Connecting the Word of God to our Lives

December 7, 2008

Why is it important to love/value the Word and to understand its connection/relevance to our life?

1. It’s a Weapon against Satan: We are in a spiritual war and the Word is a weapon.
2. It’s A Light for Our Path: We journey through a dark world and the Word is our light.
   • Ps. 119:105- "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
     • The world's light is darkness.
     • Do not walk in your own light or in the light of the world.
3. It is our Spiritual Food: The Word of God is our spiritual food/sustenance. Feed our faith.
   • Matthew 4:4- God said we must live by every word that comes from the mouth of God the way our physical bodies live by eating bread.
   • "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
4. It is Our Source for Giving: The Word of God is our source of giving to others.
   • Col. 3:16- Let the word of God dwell in you richly.
     Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
   • Mt. 7:21- What is in the heart comes out of the mouth/person.

Love the word so much that it lives in you. Col 3:16

1. What does it mean to let the word live in me?
   • at home in our hearts.
   • take up residence in you, abundantly.
   • deep familiarity/intimacy with the Word of God, in such a way that it brings about a deep familiarity between you and God. You begin to know him and his character personally. That knowledge brings about a faith or trusting in him, and a deep love.

Know the Word—know God and grow in faith, love and obedience

2. What does it take to do this?
   • Knowledge of the word which reveals not only the will of God to us but also his character and ways on interacting with us. Reading, prayerful reading, study, and meditation
   • Connecting what we have read to the events in our life. This takes thought and application

Jesus is an example of connecting the word to his life.

1. Mt. 4:4 – when Jesus was tempted he used the word of God 3 x’ to: 1) do battle with Satan and 2) overcome the temptation.
2. Mk. 14:33- 36,39-When Jesus was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane he was tempted to seek another way but in the end he said “Not my will but thine.” This is part of the fulfillment of a prophecy in Ps. 40:8 which is repeated in Hebrews 10:7, “I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the roll of the book.”

Connections

1. Connect to Hannah – Someone we can connect to. 1Samuel 1:1-17
   “And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.
   As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.’”
   15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply/sorely troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." (great anxiety and vexation) Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
   
   • Knowledge of the story of Hannah helps us to turn to God and pour out our hearts to him and expect “peace and help.”
   • Hannah was sorely troubled- poured out her heart to God
   • When was the last time you fully, no hold barred-poured out your heart to God?

   • What do you do when you are betrayed or significantly hurt by a friend or family member? How do you overcome being manipulated or lied about when it affects your life circumstances and job? How do you respond when it seems you have a series of difficult/hurtful things happen in your life? Do you become bitter? Despaired, develop a pessimistic, negative outlook, become a constant whiner/critic, have an underlying anger that erupts and produces defensiveness and fits of rage? Do you stop trusting in God? OR: Do you automatically think of scriptures, Bible accounts, characters, interactions, etc?

     
     
2. Connect to Joseph Look at the events in the life of Joseph in Genesis
   • the object of his brothers jealousy, he was sold into slavery; his father was deceived into thinking he was dead, therefore did not send to search for him so he could buy him back (Ever been hurt be a family member/ ever felt helpless with circumstances beyond your control?)
   • Joseph became a slave in Egypt- circumstances a bit better but still a household slave
   • falsely accused for doing what was right; fired but also
   • thrown into prison
   • forgotten about (Can you relate? Do you ever feel like you've been forgotten/ overlooked/ignored/ unimportant/ not valued/just not there?)

Nowhere in the account of this story do we read that Joseph:

• blamed God
• complained
• despaired
• became bitter
• constantly repeated his story nursing a grudge and anger

Joseph was sold as a household slave

We see evidence of his faith in God:

Gen. 39:2- The lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian; and his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand… the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s household for Joseph’s sake…

• Are you living close enough to God that it is evident to others?
• Do you think that Joseph wanted to be a slave? Do you think he was just “Pollyanna” about all this? I am sure he wrestled with the pain and unfairness of this every day.

Joseph was falsely accused/object of his master’s wrath/ thrown into prison

Now surely Joseph will be filled with bitterness and rage- There is not a clue of this in the account.

Instead, he trusted God and served others.

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison…note: God did not miraculously remove him

How does this show Joseph had faith -(Heb.11:6- without faith it is impossible to please God)

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in prison; and whatever was done there he (Joseph) was the doer of it…

Other keys to his attitude/faith/relationship with God:

• Cared about others even when he was in difficulty: “Why are your faces downcast today?”
  • When you are troubled do you even notice others? Do you notice the expressions on their face?
• Continued to live in his relationship to God; acknowledging that God provides and helps and is in control. “Do not all interpretations belong to God?”

He was forgotten

(chief butler did not remember Joseph but forgot him…)

But God did not forget him.

After 2 whole years- he was brought before Pharaoh to interpret dreams again he notes that God is in control.

• How often have you said, “I can’t take this another minute?”

Conclusion

1. Develop a love for God’s word, it will deepen your relationship with God; show you how to walk through this journey of life with God
2. Look for connections: Hebrews 11:32-38

Assignment

1. Make a commitment to read the Bible everyday; pray that God will help you to do this.
2. Pray as you read that God will help you to relate what you are reading to your life.
3. This week: As you read your Bible each day, use what you are reading, connect it to your life and to your heart. Then share with another sister what you read and how it helped you.