Spiritual Emphasis on Reading the Word

Spiritual Emphasis on Reading the Word

By Pastor Gary Wayne

The month of September has always been a transitional month.
My hope is this month we will take a personal look at our lives, and focus on where we can create an atmosphere for our spiritual person to excel.

I want to look at the importance of reading scripture, and to increase our involvement with the Word.

Text: Psalms 119:9-11

Most of us if taking a test on the importance of the Bible will pass with the right answers. Yes the Bible is important. Yes we need to read it. Yes it is God’s word for us.

But I am continually amazed by how many people only read on Sunday, and haven’t read the book from cover to cover.

Most would die for this book they haven’t even read.

My first time to read it all the way through had to do with me wanting to become a licensed minister.

One of the questions I faced – “Have you read the whole Bible?”
Here I wanted to become licensed to minister, and I hadn’t even read the whole book. So at age 23, I began and finished reading it for the first time.

Up to that point, it was more like when I eat at a smorgasbord board restaurant.

You only go to the places you like - and TOTALLY IGNORE EVERYTHING else.

When I finished the Bible, I began to realize things I hadn’t understood before – it didn’t make sense, but as I read – EVEN the parts I didn’t understand, or enjoy, or couldn’t figure how why God would put those in His book – something changed inside, or I experienced spiritual strength I hadn’t had before. It changed me in ways I can explain – even to this day, I don’t get it, BUT I KNOW every time I read the whole book; I AM CHANGED for the good.

Ps.119:9-11 Ver.9 / How does Ephesians tell us Jesus is cleansing His bride the church, making us ready for our wedding day? 5:26-27 “…that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

God’s word changes me from the inside out.

2Ti 3:16- 17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, (teaching), for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Ps.119:11, 18, 24, 32, 33, 26-67, 73, 93, 104, 125, 130, 133

The most common response to someone not reading has to do with how hard it is to understand.

There are more translations and tools available for us today than ever before.

If you are struggling to read, start with an easy version to read and understand.

The NKJV is my personal favorite.
The NIV was written for someone reading at an 8th grade level.
The Passion Translation is a great paraphrase.

There are SOO MANY tools to help. Apps for our phone. Apps for our computers.

I count listening as reading – I am wanting my soul exposed to truth.
If you are new to this, read the first 4 books of the NT over and over.

Reading the Bible is to my spirit man what food is to my physical man.
When Jesus was asked to teach His disciples to pray, He said: Mt 6:9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(Also Luke 11:2-4)

Ver.11 Do we think Jesus was talking about physical daily bread only?

When Jesus was tempted by the devil, (Mt.4, Lk.4) He quoted Deu.8:3 "So He (God) humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”

Joh 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

Jn.6:31-35, 48-51 "I am the bread"
Ver.63 Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

When you read the Bible, you are taking in Jesus.

Can I influence us for this month of September to begin again to read this Bible more?

Just like last week with prayer, set a realistic amount of time to read.
Get yourself on a daily bread schedule.
Bible Charts, Listening schedule.
Let’s be People Of The WORD!