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In His Steps: Following Jesus' Example (1 Peter 2:21)
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In His Steps: Following Jesus' Example (1 Peter 2:21)
Continue exploring
Connected by scripture or shared themes.
God laid it on the preacher's heart this morning with a simple message: "Come closer." Life may be tough and things may be difficult, but the master is still on the throne. We do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmity—Jesus was tempted in all points just as we are, yet without sin.
As you spend time in his presence this week, the preacher prays that the Lord will open the veil of heaven and reveal unto you the glorious things he has in store for you—things that are beyond the now. We do not look at the things which are seen, for they are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal.
The apostles who were directly mentored by Jesus taught us that two things every child of God, every disciple of God must prioritize in their life. Acts 6:4 says, "But we give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
What makes you a believer? What makes you a Christian? Those who name the name of Christ have among other things two customs, two habits, two daily practices: number one, prayer, and number two, the ministry of the word.
The word of God is magnified above all of God's names. Psalm 138:2 declares, "I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth. For thou has magnified thy word above all thy names." There are names like Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Tsidkenu, and El Shaddai—but something is greater than all of these names: the word of God.
Matthew 24:35 says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." The words of Jesus are like the north star—they never move. The words of man are variables, just like vapor. They count for nothing except when God empowers them by his strength. Only God has the authority to say a thing and make it come to pass.
Let's look at how Jesus himself studied the word. Luke 4:16 tells us, "And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was, he went up into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read."
Underline that phrase: "as his custom was." This is his habit. This is what Jesus does from time to time. Whenever he is in Nazareth, he went into the synagogue and read the scrolls—the word of God.
In Luke 2:45-50, we see the young Jesus in the temple: "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass that after 3 days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."
When his parents asked why he had dealt with them this way, Jesus replied, "How is it that you sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my father's business?" What is the Father's business? According to Jesus, it is listening to those that are doctors of the law, hearing the word of God, and clarifying issues with them.
Luke 10:38-42 shows us another priority of Jesus: "Now it came to pass as they went that he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus's feet and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him and said, 'Lord, does that not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me?' And Jesus answered and said unto her, 'Martha, Martha. Thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.'"
Yes, there are many activities in church. We can eat, have tea and coffee. When the building is complete, there will be an abundance of meals. But Jesus says one thing is needful: sitting and hearing the voice of God.
We need to study the word of God in order to overcome trials and temptation. Apostle Peter wrote, "Brethren, count it not strange when you fall into diverse temptations." Jesus himself said in John 16:33, "In this world, you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
Isaiah promised, "When you pass through the waters, it will not overflow you. When you pass through the fire, I will be with you." God has never promised the road will be easy. The only thing he has promised us is, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will be with you along the way."
But how do we overcome? Even those closest to Jesus suffered terrible persecution. Some were chastised, some were imprisoned, some were tempted. But they all overcame except one—Judas.
When Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:13, he said, "And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil." When trials and temptations come, how do we overcome? By the word. By the word.
When Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4:1-11, Satan came to him and said, "If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread." But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God."
Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. Satan uses the same three methods to tempt man: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. If you pass these three tests, Satan has nothing on you again.
In the second temptation, verse 6, Satan said, "If thou be the son of God, cast thyself down. For it is written, he shall give his angels charge over thee." Satan was quoting scripture! But look at Jesus' response in verse 7: "And Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. Satan can also tempt and lure those who are not rooted in the word into sin and compromising the standard of God.
In verse 9, Satan said, "All these things will I give to thee if thou will fall down and worship me." Jesus replied, "Get thee hence Satan for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." This is from Deuteronomy 6:13.
Everything Satan was saying, there is a scripture to reply. That is how we win our battle. It is not just by worship. It is by the word. If you want to win spiritual battle, you need the word—period. In periods of trials and temptation, we cannot afford to be empty of the word.
Psalm 149:6 says, "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand." If you want to win, you need the word.
We need to study the word of God to be sanctified—to be made clean, to be made holy. We live in an environment where we need a period of regeneration. God needs to renew our mind.
Isaiah said, "I'm a man of unclean lips and I dwell amongst people of unclean lips." You hear a lot of thoughts that you need the word of God to cleanse your mind from them. Those thoughts are seeds from Satan, and they can germinate into sin. When sin is fully developed, it brings forth death.
