Engaging Deeply with God's Word: A Faithful Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Establishing a Sacred Rhythm with Scripture

Engaging with the Word of God requires a dedicated rhythm in our lives. This involves setting aside a specific time and place for Bible reading, ensuring that it becomes a consistent part of our daily routine. The method of reading is less important than the commitment to immerse oneself in Scripture. By meditating on and memorizing passages, we allow God's Word to take root in our hearts, transforming our thoughts and actions. This practice is not just about gaining knowledge but about fostering a deeper relationship with God. [08:04]

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What specific time and place can you dedicate to daily Bible reading, and how can you ensure this becomes a consistent practice in your life?

Day 2: Seeing Christ in Every Passage

As we read the Bible, our focus should be on the centrality of God, especially Christ. The Scriptures are not merely historical accounts but a revelation of God's character and His redemptive work through Jesus. By asking questions like "Who is Jesus?" and "What is He like?" we prepare ourselves for a personal encounter with Him. This understanding transforms our faith into a living relationship, where meeting Jesus face to face becomes the culmination of a lifelong journey rather than a surprise. [09:56]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: As you read the Bible today, how can you intentionally seek to understand more about Jesus' character and His work in each passage?

Day 3: Embracing the Fullness of God's Character

It's important not to shy away from the difficult parts of Scripture that reveal God's wrath. These passages are integral to understanding the fullness of God's character and the gravity of sin. They remind us of the awe and reverence due to God, much like the thrill and fear one experiences standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Embracing these aspects of God's nature contributes to our joy in Him, as we recognize the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. [15:10]

"Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked." (Jeremiah 30:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one difficult passage about God's wrath that you can meditate on today, and how does it deepen your understanding of His holiness and justice?

Day 4: Preaching to Your Own Soul

Preaching to ourselves is a vital practice, especially in times of discouragement. Like David in Psalm 42, we must remind our souls of God's promises and truths. This involves actively recalling and declaring God's faithfulness and provision, strengthening our faith. By speaking truth to ourselves, we combat the lies and doubts that can creep into our minds, ensuring that our focus remains on God's unchanging character and His promises. [18:49]

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:11, ESV)

Reflection: What specific promise of God can you remind yourself of today, and how can you preach this truth to your soul in moments of doubt or discouragement?

Day 5: Praying for Spiritual Inclination and Satisfaction

Prayer is indispensable in our pursuit of joy in God. Using the acronym IOUS, we can pray for God to incline our hearts to His Word, open our eyes to its wonders, unite our fragmented hearts, and satisfy us with His steadfast love. This prayerful approach ensures that our spiritual life is not left to chance but is actively cultivated through God's grace. By seeking God's help in these areas, we align our hearts with His purposes and experience the fullness of joy in His presence. [20:50]

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the IOUS prayer into your daily routine, and what specific area of your spiritual life do you need to ask God to cultivate today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, it's crucial to establish a consistent and meaningful engagement with the Word of God. This involves having a dedicated place, time, and plan for reading the Bible. For me, reading through the Bible annually in four different sections has been a transformative practice. However, the method isn't as important as the commitment to immerse oneself in Scripture. Meditation and memorization are key components of this engagement, allowing us to internalize and reflect on God's Word deeply.

As we read, our focus should be on the centrality of God, especially Christ. The Bible is not just a collection of stories or historical accounts; it's a revelation of God's character and His redemptive work through Jesus. When we read the Gospels, we should be asking, "Who is Jesus? What is He like?" This understanding prepares us for the moment we meet Him face to face, making that encounter a culmination of a lifelong relationship rather than a surprise.

Furthermore, we must not shy away from the parts of Scripture that reveal God's wrath. These passages, though difficult, are integral to understanding the fullness of God's character and the gravity of sin. They remind us of the awe and reverence due to God, much like the thrill and fear one experiences standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Preaching to ourselves is another vital practice. Like David in Psalm 42, we must remind our souls of God's promises and truths, especially in times of discouragement. This self-preaching involves actively recalling and declaring God's faithfulness and provision.

