Midweek Review 5

Last Sunday’s message was on the significance of God’s enduring Word in the life of the believer.  So how about an honest examination of how significant the Word of God is to you?  Outside of a sermon or small group Bible study how often do you read or study God’s Word?  How often do you spend time in a passage meditating on what God’s Word is speaking to you?  Do you attempt to memorize scriptures for recall and application when faced with temptation, challenges, or trials?  These are just a few sample questions I think I need to evaluate my connection to God’s Word on a regular basis.  Some folks are filled with a strong desire to be in the Bible as much as possible.  My prayer is that as a church we will desire to know the Bible so that we can grow in our relationship with Jesus and be prepared to share its truth with others.

As we considered God’s enduring Word can you recall the three characteristics we examined in the passage?  First, we found the Enduring Word of God to be effectual. When we hear, read, and study God’s Word it will change our thinking, our attitudes, our behavior, and our relationships with Him and with others.  God’s Word also changes the foundation that we build our life upon.  God’s Word will accomplish what God sent it to do.  Second, we found the Enduring Word of God to be eternal.  God’s Word has been, and always will be.  The written word that God breathed through the Holy Spirit into faithful men to write down contains His unchangeable truths that give people the plan of salvation that God the Father set before the foundations of the world.  His eternal Word is also “…living and effective and sharper than a double-edged sword…”  Because it is eternal, it is also reliable.  Third, we found that the enduring Word of God is essential.  A newborn baby has a desire to have nutrient rich milk from its mother to satisfy its hunger and even more so, to grow as a person.  What a tremendous picture Peter gave believers to communicate how essential God’s Word is for growing as a believer and satisfying the desire to know God.  A believer who seldom gets into God’s Word will be “spiritually mal-nourished and weak” resulting in a susceptibility to sin and fruitlessness. But a well-nourished believer from God’s Word will be fruitful and able to resist sin.  I hope you could remember the three characteristics of God’s enduring Word.

Here is the continuing challenge!  Set a goal for yourself this summer in three different areas: how much of the Bible you will read over the summer (like the Old or New Testament), also select 3-5 passages to study (like Psalm 119, the sermon on the mount, or Biblical characters, like Joshua, Ruth, David, Peter), finally select 6 new verses to memorize over the next 3 months (find verses you know will help you to live out your life in Jesus).  Take up the challenge and you may discover you just have to have more.  The enduring Word of God, effectual, eternal, and essential!

 

“I have treasured Your Word in my heart

So that I may not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:11


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