How do we keep those seeds from growing? By sanctification. We need to be cleansed. We need to be made clean.
Psalm 119:9 asks, "Wherefore shall a young man cleanse his way?" The answer: "by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Underline the word "cleanse." Especially in this day and age of Facebook and social media, be careful what you listen to. Be careful who has your ear and your attention. There are many counselors flying around. If one is not careful, one will go the wrong way.
In verse 11, the psalmist says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee." It is good to listen to messages over and over again. It re-engineers your mind. It cleanses you. It turns a sinner into a saint. There is power in the word of God.
John 17:17 tells us, "Sanctify them by thy truths. Thy word is truth." How can God turn a sinner into a saint? Jesus uses his word. John 15:3 says, "Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you."
Just listening to Jesus does something to your mindset. It resets your brain. It reshapes your priorities. He says, "Now you are no longer unholy. You are clean. How are you clean? Through the words that are spoken unto you."
Words can make clean, and words can also defile. Words can promote, and words can also demote. If you want to be clean, if you want to live a clean life, listen to the word of God. At least twice a week, listen to a message. There are several messages from our fathers in the Lord—many fathers of faith on holiness, on marriage, on righteousness. Make it a weekly habit to discipline your mind to listen to the word of God—the word that is able to save your soul.
Ephesians 5:26 says, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." The preacher prays that the Lord will give us the grace to listen to and read the word of God in the name of Jesus Christ.
Anybody that does not understand the scripture, no matter how intellectually astute they may be, always has error in their life. Matthew 22:29 records when the Sadducees—who did not believe in resurrection—came to Jesus with a question about a woman and seven brothers. Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God."
You are living in error. Your understanding is filled with error because you do not understand the scriptures.
Jesus taught them the word of God properly, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He's the God of the living, not the god of the dead. In heaven, they don't have laws for women—we are all like angels."
Even for you to be a Sadducee or a Pharisee, you must have memorized thousands of scriptures. Yet Jesus still told them, "You are living in error because you don't understand the scriptures."
Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Satan always uses ignorance. One of Satan's primary weapons is the ignorance of the saints. Before Satan will tempt anyone, he will use a gap in their understanding to test and tempt them.
Satan will tell people, "See this apple? If you eat it, you'll be wise. You'll be like God." He will list for you all the benefits. But he will never tell you the consequences. He will tell you what you stand to enjoy, but Satan will never tell you, "If I do this, what am I going to lose?" That is because he's a deceiver.
In Numbers 23, there was a man who understood the ways of God—his name was Balaam. Balaam was hired by Balak to curse Israel. Balaam set up seven altars and did all incantations against Israel, but it was not working. Balaam himself said, "I cannot curse whom the Lord has not cursed. God has not found iniquity in the life of these people. They can't be cursed."
When you walk righteously, anyone setting up satanic altars to curse you is wasting their time. There is no curse that shall come upon your life. When we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus shields us. You are under the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That is why righteousness imparts boldness. It covers you. You can look at the devil in the face and say, "Go to hell." The Bible says the righteous is as bold as a lion. It is only when there is sin in your life that you see them coming and better run, because you know you have no covering.
But Balaam understood the way of God and told Balak, "Curses can't work. There is something that can work. Get all the beautiful women in your city. Let them dress in a seductive way. Send them into the camp of Israel, because these men are sanctified unto the Lord. When they see them, they will lay with them. And when they lay with them, God will be angry with them, and God will kill them himself."
This became known in Revelation as the doctrine of Balaam. This man was so evil that he became like an entity in the spiritual realm called the doctrine of Balaam—the doctrine that if a man is too anointed, seduce him now and find something to bring him down.
And that's exactly what they did. These people didn't know the word, so they didn't know the consequence. Prostitutes were sent into the camp of Israel, and the men began to have immoral relationships with them. God was so angry and he killed thousands of men. What Balaam could not do with curses, he did with seduction.
If you study the scripture, it will make you avoid the way of error. You will see the cause, you will see the consequence, and you will see those that have done it before and what their end was. So you will not follow that path.
Why do we need to study the word of God? It will give us guidance. It will give us direction on how to live and please God.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. And what is faith? Faith comes by hearing the word of God. So you cannot please God without knowing the word of God.
