Foundations:God's Word (Psalm 119:9, 11)

A message preached on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
God’s Word (Part I)
September 19, 2010, 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.

Which of the following are not in the Bible?
Cleanliness is next to godliness
God helps those who help themselves
Confession is good for the soul
Money is the root of all evil
Honesty is the best policy
Actually, none of these are in the Bible!

If you did not know this you are apparently not alone. Most people can not name one of the four Gospels, one of the Ten Commandments, and don’t know who gave the sermon on the mount. Statistics from the Barna Group tell us that about half of all adults (54%) claim to make moral choices on the basis of specific principles or standards they believe in. Among this group only 3 out of 10 people named the Bible as the source of those principles. So what are people reading? What are they basing their principles on? The majority of people are guiding by doing what feels right or comfortable (24%). When statistics tell us that only 5% of adults have a biblical world view, it is obvious that the Bible is not being studied and applied seriously by many people including Christians.

And yet, Bible intake is perhaps the most important spiritual discipline for your growth in godliness. Today we are going to explore some ways that we can intake the Word of God so that we can avail ourselves to grow in Christ.

There are five (5) primary ways that we relate to the Word, three of which we will cover this morning, two we will look at tonight. We will begin with the easiest way and proceed to the most challenging.

1. Hearing God’s Word
Hearing God’s Word is the most basic form of Bible intake but it is vitally important to your spiritual growth. Several Scriptures reveal the importance of hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” What is the value of hearing God’s Word? (1) Hearing brings faith. God uses His Word to engender faith in our hearts and lives. The amount of faith that you have is proportionate to the amount of time spent hearing God’s Word.

Another Scripture that is helpful is found in 1 Timothy 4:13 which says, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Why should Pastor Timothy give attention to reading? Because of its importance in building up the body of Christ. (2) Hearing builds up the body. Now we need to understand what hearing means in the biblical sense. Hearing is not a passive listening to the Word. Hearing in the biblical sense is listening with the intent to obey. You can not obey what you do not hear but hearing is not the end of the process. We must put into practice the Word that we hear.

Opportunities to Hear God’s Word
What does this say to us in practical every day ways? Certainly one way that we can hear God’s Word is through faithfully attending (1) Bible study and worship where God’s word is taught and preached. (2) You can also hear God’s Word through radio and television programs, (3) through CDs and podcasts. (4) One thing that can help you as you hear is to get into the habit of taking notes. Obviously, I don’t encourage you to do this driving down the road. However, in worship and Bible study you have the opportunity to engage your mind and spirit in a more meaningful way if you will record your thoughts and insights. Taking notes will help you hear God’s Word. This is why we provide notes in our worship guide. It is one more way to help you hear God’s Word. Hearing God’s Word is a basic discipline for Bible intake.

2. Reading God’s Word
A second way that you can practice Bible intake is by reading God’s Word. The statistics generally are not encouraging when it comes to the number of Christians who actually read their Bibles. Only 11% of Christians say they read the Bible everyday. 23% of Christians say that they never read the Bible. Christians are certainly watching plenty of television and surfing on the internet. Could this be one reason why so many Christians live a lackluster and drab Christian life? Amy Carmichael said, “Never let good books take the place of the Bible. Drink from the Well, not from the streams that flow from the well.”

The Importance of Reading God’s Word
Why is reading the Bible so important for your growth in godliness? Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” For one reason, the Word of God is spiritual nourishment to our soul. (1) The Word Provides Spiritual Food. Without the Word of God we are famished and we will starve.

Amos 8:11 speaks of the famine that God’s people experienced but it was not a famine of bread and water, but it was a famine “of hearing the words of the Lord.” (2) Neglect of brings famine. The truth is that if we neglect the words of the Lord, we cause our lives to be famished. Without food you dehydrate, your body begins to conserve its energy, then your body breaks down, and finally you collapse. When we neglect the Word of God we first get dry. We have no fresh baked bread from the Lord. Then we begin to depend upon yesterdays bread which is dry and stale. Then we slowly deteriorate as we go back continually to feed on yesterday’s food which cannot satisfy. Then ultimately we collapse.

This is why you need daily Bible reading. Just as you can not live on yesterday’s lunch, you cannot live on yesterday’s reading. God wants us to have a daily abiding relationship with Him through His life-giving Word. Instead of a spiritual famine in your life, God wants to bless all who hear and do His word. (3) A Blessing to Readers. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things written in it; for the time is near.”

