God? I mean, do you understand and live by (obey) His word? The message in the picture is actually four messages, the first: “understanding God’s word you need it“. The second is, “understanding you need it“! Third: God’s word you need it. Fourth: God’s word. Did you notice the fonts (style of the letters) and colors of the words, of course, some will see more messages but I purposely gave four.
In this Bible study
Understanding God’s word is so vital to our Spiritual well-being. This Bible study covers and focuses on getting to know God better through His word. Use this Bible study to help grasp the spiritual side of the word ‘understanding‘. Please take your time with this study and read the Scriptures.
Remember to pray and ask the Lord, the best life coach, to open your mind to know His word. Hopefully, you will make it to the end of the Bible study and have better knowledge of the word of God and what He wants you to do.
The Best Life Coach (Study #1) – God gave you life, who else is better at coaching you through it?
Requires Action (Study #2) – In order to get the best understanding, you have to do your part; be a doer of the word.
Get Knowledge (Study #3) – You must read and study the Scriptures to get knowledge of God.
Do What It Says (Study #4) – Don’t just read, study, and/or listen to the word. Obey God’s word!
Please enjoy this four-part series: Understanding God’s Word – You Need It
The Best Life Coach
Understanding God’s Word – Study #1
What is the seed that fell by the road? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes and takes away the things that were planted in that person’s heart.
23 But what is the seed that fell on the good ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and understands it. That person grows and produces fruit, sometimes 100 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 30 times more.” Matthew 13:19 and 23 (ICB)
We must have a good understanding of God’s word. What does the word understanding mean from a biblical point of view?
Understanding is having and applying knowledge received by God through His word. The word of God is the best life coach.
If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. All those who follow his rules have good understanding. People should praise him forever. Psalm 111:10 (NIRV)
God is the source of understanding
Understanding is acting in obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in accord or agreement with God’s word. Compare this to showing your faith by your works or such as, having knowledge of a car—you know they exist—but you do not know how to drive. Understanding is putting spiritual knowledge into obedient action; it is proof that we know God.
Let the Scriptures coach you through life.
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)
Know that Jesus is God
We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we know the real God. We are in the one who is real, his Son Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is the real [true] God [John 1:18 CSB, CEV, ERV, EXB, and NET] and eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (GW)
The word of the Lord is your source of true happiness. People who find knowledge through the Word benefit forever.
Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God’s Word and life’s experiences], 14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold. Proverbs 3:13-14 (AMP)
♥ Question for ‘understanding God’s word – Study #1’: Do you allow God’s word to coach you through life?
Requires Action
Understanding God’s Word – Study #2. Before starting this Bible study please review study #1.
My son, pay attention to what I say. Remember my commands. 2 Listen to wisdom, and do your best to understand. 3 Ask for good judgment. Cry out for understanding. 4 Look for wisdom like silver. Search for it like hidden treasure.
5 If you do this, you will understand what it means to respect the Lord, and you will come to know God. 6 The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. 7 He gives good advice to honest people and shields those who do what is right.
8 He makes sure that people are treated fairly. He watches over his loyal followers. 9 If you listen to him, you will understand what is just and fair and how to do what is right. Proverbs 2:1-9 (ERV)
Rarely will I use or put so much emphasis on one block of scriptures to convey a message, but Proverbs 2:1-9 is the exception. Let’s “pay attention” to what God is telling us. This is loaded with action words (verbs); “calls to action”. I am actually getting excited for us, this is such a treasure, so please stop, turn off anything that might distract you and prepare for solid spiritual nutrition.
God’s call to action
Understanding God’s word can be simple, let’s examine the action words. Like many instances with God, these are conditional terms.
- Pay attention to, accept, receive, follow, listen to my words.
- Remember, store up, treasure my commands.
- Listen to, incline (tune in, harken) your ears to wisdom.
- Do your best to, apply your heart to, engage your mind to understand(ing).
- Ask for, cry after, call out for good judgment/insight/knowledge.
- Cry out for, lift (raise) up your voice for understanding.
- Look for, search for, hunt for, and seek wisdom.
- Listen to the Lord (wisdom).
The benefits
Next check the benefits of meeting the above conditions. If you do the above then you will:
- Understand, and know what it means to respect (fear) the Lord.
- Come to know, discover (find) the knowledge of, and succeed in learning about God.
- Understand, discover
- what is just,
- fair,
- and how to do what is right.
