The Importance of God's Word in the Believer's Life: Keeping God's Word

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you.

Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment before he hears my word and does using a Wiseman to build is also in the wrong in the ring, and the streams rise in the wind blow maybe to get the house and what it does not fall foundation is on the wrong person the one who hears the word and does it. Pastor Greg Moore reinforces her need to make God's word is central.

You need to read the Bible is your life ended on because it was art rough rider himself that he rose will set a thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a college education.

The surprising statement from someone who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard diversity today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out the being a student of God's word more than that. Making a part of the fabric of our lives say that's our goal about father talking with his daughter and her five-year-old friend Krista about birthdays and it turns out that the father of the little girl and her friend Kristen both had birthdays in the same month and he said you know it. Kristen are birthdays are only three days apart.

She looked at him and said yeah but you grew much faster than I did know why is it that some people seem to grow more spiritually than others. Is it just the luck of the draw is it just a random thing. Do we have anything to say about it or how about this. Why is it that some move forward in accomplish great things for God's glory, and then others just fall away from the bay. Do we have anything to say about that. Is there anything that we can do to ensure that we will ever be double last for a lifetime.

You know sometimes people say something along the lines up well I tried Christianity and it didn't work for me this is a ridiculous statements because were not talking about a product.

Were talking about the creator of the universe that will work in any life that is truly dedicated to him. It really comes out of this. Do you want to grow spiritually.

So there are things that we can do to help that take place there are certain disciplines in the Christian life that must be in play for spiritual growth to happen. I know we don't like the word discipline.

I know we don't like the idea of doing something, even if were not in the mood to do it, but there are disciplines that must be in place. In other words, you don't outgrow these things you don't come to a certain point in her life. Spiritually, when you think I no longer need to do that thing print since it really come to a point alive. Reagan is a you and I'm really into eating anymore. I used to be in the old eating thing with the best of them three times a day, sometimes even some snacks. What I've given up beating. I just don't eat food while you're going to be dead very soon. Okay why I'm could've over the whole breathing thing. I think it's overrated really know you need to breathe. You need to eat, you need to drink and so forth. In the same way and the spiritual life.

You can't say why don't really read the Bible as much as I used to. I kind of move beyond that car you know I don't really think I need to pray like I did when I was a young Christian art like this to be very involved in the church. What I've sort of pulled back a little bit know know if you want to be a growing Christian if you want to be a Christian that's progressing. You need to constantly be in the word of God. You need to have a strong prayer life and you need to be of vital functioning part of the church you neglect these things I'm telling you it's only a matter of time until you get a start spiritually on raveling is a growing spiritually is a combination of doing the right thing and not doing the wrong thing. Let's say you wanted to get into shape physically will is probably a combination of exercise working out in some capacity in eating the right foods and not eating the wrong foods. Would you go to the gym and eat fried food all day long and maybe ones gonna work against the other. So how these things work together in your life.

There are certain things we must stay away from certain things that must be embraced I were told over again.

Second Timothy to run from anything that stimulates youthful lust first to righteous living faith and love and peace with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart run from the things that pull you down run toward the things that will build you up one little chapter of the Bible to put together beautifully is somewhat it says blessed or happy is the man or the woman who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly horse stands in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law or the word of the Lord and in the does he meditate day and night will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that will bring forth fruit in his season is leave shall not weather and whatsoever he does shall prosper blessed or happy is that Matt, did you notice that the happy man that spiritually blessed person. Avoid certain things he doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. But instead is the light, his delight is in the word of the Lord, and in it he meditate day and night, and if this man of this woman does is what happens the be like a tree planted by the rivers and the bring forth lasting root.

This is what Jesus wants from us lasting fruit select brings me to point number one and this is really the topic are going to explore it.

Here it is. If you want to be a growing Christian you must read study and love the word of God.

Let me say that again if you're taking notes you might want to write it down if you want to be a growing Christian you must read study and love the word of God, a fruitful believer will always be a lover of God's word. Psalm 119 verse 159 see you. I love your commandments Osama's rights.