If you want to please a man, you have to know what that man likes and what he wants. How do you know what God wants? Reading the word. Listening to the word. How do you know what pleases God? Reading the word. Listening to the word.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:130 declares, "The entrance of thy word giveth light. It giveth understanding unto the simple."
In verse 99, the psalmist says, "I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation." In verse 100: "I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts."
So as a husband, my duty towards my wife—I have to look at the word. As a wife towards your husband, what is your godly duty as a Christian woman towards your husband? The Bible says, "Wives honor your own husbands." If as a wife you are dishonoring your husband, you're not just dishonoring him. You are also sinning against God.
The Bible says, "Husbands love your wife." If you don't love your wife, you're not just having something wrong against your wife. You are also sinning against God.
The word of God will give us the pattern of how to live this Christian life and how to please God. The preacher prays that the Lord will give us the grace to do this in Jesus name.
Many people think that in Christianity there is no gain—it's just a boring exercise. But that is a lie from the pit of hell. There are many benefits of living righteously.
There are only two pains in life for every human to choose: the pain of regrets or the pain of discipline. Discipline is the highest form of self-love. If we study the word of God, we will find the benefits of living right, and they are just too many to mention.
Look at Daniel in Daniel 1:8: "But Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested for the plains of the Uno, that he might not defile himself." Anytime you say no to sin and yes to righteousness, God credits something into your destiny. There is a blessing that comes at that moment that you choose God over iniquity.
In verse 17, "And as for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." Every time you stand for God, God gives you something. For Daniel, we can see what Daniel did and what God gave him.
Another blessing of uprightness is wisdom. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Before promotion comes holiness, humility, and diligence. All of these things we find that God can promote. A man can become great by dint of hard work, determination, intelligence, and application of all the laws of life. But God himself can also promote. God has promoted many people from nothing and made them princes.
When studying the word of God, we find three things: the principles of life, the promises of God, and the prophecies.
There is a narrative that those who are not born again are better than those who are Christians. "Why are people who are not going to church doing better than me?" Study the Bible. You will find the answer.
Malachi 3:14-18 speaks directly to this question. The people said, "Your words have been stout against us, saying, 'What profit is it that we have kept his ordinance and that we have walked mourfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy. Yes, they that walk with wickedness are set up. Yes, those that tempt God are even delivered.'"
But in verse 16, "Then they that fear the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord and that thought upon his name, and they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts. In that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."
God says a day is coming. You will look back and you will discern between the righteous and the wicked, and between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
However, the challenge is this: it is not in all cases that God will justify the righteous or reward the righteous with our own measure of success here on earth. That's why Apostle Paul says that if it is only in this life we have hope, we are of all men most miserable.
There are some people you will look at their lives as if they even died in righteousness. But if God opens your eyes, they just died. Yet there are thousands of angels clapping for them, crowns of glory waiting for them. These people are celebrated. But because we are men, we think differently from God.
God says about a humble, righteous man, "This is a prince. This is a prince in my kingdom." God is sending angels to welcome him home. These things we find in the word of God.
Psalm 73:12-20 addresses this same struggle: "Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. Even from Bible times, people that are with questionable character, they have a lot of money. They increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain. This man is saying, 'What? Why am I stressing myself trying to live right with God? I have washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning.'"
"When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me. But when I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I the end. Surely thou does set them in slippery places. Thou cast them forth into destruction. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment? They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one wakes, so, oh Lord, when thou wakest, thou shalt despise their image."
These are the people we are clapping for. The Bible says don't follow them. Don't follow them to do evil. When God opens their eyes while people are clapping for them, God is despising them. They are being despised by the creator of the universe.
Even economists and psychologists have found that after a certain level, money is good, but additional units of money will not make you happier. But there is something called the joy of the Holy Ghost, and the Lord will give it to you in Jesus name.
We live in an environment where there is a cacophony of voices. There are many people saying things, but they are not saying the words of God. There are many people guiding people, but they are not guiding people right.
Let the Bible be your standard. No man of God, no matter how anointed, should be your ultimate standard. Your ultimate standard is Jesus and the word of God. Whatever counsel you receive, check it with the word of God. Before you take that step, ask yourself: Is this according to the will of God? The will of God is the word of God.
Every time they came to tempt Jesus, Jesus quoted scriptures to answer them. Even when they tempted him concerning the woman caught in adultery, he was quoting scriptures back to them.
