The Bible is the first and easiest way to hear from the Lord, and is to be our guideline in having a relationship with Him. When we launch out and begin to hear Him in various ways, they must always conform to His Word.

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.

Some go through spiritually dry seasons when they lose their love for reading His Word.  This is similar to what the Bible calls a season of famine of hearing His Word.  (Amos 8:11)  Quickened Words from Him become few and scattered, and finally far between.  Intimacy with the Lord seems so far away.  Weariness of life settles in, and one falls into a long winter’s nap.  When in spiritual slumber the appetite shuts down; the hunger pangs fade away.  Without notice, the mouth becomes dry.  However, when awakening, thirst for Him becomes unquenchable and the appetite roars to be fed.  Thus comes the strength, will and tenacity to find water and food, and reading His Word becomes a joy and a delight.

If you have been experiencing a famine and want to  break out of it and become excited about reading His Word, just ask Him for help.  Living the life He desires for us is impossible without His help.  We simply cannot do it on our own.  The Lord never intended us to live independently from Him; in understanding, hearing, pleasing, and knowing HIM. 

A DIVINE MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT

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. 

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) 

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

“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)

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. 

NUMBER ONE TIP TO HELP
CREATIVE THINKERS:

Use The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Dictionaries

The most 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! 

For instance, in 2 Corinthians 12:9 the King James says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect [5048] in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  I asked myself, “what does ‘made perfect’ mean?  How can strength be made perfect?”  So I looked up ‘made perfect’ in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and one of the translations for this Greek word “teleioo” (5048) means “to add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full.”  In other words, when we are weak and our cup is not full, He adds what we are lacking in order to provide a full cup of strength!

If you have a promise from the Lord that is a scripture, it is very helpful to look up each prominent word in the Greek and Hebrew dictionary.  As an example, one night I heard the Lord say, “There will I make the horn of David to bud.”  (Psalm 132:17 KJ)  Immediately I saw a picture - vision of my young son’s new tooth!  In the morning, I looked up the word “horn” in the Strong’s Concordance.  A number is recorded beside the verse containing horn.   (7161)  I looked up this number in the Hebrew dictionary in the back, and it defines horn in that particular verse as: {a horn as projecting, a flask, cornet,  elephant’s TOOTH, corner, mountain peak, ray of light, power.}  He was sharing with me I would bud forth, like a tooth, in the growth of His power; as in a process, not a one time experience. 

In the same period, Anna told me a dream in which she and I were on a journey to the Holy City.  Along the way, we viewed a beautiful row of mountain peaks, in lovely color and in a perfect line.  The Lord quickened to me the remainder of the promised verse:  “There will I make the horn of David to bud.   I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.”  (Psalm 132:17 KJ)  Ordained means {to set in a row, to array in orderly fashion, stretch in a straight line}.  (6186 Heb.) I understood that my life would be set in a row, just like the mountain peaks she saw.  There would be order in my growing and budding forth.

Without the additional study, I would not have found the depth of what I heard and saw in relation to His promises.   Without a vision, the people perish.  (Prov 29:18)  He actually gave me a road map of understanding about how His anointing would grow in my life.  This took out all misunderstanding that I would become zapped, anointed and be launched the next day.  (smile).  The Lord will honor your time in studying His Word on deeper levels and bring them back to ground and establish you in your spiritual giftings.

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. 

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 can not 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

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?

Instead of studying the scripture like usual, consider listening to the Lord through 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.   Lesson on Quickening.  Lesson on Revelation.

NUMBER ONE TIP TO HELP
LOGICAL THINKERS:

Learn To Listen Through Your Eye Glances

I think 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.