The unconditional truths about the Lord (God):
- He is the source of:
- Wisdom.
- Knowledge (from His mouth or through His word).
- Understanding (from His mouth or through His word).
What God does
- Gives good advice to those who obey Him.
- Protects those who do what is right.
- Makes sure people are treated fairly (receive justice).
- Watches over His loyal (faithful) followers (His saints, the godly).
♥ Question for ‘understanding God’s word – Study #2’: Are you following God’s call to action?
Get knowledge to understand God
Understanding God’s Word – Study #3. Before starting this Bible study please review study #1 and study #2.
What is understanding?
In study #1 I gave a definition of understanding but let’s take a different approach, let’s use the word of God to describe understanding.
- Departing or staying (turning) away from evil – Job 28:28 {Proverbs 3:7; 14:16; 16:6}.
- Knowledge of the Holy One – Proverbs 9:10.
- It is a fountain (wellspring) of life to those who have (use) it – Proverbs 16:22 {Proverbs 10:11; 13:14 and John 6:63}.
- The possessor has a cool (excellent) spirit (is calm, even-tempered) Proverbs 17:27.
How do we get an understanding?
- Through God’s word:
- “through your precepts (instructions, guiding principles, rules) I get understanding” Psalms 119:104
- “learning your words gives understanding…” Psalms 119:130 {Acts 26:12-18 (17-18); 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (14-18)}
- By faith – Hebrews 11:1-3 (3).
- Directly from God:
- “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great (unlimited) understanding” 1 Kings 4:29-31.
- “he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” Luke 24:45 {Acts 16:11-15 (14)}.
You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21 Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls. James 1:19-21 (ISV)
♥ Question for ‘understanding God’s word – Study #3′: Do you know and understand who God is?
Do what it Says
Understanding God’s Word – Study #4. This is the last of the four-part series. Before starting this Bible study please review study #1, study #2 and study #3.
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you do not want to hear My teaching. John 8:43 (NLV)
Reasons people do not understand God
Are you having a tough time understanding God? Once again we will use the word of God to understand why people fail to understand God. People do not understand God because they:
- do not want to hear the word of God [John 8:43].
- are not born of God {born again; those who are born of God listen to God’s Word [John 8:47].
- do not want to trust or believe in God [John 8:45; Ephesians 4:17-24 (17-19)].
- fail to do what is right or obey God [Isaiah 42:18-25 (25)]
More scriptures to read and study: Matthew 13:10-17 (14-15) {Isaiah 6:8-12 (9); Mark 4:10-12 (12); Luke 8:9-10 (10); John 12:37-41 (40); Acts 28:17-31 (26-27); Romans 11:1-10 (8)}; Job 12:13-25 (13 and 24)
It IS possible to understand God
God’s anger is shown from heaven against all the evil and wrong things that people do. By their own evil lives they hide the truth. 19 God shows his anger because everything that may be known about God has been made clear. Yes, God has clearly shown them everything that may be known about him.
20 There are things about God that people cannot see—his eternal power and all the things that make him God. But since the beginning of the world those things have been easy to understand. They are made clear by what God has made. So people have no excuse for the bad things they do.
21 They knew God. But they did not give glory to God, and they did not thank him. Their thinking became useless. Their foolish minds were filled with darkness. Romans 1:18-21 (ICB)
Do this
3 Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
Use self-control
4 A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life. [1 Corinthians 9:25]
Obey God
5 No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.
Expect your reward
6 The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth. [1 Corinthians 9:10]
Accept help
7 Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 (OEB)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works are from meekness because of wisdom. James 3:13 (NSB)
♥ Question for ‘understanding God’s word – Study #4’: Are you doing all you can to get an understanding of God?
Conclusion (Close)
and give me the understanding that comes from your word. – Understanding God’s Word”
Psalms 119:169 (CEV)
Please, Lord, hear my prayer and give me the understanding that comes from your word. 170 Listen to my concerns and keep me safe, just as you have promised. 171 If you will teach me your laws, I will praise you 172 and sing about your promise, because all of your teachings are what they ought to be.
173 Be ready to protect me because I have chosen to obey your laws. 174 I am waiting for you to save me, Lord. Your Law makes me happy.