Let me give you some suggestions for consistent daily Bible reading. You need three things.
(1) A Time – Set time aside.

(2) A Place – Preferably a quiet place.

(3) A Plan – Find a reading plan of which there are many. For example, The Daily Bread devotional book or a plan in your Bible. See also biblegateway.com and oneyearbibleonline.com

3. Studying God’s Word
Studying God’s Word goes one step deeper than reading and marking. In reading you are skimming the surface. In studying you are going deeper into the truths of the Word. Reading the Bible may be likened to water skiing or snorkeling, while Bible study may be compared to
scuba diving.

There are some biblical examples of the importance of Bible study. Ezra 7:10 says, “for Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Note the three key actions of Ezra – seek, do, and teach. First, his desire was to seek the Word of God. His heart was to study the Word of God. Why? So that he could secondly, do or put into practice God’s Word. The end result of seeking and practicing God’s Word was that he would be prepared then to teach the Word to others. This cycle could then be completed in the lives of those who were taught.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” This biblical pattern of discipleship is similar to the one Ezra followed. We hear God’s Word which involves studying and practicing the Word. We then are to commit the teachings to others who will also do and practice the Word.

The Value of Studying God’s Word
Why is it important to study the Word of God? (1) To Know the Truth. The Word of God is Truth. That’s what Jesus said in John 17:17. Acts 17:11 says of the Bereans, “These were more fair-minded (“noble”) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these thing were so.” This is one reason why we should be students of the Bible. We should be developing the ability to line up what we hear with what the Bible teaches. How will you know how to discern false teaching? You will not if you do not study the Bible. God’s Word is truth, Jesus said. Our spiritual discernment grows as we expose ourselves to the truths of God’s Word.

(2) To Explain the Truth. Another reason we need to study the Word of God is so that we will be able to explain the truths of God’s Word to others. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” Sometimes we have a fear of not knowing and we are afraid that someone might ask us something that we are not familiar with. Now, we’re not going to know everything but we shouldn’t be ignorant either, especially when it comes to the basic truths of the Christian life. The cure for not being ashamed is to be a diligent student of the Word. In this way, you will be able to “rightly divide” (“correctly handle” NIV) the Word or present it clearly.

Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” The only way to be able to give a defense (an apologia) for the hope that we have in Christ, is to be a student of the Word of God. Does this mean that we must know everything? No. But it does mean that you will be progressing in your understanding of God’s plan.

Conclusion
How can we intake the Bible? We can hear the Word, we can read the Word, and we can study the Word. God’s Word is rich, eternal, and a treasure trove for us to mine all of our days. We never will get to the point where we understand it all, where we do not need to hear God’s Word, where we can say enough is enough. The sign reads “Rogers City Michigan, Home of the World’s Largest Limestone Quarry.” This quarry sits alongside Lake Huron in northern Michigan. The equivalent of over 10 million truckloads of stone is mined every year from this quarry which has been in operation since 1912. Geologists estimate that this mine could still be in operation for several hundred years to come. It’s almost “inexhaustible.” The riches of God’s Word are never exhausted. That is why we hear, read, and study God’s Word.

Why hear, read, and study God’s Word? A statement on the Scriptures from the BFM2000 sums up why.
“It is the perfect treasure of divine instruction . . . it reveals the principles by which God judges us . . . and [it is] the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.” That is why we hear, read, and study! Furthermore, “All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.” It all points to Him! Let’s hear, read, and study God’s Word so that we might point others to Jesus.

A message preached on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
God’s Word (Part II)
September 19, 2010, 6:00 p.m.

TWO MORE WAYS WE INTAKE THE BIBLE
4. Memorizing God’s Word
Another way to intake the Word of God is through memorization of Scripture. Memorizing Scripture takes you to a new and deeper level of understanding God’s Word. It is also at the point of memorization of Scripture that the Word of God will most effect your daily life. If you have ever memorized Scripture, you probably need little convincing of how effective this can be in your spiritual life. If you never have memorized Scripture, you might need a little persuading and convincing. Why should we memorize God’s Word?

Memorizing Scripture . . .
(1) Supplies Spiritual Power
Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” The Word of God serves to protect us, to guard us, and to empower us in our personal battles against sin. The Word helps us win the battle just as it did for Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11. The Word is described in offensive warfare terms as the “sword of the Spirit.” A soldier would not leave his sword at home. Through memorizing Scripture, the Christian is able to carry his or her sword all through daily life.

