The Word
By Chap Bettis

This morning we continue our series on the basics of the Christian life. I began asking myself what would I say to a new Christian. What would I say to teen Christians who are just starting their adult walk with the Lord.

This morning is about nutrition.

· Many of you have been involved in the prism weight loss program. My understanding of the videos is that they not only work on controlling what you eat, but you are being taught about nutrition: How the body works, elements you need and vitamins, minerals, and oils that you don’t receive in everyday food.

· The idea is that many of us feel bad physically because of eating the wrong things and not eating the right things.

o Sharon and I have talked about this effect of eating on how we feel. If we have sugar or white flower we are put to sleep.

o Truly, we are what we eat. The healthier you eat, the healthier you will feel.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. If you understand what brings spiritual nutrition then you will feel better. If you are well nourished spiritually then you will feel spiritually healthy.

· The reason I have entitled this morning’s message “got milk?” is because we are to crave the pure milk of the word of God.

· Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

· God has so made us that if we eat right physically we will feel good. He has so made us spiritually that if we eat right spiritually, we will feel good as well.

Exodus 16:1-5, 13-21,35, Deuteronomy 8:3

Look with me at two reasons to be in the Word of God.

You cannot live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

· This story you learned in Sunday School, Moses says, was an object lesson to teach the Israelites two things – to humble them and to teach them that man does not live just on bread but also on the word of God.

· Object lesson – every morning they have to go out and “harvest” their food for the day. Except for the Sabbath, when God miraculously supplied two days worth of food.

o Can you imagine, you are living in tents, about two million people strong. Everyday you wake up, wash your face, get dressed and make the walk out to pick up manna off the ground. You come back and sit down and feed your family.

o But you better gather it in the morning, because when the sun grows hot it will disappear and you will not eat for that day.

o What lessons would be drilled home to you.

§ I am totally dependant on God to miraculously provide. Humility

§ I have to go out everyday and gather.

§ How much more true these lessons are in the spiritual realm – We are totally dependant upon God to provide, but we must go out and gather.

In John 6, Jesus proclaims that this was a foreshadowing of him.

· John 6:48ff – I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread, he will live forever…Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me…The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

· Jesus is saying that he and his the words are the true bread of heaven that gives life. Spiritual life is in us as Jesus is in us through the words that he has spoken.

· No doubt you have seen pictures of those who are malnourished.

o There are horrifying pictures of starved POWs from World Ward II who were just skin and bone when the Allies liberated them. There are horrifying pictures of starving children in war-torn countries.

o But Christians can be malnourished, starving, lethargic because we are not getting enough nutrition in our system. But it does not have to be that way. There is spiritual nutrition available for the picking. Jesus through the word.

o One of the secrets to spiritual health is meeting with Jesus in the word.

§ Listen to what I did not say – Reading the Bible, memorizing the Bible, Studying the Bible. Those are all good things. But it is possible to do some of those activities and not meet with Jesus.

§ The secret to spiritual health is meeting Jesus in the word.

§ The word gives life to us. The words that I speak to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)

Second reason to be in the Word of God: you are going to starve to death if you do not meet Jesus in the word.

· At the most basic, it is a matter of obedience. It may even be a matter of salvation. Jesus said, If you abide (remain, stay) in my word then you are truly disciples of mine and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John

o When the Holy Spirit is at work and he regenerates he gives a love for the word.

o When the Holy Spirit is at work and he revives a cold heart he gives a love for the word.

o No one is too busy to eat, even if you eat on the run. Yet, I sense that some of us are too busy to meet with Jesus during the week.

o Even if you are busy parenting your children, Deut 6::7 says impress these commandments on your children. But v.6 says that these commandments are to be on your heart. Its like when you fly and the stewardess says that if the oxygen mask comes down then the parent should put their mask on first. Counter intuitive but loving.

· You are going to starve to death spiritually if you do not meet Jesus in the word, just as any family in Israel would have starved if they had not picked up the manna provided for them.

How do I meet Jesus in the Word?

· The Navigators used the illustration of the hand to show our relationship with the word

o The smallest finger stands for hearing, because we remember little of what we hear but we are commanded to hear the word.

o The ring finger stands for reading the word, because we remember more.

o The index finger stands for studying the word, because when we study we will remember more.

o The middle fingers stand for memorizing, because when we memorize we remember the most.

o But the most important finger is the one I have not mentioned, the one that is the secret to a great relationship – the thumb which stands for meditation.

o Just as none of these four fingers work without the thumb, so none of these four methods work without meditation.

