Good morning,
Spiritual Preparedness 2023 will be our theme for the next three weeks. The challenge will be to commit to reading the Bible in one year, praying daily, and walking with God through the power of His Spirit.
This week we will look at why we should read and obey God’s word.
Spiritual Preparedness 2023
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
CHALLENGE: To read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in one year
WHY: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Bible is the Word of God
The origin of the Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)
The giving of the Bible
And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (Exodus 34:28)
The longevity of the Bible
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8)
But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)
The authority of the Bible
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The power of the Bible
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. (Hebrews 4:12)
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5)
The response to the Bible
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)
The Bible is to be obeyed
O B E D I E N C E, obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.
Obedience=Love for God
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:5)
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
Obedience=Knowing the truth
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)
Obedience=Blessings
A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:27-28)
Obedience=Do and keep
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)
I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. (Psalm 119:60)
Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
(Leviticus 22:31)
Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. (Deuteronomy 6:17)
Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. (Deuteronomy 8:6)
Obedience=Meditating
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
Obedience=Kept charge, commandments, statues, and laws
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (Genesis 26:4-5)
Obedience=Fellowship
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
Conclusion
The Bible was with God from the beginning
The Bible is God’s authority on what His people are to do
The Bible was given to everyone by God
The Bible is powerful
The Bible demands a response
The Bible is to be obeyed
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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