(2) Strengthens Your Faith
Memorizing Scripture also strengthens your faith. Proverbs 22:17-19, NASB, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you.” Notice the strength comes to us because we have heard God’s Word and we have kept the Word “within” us. Because the Word dwells within us, we are able to trust in the Lord. Faith comes easier to those who have God’s Word planted “within” their heart.

What area of your faith do you need strengthening? Maybe you need courage and freedom from fear. You can memorize 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Maybe you need God’s comfort in your time of sorrow. You can memorize Psalm 55:2, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Maybe you struggle with the assurance of God’s love and His acceptance of you. You can memorize Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” Maybe you wrestle with a specific sin in your life. You can’t seem to conquer it. You can memorize James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Memorized Scripture is recalled Scripture. When you need it, God’s Word will be there for you.

(3) Provides Guidance
Memorizing Scripture is valuable because the Word in us gives guidance to us. God will use the implanted Word to direct your paths. Psalm 119:24 says, “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” God’s Word is our instruction manual, our operating procedures. God’s Words are our counselors. This is the best book on counseling ever written. As we memorize God’s Word, the HS can take the Word and offer us guidance.

(4) Allows You to Witness and Counsel Others
God’s Word implanted within you will allow you to witness and counsel others effectively. You will be more sensitive to what others are going through, first of all. Why? Because when you get in God’s Word, God’s will gets in you (see Acts 1:8). Second, you will have a Word to share with someone when they need it. In Acts 2:14-40 we discover that Peter had the opportunity to share and to preach concerning Jesus Christ. Because Peter was familiar with Scripture, he was able to use Scripture. Many times when opportunities arrive to share Christ with someone or even to minister and counsel someone, a Bible may not be handy. However, if you have God’s Word in your heart, you will always have a word of good news to share.

Memorizing is one way to receive the Word of God into our life. Another way is by . . .
5. Meditating on God’s Word
The practice of meditation has been given a bad rap. Many people associate meditation with eastern religions and philosophies. However, meditation has always been a part of Christianity. There are however at least two major difference between Christian meditation and the meditation practiced by the eastern religions. First, in eastern religions, the goal of meditation is self-emptying. You goal is to arrive at a state of complete nothingness or nirvana. But in Christian meditation the goal is not to empty yourself, but rather to fill yourself with the things of God. The second difference between Christian meditation and eastern meditation is that Christian meditation is not an end in itself. It is for the purpose of godliness, the practical doing of the Word of God. As we mediate on the Word of God, we are changed, empowered, and motivated to put into practice the Word.

Look how both of these ideas are presented in Scripture in the life of Joshua. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua is committing himself to meditating on the Law day and night. This reveals
(1) The Content of Meditation – The Word
Joshua is not emptying himself; but rather, he is filling himself with God’s law.
This verse also reveals . . .
(2) The Purpose of Meditation – “Do”
Joshua’s purpose was to “do” the law.

The other passage that is instructive on the importance of mediating on God’s Word is
Psalm 1:1-3. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

Two things stand out about this passage. First, the godly person is so because he or she walks to a different beat than the world, namely the path of meditating and walking in the Word of God. This path of meditation and walking with God is a conscious choice to refrain (on the negative side) from the practices of the ungodly and on the positive side pursue after God’s Word day and night. Second, the godly person naturally produces a fruitful harvest. He receives nourishment from the life-giving stream. The fruit that is produced is lasting. It remains.

Through each one of these ways of Bible intake, one principle stands out. For Bible intake to produce godliness in our lives we must apply God’s Word.
THE BIBLE MUST BE APPLIED
James 1:22 reminds us of the necessity of applying the Word of God, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

How do you apply what you hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate upon? One effective way is to ask questions of the Bible passage that you are reading and studying. For instance, What is the main theme of this passage? What does this passage tell me to do? Or What does this passage tell me not to do? Is there a promise to claim? What am I going to do now because of my time with the Word? Jot these thoughts down and ask God how you can apply these into your life.

Conclusion
Memorizing and meditating on the Word of God are important and life-changing ways to intake the Bible. As we intake the Word we must apply the Word to our life. As we do we will see God change us into the person He wants us to be.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe