Treasuring God's Word

Man don’t we need to be Treasuring God’s Word?

Have you been feeling like you been given the chance to spend more time in His Word but have been wasting it?

maybe even beyond that you have been spending your time falling into sins

because your bored and its easy?

regardless of what we are facing we can all grow in treasuring God’s Word.

Some of the best stories of people treasuring the Bible are from countries

where they do not have legal access to a Bible.

I remember having my mind blown from this one story.

Of this one Vietnamese christian named Hein who was thrown in jail for his Christian views

one day he was placed in charge to clean the toilets within the jail

.... he found that someone was using pages of the Bible as toilet paper

so he cleaned it off and saw that it was Romans 8 that says

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him….for I am convinced that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

So he wept and knew God was there reaching to him

So Hein would willingly clean the toilets because he found the some official was using the Bible pages as toilet paper

and he would clean it off the portions of scripture and add it to his collection of nightly readings.

I mean what a contrast to how we can treat God’s Word.

We leave it laying around, throwing it in random places,

Lets just talk about how great His Word is for a moment.

But first lets pray

How Great God’s Word Is

1. God’s Word is a writing to us from THE CREATOR

2. God’s Word is magnified above His Name Psalm 138:2

God puts His Word above His name

like wait a tick

doesn't it say in Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12 NLT

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

so by the name of Jesus we are saved fro the eternal fires of Hell.

...And God puts His Word over His name???

That speaks volumes!

3.God’s Word became man

In John 1:14 we learn that God’s Word became a man - which is Jesus

We know how precious Jesus is …

Teaching me that how I think I would treat Jesus is how i would treat the Bible

How would you treat Jesus? If you were going to hang out with Him?

I kinda picture Jaydee here

Jaydee would be making Jesus the best pour overs and and cooking whatever Jesus wanted

Well we should treat God’s Word like that.

4. God’s Word is alive and powerful

In Hebrews 4:12 it says

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

As we read the Word it reads us…

Will H. Houghton (ex-president of Moody Bible Institute) said“Lay hold of the Bible until the Bible lays hold of you.”

It is more then just a book.

and so we should treat it way beyond just some ordinary book.

5. It is how we receive faith (Romans 10:17)

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

6. It is a guide through life (Ps 119:105)

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

7. God’s Word is eternal

Isaiah 40:8 NKJV

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Mark 13:31 NKJV

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

8. It is able to teach, correct, change, and instruct you. 2 Timothy 3:16

9. By it we are sanctified - Eph. 5:26 & James 1:21

10. By His word we wont stumble Psalm 17:4–5

11. You excel in strength if you heed it -Psalm 103:20-

12. A young man’s way is cleansed by respecting the Word of God. - Psalm 119:9

13. It is able to judge the thought and intents of your heart by piercing your heart and soul. Hebrew 4:12

14. God’s word is a test for others. Psalm 105:19

15. His Word in our hearts protects us from sinning Psalm 119:11

16. Faith comes by hearing it. - Romans 10:17

17. It gives us hope - Romans 15:4

So

God’s Word is alive and eternal, it gives us life, and meaning, plus so much more.

Yet we disregard it so often.

How stupid, if only we really understand what we are missing

If only everyone understood what they are missing

We tend to chose the words from Satan more then we chose the Words from God

We are more interested in a gossip then a story that took God 1,600 years to write.

We are more interested in a person’s Vlog or blog has to say then the 40 different authors God used to speak to you.

We are more interested in people who are not so interested in us then God who is so interested in us...

He created a book using three different languages, on three different continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe)

Here is a book meant to blow our minds, guide our lives, and touch our hearts.

And God made sure that we would still have it through 3,600 years of history, while people wanted to destroy it.

Yet our response is meh.

who would do that to such a caring and loving God?

How dare anyone disrespect God by disrespecting His Word

We often condemn the Jews for being cruel to Jesus

But we are not any better..... by being cruel to His Word.

God putting His Word above His name is enough…

but as we see there is so much more reasons

why we should know that His Word is a treasure

But knowing God’s Word is a treasure and treasuring God’s Word is two different things.

Its the difference of a Pirate having a treasure map and the pirate seeking the treasure.

So … if you want to go from being a pirate holding a treasure map to actively searching for the treasure…

and treating God’s Word like the gold that it is! Then....

turn your Bibles over to Psalm 119 and instead of Church say ARGH! like a pirate

because we are now seeking the treasure.

Okay so Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 and its about God’s Word

in verse 9-16 it talks about how we can treasure God’s Word

Psalm 119:9–16 NKJV

9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

In verse 9 & 11 you can see the heart of the section,

which is about God’s Word bring us away from sin

and to obedience:

especially where it says “Your Word I have hidden in my heart that i might not sin against you”

This is why the famous DL Moody said

“Sin keeps us from this Book, and this Book will keep you from sin.” - DL Moody

This doesn't teach us that the Bible is a cheat code to make us not sin…

instead it speaks to how God’s Word can influence change within our heart, mind, and life.

