GOD’S WORD
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Main Idea: Motivate to appreciate, use Bible
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BIBLE
I. It is called a mirror because it reflects the mind of God and the true condition of man.
II. A Seed – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23). “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (1:18). “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matt. 13:23). once properly planted, it brings forth life, growth, and fruit.
III. Water – “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27). It is called water because of its cleansing, quenching, and refreshing qualities. (See Psa. 42:1;
119:9; Prov. 25:25; Isa. 55:10; Heb. 10:22; Rev. 22:17.)
IV.A Lamp–“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa. 119:105). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Prov. 6:23). It is called a lamp because it shows us where we are now, it guides us in the next step, and it keeps us from falling.
V. A Sword– “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). It is called a sword because of its piercing ability, operating with equal effectiveness upon sinners, saints and Satan! Of the various armour pieces mentioned in Ephesians 6:11-17, all to be worn by the believer, the only offensive piece is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
VI.Precious Metals
A. Gold (Psa. 19:10; 119:12)“Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea above fine gold”
(Psa. 119:127).
B. Silver (Psa. 12:6) – “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psa. 12:6). It is referred to as precious metals because of its desirability, its preciousness, its beauty, and its value.
VII. Nourishing Food
A. Milk – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2).
B. Meat – “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong
29 meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:12-14).
C. Bread –“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
D. Honey –“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psa. 19:10). It is referred to as nourishing food because of the strength it imparts. The Bible is the original “soul food.”
VIII. A Hammer – “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29). It is referred to as a hammer because of its ability to both tear down and to build up. (See Acts 9:4; Jude 20.)
IX.A Fire – “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (Jer. 20:9). “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). It is called a fire because of its judging, purifying, and consuming abilities.
MEMORIZATION OF THE BIBLE
Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
WHY MEMORIZE?
It is easier to recall a verse word-for-word than in some vaguely summarized form.
It is easier to meditate upon a verse when you can repeat it to yourself.
Verses you have memorized will help you and give you assurance when you are fighting
temptation, when you are telling others about Christ, and when you are explaining what you believe. (Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 3 times when tempted by Satan)
God want us to know His Holy Word
HOW TO MEMORIZE
Use your learning style
VISUAL: look at verse, write out in different colors, outline it, draw picture of it
AUDITORY: say it out loud, record tape recording and listen to it
KINESTIC: cut out each word and move them around, then put in correct order
Learn it by saying the Bible reference, the verse, then the Bible reference again
Have someone hold you accountable, ask you to repeat the verses, etc
VERSES TO GET STARTED
Pick the verses that speak to you to memorize
Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
BIBLE AND THE SAINTS OF GOD
A. What the Bible does for the believer
1. It upholds (Psa. 119:116).
2. It orders steps (Psa. 119:133).
3. It produces joy (Psa. 119:162).
4. It strengthens (Psa. 119:28; 1 John 2:14).
5. It gives hope (Psa. 119:74, 81).
6. It gives light (Psa, 119:105, 130).
7. It gives understanding (Psa. 119:169).
8. It shows God’s will (Isa. 55:11).
9. It builds up (Acts 20:32).
10.It produces fruit (John 15:7).
11.It convicts of sin (Heb. 4:12).
12.It converts the soul (James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23).
13. It cleanses the conscience (John 15:3).
14.It consecrates life (John 17:17).
15.It corrects the wrong (2 Tim. 3:16).
16.It confirms the right (John 8:31).
17.It comforts the heart (Psa. 119:50, 54).
B. What the Bible demands from the believer – Because of the above, the Christian is to:
1. Read it (Col. 3:16; Deut. 31:11; Rev. 1:3; Isa. 34:16; Luke 4:16; Eph. 3:4; 1 Thess. 5:27; 2 Tim.
4:13; Col. 4:1).
2. Heed it (Psa. 119:9; 1 Tim. 4:16).
3. Seed it (Matt. 28:19-20).
4. Desire it (1 Pet. 2:2).
5. Preach it (2 Tim. 4:2).
6. Rightly divide it (2 Tim. 2:15).
7. Live by it (Matt. 4:4).
8. Use it (Eph. 6:17).
9. Suffer for it, and if need be, die for it (Rev. 1:9; 6:9; 20:4).
The child of God is to know it in his head, stow it in his heart, show it in his life, and sow it in the world. See also the following Scriptures: Deuteronomy 4:1-10; 12:32; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 33:6;
Proverbs 30:5-6; Mark 4:24; Luke 8:12; John 12:48-50; Romans 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2;14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 2:1-4; Revelation 1:1-3; 20:12; 22:18-19.
Thus the authority of God’s Word is as a stethoscope, for it probes within, as a microscope, for it looks upon, and as a telescope, for it sees beyond.
Perhaps the grandest and most conclusive description of the Bible was penned by the Apostle Paul in a letter to a young pastor. Here he wrote:
2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
In this remarkable passage Paul claims the Bible is profitable:
1. For doctrine – That is, it may be used as the perfect textbook to present the systematic teachings of the great truths relating to God himself.
2. For reproof – That is, the Bible is to be used to convict us of the wrong in our lives.
3. For correction – That is, it will then show us the right way.
4. For instruction in righteousness – That is, God’s Word provides all the necessary details that will allow a Christian to become fully equipped for every good work