Creative vs Logical Scripture Reading
[Text Version]
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR CREATIVE AND LOGICAL THINKERS IN READING SCRIPTURE
2 Timothy 3:15 –17 NLT
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 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 straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
A DIVINE MARRIAGE BETWEEN
THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT
The Lord is teaching those who predominantly operate in spiritual gifts to study the Bible more and utilize it on deeper levels in their spiritual gifts. And those who are highly gifted in scripture He is wanting to draw into spiritual gifts. This will culminate in growth into the fullness of Jesus Christ and also into the 7 fold Spirits of God. (Eph 4:13; Isa 11: 1,2; John 15:5)
Sometime in the 90’s the Lord released a Word – I think it was originally through Bob Jones, that there was going to be a divine marriage between the Word and the Spirit. I do not remember if Bob explained it or not, but the concept was very quickened to me and the Lord revealed this amazing Word was going to work its way down into the fiber of our Christian experience in several ways.
As I watched the Lord begin to perform this divine marriage between His Word and Spirit, I have also noticed that husbands and wives giftings are merging to a place where they operate as one Word. One may be heavy in scripture and the other in spiritual gifts and between the 2 of them, they are bringing forth His Word in a wonderful and balanced fashion. They are learning from each other, becoming interdependent and growing up together. This is true in any team ministry where the 2 gifts companion in harmony and unity.
Churches that used to be predominantly Word based churches are beginning to be more receptive to the spiritual gifts. And the charismatic churches are leaning more towards scripture. It is important to give a balance of TIME to both scripture and the Holy Spirit when people meet together. This pleases the Lord and feeds all who are gifted in either or both sides.
ARE YOU PREDOMINANTLY CREATIVE?
People who operate predominantly in spiritual gifts, need to find balance and study more scripture. Studying scripture will add a much deeper appreciation and understanding of the spiritual gifts you receive. And this will establish your faith and confirm your way in sharing your gifts.
People who operate more in spiritual gifts are more right brained, emotional, creative, and expressive in their natural lives. Musicians and artists are commonly more affluent in the spiritual gifts because they have developed the right side of their brains in the arts. Right brained people operate in a more instinctual way that is intuitive and innate. They are less logical in the way they process things and thus are not as fluent in the study of scripture.
The Lord is drawing them to study more scripture and find the scriptures that connect with their spiritual giftings. It is important that Words that come through a spiritual gift be confirmed in scripture. If they are contrary to scripture, they are not Words from the Holy Spirit.
Even interpretations become so much easier when knowing scripture. Why? Because the Word of God in the written scripture is our standard for knowing God through Jesus Christ. The first and easiest way to interpret spiritual gifts is to find the theme or subject in scripture and then allow the Holy Spirit to build from there.
Our sense of discernment is much more acute because we are able to recall scripture at the moment someone speaks. When someone says a categorical statement about God or the Word that is not accurate, the Holy Spirit immediately brings the scripture to mind that contradicts the statement. It is awesome to have studied the scripture so much that the Holy Spirit can bring these into memory. They don’t have to be memorized enough to quote, but they have to be in the HEART enough to easily recall when reminded.
CREATIVE THINKERS: TIPS ON HOW TO STUDY LOGICALLY
Much of understanding in life comes from the ability to define issues. The foundation to all definition is in the meaning of words. Just a little word can open the door to a hidden idea that comes to life.
“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing — rightly handling and skillfully teaching — The Word of Truth.” “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right…” (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP and 3:16,17 TLB)
The number onemost important part of learning to really study scripture is to learn to use the Dictionaries in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Even if you are not a Greek or Hebrew scholar you can look up the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. This huge book is a treasure. The Lord continues to quicken its definitions to my ears. You may be very surprised as to the word’s enlarged meaning. It is wonderful to hear the Lord this way!
It takes time and discipline to look up words. Yet, looking up words is related to DEFINITIONS which is what building a new spiritual vocabulary is all about. The more extensive our understanding of definitions, the broader your hearing capacity will be.
Outside of the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, reading different versions on a particular subject will sometimes enlighten our understanding. The Amplified version is an excellent study Bible for facts and details. Often the choice of a different translation of the same Hebrew or Greek word will quicken the mind to another realm of thinking.
