HOW THE BIBLE CHANGES US
40 Days In The Word – Part 2
Rick Warren
January 28-29, 2012
-The Bible is unlike any other book. “Holy”
-It has supernatural power to change things. Why? WORD OF GOD!
-Everything in the universe was spoken into existence! (Bang!)
SCREEN PS.33:6 (NLT) “The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were
created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born!”
That’s power!
God’s power is available to you THRU his word!
JN 6:63 JESUS: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they
are life!”
God’s word is not mere words. It’s ALIVE!
HEB 4:12 The word of God is LIVING and ACTIVE. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Living =Zao = to live!
Active= energes
Like highly skilled surgeon – can cut right to the point. Exact what I need
Moody “The Bible was not to increase knowledge...but to change...
HOW DOES GOD’S LIVING WORD CHANGE ME? 7 WAYS
1. IT RECREATES MY LIFE
JAMES 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth…”
Without God’s word – the good news – couldn’t be saved!
o Paul told Timothy “the holy Scriptures, are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
2 Tim. 3:15 (NIV
Bible is often compared to a seed
1 PET. 1:23“You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
James 1:21 “Humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you”
2. IT ERADICATES MY GUILT
ILL: “I feel so guilty..” “Let me show you what God says…
1 John 1:9 Romans 8:1 “There is now..
How? By cleansing us! God’s word is like soap. It disinfects us.
EPH. 5:25-26 “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make
her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.”
Jesus told his disciples:
JN 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
3. IT ACTIVATES MY FAITH
Faith is Word-activated.
The promises of God raise our expectations!
ROM. 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is
heard through the Word of Christ.”
Ever heard the Word taught… felt courage well up inside you?
1981- PACING GROWTH -Exodus 23:29-30 (NIV) I will not give you the whole
land in a single year, because you wouldn’t be able to handle it. Instead, you will
overtake it little by little until YOU have GROWN enough to take possession of it
all!
4. IT STIMULATES MY GROWTH
ACTS 20:32 I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace, which can
build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified.”
Inheritance= get all that rightly belongs to you as God’s child!
2 TIM. 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
TEACHING – shows the path to walk on
REBUKING - shows how we got off the path
CORRECTING - shows how to get back on the path
TRAINING - how to stay on the path
5. IT ILLUMINATES MY MIND
PS 119:130 (CEV) “Understanding your Word brings light to the minds of
ordinary people.”
Psalm 119:99 (NIV) “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate
on your statutes.
PS. 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
THE PRAYER TO PRAY: (MEMORY verse this wk)
Screen PS.119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your
law!”
6. IT ELEVATES MY MOOD
Whenever you get discouraged, you need a Word break.
ROM. 15:4 “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach
us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope.”
PS.119:114 (Mes) ‘You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to
renew me.”
This wk in Groups: 4 essentials & 6 steps for a QT
7. IT LIBERATES MY POTENTIAL
Only God knows how to unlock your full potential
JN 8:31-32 (NAS) "If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples
of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!”
Would l you like to have your Life recreated? Guilt eradicated
Faith activated Growth stimulated Mind illuminated Mood elevated
Potential liberated? It’s all in the WORD!
HOW DO GAIN THESE BENEFITS?
1. LEARN IT!
ILL: Newton Mass High Schoolers
MK.12:24 (LB) Jesus said "Your trouble is that you don't know the
Scriptures ...”
Most of your troubles come from not knowing the Bible!
Your problem is your response. Bible tells you how to act in every situation
2. ACCEPT IT AS MY AUTHORITY
1 THES. 2:13 “When you received the Word of God, which you heard from
us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of
God, which is at work in you who believe.’
3. ACT ON IT
JN 13:17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you
DO them.”
Elaine: Put this memory verse back up to meditate on during offering:
PS.119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law!”