Lord give back my light because of your unfailing love all your words are true. I love your commandments number two you need to read the Bible is if your life depended on it because it does you need to read the Bible as if your life depended upon it because it does.

Jesus and the conclusion of the sermon on the Mount said in Matthew seven whoever hears these words of mine and does them or put them in the practice is ago Wiseman to build his house on the rock and the rain comes in the streams rise and the winds blow in the be to get the house but it does not all because it's foundation is on the rock to that person, the one who hears the word and does it now. Jesus is whoever hears my word and does not do it is that he's like he's like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain came down in the streams rose and fell with a great crack one is like a God building a beautiful edifice on a firm foundation and the other guys I got person building sand castles know sometimes they have these Sandcastle contests and people come in and do these amazing collaborative Sandcastle structures and I just look at those and think them to be gone so quickly, I mean I think it is the role of every small boy to destroy every Sandcastle ever made.

I watch my grandkids play and the girls were so careful to build their little sand castles and the good little tunnels neglect their little turrets and the shells not so adorable. And then my grandson Christopher just comes over you just can't wait to stop it out. That's what it's like to hear God's word, and not applied in your life you like building on sand so here's why this is important because one of the things a young believer is going to face his doubt. Not that you don't face. It is an older Christian because you do, but when you're a young Christian. That's one of the first things you get hit with right down all do you really think you're saying the devil whisper in your ear you really think you're a Christian there's no way in. This is one of the doubles oldest boys going back to the Garden of Eden when he went to Adam and Eve and said did God really say what you thought said so he will do that with a younger Christian.

That's why they need to know the word of God and understand that their salvation is written down that's recorded in God's book of life, and it's explained to them in this book.

The word of God. You know it's interesting that the Bible compares the Bible to a sort that calls it the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. I remember that when Jesus was in the wilderness being tested by the devil. With every temptation, Jesus responded with the Scripture that he had memorized and I was quoting the devil came to Christ after he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and said hey you must be pretty hungry when it should take that rock down there and turn it into a piece of bread and what is Jesus say it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God's psyche defended himself with a sore so you know you use a sword to defend yourself right so the devil comes to Jesus and he says why don't you jump off the pinnacle of the temple and Jesus again comes back of the word of God.

It is written, you shall not test the Lord your God like that Satan comes back again. Oh, why don't you fall down and worship me right now Jesus says it is written, you shall worship the Lord God and him only shall you serve as a sword use that a lot of us keep our swords.

She and we keep our Bibles close. We need to understand the importance of knowing God's word to Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment.

Hearing about listeners who found Jesus through Pastor Greg's teaching is so encouraging. Pastor Greg early last year.

I found the Lord and accepted him there and harvest Christian Fellowship before that if someone had told me that I be a believer in Christ I won heavily.

God is so my best to you and your family. If you had your life changed through Pastor Greg's teaching would you let them know just drop him an email that Greg and harvest on Oregon. Again, that's great@harvest.org today some important instruction on how vital it is to make God's word. The centerpiece of our lives. Pastor Greg continues now with his message.

The importance of God's word in the believer's life available a harvest.org heard a story about a young man named Billy Sunday became a Christian and an older Christian said to him, Billy. There's three simple rules that if you practice these. No one will ever write the word backslider after your name. Three simple rules Billy number one take 15 minutes every day to let God talk to you take 15 minutes every day talking to God to take 15 minutes every day to tell others about you if you do these three things no one will ever say you're a backslider that's pretty good advice 15 minutes each day to let God talk to you 15 minutes every day to talk to God in 15 minutes every day talking to somebody else about God telling others about him. Let's focus on the first one and that is 15 minutes every day to let God talk to you. Does God still speak to us today. Answer yes.

Does he speak audibly to us today. I would say generally no but yet he does still speak out is God primarily speak to us today through the word of God. That's why you need to open it because if you don't open it, you're not going to hear from you about managing his like to see the doctor sit in the waiting room. Suddenly the doctor comes bursting out think this anyone have a screwdriver so and give the money runs back in the room guessing what screwdriver do more moments passed by the doctor births on test this anyone of a pair of pliers so it gives employers any runs back in the room.

