Why Should we Study the Bible (Part 2)

Why Should we Study the Bible (Part II)

Text: Luke 4:1–4 (KJV 1900)

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Introduction:

* And now after you have come to Jesus for salvation, what does the Bible teach that a new Christian does?

* I want to try to condense the Christian life down to its simplest form in the next 3 or 4 weeks of sermons.

* I want to remove all of the complexity of being a Christian, and boil the Christian life down to it’s simplest form, so all of us will be reminded of exactly what Jesus expects us to do in order to be followers of Himself.

* My goal is to just share with you the most practical things of being a follower of Jesus; the first one we will deal with this morning is how to study the Bible.

* Two Sundays ago we looked at the first part of this sermon, but I ran out of time to finish the outline I gave you.

* Last Sunday I felt led to preach the second sermon in this series, and I preached to you about another basic, practical thing that a Christian is supposed to be doing- “Pleading for men’s souls with God.”

* Now this morning, I would like to return and finish the message on “Why study the Bible.”

* Now, taking up where we left off Sunday before last, you may ask yourself, Pastor Woody, why are you always having Bible studies on Sunday and Wednesday nights?

* Why is there so much emphasis on Bible Study in this church? Isn’t going to church on Sunday morning enough?

* Why over the last almost 5 years as your pastor, have I led you in study after study on Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights for the last five years?

* Here is the reason- “There is no other authority equal to the Bible.”

* The reason that studying the Bible is so important this morning is that the Bible is the revelation of God.

* God, the creator of the universe, has written down in a book we call the Holy Bible, a revelation of Himself!

* The Bible is God’s very word to us.

* Because of this, the Bible is the only rule we have for life.

* The Bible is the only standard we have for human behavior.

* The Bible is the highest authority, and the Bible is the only authority this morning.

* There may be other things that you learn in life that help you through life, but they don’t have the authority that Bible does.

* When the Bible speaks on any matter, it is the voice of God, concerning that matter.

* The Bible is authoritative and it becomes, then, for us, the standard of the Christian life.

* Now if that’s the case, then it is very important for us to learn what the Bible says.

* Our most basic priority in life then, is to be able systematically study the Bible and find out what it says.

* Jesus began his ministry when He was baptized, then the very first thing that He did was to go away into the desert wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.

Our Text- Luke 4:1–4 (KJV 1900)

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

There are five reasons why it is necessary to study the Bible, now here is our outline I gave you with part 1 of this sermon:

1). First of all it is necessary to study the Bible in order to grow.

2). The second reason that it is necessary to study the Bible is to defeat sin.

3). It is necessarily thirdly to study Scripture in order to prepare yourself for service.

4). It is necessary to study the Scripture in order to be blessed.

5). It is necessary also to study Scripture to help others.

(Summary of Part I)

1). First of all it is necessary to study the Bible in order to grow.

* So studying the Bible is necessary if we are to grow. And growth is basic to usefulness.

* Babies aren’t really that useful, I mean they are nice to have around, they are kind of cuddly and you pet them a lot and kiss them and do that kind of stuff, but you can’t really do much with them.

* You can’t say all right baby go and clean out the diaper pail, and by the way, clean up the spaghetti you through all over the kitchen! Make yourself useful!”

* You know they are not really very helpful.

* And there are a lot of Christians just like that.

* They are just in the way- you know you trip over them they are always crawling around the floor like babies, messing with stuff and causing problems.

* Baby Christians that refuse to grow by studying the Bible, are really not a whole lot of use to anybody.

* And the longer they stay that way, the more tragic their Christian life becomes.

* And so we assume that every Christian should desire to grow.

* And we also assume that the only way for a Christian to grow, is to study the Bible.

* And so we see, First of all it is necessary for every single Christian to study the Bible in order to grow.

2). The second reason that it is necessary to study the Bible is to defeat sin.

* We will never be able to defeat sin this morning, unless we defeat it with the word of God.

* In Ephesians Chapter six, what is the item of our armor that is used to fight Satan? What is the one weapon the Christian has?

* The sword of the Spirit which is what? The word of God.

* How did Jesus counter the attacks of Satan when He was temped in the wilderness? By quoting the Scriptures, the Word of God.

* When a Christian takes daily doses of the Bible like a medicine, it becomes a preventative to sin.

* The more Scripture we learn, the more difficult it is for us to sin.

3). It is necessarily thirdly to study Scripture in order to prepare yourself for service.

* Above all else, you must know the principles of God found in the Bible in order to serve God.

* It’s kind of like applying for a job that you are not trained for.

* If you go into the job interview, and the guy says we have a very complex job we are looking to fill.

* The interviewer says “well, have you had any experience” and you say “no I never did this before!”

* The potential employer does not say, “well go on in and take a whack at it and see what you can do!”

* That’s the way a lot of Christians try to serve the Lord.

* They haven’t studied the Bible, but they try to get up in front of a Sunday school class and make an idiot out of themselves week after week!

* Before you try to be a deacon, or a Sunday school teacher, or a preacher, or a youth minister, or any other thing in the church, You need to have studied the Bible and know and understand the Bible.

* The only way to know and understand the Bible is to study the Bible for yourself!

* Studying the Bible prepares you for service.

* So, the first reason to study the Bible is that we might grow and become useful.

* And the second reason to study the Bible, is that it is necessary to study the Bible is to defeat sin in our lives.

* And the third reason that studying the Bible must be a priority in the life of every Christian is to prepare ourselves for service.

* And the fourth reason that studying the Bible must be the number one priority in every Christian’s life, is that God blesses the person who studies the Bible!

Now here is where we left off with part I of this message…

4). It is necessary to study the Scripture in order to be blessed.

