Thomas Jefferson - “The first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible. I speak as a man of the world.”  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer  - “The deceit, the lie of the devil consists of this that he wishes to make man believe that he can live without God’s Word. Thus he dangles before man’s fantasy a kingdom of faith, of power, and of peace, into which only he can enter who consents to the temptations; and conceals from men that he, as the devil, is the most unfortunate and unhappy of beings, since he is finally and eternally rejected by God.”  

A. The Supernatural Word of God 

1.     It’s Supernatural Preservation - The Word of God Endures Forever 

1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 

2.     It’s Supernatural Integrity -  One pen stroke will fail in the Word of God 

A.W. Tozer - “The Word of God and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select just a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than the whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” 

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

3.     It’s Supernatural Interaction - The Source of our Faith 

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

4.     It’s Supernatural Development - Our Source of Growth 

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 

·        Your Responsibility – Desire the Word of God Deeply

·        God’s Responsibility – To give you Spiritual Growth 

5.     It’s Supernatural Power  

Hebrews 4:12-13  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Reaching to the deepest most intimate parts of each and every person. 

6.     It’s Supernatural Direction  

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

7.     It’s Supernatural Illumination 

1 Corinthians 2:10-14  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 13 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

B.   What we must do with the Word of God 

James 1:25-26 But 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. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 

1.     Read the Word of God - Look into the Word of God

John Newton - “I know not a better rule of reading the Scripture, than to read it through from beginning to end and when we have finished it once, to begin it again. . . .”  

·        Read your Bible everyday. 

·        Read the whole Bible every year.  Read the whole Bible at least every two years; NewTestament one year, Old Testament the next year

·        Read a proverbs every day 

President John Adams in a letter to his son - “I have myself for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year. I have always endeavored to read it with the same spirit and temper of mind which I now recommend to you; that is, with the intention and desire that it contribute to my advancement in wisdom and virtue … My custom is, to read four or five chapters every morning, immediately after rising form my bed. It employs about an hour of my time, and seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day.”  

2.     Remain in the Word of God - Continue in the Word of God – Study the Word of God 

·        Personal Bible Study – At regular intervals.

·        Sunday School

·        Worship Services 

3.     Remember the Word of God - Not a Forgetful Hearer – Memorize the Word of God 

Psalms 119:9-11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,that I might not sin against thee. 

George Müller  - “I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditation on it…. What is the food of the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and….not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.”  

4.     Obey the Word of God - A Doer of the Work – Heed the Word of God, Act on the Word of God. 

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

C.   Our Attitude Toward the Word of God
 

1.     Willing Surrender

1 John 5:2-3 ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

2.     Wholesome Desire

1 Peter 2:2 ² As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Sir William Jones -  “The Bible is the light of my understanding, the joy of my heart, the fullness of my hope, the clarified of my affections, the mirror of my thoughts, the consoler of my sorrows, the guide of my soul through this gloomy labyrinth of time, the telescope went from heaven to reveal to the eye of man the amazing glories of the far distant world.”

CrossRoads Baptist, Dec 4, 2016