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I spent several hours last evening at an “awakening” service in Lewis Run, just outside Bradford.  It was interesting.  A lady came down front using a cane and left without it.  She came back down later and walked up two steps to the stage (scared me).  The presence of the Lord was clearly there.  I spent a great deal of my time praying that God would speak to me, and to our church.   I came away with several passages that I wanted to share with you today.

It seems to me that they all relate to the Bible.  If I had to make one observation, I believe that I, (and likely many of us) need to spend a little more time in God’s Word.   So lets take a few minutes today to encourage one another to spend more time in the Bible.  And perhaps I should add “prayer” to that, because that’s one of the key ways in which God speaks to us.   His Word, and Prayer.

 

We begin in the second half of Psalm 19.  The first half is David praising God as he looks at nature.  His gaze then turns from what God has created, to something even more personal…what God has said.

 

Psalm 19: 7-14

7The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul.

The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.

9Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever.

The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair.       (from here it seems to me he talks about how he sees them personally)

  • 10They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
  • 11They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
  • 12How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
  • 13Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

 

What is the Bible?   According to David it’s:

Instruction. Decree. Commandment. Law.       What does it do?   It revives us, make us wise, brings us joy and gives us insight.    What’s it worth?  It lasts forever and is more valuable than gold, sweeter than honey.

What’s it good for?  Through the law, I can discover sin hiding within me.  Through the law, I can find forgiveness (Old Testament).  The law keeps me from committing intentional sin.   (In David’s time, intentional sin led to separation from God.  Some intentional sins were punishable by death.   If I expand my understanding of the Bible to include the New Testament as “God’s Word of instruction for all of us”  (see verse 2 above) the Bible becomes more than just commandments, it’s a love letter….filled with advice and guidance.

 

 

Jeremiah 6:12-13

(we jump from Psalm 19 into Jeremiah 6…still talking about listening to God.  Jeremiah describes terrible things that are going to happen to Israel…simply because they won’t follow His laws.  (Jeremiah wrote before the fall of Jerusalem)

He say   ‘”…Their homes will be turned over to their enemies, as will their fields and their wives.
For I will raise my powerful fist against the people of this land,” says the Lord. 13 “From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. From prophets to priests, they are all frauds.”

  • What I wanted us to see in this passage is that the people are not “listening” to God’s instructions, and it has led to the downfall of their kingdom. It seems that greed was rampant.   And that reminds me of what we see in first chapters of Acts  2:44-45  “44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.”

If the prophets and priests are ruled by greed, then they won’t rebuke when God tells them to.  They will say only what brings them the greatest profit.  If the people are ruled by greed they won’t help their neighbors, and our witness as Christians who are supposed to be identified as people who “love one another” will starve.

Also interesting here:

  • The president doesn’t nurture the spiritual growth of a nation, the Holy Spirit does that through the Church. If the church becomes corrupt, and by that I mean “teaching/preaching without biblical basis” or “without modeling it in our own lives” then the country is prone to corruption.  We can stop blaming the administrative branch for what clearly is the responsibility of the Church.

 

 

Jeremiah 6:16 

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around.  Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.

  • The “old, godly way” is described more clearly in the New Testament. It’s the way of love.  The principles aren’t any different than what God commanded in the Old Testament, they are just more defined.  And, the sacrifice for sin is fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

 

 

Isaiah 55:2-3

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?  Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. 3 “Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.  I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.

  • Eat with your ears! Hearing God’s Word

 

 

Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

  • On my way home from Bradford last night Google maps told me to turn left when I knew I needed to go right. It was really dark and I was sort of turned around, so I went with it.  Over the next few minutes I thought I had made a mistake and this was the road I wanted, then I realized that it wasn’t…but it was much faster, shorter way.  All of this while I am hearing from God about “his Word”.   That can’t be a coincidence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 55: 10-11

 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

  • The Bible is the Word
  • Jesus was the Word in human form
  • We pray L 10:2 and its proof

 

Matthew 11:28-29

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

 

 

In all of this, the greatest command in scripture is to Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as much as yourself.   Love is a relationship, which is why the fruit of the spirit are all relationally focused.  This relationship shouldn’t be difficult, but light, and easy…like spending time with someone you want to hand out with.

 

Obedience should bring joy, not gloom.  Obedience should make you feel “lighter”, happier even….even if it causes you to lose a friendship.