Impact 1 - Faith and God's Holy Word

This Christian Journey:

Impact One

FAITH AND
GOD'S HOLY WORD

BY DR. WALTER D. HUYCK JR.

www.thischristianjourney.com

Unit One, Unit Two, Unit Three, Unit Four, Unit Five

UNIT ONE

FAITH

Faith is one of the most important, yet often neglected, issues of a Christian’s life. Most Christians believe that they understand what faith is, at least to a small degree, yet many hold to an understanding of faith that is common but clearly unscriptural.

The focus of this unit will be to break through all of your personal ideas concerning faith and to take hold of what God's Word reveals to us about faith. After all, you can't put something to use until you know what it is and how to use it. Since faith is something that deals directly with and relies directly on God, it is only reasonable to establish all of your faith on His revealed principles. That's where it will be the most effective.

Start by answering a few basic question about what you now believe:

1. In your own words, what is FAITH?

________________________________________________________

2. How do you support this?

________________________________________________________

3. What can your faith do for you?

________________________________________________________

4. What can't your faith do for you?

________________________________________________________

Look up Hebrews 11.1, and spend a few moments really considering this verse; this would be an outstanding verse to memorize. Many claim that this is the Biblical definition of faith, so lets consider this verse carefully.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for;

5. What is our hope? (1 John 3.1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18)

________________________________________________________

The things we hope for include things like Heaven, eternal life, etc . . . These are those things revealed in the Bible that God has promised to give us. We have not actually seen Heaven or the New Jerusalem, but God's promises in the Bible let us know that these unseen places are real places that we will partake of some day.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen;

6. What are those things not seen?

________________________________________________________

Those things that we have not seen yet know that they exist include our Lord Jesus Christ. I have never seen Jesus with my physical eyes, but I have seen Him with my spiritual eyes. God's revealed Word is all the evidence I need to know that Jesus is physically alive and seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

7. Does Hebrews 11.1 appear to be a definition of Faith, or a description of what Faith does or reveals?

________________________________________________________

It is obvious that this is not a definition of faith, but a description of the operation or the result of faith. The context of the passage lends itself only to the result of faith. The whole hall of fame of faith, Hebrews chapter 11, speaks of the results of faith. So, even if we know nothing else concerning this verse, we know that if we keep it in the context of the passage it is dealing with the results of our faith.

My faith gives substance (reality or tangibility) to those things I have never seen but hope for. My faith is the evidence of those things I have never seen but know exist.

The Biblical Definition of Faith

Now, don't get discouraged. The Bible always answers any questions that it creates, so we just need to dig a little deeper to find the Biblical definition of Faith.

For many people, faith is simply one’s ability to believe something. They might say, "I have faith because I believe it is so." Therefore, faith for them depends on their ability to believe something. Many in our day use the word faith in this context, but this is not what the Bible means when it uses the word faith.

Turn to ROMANS 4.13-25. Read it thru one time, right now.

Now, read verses 18-21 again, carefully. Now focus in on verses 20-21.

8. What do verses 19 and 20 reveal about Abraham's faith?

________________________________________________________

9. What did Abraham fail to stagger at?

________________________________________________________

10. What was Abraham fully persuaded of (vs 21)?

________________________________________________________

11. Can you find a definition of Faith here? What is it?

________________________________________________________

MEMORIZE VERSE 21

"And being fully persuaded, that what He had promised, He was able also to perform."

Faith is taking God at His Word.

The late Adrian Rogers defines faith as:

First, Hearing a Word from God.
Second, Believing what God has said
Third, Acting on what God has said.

Abraham had received a Word from God. God told him that he would have an heir and that through his heir all the nations of the world would be blessed. Abraham believed God; he was fully persuaded that what God had said, He would surely do. One can imagine that as the years went by and as Abraham and Sarah got older and older, their faith was often put to the test. There was at least one time that Abraham and Sarah tried to find a creative way to fulfill God's promise and as a result Ishmael was born. Yet, God was still faithful and kept His Word by sending Isaac.

There was another time when God tested Abraham's faith or Abraham's willingness to take God at His Word. God told Abraham to take Isaac to a certain mountain and sacrifice him there (Gen 22). Abraham showed his remarkable faith by obeying God and taking Isaac to that mountain. Someone might think, "Well, Abraham must have known that God would supply the ram and that's the only reason he obeyed." Abraham's real thoughts are reveal in Hebrews chapter 11. The Bible records:

Hebrews 11:17-19 ¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: ¹⁹Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham knew that Isaac would have to live on after that mountain because God had said that all nations would be blessed through Isaac. Therefore, Abraham assumed that God would raise Isaac from the dead. Why? Because God will always keep His Word, and Abraham was going to obey God and sacrifice Isaac. Hence, Abraham was strong in faith because He took God at His Word.

Therefore, the Biblical definition of faith is:

Taking God at His Word

CONVINCING FACTS

Many today treat faith as though it is something that they can and must do, as if it is some kind of action or response. The fact is that faith comes from the Greek word pistis (gk) which is a noun:

12. What is a noun? ________________________________

The Greek word for belief is pisteuw (gk) and this word is a verb:

13. What does a verb do? ___________________________

If this is so, then faith has nothing at all to do with any individual’s mental capacity or faculties. Faith becomes something tangible (a noun), something we can take hold of. Thus, the Greek language itself reveals that faith is something that God has established outside of human effort that mankind can take hold of and put to use.

Hence, the statement ". . . according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12.3) comes to light. God has given to each individual a portion of this thing we call faith that we might put it to use for His glory. What is the result of this gift of faith? Belief, or faithful action in response to our measure of faith. Once again, our work for God is the result of our salvation in response to the faith we have received from God. It is not what we do that earns us an account balance of faith.

Remember, faith is not the same as belief, but belief is the active response of faith. Faith is found in God's Word (Romans 10.17).

Many in our day believe that they have faith because they believe, but biblical faith does not come from our ability to believe something. Instead, biblical belief is the result of hearing a clear Word from God.

What is the point here? Your faith is not in proportion to your ability to believe anything about God or anything God has said. God does not do anything just because you believe it can or will happen. Instead, God does everything He said He would do. Therefore, if God says something, you can believe it, and that is faith.

There are things God has said He will do that may be hard for me to believe. The rapture, for example, is difficult for me to conceive of, but that does not change anything. I know there will be a rapture because God has said there will be a rapture; and that is faith.

You have received a written Word from God: the Bible. Are you fully persuaded that God is right, no matter what? Then live your life accordingly.

UNIT TWO

THE RESULTS OF FAITH

Now that we understand just what Scriptural faith really is, we want to search out what God's Word really teaches about this faith He has given us. Just what can faith really do? Since God, in His Word, strives to reveal to us those things that we could not otherwise know, we must dive prayerfully into His Word for the answers we need concerning faith.

The focus and goal of this unit of study is to help each individual discover what he or she has access to in the faith God has given them. By the way, since Scriptural faith is tangible and based wholly on God's Word, it is impossible for an individual to have Biblical faith apart from God's Word. This means that those who follow false religions may claim to have faith, but they cannot have the God-given faith of the Bible. Well, let’s get right to work!

There are a few basic, grass-root affects of faith; look up the following verses, and in the space provided, write what is revealed about faith.

Matthew 17.20; 21.21

________________________________________________________

At first glance, both of these verses appear to say that if you can believe something, then it will happen. But consider this, Matthew 17.20 actually says it only takes a little bit of faith; it only takes a little Word from God, and God will keep it. Perhaps your problem looks like a mountain, but if God has given a single word concerning that mountain, then rest assured it will move.

Matthew 21.21 tells us not to doubt but just believe God. If you have a Word from God concerning any matter, then there is no reason to doubt. God will always keep his Word. As you actually experience God acting in fulfillment of His Word, you will find it easier and easier to exercise your biblical faith.