Psalm 119:18 says, "Open thou my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
When Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection, before his ascension to heaven, Jesus did something very important. Luke 24:45 says, "Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures."
Before Jesus was taken up to heaven, he opened their understanding. Why? Because he knew they needed this as an asset of destiny to guide them through life.
We must pray the same prayer: "Oh Lord, open my understanding to understand the scriptures in the name of Jesus. Give me the discipline to study. Give me the grace to study the word. Help me to pattern my life according to your word. Open my understanding, oh God, to study your word. Help me to pattern my home after the word in the name of Jesus. Help me to pattern my home on the solid rock in the name of Jesus."
Many people are saying, "All these prophets who are saying the Lord said, I have never heard from God before." Let the preacher give you a prophecy: As you study the word of God, God will open your spiritual ears.
John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me."
The prayer is this: "Oh God, as from today, open my spiritual ears. Open my spiritual eyes. Let me begin to hear from God. No more confusion, no more nightmares. Help me hear clearly from heaven in the name of Jesus. My Lord and my Savior, as I study the word, let me hear a clear word from God. Let me have clear instruction, clear guidance in the name of Jesus. Lord, give me the discipline. Give me the grace. Let me study your word. Help me to understand your word in the name of Jesus."
The preacher prays that when you need those scriptures—all the scriptures you have memorized, all the word of God you have hidden in your heart—may the Holy Spirit bring them to your remembrance in the name of Jesus.
No one in this parish will be a forgetful hearer of the word of God. The Bible says when the seed was planted, the fowls of the air came and split it because it was not rooted. The preacher decrees the word of God will take root in your hearts.
What the word of God does is that it activates your conscience. The word of God makes your conscience come alive. The Bible says when David wanted to cut the hem of King Saul's garment, his conscience smote him. That is what the word of God does.
As you study the word of God, may God activate your conscience. You will never be caught doing bad things. You will never say bad things about others. Your character will be upright. Your home will be built on the solid rock in the name of Jesus. Your destiny will not crash. You will be called a man and a woman of good conscience.
The preacher prays through the teaching of this word, let there be a pricking of hearts unto salvation in Jesus name. For as many who are already saved, may God give us that hunger to go back to the word of God. Give us that hunger to memorize the scriptures. Help us to believe the word of God. The preacher prays the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.
God laid it on the preacher's heart this morning with a simple message: "Come closer." Life may be tough and things may be difficult, but the master is still on the throne. We do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmity—Jesus was tempted in all points just as we are, yet without sin.
As you spend time in his presence this week, the preacher prays that the Lord will open the veil of heaven and reveal unto you the glorious things he has in store for you—things that are beyond the now. We do not look at the things which are seen, for they are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal.
The apostles who were directly mentored by Jesus taught us that two things every child of God, every disciple of God must prioritize in their life. Acts 6:4 says, "But we give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
What makes you a believer? What makes you a Christian? Those who name the name of Christ have among other things two customs, two habits, two daily practices: number one, prayer, and number two, the ministry of the word.
The word of God is magnified above all of God's names. Psalm 138:2 declares, "I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth. For thou has magnified thy word above all thy names." There are names like Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Tsidkenu, and El Shaddai—but something is greater than all of these names: the word of God.
Matthew 24:35 says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." The words of Jesus are like the north star—they never move. The words of man are variables, just like vapor. They count for nothing except when God empowers them by his strength. Only God has the authority to say a thing and make it come to pass.
Let's look at how Jesus himself studied the word. Luke 4:16 tells us, "And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was, he went up into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read."
Underline that phrase: "as his custom was." This is his habit. This is what Jesus does from time to time. Whenever he is in Nazareth, he went into the synagogue and read the scrolls—the word of God.
In Luke 2:45-50, we see the young Jesus in the temple: "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass that after 3 days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."
When his parents asked why he had dealt with them this way, Jesus replied, "How is it that you sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my father's business?" What is the Father's business? According to Jesus, it is listening to those that are doctors of the law, hearing the word of God, and clarifying issues with them.
Luke 10:38-42 shows us another priority of Jesus: "Now it came to pass as they went that he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus's feet and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him and said, 'Lord, does that not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me?' And Jesus answered and said unto her, 'Martha, Martha. Thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.'"
Yes, there are many activities in church. We can eat, have tea and coffee. When the building is complete, there will be an abundance of meals. But Jesus says one thing is needful: sitting and hearing the voice of God.
