Sermon Tone Analysis

Many have heard the story of the man whose devotional reading consisted of cracking his Bible at random and reading the first verse his finger touched.

One morning this was his verse for the day: "And Judas went out and hanged himself."

That can't be it, he thought.

So he tried again.

"Go thou and do likewise" was his second hit.

The third time is a charm!

It wasn't.

It read:

The third time is a charm!

It wasn't.

It read: "What thou doest, do quickly!"

"What thou doest, do quickly!"

Q.

Where was Solomon’s temple located?

A. On the side of his head.

Q.

Where is the first tennis match mentioned in the Bible?

A. When Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court.

Q.

What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?

A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q.

Who was the smartest man in the Bible?

A. Abraham.

He knew a Lot.

Q.

Why didn’t they play cards on the Ark?

A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

Q.

Who was the fastest runner in the race?

A. Adam, because he was first in the human race.

Intro.

Text/Memory verse.

Ps.119.

As human beings, there are many things we can pursue in life but they all do not come with the same level of importance, or return.

like you have different jobs with different pay; different hourly rates

financially most of us will prefer a higher hourly rate than a lower one, a better return for your time

Which job pays better?

same with life, we should pursue the things in life that give us the greater return.

Is there anything in the world that can give you the return as the Word of God?

For this reason Moses in speaking to his protege said:

Moses now 120 years old and having walked with God, been Israel’s leader, a mighty man of God, knew the value of Scripture.

If there’s one thing he wants Joshua to know it is this.

meditate on it, study it, spend time in it, immerse yourself in it

speak it, confess it

obey it carefully, purposefully

It will yield good results

Read -

The book of Psalms, Israel’s hymnal, their songbook of praise and worship, begins

Read -

good for grasping general idea, can be leisurely exercise

Study

taking words/phrases/passages apart, dissect, define, analyse

an academic, intellectual exercise [will favor the educated]

Meditate

ponder, get a spiritual understanding, a revelation, get it into the heart, spirit

let it change your life, transform your thinking [Be transformed by the renewing of your mind]

The power of Scripture is harnessed by meditation.

If we desire to be disciples of Christ:

Attend church regularly

Develop a lifestyle of prayer.

Be a part of a small group.

Main thought: Immerse yourself in Scripture

There are many benefits that we derive from God’s Word.

God’s Word will bring the following benefits:

1. Set us free

Knowledge of God’s word sets us free from sin

E.g.

Martin Luther began the Reformation in 1517 and taught that salvation and, consequently, eternal life are not earned by good deeds but are received only as the free gift of God's grace through the believer's faith in Jesus Christ as redeemer from sin

As we spend time in God’s Word, bondages are being broken off from us.

The hold of sin is weakened.

We get to recognize sinful tendencies within us and deal with them.

Knowledge of God’s word sets us free from the lies of the world.

you are nothing

you have no future

God isn’t fair

You cannot win

you cannot amount to anything

you are not smart, beautiful.

God’s Word also brings -

2. Inner cleansing

We all know we were sinners saved by grace.

We have done many wrong things in our lives.

God’s word calls it sin.

Then when we come to surrender our lives to Jesus, we don’t become angels overnight.

The sinful nature remain and we have to constantly struggle with it.

God’s Word has a cleansing effect on us.

It purifies us.

It is God’s detergent for the soul.

What is your favorite laundry detergent?

Tide.

Gain.

Purex.

The only soul detergent is God’s Word.

The next benefit is:

3. Spiritual growth

Have you seen a newborn baby drink milk?

Recall the scenario before he drinks - screaming at the top of his lungs?

That baby is focused, ravenous, sucks so hard as if there will be no more milk the next time.

He drinks as if his life depends on it, and it does.