UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE BIBLE
OPENING TEXT: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV).
• If the Bible is so powerful, then why don’t more people read it?
• Many people don’t read the Bible because they find it boring, irrelevant confusing.
INTRO TO TOPIC: I love the Bible.
• “More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:10, NKJV).
• When I discovered that God had written a book, I had an unquenchable hunger to read it.
• It helped me to grow spiritually, developed my faith, increased my knowledge of God.
• I want to stir up your desire to get into God’s Word, and give you practical steps to get more out of your Bible study.
THE BIG IDEA: The Word of God is powerful, and when you read it and apply it, it can transform your life today.
1. THE BOY KING: (Josiah)
• Let’s look at someone who was radically changed by the Word – an exciting story!
• Josiah was an 8 year old boy whose grandpa Manasseh was the most wicked King in Judah; who led the nation into idolatry and even sacrificed children.
• He was a boy whose dad Amon became king when Josiah was 6, but Amon was so wicked he was assassinated two years later by his own servants.
• Josiah was raised in hell and didn’t have good examples in his life, but he didn’t have a victim mentality, and refused to become just like his biological dad.
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.” (2 Kings 22:1).
• I love this story because it shows me that God can use young people, too!
“And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:2).
• David wasn’t his biological dad – David was his great, great, great, great grandfather, and Josiah chose him for a role-model instead of his own parents.
“Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord.” (2 Kings 22:3).
• paraphrase v. 4-7: Josiah told Shaphan to help rebuild the house of the Lord.
2. THE TREASURE: (The Bible)
“Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, "Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord." Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.” (2 Kings 22:8-10).
• When Josiah got a hold of the Word of God, it changed Josiah’s life!
• You don’t have to be just like your dad, or be bound by anything in your past!
3. THE RESPONSE: (Repentance)
“Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:11-13).
• If you read on in the story, you discover that not only was Josiah’s life changed – it resulted in a REVIVAL that changed the entire nation! Do we want revival?
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 makes 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. 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 Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
4. God’s Word revives you. “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25). Do you want revival? It will never happen apart from getting into God’s Word and getting the Word into your heart!
5. 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.
6. God’s Word gives you great peace. “Great peace have they who love your law, nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165).
7. God’s Word gives you freedom. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).
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).
• 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.
• 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.
APPLICATION: HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE:
SOAP JOURNALLING: (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
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?
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).
CHALLENGE: As we go through The Story over the next 31 weeks:
• Let’s get into God’s Word on a regular weekly basis, and let it change our lives!
CLOSING:
The Word of God is powerful, and when you read it and apply it, it can transform your life today.
• PRAY: for a hunger for the Word to burn in everyone’s hearts, and for REVIVAL!
Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
