How did I know? | OTD's BSSM Weekly

Week Two in the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry

Hello friend!

I trust that you are well and had a great weekend?

I just went through some notes from week two in BSSM as I prepared for the week and I’d like to share a few tips on reading the Bible with you. Before that, I want to answer a question I got asked after my first weekly roundup. A friend asked to know how I was certain that attending the BSSM Online was the right thing to do.

It is a short story because I didn’t plan to take the course. It wasn’t a big dream I nursed for months. If anything, my eyes were tilted towards the Bethel Conservatory of the Arts. I’d taken some online workshops with them during the lockdown and loved the writing and painting classes amongst others.

BSSM was most unexpected. I was sitting in front of my laptop and received mail from the Bethel Leadership Network that I am subscribed to. I saw a message there that said BSSM was still taking applications and I heard this question in my head - “Why do you think you can’t apply?”

I clicked on the link immediately and started the application process. I sent the referral requests to two of my leaders in the Kingdom Community as I felt led to, and would have finished everything on the same day if I didn’t need to think through some of the personal questions that were asked. A few days later, I filled them in. I needed to pay $50 dollars for the application. Just then, a friend called to share a testimony and I mentioned what I was doing. Instantly, he said he would cover the cost of the application. Next, I set up a Zoom interview for a week after and by the end of it, I was accepted to the school. That was it.

Looking back, I realize that I wasn’t questioning myself or wondering how it would work. I remember including in the application that I had no idea where this would go but I’d like to see it play out. There was no panic or worry about not getting in or getting in and having to pay the tuition fee. Honestly, that was nuts! I love it and will do this more.

I had no dreams about it. Nobody gave me a specific prophetic word, nor did I hear any voice apart from the question. I believe that as we grow in intimacy with God, without knowing it, we begin to move in tune with Him. We just walk by the Spirit. On the other hand, when something isn’t right, our Spirit gets uneasy. It is left for us to respond and check it or to ignore it and keep going until we hit a wall. The bottom line is, God is making us one with Himself. Hence, His desire for us to focus more on knowing Him than learning about anything else. He wants us to become one with Him and will lead us into experiences and opportunities that foster that goal.

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Back to week two in school. As I reviewed some of the classes this week, two things crossed my mind. Hearing and hearing the word of God consistently is the fuel you need on your journey to becoming Him. Secondly, when you believe what you’ve heard, you will act on what you believe. For example, if you believe that the word of God will transform you, then you will make time to get soaked in the word of God if you want to be transformed.

The week started with a masterclass on how to study the Bible. This is one of my favourite things to do and what I’d like to share with you in the email. It was interesting because someone had asked me just the week before to tell her how I study the word. I’d never thought about it until then, but took some time to write down some things I know I’ve done to aid my study. I’ll share these below, in addition to other tips I learned in the class.

• Read your Bible regularly. The more you read, the more you’ll like to read.

• Read through the whole Bible. I did the ‘Bible in a Year’ plan two or three times before. While I don’t remember everything and skipped some difficult passages, it helps me to remember how some stories are connected.

• Don’t just read in chapters and verses. Try reading through an entire book at once as they are whole ideas and stories. The books of the Bible were actually written as prose and in diary format before they were broken into chapters by those who compiled the Bible.

• Don’t go to the Bible just looking for how things relate to you or what you are going through or for a new deep revelation. Just read or study to enjoy the word and get to know what’s on God’s heart.

• When stuck, I start from stories and passages I enjoy. This always leads to other discoveries.

• I also read and listen to people who are great learners and teachers. It inspires me to dig in further. These teachers aren’t looking to give me answers as much as they want to guide me to search for the answers. I love it.

• When studying, don't be in a hurry. Settle into the story and take your time with it.

• I like questions. I try to ask and wait for the answers or write through any confusion as I study.

• Read several translations and use the concordance or commentaries to expand on verses that catch your attention.

• I really respect and give time to my friends that study a lot and love to talk about Jesus. These friends will get you excited about going back to the Bible for more. Their love will make you fall deeper in love with Jesus.

Overall, always study with the help of the Holy Spirit. God is desirous of us getting to know Him better through His word as we build our experiential knowledge with Him. He’ll guide us into all understanding. This is also vital for when you listen to other teachers. You don’t want to accept any doctrine or knowledge without the sifting of the Spirit.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. - John 16:3

Thank you for reading again. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Love and love,

OTDamilola,

For King and Kingdom