Abiding in the Word

Memorial Day

Hannah and I in Washington DC at Arlington National Cemetery.

Just a portion of those who died fighting for our freedom.

Remembering the Fallen soldier

We honor those who fought and died, Their memory, a flame that won’t subside. In the gallery of heroes, their portraits dwell, In the tapestry of valor, their stories swell.

They gave their all, with a resolute will, In war’s dark shadow, they fought uphill. They gave it well, on the battlefield, For freedom’s sake, their fate was sealed.

In the quiet moments, when the bugle calls, Remembering the fallen, as the night falls. Their sacrifice, a poignant song, In the memories that echo, strong and long.

In the heart’s sacred chamber, their names inscribed, Remembering the fallen, in gratitude imbibed. Their courage, a beacon in history’s retelling, In the quiet places, where heroes are dwelling.

Revival Starts in the Word

King Josiah was the young son of King Amon, the grandson of King Manasseh, both of whom were not very good kings.

For 27 years before Josiah became king at 8 years old, his two predecessors had led the nation of Judah away from God.

Reversing the 30 year reign of Josiah’s great grandfather Hezekiah, who had torn down all the pagan temples, led the people away from worshipping false gods, and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

For 27 years, the people had turned their backs on God and had ignored His Word.

At 18 years old, Josiah commissioned the repair the long neglected temple, where the God’s presence was supposed to dwell with His people.

And where worship and sacrifice was supposed to take place.

It wasn’t long after repairs began that Hilkiah, the priest, found something that would send a shock wave through Judah, starting with King Josiah.

2 Kings 22:8 CSB

8 The high priest Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the Lord’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.

At some point in the 27 years between Hezekiah and Josiah, the Book of the Law (the Bible of their day) had been laid down somewhere, covered with junk, and lost.

The Word that King David had declared:

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:130 ESV

130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:165 ESV

165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

When the Book is brought to King Josiah, something incredible happens.

2 Kings 22:10–13 CSB

10 Then the court secretary Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah has given me a book,” and Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 Then he commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah, 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words in this book that has been found. For great is the Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us.”

King Josiah was changed that day and the transformation that happened in His heart led to a massive shift in Judah for the next 21 years of his reign.

All because he heard the Word of God.

That is the power that exists in the book we call the Bible.

This account in 2 Kings is one of the earliest examples of God’s Word transforming a nation.

You can read in history books how the preaching of God’s Word has sparked revivals, inspired people to do amazing good in our world, and transformed the hearts of people in every generation.

This is not like any other book every written, it is the very Word of God.

And when we plant ourselves in it and plant it in our hearts, it

How abiding in the Word transforms us.

An American Bible Society study found that after the pandemic only 39% of American would be considered “active bible users.”

That means they use their bibles 3-4 times a year outside of a church service or setting.

That is a pretty low bar.

Only 4 in 10 people will open their bible outside of a church service.

Although 2/3s of Americans identify as Christian, a study by the American Worldview Inventory found that 4% of adults in 2023 had a biblical worldview, which is defined as individuals who align their beliefs and actions with biblical principles. 

This represents a slight decrease from 6% three years prior.

Hebrews 4:11–13 CSB

11 Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

1) God’s Word is our GUIDE to REST. (Heb. 4:11)

We all are striving for rest and were made for it.

By rest I don’t mean falling asleep in your recliner while your watching TV after dinner (that is restful, but not the rest Hebrews is talking about).

We are told in Genesis 1 that God created the universe in 6 days and the on the 7th He rested.

Obviously the eternal, omnipotent, creator doesn’t need to rest, but chose to.

This rhythm of rest was called the Sabbath in the OT (and it is a term we still throw around today).

It even made the top ten list of commands when God was giving them to Moses on the mountain.

The rhythm of rest was not given just so we could have 1 day off of work every week.

It was God’s gift and promise to us.

Even before the fall, God called us to rest. To not carry the burden of life on our own shoulders, but to rest in Him.

But when sin entered the world and corrupted God’s good creation, God have us the promise of rest.

