Read the Word

Why read the Word?

Are we doers of the Word or hearers only?
Tips in reading the Word
Source: Carey, G. (2015, January 27). Getting Started With the Bible. HuffPost; HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/getting-started-with-the_b_6550246
Why read the Word?
The Word of God helps us be
EQUIPPED.
Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for
teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for
training character, so that the person who belongs to God
can be equipped to do everything that is good.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Word of God is reliable
because it is the TRUTH.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.
(John 17:17)

The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in
a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
(Psalm 12:6)
The Word of God brings Fear of
the Lord.
You reject those who ignore your demands, because their lies
mislead them. You throw away the wicked of the world like trash. So
I will love your rules. I shake in fear of you; I respect your laws.
(Psalm 119:118-120)

The fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom, and

knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10)
The Word of God helps us renew
our minds.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s
will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)

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.
(Philippians 4:8)

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
(Psalm 119:11)
The Word of God makes us wise.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients [elders],
Because I keep Your precepts.

(Psalm 119:98-100)
The Word of God is living and
powerful; it helps us discern.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12)
The Word of God helps us discern
the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out
into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that
confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
(1 John 4:1-2)
The Word of God helps us fight
temptation with the TRUTH.
Read Matthew 4:1-11 for context
v. 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
v. 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord
your God to the test.’”
v. 10-11 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you
serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were
ministering to him
The Word of God points to Jesus.
And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached
to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm. That is the
gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you
hold firmly to it—unless it was for nothing that you believed. I passed on to you
what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our
sins, as written in the Scriptures; that he was buried and that he was raised to
life three days later, as written in the Scriptures.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you
do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have
eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing
to come to Me that you may have life.
(John 5:38-40)
The Word of God encourages us.

For whatever things were written before were written for our
learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the
Scriptures, might have hope. Now may the God of patience and
comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according
to Christ Jesus.
(Romans 15:4-5)
The Word of God gives us
directions.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
(John 10:27)
The Word of God helps us to
know God better.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Romans 10:17)

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk [the Word
of God] so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.
Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the
Lord’s kindness.
(1 Peter 2:2-3)
The Word of God is eternal.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means
pass away.
(Matthew 24:35)

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.

(Psalm 119:89)
The Word of God helps us explain
the faith better. We became better
gospel-bearers.
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t
worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of
your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be
ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your
conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when
they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
(1 Peter 3:14-16)

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We
capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:5)
The Word of God is our defense
against the Devil.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm
against all strategies of the devil.
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body
armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that
comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In
addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery
arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
(Ephesians 6:11, 14-17)
The Word of God helps us grow
as believers.
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to
pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you
may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful
in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God
(Colossians 1:9-10)
The Word of God makes us free.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in
My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:31-32)
Apart from Jesus (Word), we are
nothing.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I
in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is
withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and
they are burned.

(John 15:4-6)
Asking Jesus and it will be done.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My
disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have
kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

(John 15:7-10)
Obeying the Word of God makes
us pure.
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
(Psalm 119:9)
Be doers of the Word, not just
hearers only.
 James 1:21-25

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with
meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing
his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and
immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is
not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in
what he does.
How to be a doer of the Word and
not just a forgetful hearer?
 Delight in the Word.
“I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
(Psalm 119:16)
How King David delights in the Word:
• Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Ps. 119:97)
• How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Ps.
119:103)
• I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. (Ps.
119:14)
• The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and
silver. (Ps 119:72)
 You cannot delight if you don’t
understand.
How to delight in the Word?
• Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding.
• Pray this:
• “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your
law.” (Ps. 119:18)
• “Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I
meditate on Your wonderful works.” (Ps. 119:27)
• “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I
shall observe it with my whole heart.” (Ps. 119:34)
 It’s like finding for hidden
treasures.
Proverbs 2:3-5
“Cry out for insight, and ask for
understanding.
Search for them as you would for
silver; seek them like hidden
treasures.
Then you will understand what
it means to fear the Lord, and
you will gain knowledge of God.” Dutton, J. (2015, October 12). Is Your Home Sitting on a Hidden Stash of Cash? Find Out! Real
Estate News & Insights | Realtor.com®. https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-
improvement/check-home-for-hidden-cash/
 Call and Ask God.
‘Call to Me, and I will answer
you, and show you great and
mighty things, which you do not
know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3)

For everyone who asks

receives, and he who seeks
finds, and to him who knocks it
will be opened. (Matthew 7:8)
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC
BY-NC-ND
 Once we understand the Word, we will
be able to delight in the Word.

Once we delight in the Word, we will not

forget the Word.

Those who don’t forget the Word are

those who are able to keep the Word in
their hearts.

Those who are able to keep the Word are

also able to obey it.
Command: John 8:31
“To remain as one with the Word.”

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in
My word, you are My disciples indeed.

Note:
“Abide” here is menō in Greek.
Menō means to endure, to continue to be, to not depart, to remain
as one
The life we live reflects the Word
of God.
Our obedience to Jesus reflects
our love for Him.

“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

(John 14:15)
What if we just believe but don’t
act on it?
 Faith without works (obedience)
is dead.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can
faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the
things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works (obedience) is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works (obedience) when he offered Isaac his son on the
altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works (obedience), and by works (obedience)
faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works (obedience), and not by faith only.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works (obedience) is dead also.
(James 2:14-16, 20-24, 26)
Our faith should be seen also in
the way we live.
 John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
 Not by your strength.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:2)
“Be careful how you live. You
may be the only Bible some
person ever reads.”

- William J. Toms
 Tips on Reading the Word
1. Pray which portion of Scripture to read (Start with Book of John)
2. Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding
3. Books in the Bible – Read in full
4. Epistles (Letters) in the Bible – Read in full
5. Don’t interpret one verse apart from the context of the full
book/epistle.
6. Memorize one verse*
How to Meditate the Word?
Biblical Meditation is filling your mind with the Word of God (Repetition)

1. Get one verse from your devotion

2. Read it
3. Say it
4. Pray it
5. Sing it
6. Ask questions
7. Draw pictures the Holy Spirit puts in your mind
8. Record bible verses the Holy Spirit puts in remembrance (related verses)