People of the Word
-Let the Word of Christ Dwell in your richly-
Colossians 3:16-17
Our model for Christian growth is Jesus. Jesus grew “in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) Throughout his life Jesus sought guidance from scripture and obeyed the written Word of God (Old Testament). From early childhood through his adult ministry, Jesus made God’s Word pre-eminent in his life. At the age of 12 Jesus was in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions.
Through out his life Jesus appealed to the Scriptures as his ultimate authority. To every question and objection to his life and ministry Jesus replied with Scriptures and no one was able to prove him wrong.
This coming year let’s make Jesus our model. Let’s become a “People of the Word.”
Why don’t more people take time to read and study God’s Word?
There may be many reasons why we make excuses for not taking time to read the Bible.
Human nature is not prone to take time for God. People are pre-occupied with other things than taking time for spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is not a high priority with most people. It is easy to drift along and maintain life on a spiritual plateau. To grow spiritually takes too much effort.
We tend to find time to study God’s Word and pray when in times of Crisis. (After all that’s the only time we really need to pray and look to God in His Word.) Human nature as it is we all at once become zealous for spiritual things when confronted with life’s traumas.
If life’s crises push us to take time for God then we should thank God. Many people have praised and thanked God for tragedies in life because they tragedy helped their life to turn around and gave them a new start in life. They no longer take life for granted but see every day as a gift of God.
Satan is in the business of keeping people from reading God’s Word. Satan doesn’t want you to get a blessing from reading and studying God’s Word.
God does promise a blessing to all who read and obeys His Word. (Revelation 1:3) “Blessed is the one who reads the word of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written.”
Finding time to read God’s Word is a spiritual battle and spiritual warfare. Satan doesn’t want you to read God’s Word. Satan knows God wants to bless you through reading the Bible and Satan doesn’t want you to receive the blessing. Everyday you miss touching God through the Word of God is a day Satan is the winner.
We need to make a fresh commitment at the beginning of this year to become a People of the Word. No matter how many times you have failed in the past you can ask God to help you make a new commitment to develop a regular habit of reading and reflecting on His Word. Don’t allow the devil to rob you of God’s blessing. Underline Revelation 1:3 and use that verse as a reminder to read the Bible and take it to heart by acting on the teachings and applying them to your life.
You can find time to read and reflect on God’s Word. It may mean getting up a half hour earlier, or taking a half hour at lunch, or a half hour at night with less television.
There are many benefits you can receive from reading and studying the Bible.
When you read the Old Testament you are reading the same scripture Jesus read. When you read the New Testament you are reading about the Life of Christ and reflections on His life by his followers.
I’m not talking about reading the Bible just for reading sake. I’m talking about reading and reflecting on what the scripture passage is saying and asking how you can apply the truths to your life.
We benefit from reading God’s Word by seeing life from God’s perspective and not our own. (Romans 12:2 NLT) says: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
God’s Word transforms us and makes us more like Jesus. John 17:17 Jesus prayed: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” To be more like Jesus we need to fill our thoughts and life with God’s Word. (Psalm 119:9, 11 NIV) “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I night not sing against you.”
If you lack faith! You can turn to God’s Word and find faith. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is found through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
God’s Word is your guide for life. Rick Warren in the Purpose Driven Life (a book that has sold over 20 million copies) “The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guidebook. God’s Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever!” When you open the bible you open a guidebook and encyclopedia on how to live life at its best.
God’s word is your final authority. It is the first and last word in your life. (II Timothy 3:16) “All scripture is God-breathed (inspired) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
In the early years of his ministry, Billy Graham went through a time when he struggled with doubts about the accuracy and authority of the Bible. One moonlight night, he dropped to his knees in tears and told God that, in spite of confusing passages he didn’t understand; from that point on he would completely trust the Bible as the sole authority for his life and ministry. From that day forward, Billy’s life was blessed with unusual power and effectiveness.
You cannot go wrong when you make life decisions based on the Bible, God’s Holy Word.
