Find Power In Your Word! (What’s My Word Say pt. 2?)

Find Power In Your Word! (What’s My Word Say pt. 2?)
Sunday Morning
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning,  9:30am Stream
4/18/21

 

{All scriptures are NIV unless stated}

Last week we started talking about knowing our word.

There are so many things in our bibles.

There is so much power in that book.

Yet we don’t read it.

Many of us don’t know what it says.

We might only read once a week.

We might read even less than that.

But if we’re trying to get closer to God.

If we’re trying to seek out purpose…we need to be familiar with what the word says.

Let’s start with what we did last week.

Some of this will be a refresher.

Some of this will be new.

Why We Should Know The Word:

  1. It Is How We Learn God’s Personality

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We talked about how the word is living and active!

When we look at the Word of God, it’s literally about GOD!

This teaches us about him!

We teach the bible based on the “books” in it.

Genesis all through Revelation.

66 Books

39 OT

27 NT

In those books, some of them are named after the person it talks about.

Daniel talks about Daniel.

Jonah talks about Jonah.

Joshua…Ruth…Samuel…Esther

Job…Jeremiah…Isaiah

Each Book In The Bible Is Different…Or Is It?

We said for every book…for every person we mentioned.

There’s one thing consistent.

That’s God!

Your Bible Is Not About The People, It’s About God!

It tells us the personality and character of God through many different situations.

Why We Should Know The Word:

  1. It Ignites Our Prayers

God loves it when we pray his word back to him.

It shows we KNOW what we are talking about.

It shows we researched about what we’re asking about.

Learn Multiple Scriptures Related To What You Need!

When we need a blessing…bring up how he blessed others.

Pray about how Jabez asked for it and God responded.

Pray about how the word says God will bless for being willing and obedient.

Pray about all the ways scripture says we can be blessed.

When we need a healing…bring up how he healed others.

Pray and remind God of the man born blind. (John 9)

He didn’t even have to ask for healing but Jesus did it anyway.

Shows God’s heart for us and desire to heal

Pray and remind God of the Woman With The Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25)

That even if it might not had been our time for healing…our faith can bring it now!

If they did it, you can do it!

Stop Seeing What God Did For Them And See What He Can Do For You!

It’s not random what he did for someone.

The bible says what he does for them, he can do for you!

Job 34:19

19 who shows no partiality to princes

and does not favor the rich over the poor,

for they are all the work of his hands?

Just like them, YOU are a work of God’s hands!

God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11)

Everything we need is here!

God Wrote The Contract, We’re Just Showing Him We Read It!

Why We Should Know The Word:

  1. So Others Can’t Tell Us What It Says

People will lie to you.

They will say things to you that just aren’t true.

When You Don’t Know The Word, Others Can Manipulate You!

We spent time talking about how people can and will use what you don’t know about the word to manipulate you!

Make sure to listen to last week’s message.

{Continuing On}

So today, we’re going to add more to reasons why we should know the word.

Why We Should Know The Word:

  1. So We Can Know What God Can And Will Do For Us

Do you know the promises of God?

You might not know them all…do you know ANY Promises??

There are many things God has told us we can have.

…But they usually require something to get them.

For example:

From last week:

Deuteronomy 28:3-6

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

So we can be blessed:

In The City And Country. (Wherever we go)

The Fruit Of Your Womb. (Our Children Will Be Blessed.)

The Crops Of Your Land. (What We Produce Will Be Blessed.)

Our Baskets (Our Storage/Bank Accounts/Investments)

We see this and get excited.

But it’s based on something!

There’s a requirement!

Deuteronomy 28:2

All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

This is why it’s important to know what the word says!

We’re asking for blessings but not being obedient to the word!

Ask yourself:

What Does The Whole Scripture Say?

Do you know what you’re asking for?

Have you done what’s necessary to ask for it?

Do you KNOW what it says to even ask for it?

Proverbs 3:1

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Don’t forget it!

Keep the commands in your heart!

It WILL lengthen your life.

It WILL bring you prosperity!

Knowing The Word Can Bring You Prosperity!

Know what the word says!

Know what you’re entitled to!

How well do you know it?

{Movie Quotes}

 {4.        So We Can Know What God Can And Will Do For Us}

Why We Should Know The Word:

  1. So We Can Apply It When We Are Tested

How many times do we use the word to answer problems in our lives?

Matthew 4:1-3

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus was led into the desert.

Who:

Jesus

Led Where:

Desert

Who Led Him?:

The Spirit

Why:

To be tempted by the devil

So just by READING the word…we see that Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted.