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

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

So that is why the Psalmist says in verse 11 that he has “hidden God’s word in his heart”

because in hiding God’s Word in your heart change happens

in fact you guys will like this:

That Hebrew Word for hidden is (as those who joined our live video last Thursday know)

“sapan” - means treasured

Wow... so treasuring God’s Word produces change within our heart, mind and life

So this section in Psalms shows us how we can love His Word.

that can allow for His Word to change our heart, mind, and life.

to not be sinless but to sin… less

Here we see how we can treasure God’s Word

How to Treasure God’s Word

The Psalmist gives us 7 ways:

1. Learning what is God’s authoritative law (v.12)

In learning how to treasure God’s Word...

First we got to be taught what Gods authoritative law is

Well what God loves, and hates is all all over the Bible

So learn .. be taught...

be a student of His Word

2. Your own mouth declaring God’s authoritative rule (v.13)

this is speaking that He is the judge of Heaven and Earth.

He determines what is right and wrong.

He determines the punishment for the crime

He determines what blessing goes with the right action

Now God’s authoritative rule is all over the Bible.

So speak what God commands.

This teaches me to practice verbally speaking what God is commanding.

So maybe your reading a story in the Bible like a parable and then at the end Jesus gives the lesson or command .. honor that passage by speaking it.

Speak the commands, judgments, authoritative rules of God.

Something about saying things out loud make it real...

3. Rejoicing in all that the Word says that God has done (v.14)

Whether its a prophecy being fulfilled or him doing a miracle like parting the Red Sea

The fact that God acts and interacts with us is amazing.

So when you read of God doing something rejoice in that

praise God for it.

4. Meditate on God’s rules of personal conduct (v.15)

For the Jews much of these rules of conduct are found in the Pentateuch

For us Christians these rules of personal conduct are found in Jesus teaching and the Epistles.

The Word for meditate here comes from root word that means enthusiasm.

Which teaches us that our meditation should have some enthusiasm about it.

Remember the point of meditating is to slow down… to focus on a particular moment in scripture.

I encourage you to to through the commands of Jesus remembering to be enthusiastic and slow down and focus on the Word of Jesus

that is the 4th way to treasure His Word

5. Look at the things God does (v.15)

This is telling us to study…

Study the Bible … learn what God is doing, and why?

Do you understand the purpose of the Bible

Do you understand the purpose of the OT/NT?

Do you understand each books purpose in telling the message of the Bible?

6. Delight in God’s authoritative law (v.16)

Okay so those with us on Thursdays live study know that this is “she ine ine hukkah”

“she ine ine” is delight and is a childish word that can also mean to play

this is about being excited about what God tells us to do:

it literally is the opposite of the typical child that does not want to do what their parents say:

you see this sometimes with young children but then when they get older to becoming little punk High schoolers,

they don’t take joy in doing what their parents says

however this is about

being excited to do what our Heavenly Father says”

whether it is:

do good to others (Mt 7:12)

be a light in this world (Mt 5:16)

your excited or playing in obedience to God

Like a child excited to do what the parents says

So you can treasure God’s Word by having the excitement to do what God says

and be looking for each thing God wants you to do

so that you can do them.

7. Remembering God’s Word (v.16)

This is the last and final way we can treasure God’s Word is by memorizing, or being able to remember His Word

Because no one had their own personal Bibles in Biblical times

they would memorize, and commit to memory the words of God that they would hear.

I think of that same Pirate that finally found the beautiful valuable treasure

and so he stares at it and learns each microscopic detail of it

May we also hold His Scriptures as a beautiful, and valuable treasure worth staring at and learning its details.

So

Shame on us when we say“I have a busy day today, ill read later”

“I am to tired to read it now, so ill read it when I am more awake”

“I already know what it says, so I am okay”

“Ill just read double tomorrow”

What if God did the same thing to you?

When you want Him to speak to you, He says“ I am tired, ill listen to you later.”

“I am having a busy day, lets do this later”

“Ill listen to you longer tomorrow”

God could say this to you, and still be God.

but if you do the same to God, you would ruin yourself.

You will never regret investing in His Word.

What you invest in... is what you love.

If you invest your time in a team, you will gain a fondness of that teamI

f you invest your time in movies you will gain a fondness of actors, and actresses

What if you invested time in the Word of God.

I bet the result would be that you would love His Word.

So do you want treasure God’s Word?

Know it in your mind.Store it in your heart.Show it in your life.Sow it in the world.

Pray