Spiritual Disciplines-Bible Intake Part 2

Scripture Memory

Last week we began in our series on the Spiritual Disciplines with the 1st Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake. We discussed the truth that there are many malnourished believers in this world of ours as well as noting that It is one thing to be a malnourished believer in a country where you have virtually no access to the Word of God, it is another thing altogether when you have multiple copies of God’s Word in most households. It was pointed out that No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Then we spent the remainder of our time looking at 6 ways in which the Bible is the most unique book ever written:

· Unique in its Continuity

· Unique in its Circulation

· Unique in its Translation

· Unique in its Survival

· Unique in its Teaching &

· Unique in its Authority

This week, as we continue our look at the Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake, I want to make sure that I point out that while Bible Intake is the most important of all the Spiritual Disciplines, it is also the broadest. It actually consists of several sub-disciplines. Think of it the way you might think of a College or University.

In 1985 I graduated from Bible College. Now everyone who graduated from my Bible College graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literature. But everyone also had a secondary area of emphasis as well. Mine was the Ministerial or Pastoral curriculum. Others were areas like Missions, Elementary Education, Christian Education, Sacred Music, Music Education. That is kinda what we are looking at when it comes to the Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake, it’s like having one major with several different secondary one’s underneath it. However, when it comes to Bible Intake, we need to be proficient in all of the sub-disciplines in order to reach our full potential for God.

This morning we are going to look at 1 sub-discipline of Bible Intake that is probably the most neglected of all of them and at the same time the most difficult in most peoples eyes.

Scripture Memory.

Now at the outset, let me address the elephant in the room. The majority of you here this morning just thought to yourself;

“I may as well get my smart phone out and surf the web or check my social media feeds because I have no ability whatsoever when it comes to memorizing Scripture.”

Well do me a favor, put the phone away and bear with me while I prove you wrong.

Slide 2

Let’s say I were to offer $1,000 to every person here this morning that memorized Psalm 1 and come before the congregation next week and quote it. Chances are we wouldn’t have time for the message next week, we would spend the entire time listening to people quoting Psalm 1

Psalm 1 (NIV ‘83)

Blessed is the man who doe not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Let me give you a little more evidence.

Slide 3

How many of you have a playlist on your smartphone? My guess is that if you handed me your phone and I started playing the 1st song on your playlist and had you sing along with it, and stopped somewhere during the song, you would be able to keep right on singing along. Why’s that? Because you have listened to it countless times, sometimes over and over again.

Long before we had playlists on iPhones & smartphones, we had record players and tape players Bring record player and record up from office. For those of you like me who had albums, you probably remember being able to look at the album and you could tell which songs your favorites were. When you looked at the album, the album was darker at your favorite songs because you had lifted the needle so many times and gently set it down at the start of your favorite songs. And if you are anything like me, you rewound your tape player so many times to play your favorite song that eventually the tape got so thin at that song that it literally broke!

Now for those of you who aren’t in to music, you’re not off the hook either. Whether it’s sports statistics for your favorite team or athlete, your favorite car or truck, or for you excellent cooks out there, recipes for your favorite meals, we all have something we love and are passionate about that we could spout off statistics on at any moment.

If we are completely honest, it’s not that we aren’t able to memorize things, it is more of a question of effort and passion. If we are passionate about something, remembering details is not that difficult. Memory is way more about effort than it is technique. God will meet you at the level of your desire.

So, what’s the solution? I believe the solution is developing a passion for and a love of the Word of God, the Word of God that has the power to transform lives for an eternity. That was one of my goals in last week’s message, this is an incredible Book! I could have preached for several weeks on its truth and power and have barely scratched the surface.

Now that we have established that our memory is not the issue, let’s move on to the Scripture Memory.

I. Scripture Memory.

A.Benefits of Scripture Memory.

