Embracing the Authority and Joy of Scripture

When it comes to Christian living, y 'all know that there's no shortage of resources that exist for us to use. You know, all types of books, commentaries, everything. Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, Crazy Love, Francis Chan, Purpose Driven Life, Purpose Driven Church. You know, what else he got? He got Five Love Languages for kids, for teens.He just starts stat padding at that point.You know, just make it up one book after another, man.But there's so many resources that we have, so on and so forth, that we can use. And a lot of times, they definitely are a blessing. Resources are helpful. But sometimes they can muddy the water if they're not put in their proper place. Because, for sure, they point to Scripture, but they're not Scripture themselves, right? But we got to be careful, because a lot of times we lean on a particular book that we love and like, and then that becomes the new Bible for us. Because it spoke to us personally. But Scripture is still Scripture. And it's the authority in our life, right? [00:36:38] (59 seconds)

So, God's Word is all we ever needed. And I know that can sound wild, because there's so many great books, commentaries, Christian self -help, all of that stuff.But have you ever considered the fact that all you need to keep your path straight is to walk in God's Word, is to get in God's Word? And I know that sounds so basic, right?But if you think about it, it's like, how often do I actually do it?Are you in your Word every day? Are you spending time with God every day? Not just in prayer, but actually in the Word, you know? And that's a very convicting thought to have. [00:37:38] (35 seconds)

We should have a relationship with the word of God.It should be something that we spend time with on a daily basis.For him, God's law has its own identity. When the psalmist states, then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments, he gives God's instructions of reverence beyond mere obedience.For the psalmist, God's law is a source of life, wisdom, comfort, and hope. [00:42:33] (28 seconds)

Walking pure is not something that just happens either.We got to be responsible to allow God's word to guide us as we walk.So the first point, we have to align our hearts with God and his word. We have to align our hearts with God and his word. Remember, this means regularly spending time in prayer and reading. Then we got to be honest about what challenges our purity. [00:46:09] (23 seconds)

You let God's word in so that it can wash over all of that trash and all the stuff that plagues us and cleanse you. So how do we do that? How do we cultivate this? Remember what I said? You have to have a relationship with God's word. So the same way you cultivate a relationship is the same way you cultivate a relationship with the word of God. Time and attention. Time and attention. [00:50:43] (23 seconds)

The conviction of God's word will tug at your heart and keep you in check. Hebrews 4 .12.For the word of God is what? Living and active and sharper than any two -edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and of spirit, joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [00:55:09] (22 seconds)

The psalmist's request for God to teach him shows the intensity of his devotion.He already knows God's directions, but he believes that God has more to teach him. How do I know his directions? Because he's given them to me.But outside of the directions he's given me, he has more to teach me through his word. I need to know how to follow that direction. [00:56:08] (21 seconds)

We have a duty as believers to declare the truth of God's word. Like I said, as Christians, we're not allowed to be silent when it comes to truth. And declaration can look different depending on your gifts.But at the very beginning, the scriptures have even told us, do the work of the evangelist. If you don't know what it is you call to do, you can at least share your faith. If you don't know what it is you can call you do, you at least tell somebody else about Jesus. Some of us do preach and teach, but all of us can testify.All of us can learn to disciple because we're supposed to proclaim. [00:58:38] (32 seconds)

But in order to do that, what we got to do, we got to be in it.You can't not know it.You caught out here slipping, the enemy whipping on you. You got nothing. Your rebuke's weak.The word said you can't stop me. That's not what it says. It doesn't say that. It doesn't say that. You really got to learn scripture because that's not going to work. He probably laughing like he thought that was he thought that was a verse. It's not a verse. He thought that was a verse. [01:00:23] (28 seconds)

This means that once we've meditated on God's word and it permeates our heart and our minds, then we should see results of this process in our actions. So once it enters here and it brings change about in us, then everybody should see it in my actions. If you tell me you're in your word every single day and you have not changed at all, we need to talk because God's word, his word does exactly what it's set out to do.So there is a disconnection somewhere. If it didn't turn into action.If his word is in us, it should be lived out in our lives. Can't be a follower of Christ who never literally follows. The word must move us to action. [01:04:58] (44 seconds)