Resolved to Know God's Word
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Resolved to Know God’s Word
Resolved to Know God’s Word
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Library of Congress in Washington, DC, is the largest library in the world.
The Library of Congress in Washington, DC, is the largest library in the world.
It serves as the research library for the US Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States.
The following statistics apply to the Library of Congress.
It has an annual budget of over 680 million dollars.
It employs of 3,100 people.
It is house in four different buildings.
It includes research materials from all parts of the world written in more than 450 different languages.
It has 838 miles of bookshelves containing 150 million different items.
It also holds three million recordings, fifteen million photographs, five million maps, and sixty-one million manuscripts.
Yet out of that entire collection, only one book is alive, powerful, and able to bring true spiritual growth to a person’s life.
That book is the Bible!
Here in the beginning of the year 2020 we are focusing on spiritual growth—focusing on growing closer to the Lord and growing so that our lives more reflect the life of Christ.
So far we have seen the need for spiritual growth in our lives.
We have heard messages calling us to be faithful in church attendance, in slowing down to spend time with God, and in building an effective prayer life.
Today we resolve to grow through knowing and living more of the Word of God.
We cannot afford to underestimate the extreme importance of the Bible when it comes to our spiritual growth.
The Bible shows us what displeases God.
The Bible teaches us how to please God.
The Bible instructs us, encourages us, and inspires us.
The Bible feeds our soul and nurtures our spirit.
The Bible is alive and powerful.
The Bible is God’s Word to us.
As we learn more of His Word and live more of His Word the greater our spiritual growth becomes.
As we pursue spiritual growth in 2020 we must be resolved to know God’s Word and to live according to God’s Word.
In we find God telling Joshua that knowing and living according to the Word would bring him great success.
In we find God telling Joshua that knowing and living according to the Word would bring him great success.
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
In this passage God calls Joshua to step up and take the place of Moses as the leader of the people of Israel.
In the Lord tells Joshua to give God’s Word a prominent place in his thoughts, actions, and life.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
2. Joshua was told to meditate (think on the Word, chew on the Word) on the Word of God day and night.
Joshua was told to meditate (think on the Word, chew on the Word) on the Word of God day and night.
Joshua was to conduct himself according to the teachings of the Word of God.
God told Joshua that if he would honor the Book he would be prosperous and successful.
This didn’t mean he would not face difficulty.
It did mean he would be equipped with any difficulty that came his way.
It tells us that if we know the Bible and live our lives according to the Bible we will grow in the Lord and in the blessings of God.
It tells us that if we know the Bible and live our lives according to the Bible we will grow in the Lord and in the blessings of God.
If you will learn more of God’s Word you will grow spiritually.
If you will learn more of God’s Word you will grow spiritually.
It doe
BODY
BODY
The Bible is God’s book.
The Bible is God’s book.
When our text called Joshua to keep the Book of the Law it referred to the first five books of our Bible.
Those books were the only books of the Bible written in Joshua’s time.
Today we possess the complete written Word of God in our Bibles.
Your Bible contains two testaments.
The Old Testament tells of the time before Christ.
The New Testament tells of the time of Christ.
The Bible contains 66 books written by more than 35 people over a span of 1,600 years, yet it has one continuous theme—Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins.
The Bible is the unique Book of God—no other book compares to it.
a) It is the only written source of God’s truth.
It is the only written source of God’s truth.
b) There are many imposters—works of the devil—that seek to gain the status of the Bible (Koran, Book of Mormon, etc.) but none of them can be considered the Word of God.
There are many imposters—works of the devil—that seek to gain the status of the Bible (Koran, Book of Mormon, etc.) but none of them can be considered the Word of God.
c) The Bible is the complete revelation of God to us.
The Bible is the complete revelation of God to us.
1. We can add nothing to the Word of God.
We can add nothing to the Word of God.
2. We dare not take anything from the Word of God.
We dare not take anything from the Word of God.
3. The Bible stands alone as God’s message to us.
The Bible stands alone as God’s message to us.
d) Anything that contradicts or adds to the Bible must be rejected.
Anything that contradicts or adds to the Bible must be rejected.
e) Anyone who teaches that which contradicts or adds to the Bible must be counted as false prophets.
Anyone who teaches that which contradicts or adds to the Bible must be counted as false prophets.
f) We serve One God and the Bible is His one and only Book.
We serve One God and the Bible is His one and only Book.
The Assemblies of God lists the inspiration of the Bible as its first fundamental truth which says, “The Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.”
God Himself is the source of the Bible.
a) “All Scripture is God-breathed” ().
“All Scripture is God-breathed” ().
b) The creative activity of God Himself produced the Bible.
The creative activity of God Himself produced the Bible.
c) God used humans to hold the pen and make the marks on the paper, but God gave them what they wrote.
