HIDING THE WORD IN YOUR HEART
Psalm 119:11, 89-96, 105
Introduction
* The Bible – the number one selling book of all time.
9 out of 10 people claim to know all of the basic teachings of the Bible.
Do People Really Know The Bible?
JAY LENO - JAY WALKING (Video)
* Chuckle at Leno’s Interviews
- Quiz: True Or False: "The Bible teaches: God helps those who help themselves."
- 2/3 of Bible Believing Christians said yes. – Answer is "No"
- Serious problems with those who profess to be Bible- Believing Christians.
53% say Holy Spirit does not exist
43% say Satan does not exist
31% say people can earn their way to heaven
30% say Jesus Christ died but never had a physical resurrection
24% say Jesus Christ committed sin
Tested 14 items – only .3% held strong opinions consistent with the Bible in all 14 areas
* If We Are Going To Be Faithful To God In A Changing Culture And Live According To A Christian World View, we must know the Bible.
– Want to talk to you today about the importance of God’s Word and how to hide it in your heart.
I. The Word Of The Living God
* God has given us revelation -
1. The Bible Is Inspired By God
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
* Verbal - to the word - very words
* Plenary - fully - whole Bible
* Inerrant - without mistake
* Some try to say Bible is authoritative, but deny these truths. - Bible can’t be authoritative if it is not inerrant.
2. The Bible Is The Word Of God
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1Thes. 2:13)
* The Bible is truth - not human counsel
* God speaks to you through His Word
3. The Bible Is Essential For Maturity
Psalm 119
* Essential To Maturity In Christian Life - Yet we are the most Biblically illiterate generation of Christians in the History of the Church.
** Essential To Make Study Of The Word Of God Central In Your Life
II. The Incredible Benefits Of The Word Of God
1. It Gives You Stability – Ps. 119:9-10; 33; 49; 67
- Wise man & Foolish man (Matt. 7:24 +)
- When knocks of life - God's Word gives you stability.
- In an ocean of human philosophies and debatable opinions, God's Word gives you answers.
2. It Gives You Insight
I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. (Ps. 119:99)
- perception of the real nature of a situation or person
3. It Gives You Direction
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)
4. It Brings You To Maturity
I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. (Ps. 119:99-100)
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col. 2:6-7)
* Grounded - not tossed
5. It Leads To A Vibrancy In The Christian Life Psalm 119:20-22; 25-28; 50
"Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee Lord."
- Discover the new life in Christ - life to the fullest
* Getting into the Word causes us to live with a supernatural dynamic
* How much better to have spiritual health of an athlete and radiate life and vitality than to be weak and sickly Christians.
6. It Reveals God's Will Psalm 119:33-34; 133
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)
* God speaks through His Word
7. It Will Make You An Effective Witness Psalm 119:41-42
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, (1 Peter 3:15)
- When you're filled with the Word, it overflows
* God wants to use you as a channel of His life to others
* Able defend the faith
III. Getting A Grasp On The Word Of God.
1. Hear It.
Psalm 119:4-5
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)
2. Read It
Psalm 119:18;68
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; (Rev. 1:3)
3. Study It.
Psalm 119:34, 45
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
4. Memorize It. Psalm 119:93
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (Ps. 119:11)
5. Meditate Upon It.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Ps. 1:2)
IV. Studying The Word Of God
- One reason we get bored with Bible Reading or Study and give up is because when we study we aren't really looking for anything.
- When we know what to look for we begin to find golden nuggets from scripture and it becomes exciting.
1. The One Big Picture
2. Four Words Or Less
3. Five Faithful Friends
– Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
4. Six Any Questions
1. Are There Any Sins To Forsake
Jonah 1
Disobedience To God's Revealed Will (vs 1-3)
- knew he was to go to Nineveh but didn't
- ran in opposite direction
Didn't Care About The Welfare Of Others(vs1-3; 4-11)
2. Are There Any Promises To Keep
- No specific promises in Jonah 1
- Not always something in every category.
* Indirect Promise: "No matter where I go, God is always there."
- implied truth
- careful you don't read something into it.
- avoid this by verifying with other scripture
ie. where else in scripture does Bible state directly that
"No matter where I am, God is there."
See Ps. 139:7-10
3. Are There Any Examples To Follow
* God's love for Jonah, Sailors, Nineveh
* Ask Questions Before Jumping To Conclusions (vs 7-11)
* Pray In A Crisis (vs 5-6, 14)
* Jonah's Confession That He Was Responsible For The Mess (vs 8-10)
4. Are There Any Commands To Obey
* No direct command.
* Implied Command: God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh. We should be willing to go wherever, and do whatever God leads.
5. Are There Any Stumbling Blocks To Avoid
-Stumbling blocks are like warnings - things God wants us to look out for.
- Sometimes something might be listed here and under sins
Never disregard circumstances as possible indications that God is trying to get your attention
- Violent storm - lot falling to Jonah - questions sailors asked
Never think your sin will only affect you
- Jonah's disobedience hurt the sailors
- lost their cargo etc.
6. ? - Is There Anything I Should Do Now
*** NEVER SKIP THIS QUESTION
"Lord what should I do now?"
Conclusion
Illustrate:
French scientist, Jean Henri Fabre, discovered an amazing thing about a particular kind of caterpillar. He discovered that they had an unbelievable tendency to crawl in circles following a leader. He set up an experiment and here is what happened.
Only necessary food was pine needles. He filled up a flowerpot to the brim with fresh needles and arranged the caterpillars in a circle around the rim, their front ends against the backs of the caterpillar ahead. Their food was accessible within a mere fraction of an inch.
You know what happened. Caterpillars started going round and round and round without once stopping. They did it for six days and nights and on the seventh day they all died. Exhausted for sure, but they starved to death even though their natural food was a hairbreadth away. All they had to do was turn their heads and they could have lived.
- They crawled to their death beside the source of life.
* We often dead spiritually because we will not turn our heads and hearts to our source of vibrant Christian living.
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (Ps. 119:9-11)
* CHALLENGE TO STUDY THE BIBLE.