Lastly, prayer is indispensable in our pursuit of joy in God. Using the acronym IOUS, we can pray for God to incline our hearts to His Word, open our eyes to its wonders, unite our fragmented hearts, and satisfy us with His steadfast love. This prayerful approach ensures that our spiritual life is not left to chance but is actively cultivated through God's grace.

Key Takeaways

1. inspiring nature of God's holiness, contributing to our joy in Him. [15:10]
4. Preach to Yourself: Like David, we must remind our souls of God's promises, especially in times of discouragement. This practice involves actively recalling and declaring God's faithfulness and provision, strengthening our faith.

5. Pray for Spiritual Inclination and Satisfaction: Use the IOUS acronym to pray for God to incline our hearts to His Word, open our eyes to its wonders, unite our hearts, and satisfy us with His love. This prayerful approach ensures our spiritual life is actively cultivated.

** [15:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:35] - Establishing a Bible Reading Plan
[08:22] - Meditation and Memorization
[08:44] - Centrality of God and Christ
[09:23] - Understanding the Gospels
[10:35] - Recognizing Jesus' Authority
[12:12] - Self-Authenticating Nature of Jesus
[13:12] - Jesus' Wisdom and Authority
[14:21] - Seeing Jesus as Glorious
[14:41] - Embracing God's Wrath
[15:26] - Delight in the Fear of God
[18:24] - Preaching to Yourself
[20:07] - The Role of Prayer
[20:50] - IOUS: A Prayer Acronym
[25:46] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Psalm 42:5 - "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Psalm 119:36 - "Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!"
Psalm 90:14 - "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

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Observation Questions:

What does the speaker suggest is essential for establishing a consistent Bible reading practice? ([08:04])
How does the sermon describe the purpose of reading the Gospels, and what should we be asking as we read them? ([09:56])
According to the sermon, why should we not avoid the difficult parts of Scripture that reveal God's wrath? ([15:10])
What is the significance of the acronym IOUS in the context of prayer, as mentioned in the sermon? ([20:50])

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the practice of meditation and memorization of Scripture contribute to one's spiritual growth, according to the sermon? ([08:22])
In what ways does focusing on the centrality of Christ in Scripture prepare believers for a personal encounter with Him? ([09:56])
What role does self-preaching play in strengthening one's faith, as illustrated by the example of David in Psalm 42? ([18:49])
How does the sermon suggest that prayer can actively cultivate one's spiritual life and pursuit of joy in God? ([20:50])

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current Bible reading habits. Do you have a dedicated place, time, and plan for engaging with Scripture? If not, what changes can you make to establish this practice? ([08:04])
When reading the Gospels, how can you intentionally focus on understanding the character and work of Jesus? What specific questions can you ask to deepen this understanding? ([09:56])
Consider a time when you encountered a difficult passage in the Bible. How did you respond, and what can you do differently to embrace the fullness of God's character, including His wrath? ([15:10])
How can you incorporate the practice of self-preaching into your daily routine, especially during times of discouragement? What specific promises of God can you remind yourself of? ([18:49])
Using the IOUS acronym, identify one area of your spiritual life where you need to pray for God's intervention. How will you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine? ([20:50])
Think about a recent situation where you felt spiritually fragmented. How can you pray for a united heart and focus on God's presence in similar situations in the future? ([23:51])
Reflect on your pursuit of joy in God. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your spiritual life is actively cultivated and not left to chance? ([25:46])

Sermon Clips

I have a year through the bible plan that I use and they they use these little little doohickeys right here and so I read in four different places and uh I like it that way that's my plan doesn't have to be your plan so I read through this book I've read through this book every year as long as I can remember since I at least 25 years years plus a lot of other meditation and and uh memorizing so get a place get a Time get a plan and then learn how to meditate [00:07:55]

