Should the Bible be read or experienced?

What happens when scripture stays in our heads and doesn’t become an experience?

If I read the Bible for knowledge, I can know about God, but does that translate into knowing Him in an experiential way?

Is it possible that knowledge without experience doesn’t really help us?

We can’t know God through knowledge (logic). We can only know Him by the Spirit (Eph. 3:19, Eph. 1:17).

Information that remains in our intellect without an experience to ground it into our reality keeps us from fullness.

I believe that when our minds are filled with the knowledge of God without an experience of God, we often end up as spiritual orphans.

Orphans don’t truly know how their dads feel about them.

When we have knowledge that we’re loved but we don’t experience that love, we tend to believe we’re on our own.

Experiences give us revelations at deeper and deeper levels of God’s goodness and our connection to His heart.

Experiences are the shift from knowledge to revelation. They are what occur when our brains can’t explain what is happening, but our hearts are rejoicing.

Experiences can be subtle such as when we move into worship and there comes an unexplainable moment when our hearts burst into joyfulness and we want more and more of Him. And experiences can sometimes be wild.

I’m not suggesting we chase after experiences, which can be dangerous. I’m talking about the tangible shift into greater intimacy that occurs when we experience Him.

Becoming Sons and Daughters

I think too often we live as knowledge orphans rather than sons and daughters, because we don’t understand the “more” God has for us. We don’t understand the demonic and generational hindrances to living in fullness. We don’t know how to utilize the gifts and the weapons, or the stillness that brings intimacy (Psalm 46:10).

Those aren’t scriptures just to be memorized. They are tools for bringing intimacy and reclaiming ground the enemy has stolen (Joel 2:25).

A son knows he is loved, knows his identity, and knows he is heir to everything. When a son finds himself in lack he goes to his dad with confidence, knowing everything his dad has is his. He doesn’t go begging for help. He goes asking, what’s up. What’s keeping my provision from me?

He puts into action Heb. 4:16 and runs boldly into the throne room. He knows he’s welcome. He isn’t sweating bullets hoping his father will give him just enough to get by. He knows everything the father has is his for the asking
(John 14:13-14).

His question is, “What’s going on? Show me what I need to know, Dad.” And he listens and waits. Without fear, in peace and joy, certain of his papa’s warm love for him.

As he listens, He discovers His father’s purpose, “I’m teaching you something here, son.” Or he learns about warfare, “Son, the enemy is pressing in, go to worship and battle.”

As orphans we often find ourselves begging for provision and help, not understanding we already have it. We haven’t been equipped to break off the enemy’s hindrances. We don’t understand (or believe) the depth of His love for us.

We need to know our identity in Him and how to adore Him. Then we can stand firm and resist the enemy.

We are unstoppable when we KNOW we are loved. Not as an idea, but as a tangible belief.

So how do we move from a knowledge of God into a living, breathing relationship with Him?

We pursue Him. We listen. We worship from our hearts…and we rest in that place until our hearts connect. We push through the enemy’s lies into the Holy of Holies of His heart.

Prayer

Jesus, teach me how loved I am. Show me how You see me, how loved and valued I am in Your heart. Help me to understand how cherished and adored I am. Teach me how to listen to Your voice. Draw me into the quiet place where I meet You and my heart is changed, where I am transformed into Your adored bride. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pictures via Pixabay