R E V. C H A R L E S E D W A R D C L A R K J R., D M I N S E N I O R P A S T O R
Matt 4:4 NIV Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Acts 20:32 God s gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be
Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth. John 17:17 NIV Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
2 Tim 3:16-17 MSG Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
James 1:18 NCV God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made.
The bible is 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.
We cannot live without the Word of God! Never take it for granted. You should consider it as essential to your life as food. Job said, I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:12 Quote p. 186
John 8:31 NASB Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
Abiding in God s Word requires 1. Accepting the Bible s authority 2. Assimilating the Bible s truth 3. Applying the Bible s principles
Many of our troubles occur because we base our choices on unreliable authorities: culture ( everyone is doing it ), tradition ( we ve always done it ), reason ( it seemed logical ), or emotion ( it just felt right ). ~ p. 187 But what about the authority of The Word?
Remember that 2 Tim 3:16 NCV All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.
Assimilate the Bible s truth Ps 119:11 NIV I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
How you receive the Word matters: Mark 4:3-8 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
To assimilate the Word Receive Read Research Remember
James 1:25-27 But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that 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.
The True Way to Worship God 26 People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing. Religion that God accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence.
Applying the Bible s principles Ps 1:2-3 Ps 119:97 Matt 7:24-27 John 13:17
Point to ponder: The truth transforms us Verse to remember: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 Question to consider: What God already told me in His Word that I haven t started doing yet?