In all your reading of the Bible focus on the centrality of God and especially Christ in other words have a a goal in reading the Bible to say I want to see God I want to see Christ I don't want to just get stuck on the genealogies or the five smooth stones or whatever Five Loaves and two fish I want to know something about Christ from this event something about God from this event because it's seeing the glory of God that is the fire of our joy [00:08:36]

When you read the gospels for example and I think you ought to be reading the gospels probably every day because the gospels if you ever wondered why are there four of them I think there are four of them just because the early church wanted to know who is he you preach this Christ I me you go up to Antioch or Iconium or Rome or Corinth and Athens and you say Jesus came died Rose Jesus who they don't know anything and so the gospels God ordains that to be four portraits of this Jesus and we need to see him [00:09:20]

As you read ask who are you what are you like what do you say get to know him so that when you have the heart attack singing A Hymn someday and you meet him 10 seconds later he won't be a surprise you will have known him so well it will be climax it will be consumation yes yes expected you to look because I heard you talk so often I saw you do so many things [00:10:01]

In your fight for Joy you got to see Jesus as glorious and the way to see him as glorious is by reading the Gospels on the lookout for things that turn you on about Jesus he is inimitable there is no one like him no one like him read to know Christ that's number two [00:14:21]

In all your reading of the Bible don't spare yourself the terrible glimpses of God's Wrath now that may surprise you you're telling us to fight for joy and now the third recommendation you're making is that we not spare ourselves the parts of the Bible that describe his terrible wrath I mean there are some horrible parts of the Bible and you're saying go there and don't skip those parts I'm saying absolutely [00:14:41]

There's something about the way God made creatures like us that a component of our joy in God is trembling at his inscrutable power and wrath it's kind of like the Grand Canyon again you walk up how close can you get to this Edge how close can you get I'm starting to feel a little bit of ice in my legs but this is beautiful this is scary and this is great [00:16:07]

Learn to preach to yourself listen to David preaching to himself in Psalm 42 why are you downcast oh my soul and why are you in turmoil within me hope in God for I shall again praise him my salvation now you got to be careful not to do this in public soul I mean people think you're crazy but alone do this even do it out loud Soul this morning why are you downcast don't be downcast my soul [00:18:24]

Preach to yourself the promises of God just let your mind start running through the Bible he pursues you with goodness and mercy no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly great is your reward in heaven he will complete the work in you that he has begun my God will supply all your needs according to his riches and Glory I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me all things will work together for my good nothing can separate me from the love of God [00:19:11]

Pray earnestly and continually for everything you need to be happy in God so now the word has been involved in the first four and now I'm I'm saying add prayer to it word prayer word prayer and probably the best way I can sum up all these text that I have in my notes Here on prayer is the acronym IO u s iio's I pray this almost every day these are all prayers from the Psalms on the way to Joy [00:20:10]

Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to getting gain Psalm 119:36 isn't that an amazing prayer here's David the man after God's Own Heart praying my heart is inclined away from God incline it toward you father so it's like a metronome Tick-Tock Tick Tock and over here is world and over here is God and his heart is starting to go it's leaning toward world what what does he do what does he do well after he does my first four things with the word he says uh inclin incline my heart toward your word give me a desire for the Bible [00:20:58]

Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love that I may rejoice and be glad in you all my days ask him for satisfaction so many people come into my office and they say I have no satisfaction in Jesus I said well tell me about your prayer life and and how you fight for this tell me about have you prayed for inclination to word have you prayed for seeing wonders there have you prayed for United heart and have you prayed for satisfaction and do you lay hold of them and fight for this [00:24:23]

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Engaging Deeply with God's Word: A Faithful Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Establishing a Sacred Rhythm with Scripture

Day 2: Seeing Christ in Every Passage

Day 3: Embracing the Fullness of God's Character

Day 4: Preaching to Your Own Soul

Day 5: Praying for Spiritual Inclination and Satisfaction

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Engaging Deeply with God's Word: A Faithful Journey

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