How sweet are thy words

Introduction

Email to the librarian at The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (Deemed University) (CIHTS) / Yangchen Sangmo.

Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Jesus’s dependence on the Word of God

The Son of God began his life's ministry with a 40 day fast.

We should consider this. Can I face the incredible challenges to my Christian life without sharing in the fasting of Jesus?

More than any other single Discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.

Even these words came from God’s Word. Deut 8:3 “3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

There are too many similarities between what is happening to Jesus here in the Temptation and what was happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness wondering.

Satan says “make bread/manna”

Every word that comes out of the mouth of God reveals God. And it is this self-revelation that we feed on.

We do not trust in bread. Not even the miracle of manna. We trust in God.

Fasting is not primarily about overcoming the power of food upon our lives, but more about properly valuing how necessary the Word is for our lives.

What is so wonderful about the law?

We have no plea here, just a statement concerning a love for God’s Word. This certainly a worthy theme for our time together.

Psalm 119:97–104 (KJV)

97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Let’s rejoice in these 4 truths about God’s Word tonight

The Word gained our affections because it reveals God to us

God’s Word has made us wise

God’s Word provides for us that man’s Word cannot

God’s Word provides something that supersedes any of the pleasures of this world.

1. The Word gained our affections because it reveals God to us

Psalm 119:97 “97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

The psalmist understands that the Word of God is God speaking.

God speaking to us,

God revealing Himself.

God showing us the way of salvation.

God is approving the attitude of the psalmist as he expresses, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the proper attitude towards the Word of God by the believer

Sermon shared with me called ‘Don’t worship the Bible”

“How do we expect the fruit of the early church when we value a book they didn’t have more than the Holy Spirit they did have.”

Johnson warns against “a powerless Word.” The only way God’s Word lacks power is if we refuse to believe and obey it.

The Bible claims that Scripture is the Holy Spirit speaking to the church. The Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures.

2 Peter 1:20-21 “20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Johnson states ““Paul warned that the letter kills.” referencing 2 Corinthians 3 but certainly not understanding the context

The law written on stone, the 10 Commandments kills, exactly as it was designed to do.

Bill Johnson says we need to go “off the map” with the Holy Spirit.  However, we know that the Holy Spirit made the map and has told us that those who work outside of the map are false prophets.

Men, if you are around a woman who speaks poorly of your wife or of your love for her run. Believer if you are around a teacher who speaks poorly of the Word of God or you love and affection for it run or stand and contend!

Scripture gives joy

1 Thess 1:6 “6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

Life without joy is unbearable.

The Christian life is a life of many afflictions. But in them all, God sustains joy, and he does it by the Scriptures.

2. God’s Word has made us wise

Psalm 119:98 “98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”

Truth is reiterated in 99, 100, 104

What have we been made wise in?

Salvation

2 Timothy 3:15 “15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Show me where you would find this outside of the Scriptures.

Those ‘Old Testament’ books, which you were taught to Timothy, by his grandmother and by his mother, were are able to make you wise unto salvation.

Sanctification

Psalm 119:104 “104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”

Through the work of the Spirit in our lives we not only recognize right and wrong but we do not desire the wrong ways

It is through the truth we are being sanctified. John 17:16-17 “16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

3. God’s Word provides for us that man’s Word cannot

Psalm 119:99 “99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.”

Teaching and teachers are important

Conversation with Coach Elrod. Teaching is valuable.

We benefit greatly from teachers.

However, in the Scripture, God Himself is teaching us.

Even the teaching of the oldest and wisest fall short

Psalm 119:100 “100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.”

With age comes wisdom, but sometime age comes alone.

God’s Word has provided for us instruction for where to place our feet

Psalm 119:101 “101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.”

There is a knowledge that only comes by obedience.

We often speak about this in the reverse manner; “I keep my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.”

Sermon on the Mount Matthew 7:24 “24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

Great Commission Matthew 28:19-20 “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

God’s Word provide a safe haven from temptation

Psalm 119:102 “102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.”

Your best companion in the fight against temptation is God's Word. As seen in Jesus’s response in the Temptation

Without the shelter of the Word we will be tossed to and fro. Eph 4:13-14 “13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Unity of the faith

knowledge of the Son of God

Where would you find either of these? Unity based on what? Where do we learn of the Son?

4. God’s Word provides something that supersedes any of the pleasures of this world.

Psalm 119:103 “103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

If I were to ask you what is the sweetest dessert you can think of there would be a variety of answers. Honey would have been #1 on their Family Feud list.

The communion that we have with God in His Word is not the same as the communion that we will have with God in heaven, but it is like it.

Full enjoyment of the truth of Scripture, will be experienced only in heaven. 1Cor 13:12 “12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Conclusion

What if we thought about Bible reading as not merely a new resolution for 2023 but a lifelong pursuit?

What if we didn’t see Bible reading as the diet but as the cake?