God’s Word is louder than any wave II.

24 Jan

Written By Peter

Part 2: How should we honour & obey God’s Word?

Have you ever constructed something complex without reading the manual and then regretted it? The desperate uncertainty of our times reminds us that we can’t live life without a manual. God’s word, the Holy Scriptures are God’s revelation to us, showing us everything we really need to know so that we can cope with all the things that we don’t. When plans we’ve been working towards all our lives end in a moment, it can leave us lost and questioning our purpose. Knowing God and pleasing Him is our ultimate purpose. It brings an unmatched sense of peace and understanding of our true value. Learning to do this starts with His word, the Holy Scriptures the ultimate manual.

Jesus makes it very clear that the most important thing for any human being to know and to do is to love and worship God with everything we have (Mark 12:28-31). Of course we can’t love and worship God if we don’t know who He is and how He should be worshipped. The Scriptures provide everything we need to know in order to do this, provided of course that we trust and obey what they say. How we read and understand Scripture is therefore critical, if we don’t read and understand it correctly, then how can we love and worship God? To understand Scripture, we must read and study it as it shows us to, and complete our understanding by the experience of applying it.

Our interpretation of Scripture must be consistent with all of Scripture. God is perfect, He can not contradict Himself. Taking a step back and looking at the revelation of Scripture as a whole then, provides the best way of interpreting any part of it. Scripture reveals who God is, who we are and why we are so different to the One Holy God, and finally who Jesus is and what He’s done to reconcile us to God and restore us from rebels to worshippers. These three points provide an excellent way of studying Scripture, so that we can know and do what’s really important, especially in times of such great uncertainty.

Bible Study Questions

The earliest Church devoted themselves to the apostles teaching (Acts 2:42). How can we devote ourselves to the apostles teaching, where can we find their teaching?
The phrase “says the Lord” occurs almost 500 times in Scripture. Scripture like Exodus 34:6-7 records how God reveals Himself quite specifically. What does this tell us about the purpose of Scripture?
The Holy Spirit speaking through Jeremiah says that our hearts are more deceitful than anything else (Jeremiah 17:9). How can we learn who we really are, when we are so good at lying to ourselves? (Hebrews 4:12)
Luke 24:44, John 5:46-47 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 make it clear that the Law and the Psalms and the Prophets (the whole Old Testament) actually predicted and revealed Jesus and His ministry. Where else does the Bible reveal who Jesus is and what He’s done for us? (John 20:30-31).
Romans 3:21-25 gives a clear and simple overview of the Gospel. Read the passage and answer these three questions about the passage: 1) What does the passage tell us about God? 2) Who are we, and why are we so different from God? 3) Who is Jesus, and why do we need Him, what has He done to resolve our great difference with God? Why are these three questions critical in understanding any passage of Scripture?
The acronym S.T.A.R.T (Study, Trust, Apply, Remember, and Teach) reminds us how we should honour and obey Scripture. Can you see examples of these five principles in Scripture? (Psalms 119:145-152, Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:15 and 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Why is it so important to conclude every study of Scripture with the question: “What do we need to go and do about what we’ve learned?” (James 1:22, Ezekiel 33:31, Proverbs 3:1-2)

Scripture Reading

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Psalms 119:145-152 ESV

Worship

Living Word : Jeremy Camp

In this life there is one guarantee
This broken world will only leave me empty
But there's a life that healed my heart
And it holds firm when I'm falling apart

I will stand on the truth
In the living word of God
'Cause every time it moves my soul and shapes my every thought
It's alive in me, the very breath I breathe
I'm holding on with all I've got to the living word,
The living word of God
The living word of God

I can't survive on bread alone
I hunger and I thirst for your words that give me hope

I stand on the truth
In the living word of God
'Cause every time it moves my soul and shapes my every thought
It's alive in me, the very breath I breathe
I'm holding on with all I've got to the living word,
The living word of God

Speak into me now
Your voice is all I'm craving
What a freedom I have found
In the living word of God

Serving

Romans 10:13-15 reminds us that we have the privilege and responsibility to help people hear God’s Word. Think about someone you know who doesn’t know about Jesus or hasn’t entrusted Him with their lives. Pray for them daily, and ask God to show how you can serve them, in simple ways in order to make the most of every opportunity for them to see and experience God’s love and to hear His voice.

Please also feel free to share this video encouraging us to Honour & Obey God’s Holy Word.

Peter https://churchfamily.online