THE PILAR OF READING SCRIPTURE

SERIES: HOW TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

TEXT: PSALM 19:7-11

 

Knowledge is power. Knowledge of the word of God is spiritual power. The word of God was written by God through men, with a purpose; to be read. Our Lord Jesus read the Bible a lot. He quoted to the devil when tempted, “It is written.” He quoted Prophet Daniel in His sermon. He quoted Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Kings, Psalm, Isaiah Jeremiah, Hosea, Jonah, Micah, Zachariah etc. Great servants of God were readers of scripture; Daniel, David are good examples. Why does a Christian need to read the Bible?

TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION.

• King David said, “I have hidden they word in my heart, that I may not sin against you”-Psalm 119:11.
• When Jesus our Lord was tempted by the devil, He used the word of God to defeat the devil. He did not use philosophy or logic-Matthew 4:3-4.
• In spiritual war with Satan we fight sin. The word of God is the sword of the Holy Spirit. When we quote the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes in to use that word to smite the enemy. He does not use any other words of philosophy to fight, He only used the word from the Bible.
• The word of God is a cleansing instrument in the life of the believer. Our Lord Jesus told the disciples, “already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you”-John 15:3. Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not my word like fire?” fire leaks up dirt that it comes across.
• The word of God worms us when we are about to go wrong-Psalm 19:7-11.

TO UNDERSTAND OUR COVENANT WITH GOD.

• God works through covenants. There was the Old covenant of God with Israel.
• Now we have a New covenant with God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
• The terms of the covenant; obligations, benefits etc. are stated in the word of God.
• We can only relate with God within the terms of the covenant/contract.

READING THE WORD OF GOD AND DOING IT OPENS BLESSINGS.

• Psalm 19:11, by (keeping) the law of God there is GREAT REWARD.
• We get inheritance from the word of God-Acts 20:32, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

WE GROW SPIRITUALLY BY READING THE WORD.

• The word of God is able to build us up-Acts 20:32.
• We grow from being infants of taking milk to eating strong food.
• It’s when we mature that we became useful and productive in the kingdom of God.

CONCLUSION

• How much time will you spend with the word of God this year?