SHARING WITH AIMST FELLOWSHIP ON 15/05/2009
Title: Be Blessed by Bible (The Word of God)
Bible passage: Psalm 119: 1-8
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When we begin to read the Bible, you are going to be a different person. And you are going to discover that the Bible will put you in touch with God Himself. No one really know how many people throughout history have actually read the Bible or a portion of the Bible, but we do know that since the invention of the printing press in 1455, more than 6 billion copies of the Bible have been printed in more than 2000 languages. That means that billion of people in every corner of the world have read at least a portion of the Bible.
The Holy Spirit made the Bible possible. God used the Holy Spirit to inspire 40 different writers over a period of 1500 years to write down His words.
Some of the Bible warriors:-
John Wycliffe: A scholar who taught at Oxford in England. He provided the first English Bible from the Latin Vulgate in 1384. Many of his followers were persecuted and killed for possessing and believing in Wycliffe’s Bible.
Martin Luther: The father of Reformation, Martin Luther translated the Bible into German while in prison in 1522.
William Tyndale: A brilliant man educated at Oxford and Cambridge. He devoted his life to translating the Bible from the original languages in 1530. Thousands of copies were burned by the king of England, and Tyndale himself was burned at the stake in 1536.
King James: By the time James 1 became the king of England, the English Bible was accepted. He appointed a committee of 47 English Bible scholars to produce an ‘authorized version’ of the Bible. First published in 1611, this version became commonly known as the ‘King James Version.’
We have many descriptions about Bible:
- The Law of the Lord (vr.1)
- Statutes (Testimonies) (vr.2)
- Precepts (vr. 4)
- Decrees (vr. 5, 23)
- Commands (vr. 6)
- The Righteous Laws (Judgement ) (vr.7)
Vr. 1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of Lord.
When we have the word of God in our lives we are blessed. Here the ‘blessed’ means ‘happiness.’ The word ‘law of the Lord’ describes teaching, direct and counsel. In the OT the ‘law’ is termed as ‘Torah’ in Hebrew which is ‘guidance or direction’ from God to His people. It is a manner of life, a way to live based upon the Covenant that God made with His people.
So, when we read the law of Lord i.e. the Bible, we are actually letting God to guide us in our daily life. The words of the Lord will provide us direction in making decision in our lives. Vr. 1 says, ‘our ways will be blameless’ meaning that His words will keep us from doing things that would displeased God. When we are living according to the word of God, our lives will be blameless. His words will counsel us in our way we chose in our lives.
If we look back our days we would recollect many ‘nonsense things’ that we might have intentionally or unintentionally had done. In certain situations we also blame ourselves for the wrong ways that we have taken in our lives. We may have hurt other and bring sufferings that we had brought to certain people. It is still not too late now. We can start again by reading God’s words day by day, allowing His words will make us chose the right way and be ‘blameless.’ His words will once again direct us to the right way.
King Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule the kingdom. Today, God wants to guide. He wants us to come to Him daily through reading His words and walk according to His way.
When Moses asked for direction from God in leading the Israelites out from Egypt and their wondering life the wilderness, God provided him direction. We can do the same. God wants to show the way He wants us to go. He is waiting for us to come to Him through His words. God wants to teach us and direct us. So, we must read His words day by day and we will be blessed.
Vr. 2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes(witness) and seek him with all their heart.
Vr. 3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
God wants us to keep His testimonies with our heart.
Bible is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out. Just like when a ship gets off course, the captain needs to make a correction. When our lives are out of way, the Bible can give us the help to make the necessary correction. When we keep God’s word and seek Him with our heart, He will clean us from our wrongs.
When we do wrong, whether intentional or unintentional, we will be punished, because it stain our heart before God. (Example: Traffic police issuing summons)
Many a times we think we are OK. We think we are living a sinless life and we are better people than others basing on world standard. We become proud and being blinded by the standard that the world has set. But when read the word of God, God reveal our sinful nature and the words convict us of our wrong doings. If we read and understand the words of God, we will understand that our God is not only holy, but our God is also a loving God who will accept us back if we truly repent from our wrong. The word of God assures us that we are forgiven when we truly repent. The Bible says, its words clean our heart. Let the words clean us of our wrong (Eph. 5:26).
Here it talks about ‘heart’. When our hearts turns away from God, it becomes ‘dirty’. If one opens his heart to Christ, it can be the dwelling place of Christ. Only the words of God can open out our heart and cleanse us and let us be acceptable to Him because the word of God says our sin can be cleanse. So reading God’s words is important as the God will use the word to keep our heart clean.
Vr. 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
Vr. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
God give us His words are for us to obey. He commands us to obey and allow Him to control our behavior and life. Only by reading His words we can fully know what is right and wrong basing on His standard and not basing on what the people in the world says.
God wants us to study His words so that we can obey them to strength our faith and lead us to do good. Obeying God’s words can also equip us to minister to others and worship Him.
Vr. 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
In Bible, the feeling of shame is normally caused by public exposure of one’s guilt. (Gen. 2:25, 3:10) When Adam and Eve disobey God not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge they were ashamed and hid from God. Shame may also be caused by a hurt reputation or embarrassment, whether or not this feeling is due to sin.
When we feel ashamed of our sin and unworthiness we dare not come to God to ask for His blessing. But the word of God assures us that Christ had taken our shame in the Cross. We are a new person before God through the blood of Christ. God has given us a purpose on this earth. This assurance comes from the Bible! So, reading the word of God day by day brings us the assurance of the present of God in our live daily. We would not feel ashamed when we are in His command.
Vr. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws (judgement).
Vr. 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
The word ‘learn’ here means ‘to know and understand God’s words’. So, as we know and understand the word of God, it helps us to praise our God with the right heart to know and understand more about God.
Bible makes us a different person, not the old sinful self but make a person who becomes closer to God. And God will not forsake me as we seek Him in our prayer and in our understanding of Him through reading of His words.
What are next for us to do?
- Get started right away. Don’t put it off. God is anxious to communicate with us. God will bless us through His words.
- Read the Bible every day. Make it part of your daily routine.
- Begin with prayer. Ask God for understanding of what we read.
Conclusion
When we spend time in God’s word on a daily basis, we will notice changes in our life. You won’t be the same, and you will be pleased with the changes because you will be blessed by the Word of God!
TEH AH KING
CHINESE METHODIST CHURCH SUNGEI PETANI.
15/5/2009
