This is a men's study in which we are looking at the obstacles to having a heart prepared to study God's word.

1. Back to the Basics Read the Bible Study the Bible Devotions in the Bible 2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

7. Turn to Luke 8:12 – “the devil” "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. The Greek word for devil is “diabolos” – comes from “dia” which means through and from “ballo” which means to cast or to throw. So the devil has the ability to throw thoughts through the mind. Has that every happened to you when you are driving down the road, or just sitting at your desk. And all of a sudden some thought comes in from outer space!

8. Turn to Mark 4:15 – “the Satan” “ These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. In the Hebrew Satan means adversary. He is the one who is constantly accusing and against us. By the way it doesn’t show in our English translations but the word Satan is preceded by the definite article “the.” And that is to emphasize that he isn’t just an adversary he is the adversary.

11. The poll that I posted on the web site about the primary obstacle to Bible study 75% responded priority – which simply means we are distracted and busy, being kept from keeping the main thing the main thing. Illustration: A basket filled with objects and no more objects will go into the basket. Now our class comes into your life and starts to add Bible reading, devotion and study. This means you have to look in your basket and take out what isn’t important and put in what is vitally important. People go to bed late consumed from the day, watch the 11 PM news and then waked up consumed with what is getting ready to take place and read the morning paper. And we wonder why everyone is so distracted. We have more gadgets and technology and we get less done now than our parents generation.

14. If you spot division in a church or a home among Christians they you can know the Spirit is missing. Because there is and never has been nor will there ever be division and disunity when the Spirit is moving and working in the church. Turn to James 3:14-16 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

15. Scheme #3 – Dullness of spiritual sight to the point of blindness 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

18. Three verses where word is translated “rhema” Eph. 6:17 “… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God Romans 10:17 - “So faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of Christ.” Matthew 4:4 - "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

19. A specific word from God’s word Distraction and Busyness Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God” Colossians 3:1-2 – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Division Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

20. Dullness to the point of spiritual blindness 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Romans 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."