Sermon Central
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Why Spend Time In The Word?
Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 29, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: God commands us to spend time in His word. That is the only reason we need. But He did not stop with giving a command. He has given us more, literally dozens of more reasons to spend time in the Word.
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Joshua 1:8
God commands us to spend time in His word (see also: Ezekiel 3:10, 44:5, 2 Timothy 2:15). That is the only reason we need. But He did not stop with giving a command He has given us more, literally dozens of more reasons to spend time in the Word.
The Word teaches us to revere the Lord
"It [the law] is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow all the words of this law and these decrees." Deuteronomy 17:19
Deuteronomy 4:10; 31:11-13; 2 Chronicles 17:7-10
God commands us to spend time in the Word
The Word can give us the blessings of meditation
"His [the man from verse 1] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalms 1:2-3
The Word can revive the soul
The Word can make us wise
"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." Psalms 19:7
The Word can give joy
"The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart." Psalms 19:8
"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight."Jeremiah 15:16
The Word will warn us
Keeping the Word will reward us
"By them [your words] your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Psalms 19:11
The Word can give us the desire to do God’s will
"To do you will, O my God, is my desire; your law is within my heart." Psalms 40:8
The Word inspires praise
"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." Psalms 56:4
The Word can give us peace
"I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints." Psalms 85:8
The Word can keep us from sin
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalms 119:9, 11
The Word can lead us in daily life
"I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." Ps. 119:59-60
The Word can give us understanding
"The entrance of your words gives light; it give understanding to the simple." Psalms 119:130
The Word will succeed
"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
Joshua 1:8; Is 34:16
The Word can keep us from error
"Jesus replied, ’You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God." Matthew 22:29
The Word will bless us
"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28
"The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25
The Word can cleanse our lives
"You are already clean because of the word I [Jesus} have spoken to you." John 15:3
Psalms 119:9; Eph. 5:25-26
The Word can lead to answered prayer
The Word can cause us to bear fruit
"If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit." John 15:7-8
The Word will sanctify us
"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17
The Word can confirm when truth is taught or preached
"They [the Bereans] received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul preached was true." Acts 17:11
The Word can build us up
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" Acts 20:32
Time in the Word produces faith
"Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17
