40 Days Stronger Together in the Word – Part 3
John 6:63 (NIV)
Jesus: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life!”
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
“The Word of God is LIVING and ACTIVE. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
HOW DOES GOD’S WORD CHANGE ME?
1. IT RECREATES MY LIFE
James 1:18 (NIV)
“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth…”
1 Peter 1:23 (NIV)
“You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
2. IT ERADICATES MY GUILT
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NIV)
“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.”
John 15:3 (NIV)
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
3. IT ACTIVATES MY FAITH
Romans 10:17 (NIV)
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.”
4. IT STIMULATES MY GROWTH
Acts 20:32 (NIV)
“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.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
5. IT ILLUMINATES MY MIND
Psalm 119:130 (CEV)
“Understanding your Word brings light to the minds of ordinary people.”
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
6. IT ELEVATES MY MOOD
Romans 15:4 (NIV)
“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Psalm 119:114 (MSG)
“You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.”
7. IT LIBERATES MY POTENTIAL
John 8:31-32 (NAS)
“If you continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!”
HOW DO I GAIN THESE BENEFITS?
1. LEARN IT
Mark 12:24 (LB)
Jesus: “Your trouble is that you don't know the Scriptures...”
2. ACCEPT IT AS MY AUTHORITY
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV)
“When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”
3. ACT ON IT
John 13:17 (NIV)
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you DO them.”