We need to study the word of God in order to overcome trials and temptation. Apostle Peter wrote, "Brethren, count it not strange when you fall into diverse temptations." Jesus himself said in John 16:33, "In this world, you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
Isaiah promised, "When you pass through the waters, it will not overflow you. When you pass through the fire, I will be with you." God has never promised the road will be easy. The only thing he has promised us is, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will be with you along the way."
But how do we overcome? Even those closest to Jesus suffered terrible persecution. Some were chastised, some were imprisoned, some were tempted. But they all overcame except one—Judas.
When Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:13, he said, "And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil." When trials and temptations come, how do we overcome? By the word. By the word.
When Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4:1-11, Satan came to him and said, "If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread." But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God."
Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. Satan uses the same three methods to tempt man: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. If you pass these three tests, Satan has nothing on you again.
In the second temptation, verse 6, Satan said, "If thou be the son of God, cast thyself down. For it is written, he shall give his angels charge over thee." Satan was quoting scripture! But look at Jesus' response in verse 7: "And Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. Satan can also tempt and lure those who are not rooted in the word into sin and compromising the standard of God.
In verse 9, Satan said, "All these things will I give to thee if thou will fall down and worship me." Jesus replied, "Get thee hence Satan for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." This is from Deuteronomy 6:13.
Everything Satan was saying, there is a scripture to reply. That is how we win our battle. It is not just by worship. It is by the word. If you want to win spiritual battle, you need the word—period. In periods of trials and temptation, we cannot afford to be empty of the word.
Psalm 149:6 says, "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand." If you want to win, you need the word.
We need to study the word of God to be sanctified—to be made clean, to be made holy. We live in an environment where we need a period of regeneration. God needs to renew our mind.
Isaiah said, "I'm a man of unclean lips and I dwell amongst people of unclean lips." You hear a lot of thoughts that you need the word of God to cleanse your mind from them. Those thoughts are seeds from Satan, and they can germinate into sin. When sin is fully developed, it brings forth death.
How do we keep those seeds from growing? By sanctification. We need to be cleansed. We need to be made clean.
Psalm 119:9 asks, "Wherefore shall a young man cleanse his way?" The answer: "by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Underline the word "cleanse." Especially in this day and age of Facebook and social media, be careful what you listen to. Be careful who has your ear and your attention. There are many counselors flying around. If one is not careful, one will go the wrong way.
In verse 11, the psalmist says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee." It is good to listen to messages over and over again. It re-engineers your mind. It cleanses you. It turns a sinner into a saint. There is power in the word of God.
John 17:17 tells us, "Sanctify them by thy truths. Thy word is truth." How can God turn a sinner into a saint? Jesus uses his word. John 15:3 says, "Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you."
Just listening to Jesus does something to your mindset. It resets your brain. It reshapes your priorities. He says, "Now you are no longer unholy. You are clean. How are you clean? Through the words that are spoken unto you."
Words can make clean, and words can also defile. Words can promote, and words can also demote. If you want to be clean, if you want to live a clean life, listen to the word of God. At least twice a week, listen to a message. There are several messages from our fathers in the Lord—many fathers of faith on holiness, on marriage, on righteousness. Make it a weekly habit to discipline your mind to listen to the word of God—the word that is able to save your soul.
Ephesians 5:26 says, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." The preacher prays that the Lord will give us the grace to listen to and read the word of God in the name of Jesus Christ.
Anybody that does not understand the scripture, no matter how intellectually astute they may be, always has error in their life. Matthew 22:29 records when the Sadducees—who did not believe in resurrection—came to Jesus with a question about a woman and seven brothers. Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God."
You are living in error. Your understanding is filled with error because you do not understand the scriptures.
Jesus taught them the word of God properly, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He's the God of the living, not the god of the dead. In heaven, they don't have laws for women—we are all like angels."
Even for you to be a Sadducee or a Pharisee, you must have memorized thousands of scriptures. Yet Jesus still told them, "You are living in error because you don't understand the scriptures."
Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Satan always uses ignorance. One of Satan's primary weapons is the ignorance of the saints. Before Satan will tempt anyone, he will use a gap in their understanding to test and tempt them.