1. What are the results of faith (Hebrews 11.1)?

1._______________________________________________

2._______________________________________________

Lets go back and consider again just what faith really is:

2. Faith is ______________ God at _________ __________

3. If faith relies completely on God's Word or promises, then what must we do to manifest the affects of this God given faith?

________________________________________________________

We must act on what God has said. We must be obedient to God's Word.

Next, let’s consider some of the things that faith has actually done in the past. Look up Hebrews chapter eleven, the Hall of Fame of Faith. Go through verses 1-31 and write down the works of faith you find in this chapter (keep this simple); be sure to write your verse references with your statements.

Hebrews 11.1-31

________________________________________________________

There certainly are a lot of wonderful and amazing things revealed here about faith. However, we often fail to see all that is truly revealed. Carefully consider the following in respect to faith and note what you find.

Rahab was a _______________ (Hebrews 11.31).

Hebrews 11.36 _____________________________________

Hebrews 11.37 _____________________________________

Hebrews 11.38 _____________________________________

Hebrews 11.39-40 __________________________________

We always thought that faith only resulted in what we might perceive as good, but faith often resulted in some almost unthinkable things. For example, many Christians, acting according to biblical faith, have been persecuted and martyred for their faith. Perhaps this is why the Bible records:

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Since faith is taking God at His Word, in the following exercises we are going to search out what the Word of God really does teach us about faith.

Look up the following verse references and note the Scriptural promise given.

Matthew 6.25-34; Luke 12.22-30

_______________________________________________________

Romans 10.9-10, 13

_______________________________________________________

Psalm 1.1-6

________________________________________________________

1 John 1.9; Psalm 103.12; Isaiah 43.25

________________________________________________________

John 1.12; Gal 3.26

________________________________________________________

Revelation 3.20; 1 John 5.11-13; John 14.15-18

________________________________________________________

John 14.26; James 1.5

________________________________________________________

These are just a few of the multitude of promises God has given us in His written Word. From these promises, we learn that our Heavenly Father will: provide our basic needs, bless us if we love Him and live for Him, forgive us, adopte us into His glorious family, and be with us and in us to provide us with spiritual illumination. What an incredible list of promises, and these are but a taste. To discover more, you would need merely to spend time memorizing and meditating on the Bible.

Where does our faith come from? Romans 1.17

_______________________________________________________

Faith comes from the Word of God. If you want more faith spend more time in God's Word.

Responsibility

Even though faith is made available by God, God has ordained that mankind should have some responsibilities in respect to faith. Lets consider what our part of faith is.

Our faith should ___________________________ (1 Corinthians 2.5)

We must _______________________________(1 Corinthians 16.13)

We must ________________________________(2 Corinthians 13.5)

Our faith should __________________________________________(1 Thessalonians 1.3; James 2.14)

Our faith should __________________________________________ (James 2.1)

The prayer of faith ________________________________________ (James 5.15)

CONVINCING FACTS

We have certainly studied a lot about faith in these last two lessons. Only one question has been left unanswered: How does one actually activate their faith?

If faith is taking God at His Word, or standing on God's promises, then there is only one way for new born babes in Christ to activate their faith. this is revealed in 1 Peter 2.2. They must desire the Word of God. They must hunger and thirst for righteousness. They must devour the Word as a starving child, for one cannot stand on what one does not know. Nourishment is necessary for any real growth to occur.

What about for the veteran Christian? The Word even gives them a course of action found in James 1.18-21. First, develop a godly character, and then receive the engrafted Word. Notice that it says the “engrafted Word.” Isn't that something? Faith relies wholly on God's Word, and as Christians, God has engrafted His Word into our lives; it has become a part of us. Not only that, but something that is engrafted must be alive, and the engrafted life becomes a part of the life to which it is engrafted! Now it is time to make real use of that which God has put within us.

LIVE BY FAITH,

NOT BY SIGHT!!

UNIT THREE

THE WORD OF GOD

The primary focus of this unit of work is to challenge your understanding of God's Holy Word. There is a text titled “God's Holy Word” that is designed to be used with this unit; it can be read at,

http://www.thischristianjourney.com/ThisChristianJourney/GeneralPages/TheWord.htm.

Look up 2 Peter 1.20-21; How does verse 20 start?

_____________ ___________ __________

2. What is the first thing that a Christian must know, according to these verses?

________________________________________________________

Considering what we have just studied in the previous units. See if you can figure out why God's Word is so important to every Christian.

3. God's Word is important because . . .(Romans 10.17)

________________________________________________________

Faith is the heart of the Christian life. Everything that a Christian does or does not do hinges on his or her faith, and his or her faith hinges on his or her understanding of God's Word. This is why the Bible states that "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb 11.6). Thus, the extreme importance of God's Word becomes very clear. If faith is taking God at His Word, then without God's Word one cannot have biblical faith at all.

Now, let’s consider some basic facts about God's Word.

It will be necessary for you to read the first two chapters of the text “God's Holy Word.” Then answer the following questions.

4. How many Books are there in the Bible?

a. New Testament - ___________

b. Old Testament - ___________

c. Total - ___________

5. How many penmen wrote the Bible? _______________

6. Are these penmen the authors of the Bible? __________

7. Why or Why not?

________________________________________________________

8. Who is the author of the Bible? __________

9. In what way did God author the Bible?

________________________________________________________

10. When did the verse and chapter divisions first appear in our Bible’s text? ___________

11. How should we treat these divisions, and why?

________________________________________________________

Unlike most books we see in our day the Bible makes some pretty powerful statements about itself. Let’s consider what the Bible says about itself.

12. According to Romans 10.17, the Bible is the source of our _____________.

13. According to 1 Peter 2.2, we are to desire this Word as what, and why?

________________________________________________________

14. What does this mean to you?

________________________________________________________

15. Do you believe that God's Word is trustworthy; why?

________________________________________________________

16. Is there any portion of God's Word that you feel you cannot trust? What is it, and why?

________________________________________________________

17. Do you feel the Bible is inerrant, without errors, as we presently have it, why?

________________________________________________________

18. What does Psalms 119.89 claim about God's Word?

________________________________________________________

19. What does Isaiah 40.8 claim about God's Word?

________________________________________________________

20. What did Jesus claim about God's Word (Matt 5.18; 24.35)?

________________________________________________________

21. What does 1 Peter 1.25 claim about God's Word?

________________________________________________________

22. Is God able to fulfill these promises and keep His Word in spite of man or Satan? _____________

23. In what way has Satan attempted to counter God's Word?

________________________________________________________

24. Has Satan been successful, why?

________________________________________________________

Remember, there is nothing that will impact your Christian walk as much as the importance that you place on God's Holy Word. If you truly feel that God could not keep His Word pure in spite of man or Satan, then you have a small god indeed, and one might even go so far as to say you have no God at all. If you cannot trust God's Word, then it could never be an authority in your life.

Convincing Facts

In a powerful sermon preached about God's Word, Voddie Baucham said:

"I believe the Bible is God's Word because it is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses; they report to us supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin." (Voddie Baucham, 2005 SBC Pastor's Conference, Session 1)

Consider this statement for just a moment. There is no more powerful testimony about anything than one that is backed up by multiple witnesses and substantiated by exact events. Those who wrote the Bible were actual eyewitnesses to the events they recorded. They were writing in the presence of other eyewitnesses who could and did testify to the veracity of those things they recorded. These witnesses provided an absolute foundation for the veracity of the Bible they wrote.

On top of the witnesses element, there are the numerous supernatural events that were recorded hundreds of years before they were fulfilled. These events were not ambiguous but were very specific. They recorded things like:

· That Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.

· That Jesus would come out of Egypt.

· That Jesus would suffer on the cross.

· That Jesus' bones would be out of joint.

· That not a single bone would be broken in Jesus' body.

These are only a few of the 70 major prophecies concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that were fulfilled by Him specifically. On top of these, there were over 270 prophetic ramifications that were also fulfilled.

These specific prophecies and the many eyewitnesses that wrote the New Testament provide a level of support and veracity for the biblical text that few defendants or prosecutors in a court of law could produce. The Bible is exactly what it claims to be:

The Written Word of God!

UNIT FOUR

THE TRANSMISSION OF THE
WORD OF GOD

This unit of study will challenge your understanding of the various versions of the Bible now available in our English language. The primary focus of this unit is to cause you to think about God's Word and these versions and to help you find and establish the vital stand that will help you to grow in your Christian faith.

You may find that this lesson is merely a stepping stone that will draw you into a deeper study of this subject; if you find this to be the case, please do not hesitate to dive into an in-depth study for this is truly the most important subject of your Christian life in Christ. Feel free to challenge the facts and views presented in this unit of work and, at the same time, give the facts presented an equal opportunity to be understood. Your primary focus at this time should be to find only the truth, whether it requires a change of your current position or helps to further establish your current stand.

Read the remaining Chapters of the text “God's Holy Word” before you continue.

1. According to Kurt Aland, how many Greek texts are available? ________________

2. How many of them agree? _____________

3. How many nearly complete texts are there? _________

4. What are the names of the three most popular manuscripts and when did they become available to the Church?

1. __________________ __________AD

2. __________________ __________AD

3. __________________ __________AD

5. What is another highly debated text, where did it come from, and when did it become available to the Church?

________________________________________________________

6. Which manuscript was accepted as the undisputed Word of God for the majority of the Church’s history?

___________________________________________________

7. When did the debate over the manuscripts begin, and who started it? ________AD

________________________________________________________

8. What was their primary argument?

________________________________________________________

9. What makes the Bible different from other antiquated texts?

________________________________________________________

10. How many versions were translated from the majority text? Which one has been accepted by the Church? ___________________

11. How many scholars translated the King James Bible?

________________________________________________________

12. When was it completed? _______________

13. Describe emendation, when did it occur, and what was the result?

________________________________________________________

14. When comparing our modern versions with the King James Bible, how much information on the translational process is available?

________________________________

15. Describe what is meant by eclectic?

________________________________________________________

16. Which text was the New King James Version translated from?

________________________________________________________

17. List some of the passages that present the biggest differences between the versions?

________________________________________________________

18. Can these differences affect sound doctrine? ________

19. Could these differences gender questions about the accuracy of God's Word?

________________________________________________________

20. If two different versions say two different things, which one can you trust and why?

________________________________________________________

21. How could this debate affect your faith?

________________________________________________________

22. What has this study done for you? What impact has it had on your life?

________________________________________________________

Remember, there is nothing more important to your Christian walk than how you handle God's Word for God's Word is literally the source of your faith. Stand immovable on what you know to be God's revealed truth and let the Holy Spirit of truth guide you into an in- depth knowledge of God's Holy Word. Never allow the multitudes or the moral majority to sway you from a vital relationship with God for nothing could be more valuable than God Himself.

Unit Five

Welcoming The Word

James 1:21-27 ²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. ²⁷ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

What to do with your Bible.

Having studied the historical and biblical facts concerning the Word of God it is important to discover and understand what every Christian should do with God’s Holy word. How you should handle the Word of God is best summed up in the simple phrase that is the title of this unit of study. Every born again Christian should “Welcome The Word” into their heart and life. Consider what James wrote,

James 1:21 ²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and ___________________ with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Two Greek Words for Receive - There are two different words in the Greek New Testament that are translated “receive” in English. These words are:

1. λαμβάνομεν, from the root lambano (Greek) – (1 John 5.9) To take out and grasp, to reach out and take to yourself (by self prompting). Like opening a textbook and on your own accord taking some truth out. This is the acquiring that comes by study.

