THE WORD OF GOD

Series: Sacred Motives: 10 Reasons to Get up Tomorrow and Live for God

Date: September 30, 2012

Title: SACRED MOTIVE #4- The Word of God

Text: Romans 15:4

Series Introduction:

What drives you? What causes you to wake up every day and live the Christian life?

Are your motives pleasing to Christ, and are you driven by what drives Him?

Motives do matter-they are the foundations of our lives with God, our hearts are for Him, and our service unto Him.

Series Text:

Ephesians 6:6 KJV 1900

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Wrong motives produce an empty life and a ministry that is not sustainable. Pure motives sustain our passion for God and thus sustain our work for Him-even during the dry, discouraging or seemingly fruitless seasons of our lives.

Living the Christian life with less than pure and Biblical motives will produce fruitless, empty, and ultimately shipwrecked lives. Some examples of impure motives:

Guilt-guilt and shame are powerful motivators, yet they will not sustain a person long term. Additionally they do not provide the necessary ingredient of “joy” for serving the Lord.

Opportunity-

Money

Duty-We should give attention to our duties, yet duty alone can be a shallow motivator. By itself, duty is a cold, demaneding and heartless taskmaster. A duty bound spirit will struggle to radiate Christian joy and grace.

Affirmation-there is nothing wrong to appreciate when someone recognizes a job well done, but what happens when the one that gives affirmation is silent?

Dr. Lee Roberson (pastor of Temple Baptist in Chatanooga, Tenn.)Treat praise and criticism like bubble gum, chew on it a little while then spit it out.

Nothing wrong with receiving affirmation, to be committed to your duty, to gain a financial blessing, to accept and opportunity, or to want a clear conscience. But these are insufficient motivators, and if you are allowing these to drive your Christian life, then your

These motivators hinge on human resources (either our own or someone else’s) and fail to draw in the unlimited passion that God desires to give to His servants.

We need Biblical, Christ centered, and Holy motivations!!! The kind that flow from the heart of God and the pages of the Word of God!!!

Christ is worthy of our all-our purest love from our deepest devotion!!

Series Text:

Ephesians 6:6 KJV 1900

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

SACRED MOTIVE #4- The Word of God- Romans 15:4

Romans 15:4 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Introduction:

Every year Approximately 4.2 million new books are produced for sell in America. Interesting fact: every year the rest of the world produces around 2.2 million new books.

Many of these are self-help books- written and marketed with the promise of change, improvement and a better life.

Americans have an unquenchable thirst to better themselves, because they have a deep nagging discontentment with who they are and where they are in life.

The sad news is that this multi million industry is successful but their strategies are not.

Its very success is founded upon the fact that new books and ideas are needed every year.

Today’s strategies don’t work any better than yesterday’s strategies- but they sure do sell.

Deep inside every person is a knowledge that we are broken-that we desperately need improvement and personal change.

New years resolutions

Tactics of personal discipline

Positive thinking

These only take a person so far; they may remake the external for a season, but they are powerless in transforming us internally.

After all the books, seminars, strategies, and schemes, we are all the more empty (and more broke).

If you are looking for a new book, a new diet, or a new self-help philosophy to motivate you, this is a path of disappointment.

But there is one book- one source of truth that is eternally transforming and ultimately motivating. It is a living book, a life-changing book.It is a book that will discern your heart and transform your thinking every time that you open it.

This book will make good on every one of its promises, it will never fail and never be found insufficient!!

The Word of God is one of the greatest motivators in all of life!!!

BTW-it does not contain the words of God, IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!!

I. The Bible is my Book

Remember when you 1st got saved and started reading your Bible….

Incredible to watch the change in a persons life:

Come to Christ as Savior

Begin to walk personally walk with the Lord and read God’s Word.

After a few months the change that they had long sought is now beginning to unfold in their heart.

This is true and lasting change- and transformation generated by the very Word of God.

Psalm 119:130 “130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.”

This kind of change only happens when we come to the place where we can say- “the Bible is my book and I read it often.”

For the man that is down and out, the Bible can change their life.

Psalm 19:7–11 “7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward.”

Have you become bored and disconnected from its transforming truths?

Isn’t time for the Bible to become “Your Book” again?

II. God’s Word Changes Us

Note- every part of my life has been radically and undeniably changed by the Word of God!!!

Note- every major decision, every abundant blessing and every critical turning point can be traced back to the Word of God!!

Reading it, studying it, hearing it taught, hearing it preached has an eternal impact on lives…how about yours?

Every time I read the Word of God, I avail myself of God’s presence and God’s power.

A. God’s Word has the power to stir, to change, to motivate like no human device can.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV 1900

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

B. The Word of God works in ways that I cannot always see or feel when I read it with a believing and receptive heart.

It brings about personal transformation:

Renewing the mind

Reconstructing the thoughts

Rebuilding character

Revising behavior

C. God’s Word is always working to mold the reader into the image of Jesus Christ. It will accomplish its God given task in my life.

Isaiah 55:11 KJV 1900

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

III. The Powerful and Positive Effects of the Bible

Note- God tells us many specific blessings that come to our lives through His Word:

A. Given by God and is profitable

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

B. Alive and discerns our hearts

Hebrews 4:12

12-  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

C. Works effectually in us

An American Dictionary of the English Language EFFECTUALLY

EFFEC̵T´UALLY, adv. With effect; efficaciously; in a manner to produce the intended effect; thoroughly. The weeds on land for grain must be effectually subdued. The city is effectually guarded.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

13-  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

D. Gives patience, comfort, hope

Romans 15:4

4-  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

E. Is Perfect, sure, right, and pure

Psalms 19:7-8

7-  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8-  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

F. Purifies our lives

Psalms 119:9

9- Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

G. Directs our path

Psalms 119:105

105- Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

H. Protects us from offense

Psalms 119:165

165-  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

I. Gives true success and prosperity

Joshua 1:8

8-  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

J. Gives understanding

Proverbs 9:10

10-  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Psalms 119:130

130-  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

K. Eternally valuable

Psalm 12:6–7 KJV 1900

6 The words of the Lord are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

When you wander away for Jesus, God’s Word will find you and show you the path back home.

IV. Where Do You Turn?

Note- too many Christians turn to their own devices and God’s Word becomes our last thought when seeking renewal, or answers, change or personal growth; the reason is they have become disconnected from the Bible.

Seeking and understanding God’s truth should be our first thought in all of life’s questions.

Proverbs 2:1-6

1-  My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2-  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3-  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4-  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5-  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

6-  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

V. Putting the motive into practice

A. Regularly spend personal time with God through His Word

B. Meditate in what God Promises is available through His Word

C. Periodically take a personal inventory of specific ways that God has recently changed your life through His Word

D. Purposefully center your ministry (all Christians have a ministry) around God’s Word

Conclusion:

Anchor yourself in the truth of the Word of God:

Schedule a daily time to read it, memorize it, meditate on it, and obey it.

Allow its words to become a foundation for your life.

In doing this you will find a deep spiritual motivation and transformation that nothing else can provide!!!