This means getting nervous that swipes in that the doctor births out of third time and says this anyone ever hammer limits of Dr. stop right now.

What is wrong with my wife Drs. and I don't know, trying to get my medical bag open season of the whole idea here is, if we don't open this book were not going to hear from God's open the word of God. Now most of us believe God's word is true read that 50% of Americans believe the Bible is inspired and inerrant. That's pretty amazing 56%, but only 19% rated on a regular basis, but explained that all yes I believe the Bible is God's word.

I believe God's word is given to us from heaven to read it. No. But still, it's nice to know that if I really believe that, should I not be opening it on a regular basis because really when you get down to it, and start reading God's word. It's a most amazing book ever given to the planet Earth touching out one book, but 66 books written over a 1500 year span. It's words were written by 40 authors from every walk of life, kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, and scholars get all of the authors directed by the Holy Spirit, write about one main thing that's God's redemption of man time it's all inspired. It's all breathe by God himself and some of the Bible tells us to do something I should do it when the Bible warns me about something I should heed the warning. When the Bible tells me not to do something it's for my own good everywhere.

Notice that there are warning labels on practically everything these days and really strange warning labels I've read something I thought. Are you kidding me because usually when there is a warning label on something that means that someone somewhere did that thing there warning you not to do so, I came upon a collection of warning labels are not making any of these up these artichokes. These are all real real warning labels on a cardboard windshield sunshade warning do not drive with sun shield in place so someone did that for sure, this one hairdryer why would you put this in hairdryer warning do not use while sleeping. How do you use what I mean how do you do that exactly not making these up on electric rotary drill warning this product not intended for use as a dental drill. That's a scary on a bathroom heater warning. This product is not to be used in bathroom but it's a bathroom heater. I like this one. This is true warning on a box of rat poison warning. This is been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice. I was can open it would kill them quicker than that because it's rat poison right this one makes no sense at all on a shipment of hammers warning harmful if swallowed. What I think that is probably going to use the drill. You know how swallow a hammer little to me some good. Here's one that really is scary in a child sized Superman costume. This is actually on one warning.

Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly the coop in the top of the roof and try it out. There's crazy people out there so they put these warning labels on these products and you wonder about these people to try to dry their hair when they're asleep or try to fly because they have a Superman costume.

They should take heed to the warning to God's Word gives us warnings to help us. Second Timothy 316 says all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what's wrong in our lives straighten this out. It teaches us to do what is right.

It's God's way of preparing us in every way. Fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do over and Hebrews 412 it says for the word of God is alive and it is powerful, and sharper than the sharpest knife cutting into your innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Maybe that's one of the reasons we don't want to read the Bible because we don't want to discover something about ourselves that needs to be changed or repented of but that's why we dig into the word of God.

Martin Luther once said, quote the Bible is alive. It speaks to me it as Steve and runs after me." And it is alive.

Had you ever been in a situation where you opened up the Scripture and it just jumped out and spoke to your situation exactly or maybe sitting in church there was a message being given and it was as though that preacher knew all about your life and was speaking directly to you. I've had people actually accused me of this. I've had husbands come to me, say, my wife and talking to you about the house and she say no sir, no, but you describe the situation that's my situation I appreciated you wouldn't talk about me in churches or I don't even know what you're talking about but you know I believe that the Lord will speak to us when we open this were gathered together in church. Sometimes it's on the radio.

Sometimes it in written form, but God will honor and bless his work. But here's the thing.

If you want to know if you're a healthy Christian. Here's how you'll be hungry. Christian hungry Christian is a healthy Christian healthy Christian is a hungry Christian there hungry for the word of God.

First Peter 22 says like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk and by this shall grow up in your salvation so if you're not feeling well you go to a doctor but the first thing he does is as how's her appetite and her appetite is good and that's a sign that you're in good health. That's why knowing healthy right now because I'm typically hungry as I usually have. And you know it's a funny thing how you're not feeling well. In any don't know why need to go. Maybe I'm getting sick and and I'm feeling lightheaded and I'm here to Poland and someone might ask when's the last time you wait right. I forgot to eat. This is not a personal statement I've never forgotten the but I I've met people that they forgot to eat. I can't even wrap my mind around that thought I forgot to eat okay and you'll feel almost as though you're sick. What a difference a meal will make lot times when a child is small little baby. They start crying at usually a few things number one there hungry, number two, they neither diaper change number three. They need a nap and when I'm irritable.

