SUPERNATURAL #17: SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
INTRO TO TOPIC:
As we come to the end of the year, there is the hope and expectancy that a New Year brings.
What resolutions will you make for 2010? The top 5 resolutions people make last year were:
5. stop smoking
4. make more money
3. improve relationships
2. exercise more
1. lose weight (the number one resolution!)
• Consider the children of Israel in wilderness – it took them 40 years to make an 11 day journey to Promised Land: God said: “You have stayed at this mount long enough. It is time to break camp and move on.” (Deut. 1:6-7).
• Picture a hamster running on a wheel – going in circles, not getting anywhere? Can you relate to that? Are you in the same place spiritually that you were a year ago? Do you want to change?
• As we head into the New Year, I want to challenge you – whatever other resolutions you may make – make a commitment to make God’s Word your number one priority!
OPENING TEXT:
“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” (Acts 17:10-12).
THE BIG IDEA: God’s desire is that we would be like the Bereans: That we would prepare our heart, receive the Word, and search the Scriptures.
1. PREPARE YOUR HEART:
Luke tells us that the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians.
• What were the Thessalonians like? They rejected the Word, and gossiped negatively about the preachers.
• How did the Bereans respond to the Word? They were NOBLE.
• Noble = distinguished, of exalted moral or mental character or excellence.
• Look at the example given to us by the scribe, Ezra:
“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.” (Ezra 7:10).
How can we prepare our hearts to seek God’s Word?
• Get a good night’s rest on Saturday night – don’t stay out too late partying!
• I know of people who don’t come to Church Sundays because they were out too late and they miss the Word altogether.
II. RECEIVE THE WORD:
Luke says that the Bereans received the Word with all readiness, or great eagerness (NASB).
• Great eagerness = zeal, inclination, readiness of mind.
• They had an open heart attitude to receive God’s Word from the preacher:
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” (1 Thess. 2:13).
• What can we do to receive the Word? Bring your Bibles and a notebook to Church.
• Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that pastors and teachers are gifts from God.
III. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES:
Luke tells us that the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
• Search = to investigate or examine.
• Don’t just take my word for it, go to the Scriptures for yourselves and search it out!
“Study to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15).
QUOTE: “If God has spoken, listen! If God has recorded his words in a Book, search its pages with a believing heart. If you do not accept it as God’s inspired word, I cannot invite you to pay any particular attention to it; but if you regard it as the Book of God, I charge you, as I shall meet you at the judgement seat of Christ, study the Bible daily. Treat not the Eternal God with disrespect, but delight in His Word.” (Charles Spurgeon).
SEVEN REASONS WHY BIBLE STUDY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE:
1. You will be blessed! “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 119:1, Amplified). Quote Psalm 1 & Joshua 1:8.
2. God’s Word will make you pure! “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word… Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9,11). God’s Word gives us power to resist temptation. That’s how Jesus defeated the devil’s temptations – by quoting the Word!
3. You will see amazing and miraculous things. “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18). The Bible is full of miracles, but remember Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” and He still does miracles today!”
4. God’s Word will revive you. “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25). You want revival? It will never happen apart from God’s Word getting into your heart!
5. God’s Word reveals His love to us. “The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy and lovingkindness; teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:64). God’s Word reveals His LOVE to us.
6. God’s Word gives wisdom and direction. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:104-105). God’s Word shows us the path for living life on Planet Earth.
7. God’s Word will give you great peace. “Great peace have they who love your law, nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165).
WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
“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.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
1. The Bible consists of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. The Bible is the living, inspired, authoritative, inerrant Word of God.
2. The Bible was written by 40 different men over a period of 1600 years. Most of these writers were not alive at the same time, and could not work together in any way. However, the Bible has one continuing story flowing through it with NO contradictions.
3. Where to start? Read Genesis, Mark, Psalms, Proverbs then the rest of the NT.
FOUR QUESTIONS: WHAT DOES THIS SCRIPTURE TEACH ME ABOUT:
1. WHO GOD IS? What do I learn about the nature of God?
2. WHO AM I? What do I learn about the nature of man?
3. GOD‘S PROMISES? Is there a promise to claim?
4. GOD‘S COMMANDMENTS? Is there a commandment to obey?
WALK THROUGH PSALM 103:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.” (v.1-2).
• Commandment – God wants us to bless Him, and remember His benefits.
“Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (v.3-5).
• Promises – God will forgive you, heal you, redeem your life, etc.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” (v.8).
• God’s nature – merciful, gracious, etc.
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” (v.13).
• Our nature – who I am – a well-loved child of God.
SOAP JOURNALLING: (courtesy of Wayne Cordeiro and the Life Journal)
S - Scripture - write out the Scripture God speaks to you through
O - Observation - write out your observations on that Bible verse
A - Application - write out how you intend to apply this truth to your life
P - Prayer - write out a prayer to pray back to the Lord based on this Scripture
CD RESOURCE: Four CD set on “Bible Research” available online or to order.
THE FIVE MINUTE CHALLENGE:
• Five minutes a day to read through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