* I don’t know about you but I like to be happy rather than sad.

* I’d much rather be happy than miserable.

* And I know that life is made up of miserable times and happy times.

* I also know this that the more I study the Bible, the happier I am no matter what the circumstances are.

* The word of God makes me happy. That’s really practical.

* When you see a miserable person, the first question to ask him is; have you studied the Bible today?

* Simple question. You say where does the Bible say that?

* Verse one of Psalm one, “Happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law does he meditate day and night.”

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

* That’s a happy man. A happy man is somebody who studies the Bible.

* People run to the pastor and share their miseries, and their problems, and their unhappiness with him expecting him to give them an answer to all of their sadness! And a pastor’s reply will be…

“Happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law does he meditate day and night.”

* The way most of our lives have gone is for years we just kind of floundered and flopped around as Christians, and one day, all of a sudden, we start studying the Bible and our whole life changes!

* That’s exactly what Psalm one teaches.

* In Joshua chapter 1, God gives the young Man his instructions for taking the Promised Land and being successful and happy in their new home.

* God tells the young General that knowing and meditating on the Word of God will lead to success and happiness:

Joshua 1:5–8 (KJV 1900)

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

* In the book of I Kings and chapter 10, the Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon and makes an observation about those servants of Solomon who lived by the wisdom of the Word of God:

1 Kings 10:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

Job 5:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and his hands make whole.

Psalm 128:1–4 (KJV 1900)

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; That walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:

Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine By the sides of thine house: Thy children like olive plants Round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

Proverbs 3:13–24 (KJV 1900)

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; And in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; By understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, And the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, And thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

* Speaking of the things contained in the Word of God, the Bible, Jesus said that the person who studies the Bible, and then does the things that are written in the Bible, will be happy:

John 13:17 (KJV 1900)

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

* You will be happy if you study the Bible and meditate day and night in the word of God!

* So, the first reason to study the Bible is that we might grow and become useful.

* And the second reason to study the Bible, is that it is necessary to study the Bible is to defeat sin in our lives.

* And the third reason that studying the Bible must be a priority in the life of every Christian is to prepare ourselves for service.

* And the fourth reason that studying the Bible must be the number one priority in every Christian’s life, is that God blesses the person who studies the Bible!

5). It is necessary also to study Scripture to help others.

* You really can’t help anybody else unless you know something.

* God never put a premium on ignorance.

* Your ignorance of the Bible not only makes you unable to help yourself, but it makes you unable to help anybody else, and a large part of living for God, is all about helping other people.

* How best can you help a person in trouble?

* By showing them God’s solution to their trouble.

* How best can you solve a person’s problem?- by knowing-what the Bible says about their problem, and how to handle it.

* This only comes from studying the Bible! There are no shortcuts!

* You and powerless to help others when you don’t know the word of God.

* For example II Timothy 2:2 says. “We are to teach faithful men in order that they may teach others also.”

* The only way we can teach other people the principles that will help them, is to study and learn the principles the Bible teaches for ourselves.

* In I Peter three fifteen the Bible says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you the reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

* You need to know some answers this morning, and the only way your are going to know the answers to life, is by studying the “Book of Life” the Bible.

* You can’t help anybody if you don’t know any answers to their problems.

* Have you ever had this experience- Someone comes to you for answers because they know that you go to church.

* They come to you expecting you to have the answers to life that they need.

* You try to answer their questions and all you can come up with is, “well this is the way I feel about it”, or you say “let me talk to my preacher about it, and I will get back to you.”

* People don’t want or need your opinion, they need the Word of God!

* Have you ever had some come to you for answers and when you think of the answers, you cant think of the verses of Scripture to support your answers?

* Well, that is an indication that you need to make studying the Bible a priority in your life.

* This should do more to convict you that you over your lack of Bible study than anything else that I can say this morning.

* God has commanded that every Christian have the answers ready for all those who ask:

I Peter three fifteen the Bible says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you the reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

* So, the first reason to study the Bible is that we might grow and become useful.

* And the second reason to study the Bible, is that it is necessary to study the Bible is to defeat sin in our lives.

* And the third reason that studying the Bible must be a priority in the life of every Christian is to prepare ourselves for service.

* And the fourth reason that studying the Bible must be the number one priority in every Christian’s life, is that God blesses the person who studies the Bible!

* And then, the fifth reason for studying the Bible, is to be able to help others.

* Conclusion:

* So, the first reason to study the Bible is that we might grow and become useful.

* And the second reason to study the Bible, is that it is necessary to study the Bible is to defeat sin in our lives.

* And the third reason that studying the Bible must be a priority in the life of every Christian is to prepare ourselves for service.

* And the fourth reason that studying the Bible must be the number one priority in every Christian’s life, is that God blesses the person who studies the Bible!

* And finally, the fifth reason for studying the Bible, is to be able to help others.

* Our habits we have today, both good and bad, determine what manner of person we will be in the future.

* What does this say about your future as a student of God’s Word?

* What habits do you have in place concerning studying the Bible?

* What measures have you taken to assure that you will study your Bible?

* Let me suggest a few habits concerning Bible study that will change your life:

1). whenever possible, attend the Sunday Night and Wednesday night Bible studies at this church.

2). Never end a day without learning something from the Bible.

3). Earnestly pray every day for the Lord to give you a hunger for studying the Bible.

* Unless you make up your mind, and determine in your heart, that you will make studying the Bible a habit in your life, you will never do it, and you guaranteed to fail in the Christian life.

* Will you do that with me right now?

* Lord, I earnestly pray that you will give me the power to make the study of your Bible, God’s Holy Word, the number one priority in my life, that like Joshua, I might be confident, and prepared to serve you.