Satan will tell people, "See this apple? If you eat it, you'll be wise. You'll be like God." He will list for you all the benefits. But he will never tell you the consequences. He will tell you what you stand to enjoy, but Satan will never tell you, "If I do this, what am I going to lose?" That is because he's a deceiver.
In Numbers 23, there was a man who understood the ways of God—his name was Balaam. Balaam was hired by Balak to curse Israel. Balaam set up seven altars and did all incantations against Israel, but it was not working. Balaam himself said, "I cannot curse whom the Lord has not cursed. God has not found iniquity in the life of these people. They can't be cursed."
When you walk righteously, anyone setting up satanic altars to curse you is wasting their time. There is no curse that shall come upon your life. When we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus shields us. You are under the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That is why righteousness imparts boldness. It covers you. You can look at the devil in the face and say, "Go to hell." The Bible says the righteous is as bold as a lion. It is only when there is sin in your life that you see them coming and better run, because you know you have no covering.
But Balaam understood the way of God and told Balak, "Curses can't work. There is something that can work. Get all the beautiful women in your city. Let them dress in a seductive way. Send them into the camp of Israel, because these men are sanctified unto the Lord. When they see them, they will lay with them. And when they lay with them, God will be angry with them, and God will kill them himself."
This became known in Revelation as the doctrine of Balaam. This man was so evil that he became like an entity in the spiritual realm called the doctrine of Balaam—the doctrine that if a man is too anointed, seduce him now and find something to bring him down.
And that's exactly what they did. These people didn't know the word, so they didn't know the consequence. Prostitutes were sent into the camp of Israel, and the men began to have immoral relationships with them. God was so angry and he killed thousands of men. What Balaam could not do with curses, he did with seduction.
If you study the scripture, it will make you avoid the way of error. You will see the cause, you will see the consequence, and you will see those that have done it before and what their end was. So you will not follow that path.
Why do we need to study the word of God? It will give us guidance. It will give us direction on how to live and please God.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. And what is faith? Faith comes by hearing the word of God. So you cannot please God without knowing the word of God.
If you want to please a man, you have to know what that man likes and what he wants. How do you know what God wants? Reading the word. Listening to the word. How do you know what pleases God? Reading the word. Listening to the word.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:130 declares, "The entrance of thy word giveth light. It giveth understanding unto the simple."
In verse 99, the psalmist says, "I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation." In verse 100: "I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts."
So as a husband, my duty towards my wife—I have to look at the word. As a wife towards your husband, what is your godly duty as a Christian woman towards your husband? The Bible says, "Wives honor your own husbands." If as a wife you are dishonoring your husband, you're not just dishonoring him. You are also sinning against God.
The Bible says, "Husbands love your wife." If you don't love your wife, you're not just having something wrong against your wife. You are also sinning against God.
The word of God will give us the pattern of how to live this Christian life and how to please God. The preacher prays that the Lord will give us the grace to do this in Jesus name.
Many people think that in Christianity there is no gain—it's just a boring exercise. But that is a lie from the pit of hell. There are many benefits of living righteously.
There are only two pains in life for every human to choose: the pain of regrets or the pain of discipline. Discipline is the highest form of self-love. If we study the word of God, we will find the benefits of living right, and they are just too many to mention.
Look at Daniel in Daniel 1:8: "But Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested for the plains of the Uno, that he might not defile himself." Anytime you say no to sin and yes to righteousness, God credits something into your destiny. There is a blessing that comes at that moment that you choose God over iniquity.
In verse 17, "And as for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." Every time you stand for God, God gives you something. For Daniel, we can see what Daniel did and what God gave him.
Another blessing of uprightness is wisdom. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Before promotion comes holiness, humility, and diligence. All of these things we find that God can promote. A man can become great by dint of hard work, determination, intelligence, and application of all the laws of life. But God himself can also promote. God has promoted many people from nothing and made them princes.
When studying the word of God, we find three things: the principles of life, the promises of God, and the prophecies.
There is a narrative that those who are not born again are better than those who are Christians. "Why are people who are not going to church doing better than me?" Study the Bible. You will find the answer.
Malachi 3:14-18 speaks directly to this question. The people said, "Your words have been stout against us, saying, 'What profit is it that we have kept his ordinance and that we have walked mourfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy. Yes, they that walk with wickedness are set up. Yes, those that tempt God are even delivered.'"
But in verse 16, "Then they that fear the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord and that thought upon his name, and they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts. In that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."
