The Rewards of Remembering, Knowing and Trusting God's Word

Remember God’s Word

Do not forget my teaching

God’s word is to be read, understood and remembered.

Teaching - Torah -Rule, law, decision; direction

God’s word gives us instructions of how to live life in a way that will ultimately bring Him glory and us rewards. This requires more than recreational reading of the Bible. It requires intentional study of the Bible. This includes trying to understand the original meaning that the writer is trying to communicate. In order to do this you need to understand 4 things:

1. Who’s writing it and who they are writing to: For example Matthew is writing to Jews to communicate the gospel. This is why he starts his book with the genealogy beginning from Abraham. Compared to Luke, who was writing more to a gentile people and showed the genealogy of Jesus all the way to Adam. They are writing to two different people groups to share the same gospel message. This is important because we must recognize how they will best understand it. For example, you will share the gospel differently to an Atheist than you would a Muslim. The Atheist you must begin with “there is a God.” With a Muslim You share who the true God is. It is helpful to understand the audience that you are communicating with.

2. The culture and language of the people you are writing to: For example when John writes

John 12:32–33 NASB95

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

John 12:32 NASB95

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

The cultural slang of being lifted up was a term used to describe crucifixion. Without knowing the slang of the day this passage of scripture could be confusing. This is also very important because he was telling them that he was going to become sin for them so that He could reconcile them.

Deuteronomy 21:23 NASB95

his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 NASB95

“If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 21

The educated Jews knew Jews stoned criminals, not crucify them, and if their sin was so terrible, they would take the body and hang it on a tree. To everyone else knew about the crucifixion of the Romans. Jesus was taking both understandings and saying I am going to bear the repulsiveness of sin in myself and take the curse of the law away.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

3. What is going on and why the writer is writing to the audience.

For example Paul wrote to specific churches addressing specific issues in the individual church.

James wrote to a scattered church a circulatory letter to be read by the people scattered.

James 1:1–5 NASB95

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:1–2 NASB95

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

4. Date of writing

It is good to know when it is written so you can have an idea of the political system, technology of the day, what was important during the era.

Understanding the Bible will give the reader a deeper affection for the word of God as they discover that the same issues that are pertinent today were just as pervasive as they were when the writer wrote. GOD’S WORD IS TIMELESS!

God Promises Long Life and Peace To Those Who Remember His Word and Keep His Commandments

God gives us instructions in His word to get the fullness of joy out of life and live a good long life. Sin is what kills the body. It creates stress and health issues. When we are studiers of God’s Word it will keep us holy. Example: About call with Pastors. (Quiet time is vital for staying passionate about ministry)

Write God’s Word on the Tablet of Your Heart

God’s word should encompass our entire being. We should know God’s word, Love God’s Word, and Obey God’s Word. God’s word is life giving. It reveals God. When we begin to understand the enormity of the creator yet the intimacy He desires to have with us it is overwhelming. We see a depth of the love of God when we begin to realize our depth of sin. God’s Word is like His commandments. They were never meant to keep perfectly, but to show our inability to keep them. We are undeserving of the love of God. However we see the enormity of God’s love in that He sent Jesus to make us holy. THIS IS MY GOD!

Jeremiah 31:33 NASB95

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Jeremiah

God’s word constantly shows me that I am a sinner while at the same time showing me His never ending love for me. This is what makes us find favor and good repute with God and man.

When we see our shortcomings it is difficult to look down on others. Instead it gives us empathy for others. We see our need for Jesus as much as others need Jesus. This should give us passion to share Jesus with others.

When we share Jesus with others we make disciples which is the fulfillment of the great commission. This brings glory to God.

Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart!

Trusting in the Lord means simply believe His word.

Trusting the Lord is easy when it lines up with our understanding. This is a no brainer. We can have confidence in God’s Word when it lines up with our understanding. We will want to be obedient to God’s word.

Trusting in God’s word becomes more difficult when it doesn’t line up with our understanding. This is when we must make a decision about trusting God. Are we going to say “God I know better than you on this one or are we going to lean on our own understanding?” Example: Lets say that you have done something questionable (I know no one in here would do something like that) but lets just say you do. If someone questions what you have done and you know if you tell the truth it will hurt the person asking. In your understanding if you tell a little lie, they will never know and no one gets hurt. What do you do? Tell the little lie or be honest? If we tell the little lie, we will always be worried about if they are going to find out the truth. Most likely they will. God has ways of revealing truth.

We must understand that our understanding is very limited. God sees and knows everything. We would be wise to trust in God with all your heart. Even when it doesn’t make sense.

In all your ways acknowledge Him.

In every area of life we are to incorporate obedience to God’s Word. In every decision in life use God’s Word as your guide.

What about things like:

1. Who am I to Marry? The Bible does not tell you exactly who to marry. It gives guidance. We are not to marry unbeleivers. Is this person divorced on unbiblcal grounds?

2. What profession am I to pursue? The Bible will not tell you the exact profession to go into. It does warn not to get involved in business that is evil. It does instruct people to work as unto the Lord.

3.Is it Okay to drink alcohol? The Bible does not teach abstinence from alcohol, but it does forbid drunkenness.

4. Can I sleep with someone before I am married?

1 Corinthians 6:15–20 NASB95

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

When we acknowledge God in all our ways He will make our paths straight.

You will never regret applying God’s appropriately to your life.