1. Memorization Supplies Spiritual Power.

In Psalm 119:11 we read; “I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” As we commit God’s Word to memory, it’s almost like it is placed in the storehouse of our minds for just the right time when we need it most. Then, in times of great struggle, or great trials, or great temptation, or at a time of deep sorrow, up from the storehouse of your mind, God brings up the perfect verse at the perfect time and you are able to move ahead knowing the Sovereign God has all things in control.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis 41. This passage takes place at about the midway point in the life of Joseph. So far in in the life of Joseph, his older brothers, who hated him, sold into slavery. The slave traders Joseph to brought to Egypt where he was purchased by Potiphar, a high-ranking official of the Pharaoh. God blessed him even as a slave and not only him but also Potiphar. Soon Potiphar placed him in charge of his entire household and God continued to bless them both. But just as God was blessing the enemy was attacking. Our enemy does that, which is one of the reasons we need to have God’s Word stored up in the storehouse of our minds. The enemy’s weapon of choice in this instance was a woman, Potiphar’s wife. In the end, her lies landed Joseph in prison.

Throughout all of this Joseph continued to faithfully serve God and seek to honor Him in every way, and throughout all of this God continued to bless Joseph. Interestingly the jailer over Joseph also experienced God’s blessing and soon Joseph was his #1 assistant. The Godliness of Joseph was evident to everyone he came in contact with, before long a couple fellow prisoners had mysterious dreams that Joseph was able to interpret. One prisoner was to be hanged, the other returned to his position as the cupbearer to the Pharaoh. Joseph had only one request for the cupbearer, “When you have been restored, please remember me.” He then shared his story with the cupbearer. If you read the last verse of chapter 40, you see that the cupbearer promptly forgot.

That brings us to our current chapter. While the cupbearer may have forgotten, the Sovereign God remembered. 2 years passed when the Pharaoh himself had a couple strange dreams. The Pharaoh then shared his dream with his wise men, none of whom could tell him what it meant. At that point the cupbearer finally remembered and shared what had happened with him 2 years earlier. Soon Joseph was face to face with the Pharaoh, listening as the Pharaoh shared with him his 2 dreams.

You can read about the dreams in chapter 41, but right now I want to jump to the interpretation and what it led to. The interpretation was that the land of Egypt was about to experience 7 years of bumper crops, followed by 7 years that are so bleak they wouldn’t even remember the good years. Not only did Joseph interpret the dreams, he also gave advice on what Egypt should do to prepare for the 7 years of famine. When all was said and done the Pharaoh took his advice and on top of that made Joseph 2nd only to him in all of Egypt. Joseph’s advice was to collect 1/5th of all of the collected crops during the 7 bumper crop years and to store those crops to be used during the 7 years of famine. The Hebrew word used for store comes from the same root word used in Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”. The picture here is this, just as Egypt was to store crops during the years of plenty for when they needed them most, we are to do the same with God’s Word. In memorizing God’s Word, we are better able to experience God’s Power at the times we need it most.

2. Memorization Strengthens Your Faith.

Memorizing Scripture strengthens your faith because it repeatedly reinforces the truth, often just when you need to hear it again.

I mentioned a few weeks ago how Pam personalized Habakkuk 3:17-19 when we lost our baby in the early 90’s. Well while our circumstances didn’t change our hearts and minds were reminded that God is Sovereign and that Sovereignty isn’t based our circumstances. We rejoiced, not in what we were going through, but in the Lord Who was our strength.

Our faith was strengthened when we needed it most largely because of God’s Word we had committed to memory.

3. Memorization Prepares Us for Witnessing and Counseling.

I am convinced that one of the reasons most believers never confidently share their faith with others is that have little or no confidence in their knowledge of God’s Word.

When we are disciplined in memorizing God’s Word, for instance the verses that make up what is known as Romans Road, we are more confident, and as a result more apt to share our faith with others.

Additionally, God also takes passages we memorize and brings them to our memory at key moments when we are counseling others. I cannot tell you how many times God has opened ministry doors for Pam and me over the years by bringing Habakkuk 3:17-19 at key moments.

4. Memorization Provides a Means of God’s Guidance.

As many of you know, the 1st half of 2018 was pretty difficult for us. I’ve got to be honest with you, there were many times that the only thing that kept us going was our understanding of God’s Word. One particular passage that God brought to our minds many times was Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Knowing God had a perfect plan for us was huge in preparing us for going into the ministry not as wounded & broken, but confident in His power in us.