God says a day is coming. You will look back and you will discern between the righteous and the wicked, and between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
However, the challenge is this: it is not in all cases that God will justify the righteous or reward the righteous with our own measure of success here on earth. That's why Apostle Paul says that if it is only in this life we have hope, we are of all men most miserable.
There are some people you will look at their lives as if they even died in righteousness. But if God opens your eyes, they just died. Yet there are thousands of angels clapping for them, crowns of glory waiting for them. These people are celebrated. But because we are men, we think differently from God.
God says about a humble, righteous man, "This is a prince. This is a prince in my kingdom." God is sending angels to welcome him home. These things we find in the word of God.
Psalm 73:12-20 addresses this same struggle: "Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. Even from Bible times, people that are with questionable character, they have a lot of money. They increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain. This man is saying, 'What? Why am I stressing myself trying to live right with God? I have washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning.'"
"When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me. But when I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I the end. Surely thou does set them in slippery places. Thou cast them forth into destruction. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment? They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one wakes, so, oh Lord, when thou wakest, thou shalt despise their image."
These are the people we are clapping for. The Bible says don't follow them. Don't follow them to do evil. When God opens their eyes while people are clapping for them, God is despising them. They are being despised by the creator of the universe.
Even economists and psychologists have found that after a certain level, money is good, but additional units of money will not make you happier. But there is something called the joy of the Holy Ghost, and the Lord will give it to you in Jesus name.
We live in an environment where there is a cacophony of voices. There are many people saying things, but they are not saying the words of God. There are many people guiding people, but they are not guiding people right.
Let the Bible be your standard. No man of God, no matter how anointed, should be your ultimate standard. Your ultimate standard is Jesus and the word of God. Whatever counsel you receive, check it with the word of God. Before you take that step, ask yourself: Is this according to the will of God? The will of God is the word of God.
Every time they came to tempt Jesus, Jesus quoted scriptures to answer them. Even when they tempted him concerning the woman caught in adultery, he was quoting scriptures back to them.
Psalm 119:18 says, "Open thou my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
When Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection, before his ascension to heaven, Jesus did something very important. Luke 24:45 says, "Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures."
Before Jesus was taken up to heaven, he opened their understanding. Why? Because he knew they needed this as an asset of destiny to guide them through life.
We must pray the same prayer: "Oh Lord, open my understanding to understand the scriptures in the name of Jesus. Give me the discipline to study. Give me the grace to study the word. Help me to pattern my life according to your word. Open my understanding, oh God, to study your word. Help me to pattern my home after the word in the name of Jesus. Help me to pattern my home on the solid rock in the name of Jesus."
Many people are saying, "All these prophets who are saying the Lord said, I have never heard from God before." Let the preacher give you a prophecy: As you study the word of God, God will open your spiritual ears.
John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me."
The prayer is this: "Oh God, as from today, open my spiritual ears. Open my spiritual eyes. Let me begin to hear from God. No more confusion, no more nightmares. Help me hear clearly from heaven in the name of Jesus. My Lord and my Savior, as I study the word, let me hear a clear word from God. Let me have clear instruction, clear guidance in the name of Jesus. Lord, give me the discipline. Give me the grace. Let me study your word. Help me to understand your word in the name of Jesus."
The preacher prays that when you need those scriptures—all the scriptures you have memorized, all the word of God you have hidden in your heart—may the Holy Spirit bring them to your remembrance in the name of Jesus.
No one in this parish will be a forgetful hearer of the word of God. The Bible says when the seed was planted, the fowls of the air came and split it because it was not rooted. The preacher decrees the word of God will take root in your hearts.
What the word of God does is that it activates your conscience. The word of God makes your conscience come alive. The Bible says when David wanted to cut the hem of King Saul's garment, his conscience smote him. That is what the word of God does.
As you study the word of God, may God activate your conscience. You will never be caught doing bad things. You will never say bad things about others. Your character will be upright. Your home will be built on the solid rock in the name of Jesus. Your destiny will not crash. You will be called a man and a woman of good conscience.
The preacher prays through the teaching of this word, let there be a pricking of hearts unto salvation in Jesus name. For as many who are already saved, may God give us that hunger to go back to the word of God. Give us that hunger to memorize the scriptures. Help us to believe the word of God. The preacher prays the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.
