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

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue user you memorize as you read the Bible with you girls around the entire twilight series need to know many people say things to remember is too hard to read Maurice's we memorize things over time.

Remember, remember, lyrics to songs by exposure to God's word, Scripture memory thing to do that. I remember the lyrics from a song from 60 remember why it's true. Short-term memory is pretty fragile things. We learn by repetition with new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie with robust long-term memory of March to work well with the words lyrics words like considered a vital part Scripture to Psalm 19 Psalm 90 the title of my message is the importance of God's word, the believer's life. This is a part of a series or were calling what every growing Christian needs to know. So let's read starting in verse seven, the law of the Lord.

It's perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord the right, rejoicing the heart become of the Lord is pure and enlightening. The odds the fruit of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they than gold guests than much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward.

You don't assert of the poetic quality of those words. Keep in mind that most of the Psalms were originally set to music. It's like reading lyrics to a song and so there's a certain cadence to it and that helps us to memorize it, and we see this very clearly here in Psalm 19.

As it speaks of the law of the Lord, that we could just as easily take the word a lot out and insert the word were the word of the Lord. We could just as easily say the Bible. This is a description of God's work. So what we learn here in Psalm 19 about the Bible. Number one. The Bible is perfect.

The Bible is perfect. The phrase, the law of the Lord is a Hebrew term used to define Scripture and it think God's word is perfect combats in direct contrast to the flawed, imperfect reasoning of humanity were living in a time where culture is changing before our very eyes, and this is especially prevalent here in the United States, a country that was originally established on firm Judeo-Christian principles and how are getting further and further away from those and were redefining everything, including the family itself. And so as Christians were trying to figure it out a word. We landed and what we believe. Here's what you do you build your foundation on the word of God that your foundation not changing culture, not shifting opinions because these things come and go. Culture comes in go social mores changed over time. I mean look at how dated some things are. They seem so fresh and new. At one point another. So dated, but those pictures and the yearbooks you know they do, they try to intentionally make you look bad in the yearbook photo.

It seems that way and maybe you go back and look at your old high school photos appear that old and some of your thinking why why did I wear a mullet. You know what what was the fascination with that hairstyle or what was I thinking. Nowadays, even the newspaper is dated because we have access the instant news you know you can get up text on your phone telling you here's the newest headline here is the newest development we get news in real time. Things are constantly changing. But even though we have instant information.

Here's what you need to know God's word never changes but having said that God's word is always relevant to your needs. God's word is fresh as the morning dew.

God's word is always relevant to what you're going through is Osama said, your mercies are new every morning so I don't need to add to God's word or take away from God's word.

Actually this word that is used therefore perfect the love the Lord is perfect could be translated whole complete and sufficient God's word is sufficient number two the word of God transforms us.

No other book transforms you there some book semi-educated sure illuminates you or entertain you, but no book transforms you accept the word of God of verse seven of Psalm 19. The love the Lord is perfect, converting the soul that testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple word there for converting to be translated it revives and restores the transforms God's word will provide you God's word will restore you. God's word will trends form you know if you're not interested in being transformed and don't read the Bible.

The Bible is a book for those that have a sense of desperation about where they are in life are people who don't have the purpose in life that they wish they had it for people that wish they could change, but they don't know how it's for people who are victims of their circumstances are are struggling with pain or are challenged by relationships. This is the book of God is given to them.if all of your relationships are perfect all your questions are answered and you never struggle. Well I guess you don't need the Bible and also think you're in a state of denial because the Bible is for everyone and everyone needs to do what it says. The Bible is for people who don't have the answers but it's not just enough to read the Bible. It's not just enough to study the Bible. Listen to this one. You must obey the Bible, you must do what it says.

James 122 says, remember it's a message to obey not just listen to you don't obey your pulling yourself you just listen.

The don't obey her up like a person looking at themselves in a mere and they do nothing to improve their appearance.