God used humans to hold the pen and make the marks on the paper, but God gave them what they wrote.
d) God determined the content and the character of the Bible.
God determined the content and the character of the Bible.
e) God breathed the Bible into existence—in fact God-breathed is the meaning of the word inspiration.
God breathed the Bible into existence—in fact God-breathed is the meaning of the word inspiration ().
20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
f) “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” ().
The Bible is the work and product of the Holy Spirit of God.
g) The Bible is the work and product of the Holy Spirit of God.
People do not sit in judgment of the Bible.
h) People do not sit in judgment of the Bible.
The Bible judges all people!
i) The Bible judges all people!
The Bible is different than any other book ()
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
a) “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (, NIV)
The Word of God is a living book—alive and active.
It penetrates, detects, judges, and exposes the secret thoughts, motives, and meditations of the mind and heart.
c) It penetrates, detects, judges, and exposes the secret thoughts, motives, and meditations of the mind and heart.
d) It cuts deep into the soul to separate from us anything displeasing to God.
It cuts deep into the soul to separate from us anything displeasing to God.
No other book carries the weight, the authority, the import, and the power of God’s Word.
e) No other book carries the weight, the authority, the import, and the power of God’s Word.
The Bible is unique in its function.
a) It is in the Bible that we learn about the nature of God.
It is in the Bible that we learn about the nature of God.
b) It is in the Bible that we find way of salvation.
It is in the Bible that we find way of salvation.
c) It is in the Bible that we discover how God wants us to live.
It is in the Bible that we discover how God wants us to live.
d) It is in the Bible that we see God’s will for this planet.
It is in the Bible that we see God’s will for this planet.
e) It is in the Bible that we find instruction, that if observed, will lead to a life of peace and satisfaction.
It is in the Bible that we find instruction, that if observed, will lead to a life of peace and satisfaction.
f) The Bible gives us all we need to live in harmony with one another and with God.
The Bible gives us all we need to live in harmony with one another and with God.
g) No other book, no matter its claim for itself, can do what this book does!
No other book, no matter its claim for itself, can do what this book does!
The Bible is the authoritative guide for conduct that pleases God ().
a) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (, NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
The Bible answers all or our questions about how we are to live.
It tells us the actions that please God as well as the behavior that God hates.
c) It tells us the actions that please God as well as the behavior that God hates.
d) We cannot afford to debate the teachings of the Word, we cannot afford to ignore the Word of God, and we certainly cannot afford to violate the Word of God.
We cannot afford to debate the teachings of the Word, we cannot afford to ignore the Word of God, and we certainly cannot afford to violate the Word of God.
e) We must simply submit to the Word and accept its teaching as the only way to please God.
We must simply submit to the Word and accept its teaching as the only way to please God.
Above all, the Bible introduces us to Jesus Christ, the Savior.
Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, glorious resurrection, amazing ascension, and soon return is the main message of the whole Bible!
Time restricts me in this, but let us just get a taste of how the Bible teaches Jesus to us:
Genesis—the seed of woman who crushes the head of the serpent.
Exodus —pillar of cloud by day and fire by night
Leviticus—the sacrificial lamb that takes away sin
Numbers—tabernacle in the wilderness where He meets with His people
Deuteronomy--the great high priest, the only way to God
Deuteronomy--
Joshua— Captain of the Lord’s Army
Ruth — Kinsman-Redeemer
{ADD MORE IF I WISH TO CONTINUE ON THIS THOUGHT}
In the books of history 1,2 Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, he is the coming king who will sit on David’s throne
In Psalms—the song of our heart
Proverbs—the wisdom of God
Major prophets-baby born of a virgin and the government shall be on His shoulders
Daniel-fourth man walking in the fire
Minor prophets—the champion of Israel
In the Gospels:
Son of David
Son of Man
Son of God.
The Word—in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
In Acts He baptizes His people in the Holy Ghost
To Paul—He is crucified, risen, and coming again—He will descend with a shout with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God. The dead shall rise then those that remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
To John—The alpha and Omega, beginning and the end, the first and the last, He who was, and is, and is to come.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Jesus is the point of the Bible.
The Bible calls us to trust Christ to save us from our sins.
You can memorize every verse of the Bible, but if you do not turn to faith in Christ it is all for naught.
The Bible calls us to trust in Christ, the only name given among men whereby we must be saved!
The Bible is a living book that introduces us to a living Savior who gives eternal life to all who believe.
In order to please God and enjoy a blessed life you must recognize that the Bible is the Word of God and you must grow in your knowledge of it.
Now that we understand the importance of the Bible let us turn to God’s instruction to Joshua concerning the Book of the Law.
To grow in the Word we must talk about it.
To grow in the Word we must talk about it.
Let us refresh our memory of the main verse in our text:
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
The first part of the verse tells Joshua to keep the Book of the Law on his lips.
This means he was to talk about it.
