Title Life of the Word (Revelation 1:3)
Contents
1. Introduction
Christianity is said to be the religion of books. All higher religions have their own scriptures.
But those who lead a lowly superstitious religious life have no scriptures. In other words, they are not interested in the will or words of God, but only in the power of God (answers to prayers, miracles, blessings, etc.).
What do Christians in this day look like?
God's word and will are more important than God's power.
In fact, the power lies in the Word. He created the heavens and the earth with words. But today, we live a superstitious life of faith that focuses not on the Word but on the power (as if trying to steal something from God). Let's get rid of the superstitious life and return to the Word. Let's listen to God's voice.
The text says that those who read, hear, and keep the word of God are blessed.
→ Primarily, it refers to the words of Revelation, but furthermore, it means all the words of the Bible. So, in Luke 11:28, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
2. Blessed are those who read the Word.
We listen to God's Word through various methods (prayer, event...). But the surest and most accurate way is to read the Bible.
Through daily meditation on the Word, we need to listen to the voice of God (rhema) that is given to us today, not yesterday and not tomorrow. for that
1) Read with faith.
Read the Word with the faith that there is the Word of God given to you in the Word you are reading now. Just like a person digging for treasure, you can listen to the voice of God given to you if you read it with persistence until you hear it. (Don't just fill time, fill longevity...)
2) Read the Bible consistently every day.
Read at least a little every day. Only then can the sense of the word live.
People who study foreign languages study at least a little every day for the sake of their senses.
3) Read thoroughly.
Extensive reading is good, but please read it thoroughly by referring to the Commentary Bible. Study the Bible together.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to me, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
3. Blessed are those who hear the word.
but not all who hear are blessed.
1) You must be in a listening posture.
① You must have a heart longing for the Word.
② Empty it first to fill it with the Word (sin, distrust, worry...
③ Condition control is necessary.
Eutychus fell asleep while listening to the word and fell from the window. In order to listen to the Word in the best condition without falling asleep, you must prepare from the day before.
Prepare sweets or toys for the children.
④ Make your appearance neat.
There is a saying called Sunday Best. It is said to be the best clothes to wear on a weekday. No matter how poor the Puritans were, they had one pair of Sunday Best (TV House on the Meadow). It is not legalism, formalism, but courtesy and common sense.
⑤ Sit in a good seat.
A person who sits behind a pillar, a person who sits in a comfortable place such as an air conditioner
When you go to a theater or a concert, there are S seats, A seats, B seats, and C seats. Have a worship service in the S seat.
At the baseball field...
⑥ Listen to the sermon with a positive mind.
All gold is in stone. The stone is not in the metal. There are always more stones than gold. But those who mine gold throw away the stones and only dig the gold that is in them. There may be more stones than gold in a sermon. But in sermons, look for gold, not stones.
2) Do well in preparation and review.
Most people forget the content of the sermon (text, title, etc.) when they leave the church.
Students who are good at preparation and review do well in their studies. If a student only listens to the lecture and does not write or review, he will fail. The same is true. If you want to live your life of faith well, prepare and review.
It is not the words I hear that matter, but the words that remain in my memory.
Preparation - Meditate on the text and the front and back before the sermon. Pray for the help of the Holy Spirit.
Review - Take note of the sermon. Repeat. If it is difficult, record the sermon and listen to it over and over again.
Make your sermon a motto (decision) and attach it in a conspicuous place
Question -
Fellowship - For the early church and the Puritans, the time of fellowship was not a social gathering. They had time to discuss together, exchange experiences, and pray around the preached Word. The words proclaimed through this time were not spilled, but the cud was chewed. → Weekday lunch time
4. Blessed are those who keep the Word.
1) If you don't do it, you'll forget it.
Reading and hearing the Word itself is a blessing, but if the Word is not put into practice, it becomes a dead Word in the heart. The whole universe hears and obeys the Word of God. Heaven and earth were created in one word. But what if people who were created in the image of God, who are the lords of all things, have to read and listen to the Word and not obey it?
Mathematics was my favorite in high school. But now I can't solve middle school math problems well. Because I haven't studied math at all in 12 years. No matter how hard you study, if you don't use it, you'll eventually forget it.
2) The Bible emphasizes works.
Likewise, even if you read and listen to the Bible diligently, your faith cannot grow if the words are not put into practice in your life.
Therefore, the Bible emphasizes action.
James 1:22 Be doers of the Way, and not hearers, deceiving yourselves.
Luke 11:27-28 Blessed is the womb that bore you and the milk that fed you. - Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.
Luke 10:30-37 The essence of the parable of the good Samaritan - Go and do likewise.
When we act according to the Word, we come to realize that the Word is the truth.
When the Christian Conference was held in Chicago, the United States, the issue of whether there were errors in the Bible was discussed for three days. The three representatives from Russia did not say anything while attending for three days. At the very end, he said, “You too have a few words to say.” “If you live according to God’s Word, you will know for yourself that there are no errors, so what are we discussing?” Everyone became sober.
Pastor R.A. Torrey - There are many Bible translations, and the greatest translation is to translate the Bible with my life.
3) Satan deceives us that it is impossible to live by the Word.
Rich young man: Luke 18:22 ...Sell everything you have and give to the poor...and come, follow me.
Early Church: Acts 2:45 And sold property and possessions, and distributed it according to each person's need.
If we live according to these words, we will lose everything and think that we will die of starvation. But how does God speak? Proverbs 11:24-25 There are things that scatter and give and make you richer; if you spare too much, you will only become poor. Those who love alms will have abundance, and those who nourish others will be refreshed.
God created the world with the word, and he still rules the world with the word. Whom do you trust more? Do not forget that the Lord of this world is not Satan, but God.
Synergy in the life of faith - Of course, it is difficult to live according to the Word of God at first. However, as you struggle to live according to the word, it becomes easier and more enjoyable.