They just walk away and forget what they look like, but if you keep looking steadily in the God's word, that word will set you free. If you do what it says and don't forget what you heard God will bless you for doing it so they like you know what the mayor and checking yourself before you go out for the day in you think I look fine. You walked out pick a girl up to take up to a nice dinner and I don't understand why she doesn't seem to be enjoying it well. You are the big giant staying in the middle of your shirt you sought in the marriage that looks good to me and out UNC.

There was that little warning but you didn't see that.

So I look in the word of God, and it reveals something to me about myself, something that needs to change. I should pay attention to it. It's like a warning label.

It's all there in Scripture mentally need to memorize the word of God. Here's why when you have God's word hidden in your heart and you faced certain situations. It will be there for you to draw upon is a upgrade I just I can't remember anything.

I don't even remember where I parked my car.

I forget everything I can memorize information. You know that's really not true. Now is because our minds are filled with so much trivia we remember commercial jingles. We remember lyrics to songs you say you can memorize a Scripture you can read to the Bible, but some you girls are.

Read the entire twilight series or all the hunger games books I read those, all of them pull all the Harry Potter books are usually Harry Potter and Reese's brother got as far many people read Harry Potter. They read all the stuff they can quote lines from Star Wars or whatever but then asked him to remember a Bible verse what your favorite Bible verse. I do know is that of a personal question is that your way of saying you don't have a favorite Bible verse because you don't know a single Bible verse I don't know. You need to know the word of God I am so much junk stored in my brain. I don't even consciously remember memorizing it. But it's there. Really weird stuff. I know lyrics to songs and on the why know the why do I know all the lyrics to the theme song to the Flintstones who cares.

I know them. I know the I know all the words to this really dates me to the Beverly hillbillies any of your member that shows again. I know that I said that I go now I'm going to memorize. No, but it's in their by exposure to it so you do the same of God's word commit Scripture to memory. That's an excellent thing to do for Greg Laurie about the second half of this message in just a moment, 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 make a commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend harvest@home.o Pastor Greg continues now with his message called the importance of God's word in the believer's life.

Number three the word of God gives us incredible wisdom gives us incredible wisdom. Look at verse seven that testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple making wise the simple. The Hebrew word translated simple comes from a root word that means an open door. So what this is saying is some people's mind is like an open door, everything comes in and everything goes out. They don't know what to keep, then they don't know what to keep out some days I don't know what to say either you know that inside thoughts outside thoughts. You blurt out something that liked his review of the filter there somewhere.

That's not what you should say in the same way. This led information and they let it pass through.

They tend to be gullible, they tend to be na�ve.

They tend to be open to everything and close to nothing and they think that's a wonderful and I'm so open-minded to just everything that's of the Bible is think God wants to help you with that is outside good is that you need to develop a biblical world view and a lot of people don't have this even people in churches sometimes don't have a biblical world view. We need to think biblically, not merely emotionally not even intellectually alone.

We need to think and the way that the Bible tells us to think and run things through the grid of Scripture because sometimes we will come somewhere at ideas and though say their Christians but Jos� will you know I'm a Christian.

I love the Lord but I don't I don't believe you, my God, my God would never tell someone that it's wrong to have sex before marriage of my God would never judge a person for insert weird idea here, my God, I love it always hurts my God, maybe he is your God, but is not the God you don't just take God and sort of form them into your image and whatever your opinion is, or whatever is politically correct that quote your God, no, I look for him in Scripture where he reveals himself. Someone once asked me the question what you do if you come to a verse in the Bible you don't agree with. I said you change your opinion because you are wrong is such price to well I don't know if I really agree with this verse. Well, too bad, because this is the word of God and this is perfect and this is timeless and this is from heaven. So you need to change your opinion to adapt to what this book teaches not try to adapt this book to what you feel or what culture assess because the word of God's perfect God says in Romans 920.

Who are you, a mere human being to criticize God to the thing that was created state of the one who made it what you made me this way. It shows the absurdity of it so to sum up what we've learned God's word is perfect.

It transforms us and makes us wise. What else do we need to know number for the word of God is right, the word of God is right, some 19 verse eight the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. It's the right path.

That's it's the truth from heaven.

That's why we study it. That's why we memorize it and you know good thing when you're reading God's word is to ask yourself a few questions.

