Sunday Words of Encouragement October 1, 2023 - Delight and Meditate on God's Word.

Our Sunday School teacher continued the study in James 4:1-13 giving a message not to judge or be critical of others. We noted there is a distinction between being discerning a situation that needs attention and judging when it is not our place to judge.

Our service started with lovely worship songs. Pastor provided a good message from Psalm 1:1-6. He noted that men are born in sin due to the fall described in Genesis. Psalm 51:5.

Psalm 1 describes the difference between the wicked and the righteous. Apostasy can result from backsliding. Believers can wander out of their relationship with God by associating and taking advice from the ungodly. Listening to the world is stepping away from God. Anything that is inconsistent with the Word can draw a believer away from his walk with God.

It is important who we accept counsel from, who we hang out with, and what thoughts we listen to. We may be good people, but we need a savior. We are not necessarily born with Godly wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

“Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2. We have a perfect God who is always working on imperfect people. Meditating on the word changes the life of the person doing the meditating. Faith comes by hearing … and is increased by hearing.

There is “A way that seems right unto a man…” Proverbs 14:12-16. You cannot practice what is right unless you study God’s word. “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:9-11. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Listening to and applying God’s word is act of worship; it is surrendering to God’s ways. Knowing the Word will change behavior.

The person who delights in God’s law is like a tree with sound roots that yields fruit in season, and prospers. Psalm 1:3. The rooted believer will prosper and have everything they need for Godly success. God will provide blessings and assurance even in hard times.

We all go through seasons, but God provides according to His Will and plans. At the final time of judgment, there will be a clear difference between the righteous and the wicked. Each person will fall in one category or the other. The choice is ours.

I searched (and enjoyed) many song videos but this is the one that stirred my soul for this message.

Verses for Today:
Psalm 1 ESV
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.


Lord, I am so thankful that you give me guidance through Your word for all situations of life.

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 10, 2016

We were away from home church this morning as we were in the RV. We listened to a message by Dr. J. Vernon McGee (Inspiration Part 2) which I really enjoyed. He spoke of the “plenary inspiration” of the Word of God as provided to us through the Bible. As fundamentalists, we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, set down through the prophets using their personalities and views, but given by the Holy Spirit. Inspiration is one aspect of the Bible and a second is “Illumination”. That is the Holy Spirit helping man to understand the message given. Otherwise a man can study and know the words but never understand the great spiritual truths.

Dr. McGee recommends five key elements to study the Bible:
1. Pray before you read – to have your mind opened to the reading and understanding.
2. Read the Bible so that it can be opened to your mind.
3. Study the Bible. Do not just read it in a cursory fashion but stop and look up passages if you need to; think about it; re-read it many times.
4. Meditate on the reading. Again, you should spend time over the words, the setting, the context so the message (and its application to your situation if need be) can be illuminated to you.
5. Share the Word with others. When you learn a meaning or illuminated message, do not keep it to yourself, but rather share it with others; discuss it with others who are studying so that you can edify each other.

Satan tried during the days of the Old Testament to destroy the Word/the Bible. Thus The Book of the Law had been hidden and was discovered anew during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 22). When Satan was unsuccessful in destroying the Bible he shifted his attack. Now he works through translations that are provided without a high degree of inspiration and illumination. Bible translations are proliferating and causing confusion. Dr. McGee objected to any Bible translation that did not go through a committee for many (25) years in order to assure authenticity to the original Greek and Hebrew.

This is an older song but fits this message.

Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet!

Verses for Today:
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 (NIV)
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

I am so thankful that I have gotten myself disciplined to read and listen to the Bible. Even though I do not always study it as hard as I should. I will work on that aspect.