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Introduction
1. The Bible is the Word of God.
(a) It is our guide for daily living.
(b) When the Bible speaks, God speaks; we must listen
and obey.
2. If the Bible is God’s Word, if the Bible is our
guide in our daily living, we must learn what it says.
I. It is necessary for spiritual growth
1. Five times, the Bible refers to Christians as
babes.
2. When you received Christ as your Saviour, you
were born into God’s family (John 1:12).
a. Now, you must grow as a child of God.
b. As babes in Christ, there is a capacity for
spiritual growth.
How are we to grow?
(1) Peter gives us the answer. He says “As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye
may grow thereby” (1 Pet 2:2).
(2) Jeremiah said the same thing. He said “Thy
words were found, and I did eat them; and thy
word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I
am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jer 15:16).
(3) Paul knew that it is very important for
believers to feed on the Word of God.
He wrote to the Corinthian Christians.
1 Corinthians 3:1, 2:
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
able.”
(a) Paul gave the Corinthian Christians milk,
not meat – solid food, due to their spiritual
immaturity.
(b) Paul’s metaphorical reference to milk and meat
(solid food) should not be misunderstood.
(c) For example: John 3:16.
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John 3:16 can be “milk” for a young Christian.
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It can be “solid food” for mature Christians, when they
study deeply and try to understand the love of God.
(4) Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians.
Colossians 2:6, 7
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and established
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.”
(a) He encouraged them to grow spiritually.
Colossians 2:6 “As ye have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
That is, since they had started with Christ, and
acknowledged Him as Lord, now they must continue to walk
with Him.
[1] The word “walk” is often used of
the Christian life. It speaks of action and progress.
[2] So it is, in the Christian
life.
(b) Then he used two expressions, one
from the agriculture and the other from architecture in
verse 7.
[1] The expression “rooted” refers
to what took place at the time of our conversion.
[2] Then, Paul switched from agriculture to the figure
of a building.
[3] It is interesting to note
the two tenses being used.
* The word “rooted” is perfect tense.
* The phrase “built up in Him” is in the present tense.
(c) And Paul says “and stablished in the faith.”
(v2).
[1] The word “stablished” can be translated as confirmed or
strengthened. It is also in the present tense.
[2] The word “faith” refers to biblical doctrine and
practice.
·
In view of the false teachers around, and trying to
influence the believers with their false or new teachings,
the believers must know the doctrine well, and to stand
against them.
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Therefore, it is essential to study the Word of God.
(5) Paul’s farewell message to the elders of the Ephesian
church. Acts 20:32a “And now, brethren, I commend
you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to
build you up…”
It is the Word of God that build us up in the faith and
causes us to grow spiritually.
II. It is necessary for victory over sin
1. Are you experiencing a defeat in your battle
with sin?
(a) Do your defeats outnumber your victories?
(b) We will never able to defeat sin, unless we fight
it with the Word of God.
2. Henry was invited to the Gospel meeting.
3. The Word of God protects us from sin.
a. Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine
heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
b. Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path.”
c. What defeats sin and temptation?
Answer: Ultimately, the Word of God.
(1) Knowing the Bible is a wonderful weapon against
sin.
(2) Proverbs 23:7a says “For as he thinketh in his
heart, so is he…”
What we fill our hearts and minds will inevitably show up in
how we behave.
(3) The same is true of our minds.
(a) Filling your mind with the truths of God’s Word
will result in holiness and godly behaviour.
(b) What do you fill your mind each day?
III. It is necessary for effective service
1. A thorough understanding of the Bible is
absolutely essential for effective service.
a. The Bible gives us the insight and support we
need to handle difficult situations.
b. The Bible also teaches us how to do God’s work in
God’s way.
2. In Joshua 1:8, 9, we see how God prepared
Joshua to conquer the Promised Land. “This book of the
law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to
do according to all that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success.”
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage;
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy
God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
a. How did Joshua prepare for this very important
assignment?
b. Joshua’s top priority was to study and meditate
on the Word of God.
3. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, and gave him
this wise advice on how to be a success in the ministry.
1 Timothy 4:6 “If thou put the brethren in
remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister
of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of
good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”
What makes a good servant of Christ?
a. It is constant feeding on the Word of God and
of sound doctrine.
b. When you know the Word of God, you make a good
servant of Christ.
IV. It is necessary to make us effective counsellors
1. What is the best way to help people who are
struggling with their problems?
a. Answer: by showing them God’s solutions to their
problems from the Bible.
b. Paul told the Corinthian Christians in 2
Corinthians 1:4 “Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are
in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of God.”
c. Paul told Timothy to pass his knowledge of
Scriptures to others.
2 Timothy 2:2
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall
be able to teach others also.”
2. It is also essential in evangelism
a. If we want to be effective in evangelism, we
must know the Word of God. 1 Peter 3:15 says “But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to
give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
b. Therefore, knowing the Bible is crucial to
effective counselling and evangelism.
3. Conclusion:
1. The Bible is the essential key to spiritual
growth.
2. We must know the Word of God, study and apply it
to our daily living.
Will you do that? |
