Feeding on the Word
Message Summary:
We need the Word of God to navigate this life as a believer of Jesus Christ, especially in this day in age, as we face the daily challenges of the world we live in now. We are blessed to be able to live in a country that allows us to have free access to the Word of God. But it not enough to possess a Bible. God intended for us to apply the Bible to our lives, not just read it. And we need to know that all of Satan’s efforts are aimed at stopping the growth of the seed of the Word in your life. One of the easiest ways that he does this is by distracting you (or allowing you to distract yourself) with culture, technology, and the news. As a society, we are addicted to the distractions in our lives, especially our phones. But how many of us can say we are equally (or more so) addicted to the Word of God? We need to hear from God regularly to withstand against our enemy. We need strategies from God. We need to hear his voice.
But some of us are complaining that we can’t hear God talking. God is not silent! He is a god who speaks! The bible is evidence of God speaking. John 1:1 and Hebrews 4:12 clearly tell us that the Word of God is God Himself speaking to us, and His Word is alive and powerful, just like He is. But if we allow the worries, whining and the worldliness of this culture to take the center stage of our life, it will cancel out the Word of God to perform the way God intended. We must remember, we cannot defeat Satan with our own strength and will power. We need the power of God’s Word to overcome and secure our victory. The Word of God provides all we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).
We cannot presently and actively live fully for God in our day to day lives if we are not presently and actively daily living by His Word. The Word is our contact with God and the Word is God’s contact with us. Every decision we make in life must cross the truth of God’s Word. The word of God can cut through the hardest, darkest, and most difficult times in your life. The Word of God can show you how to look at, think about, speak about, and react to every situation you will ever face. Just like the purpose of trees is to produce oxygen for the livelihood of all, the bible is purposed to give us the spiritual oxygen we need every day to live fully for God. Our job is to hide the Word of God in hearts, to put the Word of God in our mouths, to let the Word of God to act as the compass of our lives, and to allow the Word of God open our ears to hear God speaking to us – right now.
Scriptures:
[Matthew 4:4 NKJV] But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
[John 6:63 NKJV] "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
[John 8:32 NKJV] "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
[Romans 10:17 NKJV] So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
[Hebrews 4:12 NKJV] For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think the enemy uses the distractions of this world to pull us away from God’s Word?
What is the danger of “cancel culture” when it comes to God’s Word?
How does the Bible help us hear God speaking to us?
How does the Word of God act as our compass for life?
How do we become “addicted” to the Word of God? What are some strategies?
Life Application:
Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, examine your life and ask yourself this question: Where have you allowed the Word of God to be canceled in your life? Are the distractions of this world getting more of your time and attention than God’s Word? That choice will have a negative impact on your life. Remember, we cannot defeat Satan with our own strength and will power. We need the power of God’s Word to overcome and secure our victory. The Word of God provides all we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). You need to spend regular, consistent time with the Word. So, what do you need to do to make time to hear from God? What do you need to cut out, cancel, and remove from your life to make more room for God to speak to you through His Word?