9-17-17: Reboot - Scripture

I. Me and We

Last week I talked a little bit about why is it so easy to start bad habits but so hard to break them. That’s the question I was wondering about last week. Last Sunday I brought up the four stage model of habit formation; noticing, wanting, doing, and liking. Mid way through the week I realized, hey…I pretty much like bad habits from the git go. Cake…Pie…eating things that are bad for me are…well…enjoyable....for a while at least.

As I continue to gorge on cake and pie, if I keep it up, at some point I may have a problem. My health might suffer. So, the bad habit that feels so good, in the end, isn’t so good.

I can stay up and watch late night TV and it is enjoyable. I like it from the very beginning…but if I continue to gorge on late night TV I might have a bad morning…or…over time…what have I given up for that time? I mean, if I read a book instead of watching some rerun…would my life be better off? Perhaps it depends on the book, but generally, I would say, reading would have far greater good than watching some rerun.

In fact…this is me several years ago…believe me…I know what life is like eating MMs, cakes, pies, and watching late night TV.

Good habits, however, aren’t always enjoyable…at first. Learning to play an instrument, eating healthy food, learning a new skill, exercising, or reading, may not be all that enjoyable. We might not like those things.

However…as time goes on those activites are the ones that open us up to new adventures…new opportunites, and much growth.

When I have my yearly checkup, I am so glad that I spend my mornings riding my exercise bike. Do I enjoy it…well…no I don’t. Some mornings I want to skip it, however, I know if I skip it, over time, all the good that exercise brought would fade away.

We understand this right? If we start only eating junk food, over time our health would suffer. If we stopped exercising, over time, we would lose whatever gains we had. If we stop practicing or playing an instrument, over time, we would lose that skill

Use it or Lose it They Say!

So, what happens in our spiritual life when we do not practice good habits? What happens when we neglect spending time with God? Neglect worshiping together? Neglect spending time in God’s word? or other spiritaul practices?

Just like with exercise at first we don’t notice it. I would say, we might not notice it at all!

I remember seeing a picture of myself and I thought MY GOODNESS!!! I LOOK LIKE THAT! I had no idea. It was a wake up call.

Bad can happen by accident. Good habits happen by intention.

What happens when I stop good practices

Here’s the other side…when I stop good practices, or habits, I might not see much difference for a while. The changes are subtle. Over time I end up sliding back into bad habits and the world doesn’t cave in on me. However, if I watch closely, little by little I ended up right where I was.

I find the same thing with spiritual habits....sometimes we call these spiritual disciplines. I believe they are good habits that transform our lives. Just like other habits, we might not see the benefit day by day. Yet, consistency over time is a powerful combination. Over time we find our lives shifting. THings that use to cause us to freak out, don’t. We are finding more confidence, more joy, more peace, etc.

Integrating God’s word into our lives transforms us.

II. God

A. Scripture as a Core Formative practice

Psalm 119:105 NRSV

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

I have grown to love and appreciate this verse. The psalmist views God’s word, not as something to memorize, not as something that contains facts and dates, but a lamp and light that guides his way.

Psalm 119:105–107 NRSV

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word.

The New Bible Commentary Psalm 119. The Golden ABC of the Word of God

We must not expect to drift by accident into devotion to the word!

The psalmist desires life according to God’s word. There are other approaches to life. We can allow culture to be a light and a lamp. We can allow our family to be a light and a lamp. The psalmist wanted scripture to serve that purpose and bring him life.

The New Bible Commentary Psalm 119. The Golden ABC of the Word of God

The rejoicing heart must be linked with the ‘directed heart’ (112) lit. ‘I have inclined/directed my heart to do your decrees’. Joy without obedience is frivolity; obedience without joy is moralism.

The psalmist says he has sworn an oath and confirmed it…to observe God’s righteous ordiances. His heart rejoices in God’s law…we may say something simliar…we may say that God’s way is true, is right, is good. We may say that God leads us to places of blessing, however, our heart that rejoices at God’s word, will, and way, must be directed IN that way. We can stand and say we love the bible, but, if we are not directed by God’s word, it will not have a transformative effect on us.

This does not happen by accident. The psalmist intentionally formed his life around God’s word.

Good health doesn’t happen by accident, we must commit to it. Good families do not happen by accident.

Perhaps the biggest lie we believe is that things happen by accident. We look at others and believe their success just happened. However, if we take time to undertand those folks a little better, we will probably learn,there was alot of intentionality behind their action. They have a great family life…then you discover that they take time out to spend as a family. They have great health, then you learn that they have intentional practices.

Psalm 119:108–112 NRSV

Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Perhaps more than any other John Wesley serves as an example of someone who was fixated on God’s word. Even thought he was one of the most well-read individuals of his day. Yet, he considered himself a man of one book.

Wesley was one whose rejoicing heart was connected to a ‘directed heart.’ (see ver 112 in note above!)

I want to know one thing,—the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: For this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God!