· The way we meet Jesus in the word is meditation.

o If you don’t think about what you hear on Sunday AM you can become deceived.

o If you don’t think about what you read during the week, reading the word can just become a dry duty.

o If you don’t think about what you study, it is just an intellectual exercise.

o The way we meet with Jesus is meditation

o Mueller illustration.

· I am going to make a radical statement. Do you know there is no command to read the Bible in the morning? Why do I tell you that? Because meeting Jesus in the morning is not a good idea?

o No, Mark 1 records Jesus went out to pray in the morning. Many have testified over the years of the benefit. It is true that the manna disappeared when the sun grew hot.

o The reason I say this is because (and this has happened to me) if I oversleep or if I start work early in the morning, it is easy to say, “O well, there goes my day. I can’t meet with the Lord today.” What kind of attitude is that? I was defeated before my day every started.

o Joshua 1:8 says that it is as he meditated on it day and night he would be prosperous and successful. Psalm 1 says blessed is the who meditates on God’s law day and night because whatever he does prospers.

o The command is to meditate on the word and night.

Practial Suggestions on How to be in the word and keep the word in you.

· Meet with Jesus. Make sure you are listening to the Spirit.

o Jesus and his Spirit in us are persons who actively speak to us. They speak through our minds and the word. Father said, This is my Son. Listen to Him. That is my exhortation to you – Listen to Him!!!

o The secret to a great devotional time is to spend time with a person.

· Use variety with the Bible.

o Sometimes I will start a reading plan.

o Other times I will review the sermon asking the Lord to speak to me.

o Often I will review my day before, asking the Lord to speak to my mind a passage that applies to an incident. Speak to my mind about an incident the day before.

o Other times I will do a little word or topic study that applies to a current struggle I am having.

o One of the reason I put studies like these at the end of the notes is so that you can use them in your own study.

· Use a journal.

o On one side I record those prayers and thoughts that I think are in my deepest soul. On the other side I label prayers. Scripture says you have not because you ask not.

o A journal helps focus our thoughts. Bill Hybels says in Too Busy Not to Pray “It involves writing down your experiences, observations, and reflections; looking behdin the events of the day for their hidden meaning. He turns to a blank page and writes the word Yesterday. Then he finishes the page for today.

o Gordon MacDonald says I include prayers that I feel like writing down, insights that have come from reading the word. and concerns I have about my own personal behavior.

o Studies have found that people who write about their stressful events are better off psychologically.

· Avoid the hindrances.

o Sin cannot stop you from being in the word. It doesn’t stop you from eating physically does it?

· Go before the Lord, confess as much sin as you can think of, including not abiding in the word. Claim the blood for forgiveness and open up the word.

· The further you get from the word, the less you are going to feel like opening it up.

· Maybe you feel like you are so far from God you can never get back. That’s a lie of the devil.

· Like the prodigal’s father, our father is waiting just to have us back.

o Busyness cannnot stop you from being in the word. You are not to busy to eat are you? Where there is a will there’s a way.

· Maybe you can’t take an hour like you used to, but you can take 7 minutes.

· Suzannah Wesley’s example of throwing her apron over her head. Ruth Graham’s example of leaving Bibles and books around to grab a snippet during the day.

o Despair cannot stop you from being in the word.

· Do what works for you.

· Morning is best. Take 7 minutes in the AM. 7 minutes at lunch 7 minutes before you go to bed.

· Drive a little slower. Take a few more minutes in the shower.

o Boredom cannot stop you from being in the word.

· If your reading is dry or boring it is because it is not connecting with what God is doing or wants to do in your life. You are reading a book not meeting with a person, not getting in touch with what the Spirit wants to say to you.

These words are not trivial, they are your life. They are spirit and they are life. What would the Spirit say to you?

BS Questions

Word gives life

James 1:18

1 Peter 1:23

Hebrews 4:12

John 6:63

Ps 19:7

Psalm 119:25

Deuteronomy 32:47

Word washes

Romans 12:2

Ephesians 5:26

John 15:3

John 17:17

Word as food

Deut 8:3, Exodus 16

Psalm 119:103 –

Job 23:12

Jeremiah 15:16

John 21:15

1 Peter 2:2

Listening to God

Samuel

Listen to Jesus

Listen to The Holy Spirit John 14

Revelation 2

Ecclesiastes 5:1

If you have any questions, comments or observations, please call Chapman Bettis at 401 727-2367 or John Riley at 401-453-5550 or email at johnr@cornerstoneri.com