The author of Hebrews is pointing back to the book of Numbers in these early chapters, when God had led the people to the edge of the promise land.

If you remember the story, God told them to go in and take the land, but the people saw the giants that lived there and became fearful.

They turned away from God’s promise of rest and hardened their hearts to His Word.

The author of Hebrews has been telling the Jewish Christians “Don’t be like them! Don’t turn away!”

Then in verse 11 he tells them to “strive to enter that rest”.

We aren't pursuing it in the sense of earning our way, but diligent pursuit keeps the destination and its promised glory in front of us.

Like anything worthwhile, pursuing the rest of God demands diligence and perseverance.

That is why verse 12-13 follow this fairly long discussion of rest.

The rest we are searching for will be found in God's Word.

It guides us to the truth, the hope, the promise, the power, and the comfort found in Jesus.

It is our map, our guide, our encouragement, our correction, our training manual, and our brochure.

The author of Hebrews gives us an intricate and vivid word picture of God’s Word.

2) God’s Word is LIVING and DYNAMIC. (Heb. 4:12a)

The first two adjectives sound odd for words on a page.

Outside of the Harry Potter series, I have never seen or heard of a book that was living and active.

But it is clear what the author means.

This book we call the Bible is not like any other book every written.

It is living in that it's meaning and significance is timeless and, yet, always timely.

Every book that makes up the Bible was written in a particular time, to a particular audience, within a particular set of circumstances.

And yet, the truths and principles stand the test of time and the changes in culture.

It is a a timeless book, and yet its message is always on time.

There is nothing magical about the Bible, but it is absolutely supernatural.

In God’s unchanging, omnipresent nature, He seems willing to meet us in His Word with wisdom, encouragement, correction, and redirection when we are willing to pursue Him in it.

There is no other book ever written that one could say what Paul says of God’s Word in 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

It is the LIVING word, ACTIVE and DYNAMIC in the hearts and the lives of those who diligently pursue it.

3) God’s Word DIVIDES and DISCERNS our HEARTS. (Heb. 4:12b)

Looking back to the Israelites in Numbers, the author reminds us of the result of their disobedience.

They fell by the sword, lost in the wilderness.

This living and active Word, he tells us, is sharper than a two-edged sword.

A sword with a sharp blade on both sides.

A sword strong enough to destroy, to battle, and to defend.

He isn’t shying away from the reality of judgement the Word of God proclaims over unbelief.

Sure, the word can be a weapon that destroys, that defends, and that is used in battle; but in the life of a believer, it is like a scalpel in the hands of a surgeon.

The word of God is surgical in its power to divide and discern our hearts, our intentions, our desires, our fears, our worries, and our attitudes.

Just like any surgery, there is a potential for pain and discomfort as the Word of God reveals and confronts us with the truth of our thoughts and intentions.

And then there is room for healing, wholeness, and hope.

4) God’s Word REVEALS what is TRUE and REAL. (Heb. 4:13)

Don't be like those in the wilderness who hardened their hearts to God's voice.

Instead, let God's Word actively work in your life, exposing and sifting out the earliest traces of unbelief or resistance before they take root.

Allow the Bible to begin its transformative work, stripping away the carefully constructed image you present to the world, the mask you wear for others.

Let it expose the painful truth of sin and unbelief within you.

As the ultimate source of truth and our guide to abundant life, we must continually return to God's Word.

Only then can we avoid being led astray or allowing our hearts to harden once more to its life-giving truth.

Abiding in the Word this Week

1) Find a reading plan and commit to reading.

Our reading plan on the bottom of the bulletin.

Bible app/bible.com

F260 bible reading plan

2) Get a readable translation.

CSB, ESV, NIV, NLT

If you can’t understand it, then find one you can.

3) Journal, highlight, and meditate.

Get a journal you can write notes and questions in.

Have a highlighter with you to highlight verses that stand out.

Write down verses to meditate on.

Consider the meaning, think about their application, seek answers to questions they bring up.

4) Find someone to journey with.

Find a partner.

Get in a group

Join together as a family.

Don’t do this alone.