Wesley, John. Sermons, on Several Occasions. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1999. Print.

Sermons, on Several Occasions Preface

I want to know one thing,—the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: For this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri. [A man of one book.] Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: Only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his book; for this end, to find the way to heaven. Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate? I lift up my heart to the Father of Lights:—“Lord, is it not thy word, ‘If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God?’ Thou ‘givest liberally, and upbraidest not.’ Thou hast said, ‘If any be willing to do thy will, he shall know.’ I am willing to do, let me know, thy will.” I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” I meditate thereon with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God; and then the writings whereby, being dead, they yet speak. And what I thus learn, that I teach.

Welsey writes:

I want to know one thing,—the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach me the way. For this very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God!

How to Read the Bible Like John Wesley

In John Wesley’s preface to his sermons, he gives insight into how he approached and read Scripture. He used a pretty good method. We can read Scripture like John Wesley by following these guidelines:

First, Wesley Sat with God

“I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri.” [A man of one book.]

John Wesley wanted the bible because it gave the path to heaven. Now he has it and he is focused.

“Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone; only God is here. In His presence I open, I read His book; for this end, to find the way to heaven.”

Wesley finds a place away from the hustle and bustle of life so he can spend time with God alone. He opens the bible and reads, looking for the way to heaven.

Second, he prayed.

“Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate? “

Yes, there were things in the bible that John Wesley didn’t understand. Some passages were “dark” and perhaps “intricate.” What did he do? He gives us the answer.

I lift up my heart to the Father of Lights:—“Lord, is it not Thy word, ‘if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God?’ Thou givest liberally, and upbraidest not. Thou hast said, ‘if any be willing to do Thy will, he shall know.’ I am willing to do, let me know Thy will.”

Wesley prayed that God would give him wisdom. James said,

“5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-8.

Wesley knew that God would give wisdom to understand God’s word and never berate us. Wesley asked God to reveal the meaning.

Third, he searched Scripture

“I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, ‘comparing spiritual things with spiritual.’”

Wesley would allow Scripture to help interpret Scripture. He would look to other passages that might shed light on the passage he was attempting to understand.

Fourth, he meditated with all his focus

“I meditate thereon with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable.”

Wesley spent time meditating on God’s word. He would focus his attention so that God might give him insight and wisdom. Meditation takes time and energy. Wesley used his energy in understanding God’s word.

Fifth, he consulted others

“If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God:”

If he still was having difficulty with the passage, he would consult others who were further down the path than he was, or who were more experienced in the things and ways of God. We know God best when we are in community. We can access the wisdom of others to help us in our journey with God and Scripture.

Sixth, he consulted other writers, some long since dead

“ and then the writings whereby, being dead, they yet speak.”

History has left us spiritual masters and church fathers. We can still learn from them. As Wesley says, “being dead, they yet speak.” I have found much wisdom and insight from the saints and spiritual masters of history.

Finally, he taught what he learned

“And what I thus learn, that I teach.”

We have been led to believe that learning is the end of our path. Wesley reminds us, learning is just the beginning. We learn so we can teach. God did not intent for us to sit in classes our entire life and never take on the role of sharing and teaching others. If we are going to fulfill our call, we must, at some point and in some way, pass on what we have learned.

John Wesley gives us a solid path as we spend time prayerful in God’s word. May your life open up to the possibilities of the God who loves us as you spend prayerful time in his word.

John Wesley loved the Bible because he was convinced the Bible contained the way to heaven. He says that he is alone, only God with him and in his presence he opens and reads God’s book.

We live in an age where we have greater access to the Bible more than any other. In fact, here, at St. Paul, if you don’t have a Bible you can understand, or a Bible at all, we are giving away the NLT study bible! We believe the bible is so important, that we want to make sure you have access to it!

Yet, that’s not the only option. Last week I mentioned this website:

bible.faithlife.com

This website gibve syou access to the Bible. If you sign up for a free account, you also get access to a study bible along with multiple english translations.

B. Study

A life formed around scripture does not happen by accident.

The reason I promoted the time log/inventory is because activities slip into our schedule without us noticing. Some of these activites can be reduced, or elimiated all together so that we might add other activities, pracitces, or habits.

I encourage you to create a habit of scripture and prayer. In order for scripture to truly form us, we need three things as we approach scripture: prayer, opennes, and readiness.

Environment

Prayer

Openness

Readiness

Observe

What’s there. What do you notice

III. You and Us

Be Intentional

One way to stop a habit is to replace it with another one.

So…when you decide to go onto facebook…go to bible.faithlife.com instead!

2. Carve Out Time

3. Remember

God loves us!

God wants to take you to places of blessings! He is excited!

As John Wesley said, the Bible points us toward heaven!

Luke 15:7 NRSV

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 NRSV

Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

God doesn’t give up

Philippians 3:12 NRSV

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Philippians 3:13–14 NRSV

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8–9 NRSV

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.