Title: If You Love the Lord
Contents
Christianity is a religion of the Word. The Word is the only standard and measure of faith and action. The Bible is called CANON in Latin. It means ji (尺), that is, standard. The Bible is the only reference point for Christian life.
Only the Bible is the Word of God and is the unchanging truth that transcends time. Therefore, Christianity cannot exist apart from the Word. In order for us to live a good life of faith, we must read the Word and apply it in our lives. As the Word teaches, we must correct our wrong actions and repent.
Jesus also said in John 14:21, “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
He said that those who have the commandments of the Lord and keep them are those who love the Lord. Those who love the Lord will be loved by God, and Jesus also loves us. The way to consume the Word of Life is to listen, read, study, study, recite, and meditate. Among these five methods, today I will tell you about how to read.
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I. Reasons to read the Bible
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① It is a command from God (1 Timothy 4:13)
“Until I come, devote yourself to reading, to exhorting, to teaching.”
② To learn to fear God (Deuteronomy 17:19)
“He will read and keep by his side all the days of his life, and he will learn to fear the Lord his God, and he will observe all the words of this law and these ordinances.” Everyone should have God's word by his side and read it all the time. All of us saints had to keep it by our side and read it, and by properly learning and deeply studying its meaning, we had to make it the standard of all government. We learn to fear God through the Bible.
③ To receive the promised blessing (Rev 1:3)
“Blessed are those who read and hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things written in them, for the time is near.”
John says that we are blessed when we read the Word of God. First, it is said that the reader is blessed. Second, it is said that blessed are those who hear the word of prophecy, keep it, and do it (Colossians 4:16). It is said that 47 out of 60 Nobel Laureates read the Bible and practiced its words. Those who read the Word and live by it will be blessed. Many Bibles have been distributed in our country. According to data, 35 million copies are sold each year. This is a statistic that the average citizen of our country buys one book at a time. In order for us to be blessed, we must not just have the Bible. You must open it, read it, and live according to its teachings.
④ There is spiritual awakening and revival (Nehemiah 8:1~18)
The Israelites gathered in the square in front of the floodgates and told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law. At this time, Ezra read the book of the law and the people listened to it. At this time, as the Israelites said in verse 6, “All the people raised their hands and answered, Amen, Amen, and bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. " did.
Upon hearing the words that Ezra read, they responded to the words. In verse 8, “they read the book of the law of God and interpreted its meaning, so that all the people could understand what was being read.” In verse 9, “the people all wept when they heard the word of the law. Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe, The Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “Do not mourn or weep, for today is a holy day to the Lord your God.” When the Israelites heard the words that Ezra read, a movement of spiritual awakening and spiritual revival, that is, a movement of repentance arose. True revival comes when the Word is heard.
⑤ Realize the mystery of the Lord (Ephesians 3:3,4)
“The revelation of the mystery to me is as I have already written it in a rough way. 4 If you read this, you will know that I have understood the mystery of Christ.”
Revelation was originally the mystery of God. But the secret is revealed to those who read it. In other words, those who read God's Word will come to know God's plan of salvation. The “mystery of Christ” refers to the mystery implied in Christ, namely the person and work of Christ, especially His redemptive death that connects the Gentiles to the people of God, which is the mystery of God.
Saints! The mystery of God is revealed to those who read the Word. Those who realize this secret will not be shaken in any circumstance and will be victorious. (April 26, 2004) <Continued next week>