Ten Things That Will Help You In Your Personal Studies.

Get a King James Bible

Don't waste your time with these modern perversions. They'll only hinder your spiritual growth and understanding. Use the Book that GOD uses. (The New King James Version and the New Scofield Reference Bible are NOT King James Bibles).

Develop a Regular Reading Habit

Bible study is great, but don't forget to spend some time each day simply reading the Bible. The Christian needs to feel at home in the "Bible environment". By reading it regularly, you'll become familiar with it's vocabulary, it's characters, special memory verses, it's precious promises, valuable lessons, and doctrinal truths. The more familiar you become with God's word the more you'll enjoy it.

Take Your Bible With You

God's word is your spiritual food and your weapon, so why leave home without it? You can use a few different Bibles for different purposes. For example, keep one in your truck for reading, one in your family vehicle for personal work, one for street preaching, one in the bedroom for reading, and the rest in your office. This way you avoid having to carry the same one everywhere. There's nothing wrong with carrying the same Bible everywhere, but you will wear it out quickly.

Pray for Wisdom and Understanding

The Author of the Bible is STILL ALIVE, so He can help you understand it (James 1:5; I John 2:27; I Kings 3:5-12). When is the last time you asked the Lord for understanding?

Keep Your Sins Confessed

Keep yourself clean (I John 1:9) so that God can pour His truth into a clean vessel, a vessel that is fit for the Master's use. God is not particularly interested in teaching His word to someone with a wicked heart (Psa. 66:18; Eze. 14:1-9). I believe it was John Bunyan who said that the Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.

Always Believe What You Read

To question God's word is satanic (Gen. 3:1), so don't ever question it. Just believe it by faith. If you can't understand it, then at least believe it.

Make It A Habit to Mark Your Bible

You aren't growing any younger, so your memory isn't growing any better. Start marking your Bible by underlining or circling special words and verses. Write important notes and references in the margins. A few years from now you'll be very glad you did. Just ask anyone who does it.

What should you mark it with? Try special pens that aren't supposed to bleed through the paper, or if you personally do not care for them try to use a fine point, black, ball point pen or dry highlight markers. For special notes, use other color ball points, but they're all fine point and never press hard. Never use felt tips or roller balls.

Start Your Own Library

Get a good concordance, such as Strong's or Young's. This will allow you to look up any word in the Bible in all of the places where it is found. If you have a computer, get a good program like QuickVerse, which has a Strong's concordance along with a Bible dictionary, an atlas, and several other options.

Dispensational Truth by Clarence Larkin has been one of the best general study books for several decades. His other works are also very good.

The Bible Believer's Helpful Little Handbook contains definitions and Scripture references to many doctrines and theological terms. Fighting Back! is a handy reference guide to help you better understand the King James Bible debate.

An Old Scofield reference Bible is very helpful (1909 or 1917 edition).

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is a jewel, as it contains thousands of helpful Scripture references. It is also available as an option in QuickVerse software packages.

Tapes and books from Pastors James Knox, Greg Estep, Peter Ruckman, or Steve Sturgeon will be a great help.

Thank God for Everything You Learn

We really are unworthy to sit at the feet of our Saviour and learn, yet He commands us to do so. We should count it an honor and privilege! When you learn a new truth, no matter how small, always THANK Him! (I Ths. 5:18; Rom. 1:21).

Apply What You Learn

James 1:22 tells us to DO the word, not just hear it. A sponge that only soaks up water will become sour! Don't be a sour Christian. God teaches us the word because He desires to use us in His service. He feeds us that we might be healthy and strong to fight His battles. Don't be a draft dodger. Apply what you learn as you learn. Get your basic training and then get on the battlefield!