Spiritual Formation (Reading Scriptures part 4 of 4)

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But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, John 16:13-14)

Some movies are meant to explore hidden meanings and deeper perspectives.  By analyzing the films, philosophies and ideas emerge from the dialog, from the settings or even from the camera angles.  Sometimes, directors come out and explain the subtext of their movie in hopes that their film becomes more than amusement, it transcends into our conscious and changes our outlook.  In a way, this is the role of the Holy Spirit and His movie is the Bible.  Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring an ancient reading system, and here we are at our final step.  This last step may sound like over spiritualized mumbo-jumbo; but it is at its core, hearing the voice of God speak through His word.

In week one, we listened.  Like a text message or email from a friend that we’ve wanted to hear from, we read the passage making sure to hear every written word.  We listen intentionally.   In week two, we used our mind’s eye to see the passage.  Words have meanings, and they can be used to paint a picture.  Here we let the text move from words to images.  Last week, we prayed.  Those images triggered our thoughts, and we reshaped those thoughts into a prayer to God.  Now, we let God’s response reshape us.

This time, the exercise is all on you.  In the past, we’ve explored a scripture together.  Now, you do it alone.  Perhaps, start with a familiar passage, one that has spoken to you before, even your life verse.  Like many other things, you’ll get out of this, what you put into it.

Find a quiet, comfortable spot and open to the passage of scripture.  Begin at step one and start to work your way through all the steps.  When you get to step four, hear the voice of God using the scripture to reform, transform, and renew you.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (James 1:22-24)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom. 12:2)

Written by Pastor Ozzy

 

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.