2. δέξασθε, from the root decomai (Greek) - To welcome, to open and receive.

James is using the sense of Welcoming the Word in this text.

"You can backside with a Bible under your arm,
because, when it comes to God's Word,
you're not going to just reach in and pull something out."

"You're going to have to receive the Word of God
as you would receive a friend into your house. Welcome it in."
Author Unknown

Welcoming the Word of God deals with the way you approach the Word of God or deals with your attitude concerning the Word of God. The Word of God is a precious gift given by Almighty God to mankind. The Word of God contains God’s revelation of Himself toward mankind. Though the Word of God we discover things that we could not other wise know about God and His will for His creation and our lives.

Three Ways To Welcome God's Word: (James 1.21-22)

1. Welcome The Word With Repentance (vs 21) – To repent means to turn. In the case of sin it means to turn away from your sin and turn toward God. In the case of the Word of God it means to turn away from not hearing God and to turn toward hearing God.

James 1:21 ²¹Wherefore __________________ all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, . . .

Clean your house (life, heart) - If a guest is coming what is one of the first things people do in their homes? They clean their house. When you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ you invited Him into the home of your heart. Is your heart prepared for this very special guest?

Filthiness - rupuse (gk) - refers to wax in the ears. That which keeps you from hearing. It seems the very thing that is wrong with us is keeping us from hearing God. You will not get our life right until you decide that you need to and want to hear God.

Superfluity of naughtiness - Means that which remains, or is left over. The hang over of sin. The sin that comes over from the old life.

You must prepare your heart - If you're going to welcome the Word you must clean the house of your heart and life.

2. Welcome The Word With Readiness (vs 21)

James 1:21 ²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with ________________ the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Meekness means a compliant spirit, ready to obey. The reason that some of us don't get anything from the Bible is because we don't come to it with meekness. Meekness is not weakness. Moses was the meekest man that ever lived and he was a very powerful figure. Meekness means teach-ability or train-ability.

Many people never really understand the Word of God because when God's Word says something they parade it past the jury of their mind. They try to figure it out for themselves, rather than just receiving the Word of God for what it clearly says. The truth is most people want God’s Word to agree with the way they are living their life, rather than allowing God’s Word to transform their life into one that God honors.

3. Welcome The Word With Responsiveness (vs 22)

James 1:22 ²²But be ye ______________ of the word, and _________ hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[Marks of the deceived: (Be a doer of the Word and not deceived)

(1) They are foolish. If you do not respond to what you claim to have received and welcomed, then you're a fool. You have fooled yourself. You are self-deceived.

Matthew 7:26 ²⁶And every one that ______________ these sayings of mine, and ___________ them ____________, shall be likened unto a ____________________ man, which built his house upon the sand:

(2) They are Hobbyist . Some have a note book full of sermon's, but have no real intention of obeying what they hear. These are sermon collectors and they are like a hobbyist. They hear the truth and do not respond.]

(3) [They are Trapped. A man that is self-deceived gets himself in a trap that he cannot get out of.]

"What we really believe we live by, the rest is just religious talk."
Peter Lord

A test to see if you are receiving the Word. Ask yourself , is your knowledge of the Bible making you more like Jesus Christ?

________________________________________________________

How I Do I Welcome God’s Word Into My life? (James 1.23-25)

James refers to the Word of God as a mirror. There are two ways to look into a mirror.

“Behold” means a Casual Glance

James 1:23-24 ²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man ________________ his natural face in a glass: ²⁴For he ____________________ himself, and goeth his way, and straightway _____________________ what manner of man he was.

To Behold is to look, notice, and then walk away and forget. Many people casually glance at the Word of God and then walk away completely unaffected by it.