175 Keep me alive, so I can praise you, and let me find help in your teachings. 176 I am your servant, but I have wandered away like a lost sheep. Please come after me, because I have not forgotten your teachings. Psalms 119:169-176 (CEV)
Understanding is key
The last point my friends; understanding God’s word is not difficult when we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. I want to make sure you know what understanding means. Take a look at this in a new way; understanding is the keyword. The following words have opposite meanings to the word ‘understanding’ and I must say I was not ready for this:
- Brutal – unsympathetic, indifferent (you do not care; you are not interested).
- Cruel – merciless, rough, hard.
- Impatient – annoyed.
- Intolerant – narrow-minded, bigoted/prejudiced.
- Ignorance – lack of knowledge.
- Thoughtless – inconsiderate and uncaring.
- Unfriendly – unpleasant and mean.
- Without feeling – heartless, cold-hearted.
The way you think and act
So understanding is more than “having and applying knowledge received by God through His word”. It is the way you think (our attitude) and the way you act. If you are an understanding person, you are:
- Kind – sympathetic, concerned
- Gentle – full of mercy, pleasant
- Patient – untroubled
- Forgiving – broad-minded, impartial
- Unselfish – not self-centered
- Thoughtful – considerate and caring
- Friendly – nice and loving
- Compassionate – sensitive, softhearted
Do you get it?
The truth about understanding is more than you think, do you really understand what the word ‘understand‘ means?
How awesome are your works, Lord! Your thoughts are so deep! 6 Ignorant people don’t know—fools don’t understand this: Psalms 92:5-6 (CEB)
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalms 119:33-34 (UKJV)
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. Proverbs 1:5-6 (KJV)
Understanding God’s word is not the final message here but we must strive to become understanding people. Is that the conclusion, is this the end? It really depends on you, do you need more to gain an understanding of God’s word, of God? Be blessed—Tim ☺.
Understanding God’s Word Outline
Note: parenthesis (#) encloses the key verses.
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Summary and Intro
- Summary: Proverbs 4:1-9 (5 and 7); Psalms 119:25-32 (28), 119:97-104 (98-100), and 119:129-136 (130). John 17:6-19 (17); Titus 1:10-16 (16); 2 Peter 1:1-11 (5-6).
- Intro: 1 John 2:3-11 (3-4); Titus 1:10-16 (16); Hosea 8:1-3
-
Life Coach – Study #1
- Matthew 13:18-23 (19 and 23) {Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15}. Proverbs 3:5-6 and 13-18 (13-14) {Job 28:12-18; Proverbs 8:12-21; I Timothy 4:8}.
- 1 John 5:18-21 (20); Psalms 111:10 {Proverbs 3:4 and 13:15; John 7:17}.
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Requires Action – Study #2
- Proverbs 2:1-9 (2, 3b, 5-6 and 9); 4:1-9.
- Acts 17:10-15 (11); Ephesians 1:15-23 (17-18)
-
Get Knowledge – Study #3
- Proverbs 9:10-12 (10), 17:27-28 (27), and 16:22 {10:11; 13:14 and John 6:63}. Job 28:20-28 [(28); compare Proverbs 3:7; 14:16; 16:6].
- Psalms 119:97-104 (104) and 119:130 {Acts 26:12-18 (17-18); 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (14-18)}. Hebrews 11:1-3 (3).
- 1 Kings 4:20-34 (29-31); Luke 24:44-49 [(45); compare Acts 16:11-15 (14)]. James 1:19-25 (19-21).
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Study #4
- John 8:37-47 (43, 45, and 47); Ephesians 4:17-24 (17-19); Isaiah 42:18-25 (25).
- Matthew 13:10-17 (14-15) {Isaiah 6:8-12 (9); Mark 4:10-12 (12); Luke 8:9-10 (10); John 12:37-41 (40); Acts 28:17-31 (26-27); Romans 11:1-10 (8)}; Job 12:13-25 (13 and 2; Romans 1:18-21; 2 Timothy 2:3-7 {reference 1 Corinthians 9:10 and 25]; James 3:13.
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Conclusion
- Psalms 119: 33-34 and 169-176, 92:5-6; Proverbs 1:5-6.
See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
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(AMP) Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) ♦||♦ Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Scripture quoted by permission. ♦||♦ Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission. ♦||♦ (ERV) Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center, Inc. and used by permission. ♦||♦ (GW) Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.
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(HCSB) Scripture quotations marked HCSB®, are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. HCSB® is a federally registered trademark of Holman Bible Publishers. ♦||♦ (ICB) Scripture taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ♦||♦ (ISV) Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission. ♦||♦ (NIRV) Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Updated: Sunday, August 21, 2022