People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.
○ Matt. 4:4
God's…gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need.
○ Acts 20:32
Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth
○ Sanctify them by the truth: your word is truth - John 17:17
§ Sanctification requires revelation
§ Through the Word we are put together & shaped up for the tasks God has for us - 2 Tim. 3:17
○ God's Word is ALIVE
§ The word's that I have spoken are spirit & are life - John 6:63
§ When God speaks, things change
§ God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things that he made - James 1:18
§ The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guidebook
□ 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
□ Guarantees our future forever
§ You should consider it as essential to your life as food.
§ God's Word is the spiritual nourishment you must have to fulfill your purpose.
ABIDING IN GOD'S WORD
· To be a healthy disciple of Jesus, feeding on God's Word must be your first priority.
○ If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine. - John 8:31
· I must accept its authority
○ Must become the authoritative standard for my life
○ The compass I rely on for direction
○ The counsel I listen to for making wise decisions
○ The benchmark I use for evaluating everything
○ The Bible must ALWAYS have the 1st & LAST word in my life
○ Every word of God is flawless - Pro. 30:5
○ Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching & helping people & for correcting them & showing them how to live - 2 Tim. 3:16
○ I believe everything that agrees with the Law & that is written in the Prophets - Acts 24:14
· I must assimilate its truth
○ Receive it
§ Listen and accept it with an open, receptive attitude
§ Consider carefully how you listen - Luke 8:18
§ Every time you feel like you're not learning something from a sermon check your attitude, because God can speak through the most boring teacher IF you're humble and receptive
□ In a humble (gentle, modest) spirit, receive & welcome the Word which implanted & rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your souls - James 1:21b
○ Read it
§ He should keep it with him all the time and read from it every day of his life - Deu. 17:19a
○ Research it
§ Ask questions of the text and write down your insights
§ Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law tat makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. - James 1:25
○ Remembering it
§ Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise - Col. 3:16a
○ Reflect on it
§ Meditate on the Word - focused thinking! Like worrying but positive
· I must apply its principles
○ We must become "doers of the word" - James 1:22
○ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. - John 13:17
○ We avoid personal application because it can be difficult or even painful
§ The truth will set you free, but first it may make you miserable
§ God's Word
□ Exposes our motives
□ Points out our faults
□ Rebukes our sin
□ Expects us to change
○ The best way to become a doer is to always write out "ACTION STEPS" as a result of reading or studying or reflecting
§ Personal - involving me
§ Practical- something I can do
§ Provable - with a deadline to do it
DAY 24
P2P: The truth transforms me
V2R: If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, & the truth shall make you free. - John 8:31-32
Q2C: What has God already told me in his Word that I haven't started doing yet?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Bible" by BunnySprinkle
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