Series: Changing Your Spiritual Appetite [#2]
BE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHING OF GOD’S WORD
Acts 4:1-2
Introduction:
Last week we began this series, “Changing Your Spiritual Appetite”. I pray that this series begins a transformation not just in Bel Aire; but more importantly in each of our individual lives. Most Christians in the USA have become complacent. We have made Christianity all about making people feel good about themselves, instead of Christianity being about Jesus changing lives. As we talked about last week, the Church needs to strip away all of the stuff and be like the Acts 2 Church.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Last week, I asked the question, “What are you hungry for”? You may have answered, “I don’t know”; “I don’t care”; or “You pick”. I pray that during this week God has began to help you answer this question in a clear way. As a group, we discussed the things that we need to do to change our spiritual appetite. I have listed those items as “Bel Aire’s Spiritual Appetites Requests” in our bulletin. Also, on Wednesday, we began a new study on how to have a dynamic prayer meeting. Our Church prayer request is that God would put people in our lives that we can lift Christ up to them- “Each 1 reach 1”.
We must put feet to our responses and requests; but not until God tells us to do so. This morning, we are going to focus on 2 of these items on our list- Focusing on the Word and living in abundance.
Acts 4:1-2 (NIV)
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.”
In the Early Church, they devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching. What was the Apostles teaching? They were preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were preaching the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The enemy hated the Gospel of Jesus then and the enemy hates the Gospel of Jesus now.
To be devoted to the teaching of the Word, means more than just reading or hearing the Word.
To be devoted to the teaching of the Word…
1. You must meditate on the Word.
Whatever you meditate on, whatever you think about all of the time becomes your foundation. What you think about all of the time is what you begin to believe in your heart. If you think about things that are not of God, it will turn into doubt. Doubt is fear based and fear dependent. Fear connects you to Satan and will choke out your faith in God. As you think on God’s Word it should strengthen your faith in God and it is faith in God that connects you to Him.
To be devoted to the teaching of the Word…
2. You must believe in the power of the Word.
The power of God is found in His Word and is available to us. If there is a stronghold in your life, you can be freed from that through the power of God. You need to agree with God’s Word that His plan for you is going to happen. God wants us to live in abundance.
If you don’t believe that the power of God’s Word will work in your life, you are not going to see that power. If you are not operating in faith, you’re not connected to God. The Word of God tells us that when we hear the Word of God, the devil is going to tempt you. In the parable of the seed and soil, Jesus tells us that Satan will use the cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches to keep the Word from working in you.
To be devoted to the teaching of the Word…
3. You must expect victory.
Not only do you need to believe that there is power in the Word of God; but you also need to know that God is going to give you victory. Often times, we know that God gives people victory, just not us. God blesses us and shows us His favor.
You need to put all of your burdens and cares on God. This battle that is going on in your mind can be won. You must use the power from the Word of God to have authority over those concerns.
Conclusion:
Instead of pushing daily Bible reading, I am going to begin pushing daily Bible study. Not only do you need to read the Word of God daily; but you must meditate upon it. Every time you are tempted to worry about something, think about something that you are bitter about, or something that you fear; think upon God’s Word and the victory that you are going to receive from it.
It is time to start believing in the power and victory that we can have through obedience in the Word of God.