He can speak through cross references. Many Bibles have good ones. When I can’t find the verse I’m looking for, sometimes the cross reference will tell me. After He is already sharing an idea, the cross references gives Him room to expand as we study the broader application to the Word.
Having a Bible program on a computer is a wonderful way to do cross referencing. You can type in the word you are wanting to find, and a list of all the verses come on the screen. I highly recommend PC Study Bible, as it has every tool one needs to do a very thorough study of scripture.
ARE YOU PREDOMINANTLY LOGICAL?
People who are strong in scripture are normally less fluent in spiritual giftings and they need to press in for more spiritual gifts.
These people are more left brained, logical, analytical, less subjective, and more expressive in quoting and understanding scripture. They have a harder time expressing their feelings, especially on an emotional level. Their comfort zones are in organizing facts, numbers and hands on functions that build things like chemistry, engineering and mechanics. They study how things relate and understand the basics of cause and effect. They are able to visualize their goal and then use the facts of cause and effect to obtain it.
The Lord is drawing these people with an increased urgency and sense of hunger for the supernatural so they may also function in the spiritual gifts. Operating in spiritual gifts is a fulfilling experience that bypasses the analytical brain and meets the longing of one’s heart and soul. Scripture tells us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:30) God is wanting a balance of all parts to connect as a divine marriage in our relationships with Him so that we grow up into the fullness of Jesus Christ.
One of the keys for increasing spiritual gifts is to learn to RECEIVE on a heart level. One cannot express on a heart level until they first know how to receive on a heart level. (I John 4:19) This takes trust to be willing to open up and be vulnerable to the life the Lord is bringing to us. The power to receive is the most important part of getting past doubt, hesitation, fear, and concern for loss of control. All of these are obstacles to operating in spiritual gifts. The Lord has been working through the layers in our hearts to fulfill this scripture:
Ezek 36:26-27 NKJV
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
PREDOMINANTLY LOGICAL? TIPS ON READING OUTSIDE THE BOX
- Read /Listen in story line format.
- See punchlines as topic of the moment from God. (Headlines, margin notes and underlines)
- Respond to what is quickened.
- Seek out what is revealed.
- Heed quickened eye glances.
Much of learning to receive from the Lord is the ability to personalize concepts. Discovering an applicable theme can open the door to hearing God speak personally.
I have found that people who are highly creative do not enjoy reading if it is to learn facts. They enjoy reading stories more because they filter what they read through their soul and emotions. So if you are more logical and like to study and pick apart the scriptures, try The New Living Translation. This is a unique version and a fresh approach because it is simple and reads more in a story format. Its format is generic and you can read it with the overall context in mind. Story format helps stimulate the reader to visualize the scenes in picture form. Now put yourself into the story, how well do you relate to what is going on?
Audio Bibles are a great approach to hearing the Word and just soaking in it. These are available in Bible software and Apps for your devices and cars.
Instead of studying the scripture like usual, consider reading headings, margin notes and underlines. Headings help us find themes that are a framework where everything can be placed in order to make sense. Sometimes all He wants to share is an overall idea, because the details can be confusing until we understand His theme. Then once He enlightens the idea, He can bring His Word to us through many other sources without confusion.
Margin explanations contain little “punch-lines” hitting the simplicity of the theme. Often He will use this punch-line approach to something He has been trying to say in many other ways. The key is personalizing what you are reading. How does this little margin nugget apply to this week or this season of your life? When you begin to read scripture on a personal level, it comes to life in a different way than studying, it comes to life on a heart level where the Spirit of God can touch your feelings and soul.
When you underline something, it is because you have read it and it hit home. If it hit home once, and you turn to it again, chances are the Lord is walking you around the block until it becomes a part of your daily life.
Often something will be quickened or jump out at me as pertinent and the Holy Spirit helps me ponder and search its application to my life.
Remember that quickening and revelation are experiences of the Holy Spirit. These experiences are spiritual gifts that speak to us outside of our logical brains. If you do not have an in-depth understanding of these 2 experiences, please read the lessons at the QW School so that you will be able to identify them on a deeper level and begin to experience them.