As you read and study the Bible you will find the truth for yourself and not be led astray by false teachings contrary to God’s Word. You can be like the Berea Christians who searched the Scriptures. (Acts 17:11) “And the people of Berea were more opened minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.” (NLT)
No matter what a preacher, teacher or evangelist says, the Holy Spirit will never contradict the Bible. If you know God’s Word you will not be led astray and follow after false teachings.
God’s Word will see you through times of testing. You don’t have to listen to the hundreds of voices that tell you God’s Word is useless when you are going through times of adversity that tests your faith.
Times of testing help to rid us of all self-dependence so we totally trust and rely on God.
Joseph experienced a roller coaster ride in his life. He dreamed of being a great leader, but his brothers tried to kill him. Joseph was sold into slavery and worked for a high official in Egypt. The Egyptian official’s wife tried to seduce Joseph and when she failed she brought slanderous charges against him and Joseph was put in jail.
Joseph could have grown bitter and asked,”Where is God?” But he remained faithful. The Psalmist spoke about Joseph in (Psalm 105:13-19), “They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” (NASB) Joseph continued to trust and worship God regardless of his circumstances. He waited on God’s timing and God did save Joseph and elevated him to a position of leadership next to that of Pharaoh. Joseph saved his family from the famine in the land. Under Joseph’s leadership the Hebrew nation was preserved.
God rewards all who are faithful to His Word in times of testing. ”For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. (Psalm 66:10-12)
You have the promise of God that when you remain faithful God will bring you into a place of abundance.
It is God’s Word that keeps you from spiritual anorexia and starving to death from spiritual malnutrition. The Apostle Peter spoke to new Christians, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (I Peter 2:2-3) There is only one way for a new born baby to grow. Drink milk. So for the Christian to grow we need to feed on the Word of God.
We grow by reading and applying God’s Word to our life. That’s how we abide in the Word. Jesus said, “If you abide in my Word, then you are truly my disciples.” (John 8:31 NASB)
God’s Word also gives you victory over temptation. Knowing God’s Word helps you match every temptation of the Devil with Scripture. Temptation is not sin; yielding to the temptation is sin. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil as recorded in Matthew 4 Jesus answered every temptation with Scripture from the book of Deuteronomy in the O.T.
(2 Timothy 2:22) (LB) gives good advice when confronted with temptation: “Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts; but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right.”
(I Corinthians 10:13) (NLT) “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.”
This coming year determine to develop holy habits of the heart. As a Christ follower we are committed to practicing spiritual disciplines. (Proverbs 10:17) says, “Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life.” (I Timothy 4:7), “Discipline your self for the purpose of godliness.”
There are good habits and bad habits. A habit is something we do on a regular basis. A habit becomes second nature. Some habits are easier to accomplish than others. Eating for example comes fairly easy. The habit of physical exercise of most of us is more difficult. (I Timothy 4:17)
As we begin the New Year 2005 I want to challenge you to consider becoming a “Person of the Word.” I encourage you to begin a habit of daily reading God’s Word. I have a helpful tool for you to use in that process – a Spiritual Life Journal.
The Journal has a Table of Contents
There are 2 Pages for Prayer requests and answers
A Bible reading program is in the journal to assist you in reading the Bible through in a year.
The Lay Ministry Team has been using the Life Journal for over a month and is finding it very helpful. At our weekly meetings we share insights from our Life Journal.
(The Spiritual Life Journal is modeled after the journal developed by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro, New Hope Church, Honolulu, Hawaii.)
The Journal has Daily Pages to use in recording your observations and reflections.
How to use the Life Journal?
1. Find the date and Bible reading for the day. Mark off each daily reading to keep track of your Bible reading.
2. As you read the chapters underline verses that speak to your heart.
3. After your reading turn to the “Daily Pages” and record what God has shown you.
Enter the date, number the page, record a topic that describes your main verses of scripture.
Give observation of the verse or verses.
Make an application of the verse to your life.
Write a short prayer.
Ask yourself: “How will I be different today because of what I have just read?”
The suggested cost per Life Journal is $5.00. If you are short of cash consider the journal a gift. Following the service ushers will have the journals available. Only take one if you are willing to commit to using the Life Journal. I suggest you find someone to meet with on a regular basis to hold you accountable and share some of your findings with that person.
Closing Prayer of Commitment.
Communion
