SUNDAY JULY 5TH, 2020

MEMORY VERSE: - “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honey comb” (Psalm 19:10).

INTRODUCTION: - God’s Word and all of the command, instructions and guidelines contained in it are perfect. They are a completely effective guide for living. When applied to our lives, God’s Word will always serve the purpose that He has planned.

1) The Word Of God Is Food To Nourish And Delight

The word is milk for the new-born babe; it is strong meat for the spiritual adult; and it is honey for the spiritually minded (1Pt.2:2; Heb.5:14; Ps.19:10).

The man who feeds constantly and regularly upon God’s Word will become strong; the one who neglects it will be dwarfed. Both stature and strength are gauged by the quality of spiritual food eaten and assimilated.

Whenever you find a spiritual anaemic the reason is improper food.

The Christian who is improperly or insufficiently fed is the prey to all kinds of spiritual disease. He is powerless to resist temptation, blind to discern error, helpless to overcome sin. He is open to all the deceiving devices and subtle strategies of the evil one. He not only makes no progress but he cannot even hold his own and lives a flabby, inconsistent, dishonouring life before the world.

The Christian who is not entering into new possession of God’s grace, love and power through new conquests of the Word is living on the stale manna of some moldy experience or musty testimony.

Sometimes a Christian worker has lost his power for no other reason than neglect of the Bible. Because of this his message is devoid of freshness and fruitfulness. The inevitable result is the giving of his

own word in the wisdom, eloquence and energy of the flesh. This God never promises to bless (1Corint.2:4).

2) The Word Of God Is A Critic To Judge

The Greek word “Kritikos” means able to judge. The tendency today is that men choose to be critics of the Word rather than to accept the Word as their critic.

But one very salutary function of the Bible is its judgment upon the Christian’s thoughts and actions (Heb.4:12).

The Psalmist who offered that sincere prayer in Psalm 139:23-24; know the helpfulness of God’s righteous judgments.

What a quickening of the spiritual life would take place today if every child of God would put his life under the righteous judgment of the Word of God (Ps.119:175). The long-prayed-for revival undoubtedly would burst forth like fire if the Bible were permitted to become the critic of men’s thoughts, feelings and actions, and if they were willing to act upon its kindly, beneficent criticism.

3) The Word Of God Is A Manual Of Holy Living

God has provision for every step of the way in the life of godliness, which He expects His child to live. In his Word He has given the principles that govern such a life and the precepts, which teach us how to practice them (Ps.119:1-3).

The Christian who practices the presence of God and who lives the Christ-life most transparently is the one who is most thoroughly saturated with God’s Word and who deliberately has given himself to live out that Word in deed.

Living by God’s standard is not a burden or a harsh responsibility: it is a privilege for those who love and trust God and depend on His strength (1Jh.5:3). In fact, following God’s instructions is a life-giving, refreshing experience because it allows us to fulfill our highest purposes in life and it keeps us free from constant failure, guilt and spiritual emptiness. Simply, following the regulations of God’s law cannot save us (Rom.8:3; Heb.7:18-19), no amount of good works or self-effort can do that (Eph.2:9; Tit.3:5). The law reveals our own failures and weakness and points us to our needs of forgiveness and a proper relationship with God. We can trust God’s Word completely to direct our lives. By learning and following the Word, we gain and live out the wisdom.

1. What are the dangers of not feeding constantly upon God’s Word?

2. How does the Word of God acts as our critic?