Psalm 119:9-16

Intro

Story of the mormon missionaries coming to my door

They leave I follow

They stop me and ask “are you one of them pentecostals?”

I say don’t worry about it I’m just a person like you who reads the bible, believes it and prays to the God of it

She says “well that’s your problem” “you need one of our teachers to teach you what it says you can’t read it for yourself

And I said “see that's your problem” “you don’t trust the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth”

It so easy to be down on them, but honestly how many of you read your bibles everyday?

Sermons are great and there are great speakers out there, but that should never replace our need for the word

I have one goal today. I simply want to convince you to read the bible for yourself.

I know that seems simple and probably rudimentary, but if we were honest how many of us actually read it everyday?

“The Bible is the cradle where Christ is laid” - Martin Luther

Statistically less than 20% of church goers read the Bible daily

Do you know what the most popular “bible verse” in America is?

“God helps those who help themselves”

It's not even in the Bible…

Passage

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

I have tried hard to find you don’t let me wander from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.

I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.

I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.

I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.

I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

Pray

We need to realize our need for the word

We need to hunger for and thirst for the word

Story of me in bible college as a recent convert knowing more bible than the vast majority raised in church

I got to drive a speaker to the airport after a conference and asked him how he does his devotions and he said he only reads the Bible to prepare messages….

You may think this a sad anomaly, but statically only 35% of pastors read their bible strictly for devotions(most admit they only read it for sermon prep)

Psalm 119:20 I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations.

Psalm 119:81 I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.

Amos 8:11 “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord,“when I will send a famine on the land not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

This requires humility

Be okay knowing we aren’t right

Be okay admitting we aren’t perfect

The word is the filter we need for our heart

Not emotions

Emotions aren’t good or bad, but just a response

We need to place our foundation on God’s word not how we feel or think

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 16:32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Romans 8:6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace

We need to seek the word

Whole heart

Our spiritual maturity will never exceed our knowledge of the Bible

We can stray

Now a days there are so many people just looking for churches with the most entertaining speakers and have no idea if they are lying to them or not

1 kings 13

1 kings 22

Paul celebrates the church for double checking his preaching

I played devil’s advocate to the students on Portland trip cause I don’t want them just telling me what they’ve heard me or someone else teach

Now don’t get me wrong I am so thankful for guys that know more about the bible than me that I can learn from, but I get scared because there are so many of us who just trust what someone says because they’re a “scholar” when the bible tells over and over to watch our doctrine and to judge people’s teaching by their life and faith.

Do they remind you of Jesus?

But you won’t even know what Jesus looks like if you haven’t read this book

Knowing the word protects us

From wrong doctrine

I get worried so many people reject the word

They remind me of the king from 1 kings chapter 22: “He never says what I want to hear”

1 Timothy 4:1-4 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.

Now a days with enough patience we can find a way to make the bible say whatever we want. We can find a book at the christian bookstore that will teach we can divorce our spouse, live a safe life, hoard all our money, etc etc

From Satan

Satan did this to the corinthian church. They would take drugs and hear things from spirits telling them that God is cool with whatever

He even did it to Jesus in His temptation.

Telling out of context scripture to get Him to sin

From Sin

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Story of me working on my changing my speech

James 1:26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

We need to store the word

Means we need to memorize it

Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

The temptation of Jesus

Journaling helps

I can look back at what God has said, promised and done

Means we need to do what it says

James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

It doesn't matter how much we read, but how much we take and apply each day

Not about reading 10 chapters a day, but maybe applying one verse

Conclusion

How many of you would say it’s more important to know the bible?

How many would say it’s more important to do what the bible says?

We need to both know and do the word

Surfing illustration

Will you follow Jesus by learning and obeying the bible?