Wielding the Word
God has a word for you today. In fact, God has a word for you every day, if you will create space to receive it. How valuable is reading the word of God?
Lifeway research did a study on those that read the Bible 4 or more times a week. This study had 40,000 participants, this is what they discovered for those that read the word:
- Feeling lonely drops 30%
- Anger issues drop 32%
- Bitterness in relationships drops 40%
- Alcoholism drops 57%
- Sex outside of marriage drops 68%
- Feeling spiritually stagnant drops 60%
- Viewing pornography drops 61%
- Sharing your faith jumps 200%
- Discipling others jumps 230%
A tremendous weapon has been dropped into the hands of the saints and it is unfortunately used far too little. One of our values here at Parkway is Biblical literacy. We believe that the Word of God is authoritative and true. We believe that it is a light unto our path, and that it contains God’s powerful words to us.
This morning, I want to officially launch something I have mentioned over the past few months. A movement I want to go on as a family. An initiative that I think will change the future and trajectory of our church forever. I believe it will change your life. I believe with all my heart it would lead to so much healing, wisdom, and spiritual growth. I believe it will be the start to a powerful movement God wants to accomplish in our church.
Next year beginning on January 1st we will be reading through the Bible in a year together as a church family. I want to do it together because for some it might be their first time. For others, it might be the first time in a long time. And for all, it is what I believe will grow each of us into being the people God has called us to be.
The bottom line is this: we want to be a church that is grounded in the word of God. Unfortunately, today a lot of churches have shifted to moral speeches and the isolation of one verse to get a fun thought across. We will not be that church. We will be a word of God church. We believe this book is God’s word. We believe it is essential. And we want to read it together as a family.
So today, we are kicking this off by talking about wielding the sword. Why should we wield it? What power does it have? And why should I take time to invest into it every day?
The word of God is living and active
I can’t tell you how many times I have read a passage that I have read previously and get something new out of it. That doesn’t happen with other books, why is that? I have read through the word of God many times, and still, every single time, every single morning when I read… God gives me fresh bread.
The Bible is the only book where the author will sit down and meet with you every time you read it. We believe that the men who penned this book were carried along as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Paul isn’t the author, Moses isn’t the author, David isn’t the author… it is the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 1 declares to us that those that meditate on the word of God are blessed. That they are like a tree planted by streams of water. Do you want to know why your walk with the Lord is dry and feels dead? It is because you have cut off the living waters of his word. Your Spirit is thirsty and struggling to thrive.
This is why God’s word always speaks to us. I always do a simple prayer before I read the word: “Holy Spirit, speak to me as I read your word.” The Bible is active, it is alive, and the word of God can speak into your life. But you have to create space for it to do so.
The word of God is our foundation
Matthew 7:24-25, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
How are we to know Jesus’ words if we don’t read the word of God? Many of us in this room would agree, “yes, I want to build my life on Christ” but are we reading his words and know how to do so?
It is so easy to think we know the words of Jesus but not actually know him like we think we do. If you were sharing your faith with a friend, would you be able to answer why you believe what you believe? Would you be able to give some references in your Bible to them? Or is it just because what some Pastor from NY said one time?
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
How are we supposed to know how to live? How can we know what righteousness is and be equipped for good work without the word of God? Some of us are battling and we are losing but refused to use the most primary weapon. What weapon did Jesus use in his battle?
This word is our foundation. It is the foundation for what we believe, the foundation for our hope! The only reason why we worship is because we see in the word that the people of God do that. The only reason we pray, evangelize, hold certain values, tithe, give to missions, know about Jesus… it is all because of the word of God.
Don’t take the word of God for granted, it is the foundation of everything that we do and everything that we hope for. It is because we find all of these promises in this book, we believe and have hope. You need that belief and that hope, every single day.
The word of God can renew your mind
Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Do you struggle with the way you think, the way you believe and act? It starts with renewing your mind.
We think we can just read a verse of the day or a small passage once a week and then spend hours on our phones or watching the news or social media and expect to not be affected! This word will renew your mind, but you have to give it the space to do it.
Imagine if the only time you ate was one Sunday morning once a week… you wouldn’t look very good after a few months! We wonder why we are so spiritually sick when we aren’t nourishing our relationship with God in our personal lives.
I want to do an exercise for just a moment. Now don’t worry, I don’t mean physical exercise. I just want to read a passage of God’s word and let it wash over us. No teaching, no greek studies, just bathe us all in God’s precious word and mighty power this morning. Turn with me to Philippians 4:4-9.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Wow. Imagine if that was deep down in your heart. To the very fiber of your being. Rooted in you, natural to you, renewing your thought process. Peace is possible in this world, renewal can happen through God’s power and God’s strength. But we have to choose him.
I know some very wealthy people in this world that I have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with. What is amazing to me is with all that money and all those properties and benefits they have but they still lack peace. They’d pay anything to get that peace, in fact they pay a bunch to try and get it and fall short. It is only found in Christ and in his word.
Renew your mind. Get out of the world and step into Christ right now and allow him to change you and the way you think and act forever. It starts with your thinking, then leads to your actions, which then leads to a changed life and forever shaped eternity.
Conclusion
The word of God. Nothing has changed me more in this life. Nothing compares to the wonder working power of God’s word in partnership with his Holy Spirit in changing my life. Nothing has shaped me more as a person and nothing has brought me such hope, peace, and wisdom.
We started by declaring what Hebrews 4 tells us, that his word is active and alive. Not just some book, but the powerful word of our God written to his people. The Holy Spirit meets with us every time we read it, and it has immense power.
Second, we talked about God’s word being our foundation. Anything or anyone else other than the Lord and his word is like sinking sand. If we choose to make the word of God a cornerstone in our day everything will change.
And lastly, it can renew our mind. Some of us desperately need our minds renewed. Maybe you have been trying to change the way you think for quite a while… don’t attempt it without the word of God. You’ll end up exactly where you are.
Will you take this journey with us today? Grab a Bible and get ready to dig deep with us. We want to do this together, and we want you with us. Are you in?