We know from the story of Job that Satan only went after Job after God started talking about him.

So based on what we read we can see…

God Not Only Allows You To Be Tested, Sometimes HE Is The One Testing You

Everything isn’t the devil isn’t just attacking me…

Sometimes we’re being tested.

This is what the word tells us!

So Jesus is led into the desert to be tempted.

40 days and 40 nights…

He is hungry.

So Satan comes up to Jesus,

If you’re God, tell these stones to become food.

Makes sense!

If you’re hungry, eat!

Isn’t that what we know??

Matthew 4:4

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus didn’t even respond with anything but what the word says.

Verse 5-6

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

So Satan responds with “it is written.”

What did he say?

Verse 6

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

He responded with “It is written.”

Apparently Satan knows the word too!

What he said is true!

It comes from Psalm 91:11-12.

Which says:

Psalm 91:11-12

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Your Enemies Can Know The Word Also

If you don’t KNOW the word…

You can look at this and say it makes sense.

But if you read it in context…

It’s a little different.

Psalm 91:9-12

9          If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the Lord, who is my refuge—

10        then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

11        For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12        they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

If you make the Most High your dwelling…

Think about it:

“If the Most High is your dwelling…”

If you’re following the “Most High,”

  1. You’re not listening to the Devil.
  2. You’re not PUTTING yourself in a situation that causes God to have to respond keep you safe.

If Jesus JUMPED off…the angels would have to catch him.

God didn’t tell him to do it, Satan did.

Who gets glory out of that?

People Will Take The Word Out Of Context To Trick You

Jesus knew he had no business listening to Satan.

Jesus said himself:

John 10:10

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

So what does he look like listening to Satan?

If he ONLY comes to steal, kill and destroy…even if he’s saying the word…something’s not right.

Stop Talking To People Who Don’t Mean You Any Good

So knowing that…Jesus responds with:

Matthew 4:7-11

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Each time…Jesus responded with the word.

We Have To Know The Word!

Let’s play some more:

What’s In My Bible?

I will throw out some things we commonly say so we can start paying attention to what the word ACTUALLY says!

Person A:

“Every time I turn around, that girl always going through something. Like every day type stuff!  It’s like God doesn’t like her.”

 Person B:

I know what it is.  You know what the bible says:

 

“God Don’t Like Ugly!”

This is NOT in the bible!

This is an attempt at making a summary of what God doesn’t like.

Anything unGod like we can do is considered “ugly.”

And THE meaning can change depending on who you ask!

It’s okay if you use this, but know it’s NOT in the bible!

Why do they keep praying for God to bless their finances?  Don’t they read their bible?  Don’t they know…”

“Money Is The Root Of All Evil”

This comes from misquoting another scripture.

1 Timothy 6:10

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

This is saying that the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

According to the Word there are two things we’re supposed to love.

  1. God
  2. One Another

Love of Money is not in that.

But the bible talks about money a LOT!

Proverbs 10:4

Lazy hands make a man poor,

but diligent hands bring wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18

18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

This next one everyone falls for a lot.

“Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child”

This phrase can’t be found anywhere in the bible.

But contextually it’s accurate.

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 29:15

The rod of correction imparts wisdom,

but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

“God Will Not Put More On Me Than I Can Bear”

But Kirk Franklin said!

But the minister said!

But they said!

This might have…

But the bible didn’t.

This one is tricky…and is sorta true…but NOT in the bible.

What is in the bible?

1 Corinthians 10:13

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.

This says what?

No TEMPTATION has seized you!

God will not let you be TEMPTED beyond what you can bear.

The “summary” of that begins to apply to all things.

God won’t ANYTHING on me more than I can handle.

But if THAT’s the case…why do we need God?

It’s like last week “God helps those who help themselves.”

Zechariah 4:6

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Psalm 33:20

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

Psalm 68:19

19        Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens. Selah

If it’s not too much for you…you don’t need God!

God steps in right when you need him.

He takes when you can’t take it anymore.

If you can bear it all…he doesn’t need to take it.

Sometimes It Might Be More Than You Can Handle, But God Will Be There Every Time

Recap:

Why We Should Know The Word:

  1. It Is How We Learn God’s Personality
  2. It Ignites Our Prayers
  3. So Others Can’t Tell Us What It Says
  4. So We Can Know What God Can And Will Do For Us
  5. So We Can Apply It When We Are Tested

This is where God is.

It’s one of the easiest ways to him.

Bishop has created a reading plan for members of GLC.

Bible Reading Plan

www.guidinglight.org/discipleship

Anyone interested can read it.

 

 

 

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