Bible Intake (Honduras)

Introduction

Well, good afternoon/ evening! It feels so good to be back here with you guys again!…Thank you for giving us the opportunity, the time to teach you over the next couple of days.

If you have a Bible, and I hope that you do…open it up with me to Psalm 119—we’re gonna focus on a couple of different sections here.

But over the next couple of days, we’re gonna examine some spiritual disciplines…things that help us grow in our faith. I’m just gonna give a brief introduction here (I don’t have a ton time…so I’m gonna be quick with this first discipline) but if we believe God’s Word to be good, inspired, powerful, authoritative…then what it calls us to—things like prayer, and service, rest, fasting, stewardship, discipleship, evangelism—those things have to be just as good for us too, right? That’s the purpose of these lessons…what things does the Bible prescribe that are good for us? Things we should be walking in…disciplined in?

Let’s be honest: discipline it’s not easy, right? It takes effort. Whether it's eating right or exercising…developing spiritually, the things that are best for us, those things often require intentionality…they’re hard.

And listen, nowhere is that more true than with the intake of God’s Word.

And so that’s what we’re gonna focus on first…its the first and probably most important spiritual discipline there is. Everything else that we’re gonna talk about, it stems from the Word of God.

There is no healthy Christian life apart from a steady diet of Scripture.

And so listen, there’s three things I want us to see here when it comes to the spiritual discipline of Bible intake…Number 1, we need to read God’s Word…Number 2, we need to study God’s Word…and number 3, we need to live out God’s Word.

I. Read the Word (vv. 9-16)

Psalm 119, its all about the Word of God. It’s the longest chapter in the Bible—its a poetic reflection on the power, the value, the necessity of God’s Word in our lives. The psalmist asks a key question in verse 9:

“How can a young man keep his way pure?” He says, “By guarding it according to Your Word.”

David, the author here, he knew the struggle of obedience—he wasn’t a perfect person, he didn’t pretend to be. But he sought God with his whole heart and he delighted in His Word.

Verse 11, he says:

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Listen, if we wanna grow spiritually, if we wanna resist sin, David shows us we have to be rooted in Scripture. It’s not enough to just say we believe it, right?—we have to apply it…and listen, that starts by simply reading it. He says, “Teach me,” in verse 12.

Meaning, we have to actually get into God’s Word. Not just devotionals. Not just a verse a day. Consistently, deeply, intentionally in the Word of God.

And so, that’s my first encouragement…my first point if you’re taking notes:

Read the Word…Do it daily. Do it thoughtfully. Do it together, with other people. Do it alone. Use a plan. Stay in the Word of God.

Because if God’s Word is what keeps us grounded, as David says here, then we can't afford to neglect it.

Listen, Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), right? So when we engage with Scripture, we’re ultimately drawing closer to Him—not just a book, but a Person. The Bible points us to Christ on every single page.

So read it…that’s how we grow in our walk with Christ.

II. Study the Word (vv. 33-40)

Point number 2…Study the Word.

Jump to verse 33—David prays, “Teach me your statutes; cause me to keep them.” 

If you’ve followed Jesus for any amount of time, you get this prayer: “God, help me be consistent. I want discipline to do what I know is good, because I struggle on my own.” Right?

David wants to observe God’s law with his whole heart—not half-heartedly. He wants to love God fully…but listen, he knows he can’t do that without God’s power…he can’t do that on his own. Our human will, its flawed, its selfish, its prone to sin. So David pleads here, “God, do something in me.”

He asks God to turn his heart away from selfishness and worthless things, to delight in God’s commandments. It really echoes what Paul says in Philippians 4:8 to focus on what’s true, and pure, and excellent.

David wants to fear God rightly because fearing the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom (Psalm 111:10). When we put God first, we find freedom and we find life.

Listen to David’s wisdom here…walking with God righteously…it takes God illuminating our minds to His inspired Word. That’s why he says, “Teach me!”

God’s Word, its not about restriction, its about life and joy—Scripture, its God’s way to lead us into the best life (John 14:15). Jesus calls us to obey because He loves us and He’s knows exactly what’s best for us.

And so how do we get there? We do it by studying God’s Word—not just reading it.

We do it by digging into what He’s given us. The one thing that we know is true and good…the one thing we know to be inspired…and powerful…authoritative.

David prays for understanding…and guys we need discipline and prayer, trusting God to illuminate our minds in this.