My wife is not. I will go there but found it's a similar thing that one up there yet but hopefully never to see we have to hunger for God's Mr. Greg Laurie good insights on the importance of God's word in our lives and our healthy believer will hunger for more of the Bible. There's more to come from this message here on a new beginning. It's a study titled the importance of God's word in the believer's life.

Now if you missed any part of the insight you can hear the study again@harvest.org or request a permanent copy on CD by calling 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 everybody Greg Laurie here talking with my friend Darrell strawberry an incredibly successful baseball player really a legend but you know, in many ways, Darrell. Some people might think you had some storybook life and you know you this grew up in your dad Coach June played catch with you in the front Street. Then one day you were discovered by an agent you went on to glory well you did go on to sports glory but but you had a very difficult upbringing in your home and it was far from a storybook life.

Tell us a little bit about what it was to be a young Darrell strawberry and in particular really your relationship with your father, but also tell us about the impact of your mother. Yeah it was. It was very sad. Being a young kid because I was always in this fear.

My father, because it was like such a monster coming home and you didn't know what you were relegated on any given day are night he would come home and it would be drunk at night and it would be loud and I was about 14 years old and he came in love again. We all woke up and motor brother Michael told Molly just get out here and leave us alone and he was just kind of run around the table talk about while I'll kill all you guys report on the shotgun city was Comeau family and near my brother, when it's action there running on any ground or which are never gratifying Fannin had it not been for my mother and she was little petite woman had it not been for her, making us get out of that house we was going to kill him. That night we just had we had as she wouldn't. She just yelled at us as she made us get out of that house and go down streets to the neighbor's house and we was just so mad because we didn't want to leave her and she was like I'll be okay you guys get out of this house and from that night. It was no more father there he was. After that he would. He was not around us anymore. She removed him for from us master brokenness of who I was. My brother Ronnie was at same time we do suffer so many things and were such fear was so empty on the assignment broken generations discontinued or gone into you break up that cycle and if you never break the cycle that the kids come after you while your kids can be in the same cycle so I was able to break the cycle from our kids and they never saw me put my hands on Aramark are yell at her mother. Anything that involves dysfunction are II knew better not to touch down because I was so strong will and when you have wounds and scars like that is for real care be put on what kind of uniform you put on component baseball uniform to be a celebrity, your police officer scars and wounds will always be there to you.

Let God cure you if it was until I've let God heal me put it on the baseball uniform did not make me a man. People need to hear that they did make it means the dollars would be appropriate did not make me a man just made me a baseball player to become a man until I met Jesus. When I met Jesus � when I became a man started to live the right way and understand where man should live in him. My mom was buried in the bar seven times I'd lived in an abusive home. I saw her get into fights and many hit her. One guy knocked her unconscious and almost killed her in a viaduct climbed out of the window of our house at night. I may not have lived to tell the story, so I have a little sense of what you were facing.

But God stepped in and he broke the cycle of sin and God can do that for any person listening right now I don't care what your parents did. Are your grandparents did. You can have a new beginning in Jesus Christ.

And it happened for Darrell strawberry and it happened for me and it can happen for you and that's why want you to read Darrell's powerful story and the things he has to share that he's learned in life thus far in his new book called churn your season around subtitled how God transforms your life and this could be a lifesaving book for someone listening.

It shows us how God can sin our lives in the right direction, no matter our past and we want to send Darrell's book.

Your way to thank you for your donation really an investment to help us continue to touch lives each day with this radio program. So will your contact us today John Pastor Greg a note and let them know what his teachings mean to you and then when you include a donation. Be sure to ask for turn your season around you could write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study.

It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now. If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this.

We have seen thousands of people commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home.oh well, next time more insight on the important role God's word plays in helping us grow spiritually June and enjoy your beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor great free daily email devotions and harvest.org