Winners with God's Word

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. 107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word. 108 Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. 109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. 110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. 111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. 112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

Have you ever tried walking at night without a light?

When I was in the Navy, we had many emergencies at night. These emergencies required that get to my post before the rest of the crew. I had to run to my post. Inside the ship, we had night lights; however, outside, it was just the moon light and its not as bright as you think. I messed my knees up because of all the bumps I suffered for running in the dark without a light.

Living your life without Jesus (God’s Word) is like walking in the dark without any sort of light. Imagine the damage you have suffered for living without His Word. We need His Word to be winners.

1. Winners Discover God’s Word

Discover: to find something for the first time, or something that had not been known before

Josh 1:8 “8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

We need experiential knowledge of His Word instead of knowing about His Word

Heb 4:12 “12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The light turned on

Learn what you have been missing

The missing link to victorious living is discovering His Word

Mt 4:4 “4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””

Discovering God’s promises means finding those that apply to our area of need

Rom 15:4 “4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

We discover God’s Word when we trust him to reveal it to us.

2. Winners Digest God’s Word

Ps 119:18 “18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

Digest: to take into the mind or memory; to assimilate mentally

Rom 12:2 “2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We need to put His Word in our mind

Transformation starts with changing what we digest (think about)

Let us absorb God’s Word until we are absorbed by it

Partake of God’s Word. Digest it

The psalmist wrote Ps 34:8 “8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

3. Winners Delight in God’s Word

Ps 119:47 “47 for I delight in your commands because I love them.”

Delight: something that gives great pleasure

Ps 37:4 “4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The mistake many make is to delight on temporary things

Many try to find delight in things that cannot bring delight

True pleasure comes from His Word

Some do not delight in God’s Word

Reading is a duty to be performed

Their negative attitude brings spiritual defeat

Delighting in God’s Word enables us to be winners

Ps 119:111 “111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”

Christians who delight in God’s Word love his Word, obey his Word, and are victorious through his Word

Ps 119:165 “165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

4. Winners Depend on God’s Word

Ps 119:89 “89 Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

Depend: to rely; place trust on/upon; to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc.

Ps 37:7 “7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Many Christians do not depend on God’s Word as they should

They rely on self-effort or other people too much—and thereby fail

If we are to become winners, we must depend on God’s Word

His Word never fails, 1 Ki 8:56 “56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.”

Few things in this life are trustworthy

Possessions fail, pleasures fade, popularity falls, and people fail

1 Pet 1:25 “25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”

Ps 46:10-11 “10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”