Living By The Book
PROVERBS 4:20-27MSG
20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.
23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust
LIVING BY THE BOOK
DUSTY BIBLES ALWAYS LEAD TO DIRTY LIVES
REASONS PEOPLE DON’T READ THEIR BIBLE
1. I NEED SOMETHING THAT WORKS
2. I DON’T KNOW HOW
3. I'M JUST A (JOB TITLE) I'LL LEAVE THE REST TO MY PASTOR TO TEACH ME
4. I JUST DON’T HAVE TIME
5. I HAVE MY DOUBTS ABOUT THE BIBLE
6. I CAN’T SEEM TO MAKE IT INTERESTING
7. I DON’T READ, PERIOD! IT'S NOT JUST THE BIBLE; I DON’T READ ANYTHING
3 BENEFITS YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN YOU INVEST IN GOD'S WORD!
1. GROWTH
1 PETER 2:2-3 NIV
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
ATTITUDE
APPETITE
AIM
ARE YOU GROWING OLD? OR ARE YOU GROWING UP?
2. MATURITY
HEBREWS 5:11-14 NLT
11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[a] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS NOT HOW MUCH YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT HOW MUCH YOU USE.
IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM, THE OPPOSITE OF IGNORANCE IS NOT KNOWLEDGE BUT OBEDIENCE.
3. EFFECTIVENESS
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
4 THINGS HE MENTIONS
1. PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING
2. PROFITABLE FOR REBUKE
3. PROFITABLE FOR CORRECTION
4. PROFITABLE FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUS LIVING
B.B WARFIELD – “ THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN THE BIBLE SPEAKS, GOD SPEAKS.”