Opening illustration: Play a video of Bible Connection.
Introduction: The Bible also records a surprising source of energy from a food. When Elijah had been used by God on Mt. Carmel to call fire down from heaven, this spiritual high was followed by persecution and melancholy. In response to Elijah’s depression, God sent an angel to provide food, drink, and rest for the weary prophet. The sustaining power of that food from heaven was remarkable (1 Kings 19:8).
Just as we need food to sustain our physical lives, we also need nourishing food for our spiritual lives. God’s Word is “sweeter . . . than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10) and feeds our souls. It makes “wise the simple” (v.7) and provides both nourishment and energy for life’s long journey. Finally, in Matthew 4:4 it says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” The Word of God gives us life. Take time to feed on it. (Dennis Fisher, ODB 03/13/2011)
Toxic Foods: When feeding the body, there is “healthy food” and there is “junk food.” Both will, in the short run, produce energy. But healthy food provides the right kinds of energy, enhances the operation of the body’s complex systems, strengthens its resilience against disease, and increases its durability and longevity. Junk food, on the other hand, has essentially the opposite effect in all these areas, and contributes to the breaking down of the body over time.
Similarly, there are “healthy promises” and “junk promises.” Both will, in the short run, produce hope. But healthy promises provide the right kind of hope and promote health throughout the complexities of the human soul. Junk promises prove ultimately toxic and lead to soul-death. But junk promises always disappoint because their buzz is followed by a hope-plunge into guilt, shame, and emptiness. They never deliver the happiness they promise because our souls are designed for a far better hope. And yet, junk promises can be addicting, because our hope-plunge can send us back seeking another fast, false buzz.
How does the Word of God fuel us?
1. Feeds our Soul (Psalm 19:10)
It's amazing how some folks react when you mention the words "soul food" to those people who really enjoy it. They get that longing in their eyes. Their mouths begin watering, and they begin to use wonderful descriptive words to describe the flavor, aroma, and taste of it. They get excited about the mere mention of "soul food".
Do we get that way when we hear the mere mention of God's Word, the Bible? It is our soul food and yet how many of us get as excited over that as some people do over cornbread, collard greens, or fried green tomatoes?
Do we get a longing in our eyes? Do our mouths water? God's Word is full of flavor, aroma, and taste. Soul food is usually considered to be the most satisfying food there is. God's Word is the most amazing soul food and can satisfy us beyond measure. Think of all of the wonderful things found in the Bible that we can feast upon. There are promises, comfort, direction and instruction, salvation, love, joy, and wisdom. The list could go on and on. The menu is full.
There is only one thing we need to do as we sit down to feast on the Word of God. We have to partake of it. We can have the most wonderful food on our table. The table can be set with the most exquisite tablecloths and napkins. The china can be the most expensive in the world. The crystal can be glowing and the silverware can be shinning. The food can look and smell tantalizing. The table can be beautiful, but if we never eat any of the food it will not fill us up or satisfy. We must eat.
Reading, studying, and memorizing the Word of God is the only way we can taste of it and we must do it daily. If we only ate physically once or twice a month we would starve. We wouldn't have anything to sustain us.
The same is true with the Word of God. We must constantly go back for more. Let's take our napkins, open the Book, feast together, and see what morsels we can find inside. The Word of God encourages and guides us by saying, “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good: and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off” (Proverbs 24:13-14).
The Promised Land to the Israelites was described as a land flowing with milk and honey in the bible, a sign of the abundance, ease, prosperity to be found there. It was always equated with good health. A constant intake of God’s Word keeps us spiritually healthy and fit.
2. Makes us Wise (Psalm 19:7)
Wisdom is very much equated with making wise choices (decision-making) in life. The Bible offers many principles to aid the process of making decisions that honor God. The following list is not exhaustive, but it does represent many teachings of Scripture.
First, begin with prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” If we should pray in all situations, we should certainly pray in times of decision-making. As we pray, we ask for wisdom (James 1:5).
Second, define the issue. Wise decisions are informed decisions. It is important to understand what options are available. Once the factors are known, options can be further considered and evaluated.
Third, seek biblical wisdom. Some decisions become easy, if there is one clear choice consonant with God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” When we follow the teachings of God’s Word, He guides our path and provides knowledge to make wise choices.
Fourth, seek godly counsel. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Sometimes, consulting with a friend or family member is enough. At other times, consulting with a pastor or other trusted voice can make the difference between a harmful decision and a helpful one.
Fifth, trust the Lord with your decision. In other words, if you’ve make your decision with prayer, sound wisdom, and biblical counsel, trust God for the outcome. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Sixth, be willing to admit mistakes and adjust accordingly. In most cases, there is no wisdom in continuing down a wrong path after you have discovered it is wrong. Be willing to admit mistakes or failures and ask God for the grace to change.
Seventh, give praise to God for your success. When your decisions result in personal success, the temptation is to believe it is due to your own power, talent, or genius. However, it is God who blesses our efforts and gives strength. “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven” (John 3:27).
3. Gives us Life (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4)
Human beings are specifically designed to eat a particular kind of soul food: God’s Word. That’s why in both the Old and New Testaments, God emphasized that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).
The word of the Scriptures is also our spiritual bread of life (Matthew 4:4). Just as our physical life needs nourishment, so also our spiritual life needs nourishment. The nourishment of our spiritual life can only be supplied by the word of the Bible. In order to be living and strong before God, we cannot depend on bread alone, but on every word, that is, the word of the Bible, that proceeds out through the mouth of God. We must take the word of God as food and eat it (Jeremiah 15:16), even regarding the word of the Bible as more important than our food (Job 23:12b). Otherwise, our spiritual life cannot grow. We must practice to have our faculties exercised in apprehending the word of the Bible so that we may be able to understand the words that are hard to interpret; that is, like those who are mature, we can eat the solid food (Hebrews 5:13-14). Otherwise, our spiritual life cannot be strong. (e.g. weak/strong wrestler)
The book of Genesis begins with God speaking His Word and bringing all forms of living things to life including you and me. Without God, we are nothing and can do nothing. It is all because of Him. The Word of God is the bread of life, the living water, that sustains and strengthens our spiritual life. The Word of God feeds that life; it nourishes that life. (How do we feed ourselves before we go for any Elim event? The fruit will not show up just by one person feeding himself/herself but that everyone on the team must do.)
This nourishment, this strength and sustenance comes, in part, from knowing the Word, from being knowledgeable about the truth that it contains, but only in part. As critical as it is to know the word, it is just as critical, if not more critical, to walk in the Word, to live according to its truth. You can hear the Word and have a knowledge of its truth, but if you don’t heed the Word it avails you nothing in terms of strength and vitality in life in relationship with God. It is not enough to know the Word—we must also walk in the Word. (e.g. It is one thing to know the WORD or even memorize it but another to abide in it.)
Illustration: Many people like both the sweetness and the energy they get from chocolate. Yet British auto technicians have found a surprising use for this sweet food. Scientists at the University of Warwick have built a racecar that runs on vegetable oils and chocolate. The fuel provides energy so that the car can reach top speeds of 135 mph. What is the top speed you desire to reach in your walk with God?
Application: This is why Christians need to read the Word personally daily and hear the Word read publicly weekly. When we do so, the Spirit speaks to us via the living and active Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). In the words of the Puritan Thomas Watson, “The word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul, and a laver to wash them away. The word has a transforming virtue in it; it irradiates the mind, and consecrates the heart.”
