Following Jesus - Week 2: Living and Active#
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.
The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.
I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. —Psalm 119:89-97 (ESV)
GOD’S WORD IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER BOOK…*
I. God’s Word Is
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
—Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. —Ezekiel 18:4 ESV
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? —Matthew 16:26 ESV
In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:4 ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work. —2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
—Psalm 119:130 (ESV)
II.
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. —John 6:28-35 (ESV)
III. Let It Consume
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
—John 15:7 (ESV)
It’s
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. —James 1:21 (ESV)
It’s
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
It’s
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, —Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)
It’s
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
—2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
It’s
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
—Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
It’s
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. —Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
It’s