This might help you in Bible study reading through ask yourself the question, is there any sin here that the Bible speaks of that I should avoid about this. Is there any promise here for me to cling or is there any victory to gainers. Is there a blessing care for me to enjoy you read it, not just like a history book. The Bible is a history book an inaccurate one I might add, but is not merely a history book. It's it's God's living word sawmill learn things historically but at the same time.

Thoughts can this speak to me through it.

So I'm looking for his voice as I read it there's another one.

Number five keeping the word of God makes you happy. Keeping the word of God makes you happy like a verse eight, some 19. The statutes of the word of the Lord is right, rejoicing the heart that could just be as easily translated making you happy. Rejoice as just an interchangeable word as is blessed with the word happy. Jesus says in Luke 1128 happy are those that hear the word of God and keep it a happy thing and I think sometimes augmented such a drag and then you can do this and I can't do that no, it's a happy thing to be in the word of God know we have a rabbit at home upon through our grandkids named fuzzy the rabbit and so fuzzy lives in a cage. I know that so tragic, but no one fuzzy like his cage and when fuzzy sticking out of his cage and is manhandled a bit by the grandkids at times not so much now more before I he so happy to get back in the cage and the other day.

I'm back in my car and there sits fuzzy.

The cage doors open and he sitting like on a little blanket, perched up like just help me and I guess I fuzzy what you doing to read and learn for me. They want to be free getting along. God probably eaten by a crow to I might add, but no fuzzies waiting.

I walk over and pick him up and I taken the KG leaves indicate thank you for getting me on the K letters this analogy breaks down at a certain point the following for fuzzy the bars of the cage are not like a prison keeping him in the bars of the cage are walls of protection. Keeping predators out so I can come to the Bible and faithful. The Bible says it can't do this. They can't do that the Bible so unfair God so mean I can see him. Maybe God told me this because he loves me and is trying to keep me out of trouble.

Sony says don't lie. There's a reason when he says don't steal. There's a reason 20 says don't commit adultery. There's a reason when he says don't have sex before marriage. There is a reason you see he's trying to protect you from harm from destruction and is trying to keep you close to him and if you keep his word. The word of God will make you a happy person.

So you gotta stay in the word of God.

If you want to be spiritually successful to conclude one last point, the Bible is true because it gave me the experience and promised Malachi could go on and make a case for why we can trust the Bible get .2 the confirmation of archaeology. I could show you how the Bible and science actually go together. They don't contradict each other as people would suggest I could certainly talk to great length about how the Bible is the one book that there is to predict the future. Many times, with 100% accuracy. That's all a good thing to say when proving the validity of Scripture, but here's something I'll just say personally.

I know God's word is true because it keep me the experience and promised that she found that to be to see the Bible said that I can pray about things. The Bible said if I would pray according to the will of God, the God would answer my prayers. I knew nothing about prayer, but I started putting that to the test and I started praying and I saw God answer my prayers that you see them do the same for you. The Bible promise that God would never give me more that I could handle in the Bible promises that God because all things to work together for good to those of love implied. Put these truths to the test and I found them to be true. Haven't you. The Bible promise that if I would turn for my sin and put my faith in Jesus Christ. He would give me a peace that passes all human understanding.

I did that and I've experienced that and I continue to experience that. Don't you see I know it's true because I've experienced you can notice well or something else. The Bible says it set up. I would be in Christ, if I would put my faith in Jesus. I would be an altogether different kind of person the old things would pass away and everything would become fresh and new.

I found this to be true as well and enclosing some of you that have joined us here. Maybe you've never taken these truths of Scripture and put them to the test. You want to find out if the Bible is true. Just try it out and here's what the Bible says. It says that God loved you so much. He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in your place. The Bible says that we will turn from our sin to put our faith in Christ.

He will forgive us of all of our sin and no changes. The Bible promises that I will put my faith in Jesus.