He is to talk about it with his family.
He is to talk about it with his friends.
He is to talk about it and teach it to the people he leads.
The Word of God was to be on his lips—he was to speak about it often.
This sets the pattern for us.
We must talk about the Word.
We must discuss it with our families.
We need friends with whom we can consider the truths of Scripture.
We must be able to teach it to those who look up to us.
In the Bible is speaking of the commands of God’s Word and says:
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
His Word should be on our lips.
To grow in the Word we need to think about it.
To grow in the Word we need to think about it.
Again, let us consider :
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Notice that the second part of the first sentence called for Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law.
Our concept of meditation has been corrupted by Eastern religions and t heir concept of meditation.
In Eastern religions, meditation means emptying your mind, thinking of nothing, and making your mind a blank slate.
In Christianity, meditation means filling your heart and mind with the Word of God and thinking about it.
God called Joshua to continually think about the Word.
We should have the Word of God in our hearts and on our minds.
Consider the Word.
Think of the Word.
Meditate on the Word.
Intentionally take steps to keep the Word in your heart and on your mind.
The psalmist said a blessed person is one ():
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Spiritual growth comes when we think on the precepts of God’s Word.
To grow in the Word we must live according to it.
To grow in the Word we must live according to it.
God called Joshua to talk about the the Book of the Law and to think about it so he could live it ().
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Notice the last part of the first sentence calls Joshua to be careful to do what is written in the Word.
Why do we read, talk about, and think about the Bible?
So we can live our lives according to it!
Nikita Khrushchev served as Joseph Stalin’s right hand man in the Soviet Union (http://www.itslikethis.org/khrushchev/).
He stood by and approved of Stalin murdering millions of Russian citizens.
He took Stalin’s place a leader of the Soviet Union.
He died a militant atheist, far from God.
He was raised in the church.
He even memorized all four of the Gospels and could quote them freely.
Yet the Scriptures he memorized did not change his life.
It is not enough to know, memorize, or quote the Bible.
We must heed its teaching and live our lives according to His Word.
We must live according to the Word!
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matt. 7:
Wise people know the Word.
Wise people think about the Word.
Wise people talk about the Word.
Wise people live their lives according to the Word.
Wise people build their lives on God’s Word.
When we know and live our lives upon God’s Word we position ourselves to receive the blessings of God in our lives.
The last part of v. 8 promises Joshua success and prosperity if he talks about, thinks on, and lives according to God’s Word.
For Joshua that meant victory over the enemies of Israel as they fought to conquer the Promised Land.
For us it means success in spiritual growth, spiritual prosperity, and spiritual blessings.
We will grow spiritually when we grow in our devotion to God’s Word.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
History tells us of the ship named Bounty whose crew turned on their notorious Captain Bligh in 1789.
History tells us of the ship named Bounty whose crew turned on their notorious Captain Bligh in 1789.
After the rebellion, Captain Bligh and those loyal to him were set adrift in a life boat and they eventually made it to safety.
The mutineers fled to Pitcairn Island, a tiny dot in the South Pacific ocean.
Over the course of ten years, drunkenness, fighting, and murder resulted in only one man being left alive, John Adams.
Eleven women and twenty-three children made up the rest of the island’s population.
About this time, Adams came across the ship’s Bible in the bottom of an old chest.
He began to read the Bible.
The power of God’s Word reached into the heart of this hardened man on this tiny speck of rock in the vast Pacific.
He submitted to Christ and his life was transformed.
The peace and love of God replaced his old life of fighting and drinking.
He began to teach the children the Bible until every person on that island experienced the same amazing change that he had found.
The Bible changed the heart of a murderous criminal and transformed a group of people.
The Word of God is His letter to us.
The Word of God is His letter to us.
God commanded Joshua to observe the teaching of the Word and promised him success if he would do so.
Jesus told His disciples to keep His word and promised them that if they did so their lives would be established on a solid rock of His blessings.
2) Jesus told His disciples to keep His word and promised them that if they did so their lives would be established on a solid rock of His blessings.
The same is true for us today—when we honor, know, and keep God’s Word we put ourselves in position to receive God’s blessing.
The same is true for us today—when we honor, know, and keep God’s Word we put ourselves in position to receive God’s blessing.
If you give the Bible a great place in your life and in your family you will be blessed.
If you give the Bible a great place in your life and in your family you will be blessed.
You need to follow the teaching of the Bible and trust Jesus for salvation.
You need to read and study the Bible during the week.
You need to come to God’s house and hear the Word of God explained and applied to our daily lives.
You need to live by the teachings of God’s Word.
I have challenged you to make time for God each day and to make time a few times this year to spend extended time with Him.
In that time we should pray.
In that time we should read Scripture and meditate on Scripture.
In that time we should be silent in His presence.
If you will, then you will grow in your walk with God this year.