5. Memorization Stimulates Meditation.

Donald Whitney writes; “One of the most underrated benefits of memorizing Scripture is that it provides fuel for meditation. When you have memorized a verse of Scripture, you can meditate on it anywhere at any time during the day or night. If you love God’s Word enough to memorize it, you can become like the writer of Psalm 119:97, who exclaimed, ‘Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.’”

When you have committed Scripture to memory, you can meditate on God’s Word anywhere you are, you don’t need a Bible, a phone, laptop or any electronic device, it is right there in the storehouse of your mind to be used at any time.

Ok, so we’ve looked at the benefits of memorizing Scripture, now lets move to the;

B. Methods of Memorization-

1. Have A Plan.

Perhaps to start with you may choose some verses that speak to something you are dealing with or going through right now. Verses on fear or anxiety. Maybe verses on faith because at the moment your struggling in that area. Perhaps you are struggling with a habit you know isn’t pleasing to God. Find verses that will help you experience victory in that area. Whatever it is, make a plan.

2. Write Out the Verses.

Write the verse or verses you have selected out by hand. I don’t mean typing them out on an electronic device. I mean to hand write them. There is something about hand writing a verse that helps in the process of locking it away in the memory banks. First write it on a sheet of paper. Then on an index card you can take with you wherever you go. Then read the verse out loud ten times and after that write it down the best you can from memory. Keep repeating that process until you can write it word perfect. Also, be sure to include the address(where it is located).

3. Draw Picture Reminders.

For those of you that work better with a physical picture, draw a picture to help you in the process. It doesn’t have to be something elaborate, remember it is for your eyes only. Just something helpful to you.

Let’s say the verse you have selected is Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”. You could draw a picture like this

4. Memorize the Verses Word-Perfectly.

There are several reasons why you should memorize verses word perfectly. One of the key reasons is, when we don’t memorize them word perfect, we often times water down the true meaning of the verses, sometimes changing them altogether.

Another reason is if we don’t memorize word for word, we begin to lower our standards in memorizing until we have no standards at all and eventually we quit altogether.

And lastly, if we don’t memorize word for word our tendency is to lose confidence in using it in conversation and witnessing.

5. Find a Method of Accountability.

While the accountability does not have to be from someone else, having a partner memorize with you and/or quiz you is perhaps the most effective method of accountability.

By the way, your accountability partner does not have to be a believer.

6. Review and Meditate Every Day.

Donald Whitney writes; “No principle of Scripture memory is more important than the principle of review. Without adequate review you will eventually lose most of what you memorize…Integrating Scripture memory review into one or more of your life routines leverages the regularity of your habits to strengthen your grip on Scripture.”

As we finish this section on the Discipline of Scripture memory, remember that memorizing verses is not an end in itself. The goal is not to see how many verses we can memorize; the goal is godliness. The goal is to memorize the Word of God so that it can transform our minds and our lives. Don’t forget, In Psalm 119:11, the word “stored” in“I have stored up your word in my heart” same word used in Genesis regarding Joseph and Egypt “storing” grain for the famine.

Another important truth when it come to Scripture memory is,

Memorizing Scripture helps you to treasure it.

And Jesus exampled it.

Jesus speaks there. He hangs out in His Word. Go where the fish are.

God commands it. Deut. 6:6-7, 11:18, Joshua 1:8

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (ESV)

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 11:18 (ESV)

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

It grows your faith. Rom. 10:17

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

As you memorize Gods Word it will grow your faith.

It arms me with THE weapon to assault my enemy. Eph. 6 (the Armor of God), Psalm 119:11,

It guards you from deadly traps.

Memories for renewal for God’s purposes. Rom. 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Renewing your mind is not a passive activity.

It provides good Words for ministering to others. Ps. 139

What foundation have you laid?

So you can have an anchor in the storm.

The act of memorizing is encouraged by doctors because it fights off the effects of aging.