“Looking into” means a Careful Gaze

James 1:25 ²⁵But whoso ____________________ the perfect law of liberty, and _____________________ therein, he being ______________ a ______________________ hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

As John looked steadfast into the empty tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ after the resurrection, he looked with intent and desire (cf John 20.5). To “Look Into” the Word of God is to make a careful examination of the word of God for the purpose of making a personal application of the Word of God.

Five things to do when you look into the mirror of God’s Word:

1. Examination - Two things are a part of an examination of the Bible.

James 1:25 ²⁵But whoso _______________________ the perfect law of liberty, . . .

Christians must:

Read their Bible – Most Christians read only small portions of the Bible. They read only the parts that they think they need or that seem to apply to their life. Paul reminded Timothy,

2 Timothy 3:16 _________ scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is _________________ for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Proverbs reminds us,

Proverbs 30:5 _______________ word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Christians need to read the whole Bible. It needs to be read from cover to cover like a book, so that not a single word is neglected. Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are not so interesting, but you still need to be sure that you read every Word and be sure you cherish God’s Word for its incredible value in your life.

Through the Bible in a year - The best way to be sure you read the entire Bible is to read it all the way through every year, from cover to cover. This takes commitment and personal discipline, but it is essential for your spiritual growth. Reading through the Bible a single time is not good enough. When you finish reading it through start over and read it again.

Study their Bible – The second step in examining the Word of God is to study it diligently

2 Timothy 2:15 ____________________ to shew thyself approved unto ______________, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, _____________ _______________ the word of truth.

As you examine the Word of God ask questions like:

· [Are there sins to confess?]

· [Are there attitudes to change?]

· [Are there promises to claim?]

· [Are there commands to obey?]

· [Are there any prayers to pray?]

· [Are there errors to avoid?]

· [Are there truths to believe?]

· [Are there things to thank God for?]

Christians should know their Bible better than anything else in life. It should be their guide in every decision and their direction in every action. This is to have a biblical mindset.

2. Meditation

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and ___________________ therein, . . .

To meditate upon God’s Word is to think about it with purpose and diligence. It is the next natural step after one diligently studies those things contained in God’s Word. There are many who read the Bible and join Bible studies, but do not seek the deep things of God. The Bible tells us that,

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ⁹But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ¹⁰But God hath revealed them unto us by his _______________: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the _______________ _______________ of God.

There are deep things written in God’s Word about Him and our life in Him. These incredible truths are only discovered through diligent examination combined with sincere desire. To think on the Word of God with a heart of discovery is to discover the hidden treasure within the text. Examination plus Meditation will lead you to discover the Meat of God’s Word.

"This [meditation] is the difference between a tourist and an explorer."
David Jeremiah

3. Memorization

James 1:25 ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not ________________ _________________, . . .

The Bible tells God’s people to hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Psalms 119:11Thy word have I _____________ in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Why do we need to memorize God’s Word?

Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man _______________ his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

When Christians hide the Word of God in their hearts through memorization, then the Word of God is with them at every moment of their lives. They do not need to open their Bibles to be reminded about what the Bible says when they are faced with a decision. The Word of God hidden within a Christian’s heart becomes a living essence within them and an undeniable part of their life.

4 Application

James 1:25 ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a _______________ of the work . . .

The ultimate demonstration that a Christian has read, studied, meditated, and memorized God’s Word is revealed in their actions. If the Word of God has impacted your life then you will live your life in a way that honors God and His will. Your actions will reveal whether God’s Word is real to you and alive in you.

5. Validation

James 1:25 ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be __________________ in his deed.

The word blessed means to be happy or content. You will never go wrong in life by obeying what God has said through His Word. God has promised to richly bless those who love Him and seek His will as revealed through His written Word, the Bible.

"The way to understand the part of the Bible you don't understand,
is to obey the part of the Bible you do understand.”
Adrian Rodgers

Back to Impact Bible Study contents page

Home Page - Accept Jesus Now! - Email