I can have the hope and assurance that I will go to heaven when I die, so the moment were going to pray and if you've never asked Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin. Here's an opportunity to do it so you think about what you're going to do because he died, he rose he's alive, he stands at the door of your life, and he knocks it says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in atop our heads. Father I pray for any herein others that have joined us who may not yet know you help them to come to you now and receive your forgiveness. Help them to experience what your word promises help them transform Jesus they might from Pastor Greg Laurie and if you'd like to do that if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you with that in just a moment. So stay tuned. But listen, if you like an instant replay of today study, download a copy of Pastor Greg full message called the importance of God's word in the believer's life just go to harvest.org and I think store harvest partners for their help in making today's broadcast and these additional resources available. Pastor Greg Darrell strawberry is here with us today and you know it's not often that people get to talk with the legend and I'm just glad the two of you are getting a chance to talk with me today. That's good, Dave. I like that good good joke will Dell really is a legend. He's a sports legend.

He's someone that most people know of. He has written a brand-new book called turn your season around subtitled how God transforms your life by my friend Darrell strawberry and Darrell asked me to write the forward which I was delighted to do.

Let me just read a little bit from my forward for Darrell's book, because it pretty much tells you who he is. If you don't know most people know Darrell strawberry is a sports legend, a baseball icon and childhood hero, a model athlete, a world-famous success the best of the best, and rightly so. An amazing fielder Darrell played 17 seasons, a baseball for the Mets the Dodgers the Giants and the Yankees. But it was in the batters box anyone so much of his well-earned thing known for his prodigious and numerous homeruns. Darrell never failed to please his abundant fans when he stepped up to the plate.

Darrell strawberry is an eight time All-Star four-time World Series champion, two-time Silver slugger award winner.

1983 National League rookie of the year 1988 National League homeruns leader and New York Mets all of thing, but one of the things I write in this folder. Many don't realize is that Darrell was a broken man broken before he even started playing baseball underneath the swagger and success were a pain and his spiritual emptiness that theme, fortune women, drugs, and the love of the game could never satisfy. Darrell told me once my pain led me to my greatness but my greatness would eventually lead to my destructive behavior.

Darrell thanks for being with us today, and man I'm I think this new book is is going to impact a lot of lives in you about story to tell. So how many books have you written in total, Darrell.

I think I've written a few books on the autobiography which drove the New York Times bestseller and I think that went well and everybody was really looking forward to reading that one, but I think this book is probably the most important book that I have ever written. It has so much ingredients inside of it because it has dual with the principles of the biblical principles in 1 August. Thanks thanks for having the customer Gloria really appreciate all that you are currently forming an and allow me to be on the show and your writing before from a book, I think reaching so many people at this this time is critical time in our analyzer is a so important. I think this book, I realized that God would have me write a book middle of a pandemic and call turn your season around. Little did I know that we would all have to turn a Susan Ross from what we've been through so I just hope it reach a lot of people in such a lot of people show that God you know God's mercy is Israel, and his grace is sufficient and that he loves us and Mr. whatever we go through so if you want to get a copy of Dell strawberries brand-new book that he feels is the most important book he's ever written. You can get it from us here to new beginning again. The title is churn your season around how God transforms your life. I will send you this book for your gift of any size to help us to continue on here add a new beginning to teach the word of God and to preach the gospel that change the life of Darrell strawberry yeah that's right it's a message that still changes lives today. In fact, more than 150,000 people made decisions through this ministry in 2020, alone, and your investment helps that kind of outreach happen. We ask you to partner with us and if you can send an investment right now.

We should ask for Darrell's book turn your season around. You can write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and NFS Greg just before we go. Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today and the relationship with the Lord. I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today.

Maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you. This is what I need order stated more accurately. This is who I need I need Jesus. And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to comedy your life Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now.

Would you come in to my heart, my life as Savior, as God is friend I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen.

I know there was a relatively short prayer. Maybe you felt something as you prayed it. Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. It doesn't say so.

You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood. No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life. So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord and to help you would like to send some resource materials recolor new believers growth packet will answer many of the questions you might have and get your started off right in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for it will send it free of charge. Write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God when next I pastor Greg continues his series called what every growing Christian needs to know as her focus turns to prayer. Learn to undergird our prayer lives. Now that'll strengthen our walk with the Lord. Join us next time, new beginning and great glory was made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org