Listen, if you’re taking notes…let me just give you a simple strategy I use when I’m reading through the Bible, when I’m studying it personally…It’s called the HEAR strategy…H…E…A…R (In the English). I understand that may not translate very well here…but hopefully it makes some sense. It means highlight, explain, apply, respond.

Every time I read the Bible…every time I go to the Word, I highlight a passage that maybe I didn’t quite understand…or maybe it was just something that was stuck in my mind, and I write it down. I highlight it. I have a journal for this…Writing it down, it also helps me to memorize that verse.

From there, I try to explain that verse, in its original context. Two or three lines about the author, the audience, its purpose…what it means to the original reader…If you have a good study Bible, those are good places to really dig into these verses. You can use commentaries…online resources. But try to understand the original context of that verse.

And then listen, once I feel like I grasp that verse…I try and apply it to today…Now that I understand what it means, how does it apply to me?…What does God want me to know about whatever it is I’m reading. Right?

And then from there, I respond. I write a short, very simple prayer to God…responding to what it is He’s shown me…because ultimately, studying His Word, its not about reading some book, its about coming into, more fully, the presence of God…so that I might walk in a way that’s more and more blameless, by His power.

And so, I highlight, I explain, I apply, I respond…every time I read the Word. I engage with it…because its true…because its good…because there’s real power in it.

And listen, as you study the Word…work to memorize it...work to put it on your heart, so that even if you don’t a physical copy of God’s Word, it’s still there to encourage you.

And so, the second point, we have to study God’s Word...we have to engage with it.

Reading and studying the Word isn’t just about gaining knowledge—it’s about knowing God. It’s about hearing His voice, learning His heart, walking closely with Him.

III. Live the Word (vv. 105-112)

And then finally, Point number 3…Live the Word.

David’s tone here, it shifts as you get further into this chapter—he’s near to God and it shows in a very fruitful life. He’s consumed with God’s Word (v. 97). He says it makes him wiser than his enemies, wiser than his teachers, even the elderly (vv. 98-100). The Word of God gave him wisdom beyond his years.

Verse 103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey!” He loves the Word because it sustains him, it guides him. He’s like a paid spokesman for the Bible now...Its finger licking good! He’s witnessed just how sweet the Word of God can be in one’s life.

Verse 105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

You ever faced a tough decision?…God’s Word, it lights the way, it helps us choose the right path…it should guide our actions.

If we keep going…David pledges to keep God’s rules even in affliction (vv. 106-112). He holds his life open-handedly—trusting God to lead him, knowing life is hard but that God sustains.

He calls God’s testimonies his heritage and joy…Knowing who he belongs to gives him identity and hope. Its just like tracing our family histories, how it builds pride and direction…God’s Word, it builds our spiritual heritage and joy.

David’s very relatable here—he’s wrestled with different struggles and different highs.

But listen, if you read this chapter…what’s been the one thing that’s changed him?…The Word of God, right?

When we engage deeply with Scripture, it transforms us…it shapes how we live, who we are!

Listen, if your soul…if it had a diet log, what would it show us about you? Would it be full of God’s Word?—or listen, would it be full of junk food? What would it say you’ve hungered for?

If you’ve been reading the Bible without depth…or maybe you’ve just not been very consistent or disciplined in this area…can I challenge this evening? Commit today to follow a reading plan…to study and to meditate on God’s Word (try the HEAR method)…commit to finding accountability in your church, among other believers…talk about what you’re reading…meet regularly with ‘em.

Don’t try to grow in the Word alone. God gave us the church for a reason. Let someone walk with you. Growth happens in community.

Make time, even if it means cutting something else out. Bible intake, its good for you!

And listen, I get it…you’re thinking, “Wow, a pastor telling me to read the Bible!…How original!” But again…how many of us are actually in it the way we know we should be? It sounds easy…I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, right? Then why aren’t you in it?

Spiritual discipline…it starts with God’s Word…Reading it…Studying it…Living it out! Amen? The fact that God gave it to us (as His people), it should mean something to you. Because listen, you’ll never grow in your walk, with Him, without first disciplining yourself in His Word. That’s why Paul emphasizes it so much Ephesians chapter 4. He talks about spiritual growth and Bible intake together.

Which is why its the first and most important spiritual discipline there is…Be in God’s Word…Know it, apply it.

And listen, as you do that…its gonna lead to other things…which are things we’re gonna talk about over the next couple of days.

And so, this afternoon/ tonight…we’re gonna talk a little bit more about prayer…and then worship…and then we’ll give you guys some time to ask questions as we close.

And so, at this time…I’m gonna have Kyler come up and talk about the next spiritual discipline which is prayer.