INTRODUCTION

How strong is your faith? Is your love for God and others growing? Is your life an example for others to follow? Do you share your faith with others? When you are convicted of sin, do you confess it to God and turn from it?

The Apostle Paul writes to the church of the Thessalonians approximately six months after starting the church. It was a young church. The church has suffered persecution from the Jews and from their fellow citizens and leaders. The people lived in a large city of 200,000 that was a provincial city of Rome. It was an important port city that was also connected to other cities by Roman roads. The only Greek city that had more idolatry and heathen temples was Athens. Rome declared it a free city. The people showed their respect for Rome by worshipping the emperor at festivals. All citizens were expected to participate in this deification of the emperor. Not only did the Christians not participate, but they also spread the gospel; they shared their faith. Paul praises them for their turning from idols to God, for their service to God, for their faith, love, and endurance. How did these new Christians, who not so long prior had been steeped in sin, superstitions, and idolatry, come so far in their Christian life in just six months’ time or less?

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The Thessalonians made hearing the Word of God a priority. They assembled as a church to hear the Word of God read and expounded upon. Most of the people didn’t have their own Bibles like we have today. Some may have been involved in making copies of the Bible. The Bible changed the way they lived and behaved.

THE WORD OF GOD PRODUCES SPIRITUAL LIFE IN US.

God spoke, and the worlds were created. God spoke, and life came into existence. God speaks in His Word to us and ignites our faith; we then produce spiritual fruit and good works.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.

Not only is it alive, but it produces spiritual life in us. Psalm 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

THE WORD OF GOD CHANGES THE WAY WE THINK.

As we read and meditate upon the Scriptures God does the following:

(1)              He gives us a certainty that the Scriptures came from God and are true and authoritative. We are often full of doubt, but as we read and meditate upon the Scriptures, the doubt is removed. Our old nature doesn’t want to submit to the Scriptures and keeps a seed of unbelief in our hearts. Our new nature believes the Scriptures. We can put our finger on any verse and say, “I believe that.”

a. Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

b. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

c. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

d. 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

(2)              He removes the hostility toward Scripture caused by depravity. Our old nature hates the light of the Scriptures. Our new nature delights in the Scriptures.

a. Psalm 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellers.

b. Psalm 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

(3)              He gives us ongoing capacity to understand the significance of Scripture. God gives us an understanding of the meaning of Scripture. He also gives us wisdom to apply Scripture to live in accordance to its commands.

a. Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

b. Psalm 119:33-34 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

THE WORD OF GOD CHANGES THE WAY WE ACT.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

The Bible will keep you from sin; sin will keep you from the Bible.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE READ AND STUDIED TO EFFECT CHANGE.

Let me repeat.

How strong is your faith? Is your love for God and others growing? Is your life an example for others to follow? Do you share your faith with others? When you are convicted of sin, do you confess it to God and turn from it? God makes us partakers of His divine nature that we might manifest the fruit of the Spirit towards other along with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

With all that God has given us in His Word, shouldn’t we commit ourselves to form a strong daily habit of reading the Word of God? Read it. Study it. Meditate upon it. Memorize key verses. Let us dedicate ourselves to spend much more time in the Word of God and prayer especially for the upcoming revival with Ron Comfort.

Some methods:

Sunday School, Church, and RU

Read through the Bible

Pray Scripture

Define Words

Ask lots of questions; Make Personal Application

Use dictionaries, commentaries, and a concordance