You will be placed in the waiting room initially, please be patient.
Phone: (312) 626 6799
Meeting ID: 824 3854 1089
Announcements
- Sunday Night Prayer – 5:00 PM.
- Thursday Night – Open Table – 5:00 PM.
- Friday Meetup – Hybrid @ 6:00 PM.
- Quarterly Business Meetings – 4/11, 7/11, 10/10, 1/9/2022
- Warrens Community Meals 8-10 AM – Saturday 3/27/21
Giving
(10) “Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the LORD of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. (11) “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Armies.
– Malachi 3:10-11 CSB
The Benefits of the Word
Benefits of the Word Part 4a
What is the payoff for paying attention to God’s word and living our lives according to it? We are going to take a look at the benefits that Scripture provides us. The word makes a promise, affects our personality, is profitable, helps set our priorities, and more…
We previously looked at the Authority and Power of the Word. It showed us how we should live, the mission that we are on, the foundation on which to build our lives to be transformed, and how we are judged by that very same word.
Let’s take a look at how God’s word benefits us.
Proclamation and Promise
As Joshua was taking over the journey to lead Israel into the promised land the Lord spoke to him. He gave him instruction to be strong and courageous and promised to be with Joshua and the people wherever they went.
God gave specific instruction for the book of the law or instruction.
(8) “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
– Joshua 1:8 CSB
God commanded Joshua to meditate on the book of instruction day and night. Don’t forget about it but remember to talk about it. And even more than think on and talk about it, actually observe and obey it.
If you do this then whatever you do, you will prosper and succeed.
I want to take just a moment to revisit Acts 2. We saw four things that the early disciples devoted themselves to.
- apostles’ teaching
- fellowship
- breaking of bread
- prayer
As I mentioned these, were you checking them off in your head? Yep, I do that and that. Been there done that. But we need to read a little further.
(42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. (43) Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. (44) Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. (45) They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. (46) Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, (47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
– Acts 2:42-47 CSB
We look and can easily check these off our list, but are we doing them daily? We like the results the early church had (minus the martyrdom). But do we like what they were really doing? They were living life on life, life in community, and life on mission.
Every day they devoted themselves to their private spiritual disciplines… Is that what it says? No! Everyday they devoted themselves to watching their favorite shows, social media, YouTube channels… No! Everyday they devoted themselves to family activities and sports… No!
“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” They were living as the family of God, every day.
What results are you getting? What are you devoted to? Don’t say amen, just say ouch!
You are not alone… Father lead us to repentance…
Last week we started looking at the benefits of God’s word in our lives. As we began to look at one of the promises from the word we turned course to first look at our devotion to God and His word. The main question that came up is – how devoted are we to God and His family?
Do we want to see God move as He did with the early church? Then there is probably a new level of commitment we need in our lives.
We would be hard pressed to see the devotion, dedication, and commitment in the Body of Christ today as was seen in the first century. The average attendance of the weekly gathering of “Christians” is 1.8 times per month. That really doesn’t qualify as weekly…
Acts 2 tells us –
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house.
– Acts 2:46a
That’s quite a commitment. I’ll leave this thought with us as I move on with the benefits. Daily get into God’s presence and listen for what He wants you to do… and then do it.
Proclamation and Promise
Prosperity and success come from reading, meditating on and obeying the word of God.
(8) “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
– Joshua 1:8 CSB
Personality
God’s word can affect our personality. When it captures our attention and focus it brings blessing and delight to our lives.
(1) How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! (2) Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. (3) He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
– Psalm 1:1-3 CSB
The person who meditates on God’s word is happy. This is because he meditates on the Lord’s instruction. He doesn’t get caught up with the ways of the wicked, sinner or mocker. But he walks in the way of the Lord.
Because of his walk, whatever he does prospers. He bears fruit and is full of life. But it is not his life. This life comes from the streams of living water. It is an abiding life where he is connected to the vine.
Profit
While being rebuked is painful, it is sometimes necessary to become aware of sin in our lives. Who likes to be told they are wrong… Nobody. But what can happen after this is profitable to our learning.
(16) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB
All Scripture is profitable. It is inspired by God. It rebukes us, corrects us and teaches us. This process trains us in righteousness and makes us complete. We are equipped for every good work.
Priorities
How did Jesus overcome temptation and defeat the devil? Matthew 4:1–11
This question always comes up as we look at Matthew 4. In the past I have probably concentrated more on the detail of the conversation than the bigger picture.
Yes, the Scripture Jesus quoted refuted how the devil was reframing the word. He kept true to the way of God with these three points.
- Man lives by the Word of God, every word.
- Man is not to test the Lord.
- Man is to worship and serve God only.
But as we move backwards we see that Jesus fasted for forty days. That is pretty intense. But even more than the way of God (His Word), and hungering for God (fasting) is the communion with God. Jesus was empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.
All of these are necessary in the life of the believer.
- The Word of God
- Spiritual hunger for God
- Communion with God through His Spirit
Purity
How can we be unstained by the world and be clean? By keeping God’s word.
(9) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. … (11) I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
– Psalm 119:9, 11 CSB
King David tells us how we can experience victory over sin. We keep our way pure by keeping God’s word. We treasure the Word of God in our hearts. We store it in our hearts and minds, so that we may not sin.
Payoff
Does it pay to keep reading the word of God? Did I need to read it more than once? Absolutely.
I have been working on getting up to speed on ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Saving) to be an instructor. I have gone over it a lot, but I need more.
This is like our walk with the Lord. We do not need to just be familiar with the material, we need to be to the point that we can teach it and even more live in it.
Knowing the “material” is what leads us to knowing God. However, it isn’t just the written word that we need to know, but we need to know the living Lord. We must live in Him because He is where we have our being. This is the new life.
The Psalms and Proverbs tell us of some of the benefits to this new life.
(98) Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. (99) I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation. (100) I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts. …
– Psalm 119:98-100 CSB
God’s word brings wisdom, insight and understanding to the believer. These benefits surpass their enemies, teachers, and elders.
(105) Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. …
– Psalm 119:105 CSB
God’s word guides the believer.
(165) Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.
– Psalm 119:165 CSB
Those who love God’s word are surefooted. They have abundant peace.
(20) My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. (21) Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. (22) For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body.
– Proverbs 4:20-22 CSB
God’s word is life and health to those who find them. We are to pay attention and not lose sight of them. We are to store them in our heart.
Wrap Up
What do you learn about God? What has He done?
- God has given us His word so that we might know Him.
- His word when meditated on, stored, shared, and obeyed makes humans complete and equipped for His work.
What do you learn about people? Yourself?
- God’s word is life and health to those who find them.
- We gain wisdom, insight and understanding as we follow the Word.
- We overcome sin by storing God’s word in our heart.
- We have peace as God’s word guides us and trains us in righteousness.
- We prosper and produce fruit because we meditate on and obey God.
These things are necessary in the life of the believer.
- The Word of God – we are to live by it.
- Spiritual hunger for God – we must pursue Him, not test Him.
- Communion with God through His Spirit – we are to worship Him only.
How are you going to obey this passage (“I will…”)?
Father give us a hunger for Your Word. Show us how to truly be devoted.