LEARN TO LISTEN THROUGH YOUR EYE GLANCES
One of my favorite ways of hearing the Lord talk to me is through quickened eye glances. The reason is because it is so intimate. He lives inside of us, and once we begin to really understand that, it puts a whole new perspective on intimacy and oneness in Him. (The mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:27)
One you learn how God uses your eye glances to speak to you, you will become quite adapt at recognizing what He is personally wanting to say when you open the Bible to read His Word.
He first began teaching me that He speaks through my eyes when I would hear His still small voice say something and then microseconds later my eye would either land upon something, or be drawn to change directions and suddenly glance at something that was a direct confirmation to what I had just heard. I finally learned to be sensitive to His drawing my eyes and to listen to the spiritual parables of what I was viewing. In my level of faith, I do not look for signs, they simply come to me with a quickened eye glance to something that I am thinking about or carrying on my heart.
I once had a vision of my being inside and encased in white armor. As I was peering out the face shield, I pulled back and took a look at the inside of this armor. I suddenly had the knowledge that Jesus was there inside the armor with me, and then together we stepped forward and put our eyes into the peep holes of the armor and looked through the holes.
After Him teaching me about this wonderful intimate way of hearing Him, I discovered a strong and important key. First of all, our eyes are windows to the soul. They are gates and what we feast and nurture through our eyes, opens doors to His Spirit or to the flesh, or worse to the demonic world. It is very important to dedicate our eyes to Him, bring them holy and consecrated unto Him and ask that He wash and cleanse them with His blood, and use them for His purposes.
In learning how to walk and hear Him through Him drawing my eyes, I discovered that every day we have choices to walk in the carnal flesh, or be drawn and led by His Spirit. I have noticed that if my focus in on the demonic, or negative or carnal fleshly appetites, that is exactly where my eyes will be drawn. It is an amazing principal and very true.
Matt 6:22-23 NKJV
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light . But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Prov 20:12 NKJV
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.
HOW TO RECEIVE QUICKENED EYE GLANCES
Quickened Eye Glance Exercise
1. Dedicate your eyes to be consecrated to the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw your eyes to His Word to you within the next 5 minutes.
2. Turn on the oven timer for 5 minutes.
3. Get involved in a mundane, routine daily task like brushing your teeth, doing dishes, taking out the trash, making your bed, getting dressed etc.
4. Sometime within that 5 minutes you will forget the timer is on and your mind will wander because you are doing something routine and habitual. Sometime during that 5 minutes you will be thinking about something other than what you are doing!
The Holy Spirit will bring the realization that you are no longer thinking about the task, but about something else. When He does, notice where your eyes are drawn as you are thinking that! Your eyes will suddenly stop and pause as you are thinking. It is like a short little stare-in- space, gazing kind of action. It is a pause that is almost looking through the object as you are lost in the thought. But then when you realize your thought, your eyes pull back and “see” what you were gazing at. This is a quickened eye glance, when you suddenly notice where your eyes are pausing or staring.
5. Now ask the Lord to help you connect what you are looking at with what you were thinking. You will be amazed to realize His personal Word to you as you personalize your eyes with your thoughts.
How do you personalize what you are looking at when connecting it with your thoughts? Discover the parable of the object: it has a meaning, a purpose or a function. Now translate that practical purpose into the spiritual aspect of your life in what you were thinking.
If you get stumped on how to spiritually interpret what you are looking at, consider typing in your key word in the Glossary of Spiritual Interpretations. Entries are added regularly.
KEY TO LEARNING HOW TO HEAR GOD THROUGH QUICKENED EYE GLANCES: See Lesson on Stop, Take Time, Ponder & Listen
HOW TO USE THE
STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE DICTIONARIES
Instructions for looking up your own verses and finding the Greek and Hebrew definitions in Strong’s are:
- Look up the word (in your verse) alphabetically.
- To the side of that verse is the number code of your Greek or Hebrew word.
- That number for your word is then recorded numerically in the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries in the back of Strong’s.
- These dictionaries translate and define the Hebrew and Greek words in that verse.
