The Word Of God Transforms Us Part 2

When you mentioned some people may envision an Indian misting room meditation in the Scriptures is entirely different for us to let the word of God reprogram our mind in a healthy direction from the Moody Church in Chicago this is Sir teaching helps us make it across the finish line. The pace of life is now so frantic few of us would say we have time for meditation, Dave. I think that you're absolutely right.

We are living at a time when there are so many different pressures and what we have to do is prioritize that which is most important in order to help us to do that and to focus upon that which really honors God. We are making available to you today is CD entitled songs for a holy night as we anticipate Christmas. We know that the incarnation and the beauty of Jesus Christ coming leads us to worship and it touches our hearts for a gift of any amount. This CD can be yours, simply go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now let us listen to God's word and its transforming power is a will, how you meditate all that you need to do is to simply ask the tech some questions you know there I speak about analyzing you. Analyzing say what does this text tell me about God, but let's look at Psalm one. What does this text tell us about God, but it certainly tells us that God is faithful to his people. He blesses those whose hearts are perfect award and move meditate in the law of God that the way of the transgressor is a way of deception because God knows their ways and they are like chaff that the wind blows away. It teaches us about God. Is there a promise to be believed absolutely. If you meditate day and night, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, all there is in the text. Is there some encouragement. Is there some way in which a God has spoken you. It is there in the text, something for which to praise God. Almost always, there is an next week when I preach the next message I'm going to give you some examples. Some further examples of how to meditate.

You analyze your personal lives. Let me tell you this.

Don't ever close the Bible.

Having read it unless there is some food for your soul. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And you and I have anxious thoughts. We have busy thoughts we have sensual thoughts and as a result of that we aren't concentrating on the word and while it may do is some good very little good until we close the word and say I have some that will feed me for the day.

Now you know that many of us and some of you might not know this here at the church.

We are having a challenge that was given out, and hundreds of people are listening to the entire New Testament or reading it in 40 days. How do we how do we integrate this I mean I realize that we are already spending maybe 25 minutes a day listening to the word and some of us, by the way are caught up. I just wanted to throw that in there and there's some who aren't caught up, but keep doing it. Fact is, before I begin to listen. I say Lord open up my heart that I might behold wondrous things out of thy law. Give me something and of course it's something like trying to take a drink out of a fire hydrant. I realize that because the word just goes floating past you. When you listen to it the first time I've ever listened to the Scriptures in such cons asserted way but every day I'm struck with something and it lodges in my mind and I think of it during the day, just the impact of God's word. There are phrases there are verses some way some way. I am transformed now. What you do is you analyze you, personalize you say what do I have today from your word overlord and then very critical. You memorize many of us don't memorize Scripture the way in which we use to but verses of Scripture will stick in your mind that is the best way that very best way to meditate in the law of God day and night is to memorize it will be in the back of your mind. And by the way, before you go to bed at night. Don't be watching the news because what will happen is your anxious thoughts will come to the surface and so forth. What you ought to do is to reiterate God's word in your heart before you go to bed and then when you wake up in the morning, day and night you civil how can it help me during the night.

How can it help me during the day when I'm busy with other things well member that story about the couple that was visiting in France and they bought face.

Actually, I think it was a jewelry box and they were told by the clerk in France that it would glow all night. They put it in their bedroom and it didn't glow all night. So finally they found someone who could read the instructions and read French and what the person read was this, it said, put me in the sunlight during the day and I will glow all night so they did that you glowed all night. The word of God has such transforming power that when you and I are exposed to it in a meaningful way. It will guide us and direct us even during the darkest hours of our experience the power of God's word. The next step in the process we've spoken briefly about discernment, discipline, meditation, I want to say something about growth. Look at the promise that is here and he is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. And in all that he does, he prospers.

What beautiful imagery 1968 I studied in Israel and we went to the Sinai Peninsula and actually spent the night at St. Catherine's monastery, which is at the base of Mount Sinai, but was a four day trip two days there. One night there and then back as I remember, but you you go through this hot desert and it was over 100's and there is absolutely no evidence of life anywhere, and then in the distance you see trees what does that tell you Chelsea oasis. There and and that's the way we are to be in this world like a tree planted by the streams of water. I don't need to tell you, do I that when you look at the world. All of the wells are dry.

We are in an arid area to see these poor folks on television trying to somehow gain importance by some way some way by their appearance by this where that everybody is clamoring for significance at and trying to find it and it's all dry and it's all empty goddesses. You are different you are planted before the rivers of water your planted there beside the stream, and in the midst of a world that has very little hope in the midst of an arid land. You're the tree people say you know that person has something that I don't have the first image is that of the tree.

The second is the streams of water in one of the streams of water will obviously if the word of God. But it's also the people of God as we gather together with the people of God as we begin the process of meditation as we are serious about pursuing God. No one of these Psalms that I ought to preach on in the series. I don't think I have it scheduled to do that is Psalm 119 where the Bible is mentioned in virtually all of the verses I think except three and it has something like hundred and 60 some versus if I remember, but it talks about the fact that Blessed are those who seek God and seek his word with a whole heart. That's the transformation that takes place, and he will bear fruit for what it says, apples, oranges, peaches, pears, bananas his fruit in his season.

Of course, the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, all of that is born. Why, because once the inner life has been addressed. Fruit can't be manufactured, but from the inside it begins to flow out and what is it that brings about that transformation.

But God's holy word many years ago I talked to a friend he actually is in heaven now, but he lost his first wife to cancer and am I sick to my said data is in Bob, you don't seem to have any bitterness toward God over this terrible trial. I said how did you and your wife cope and those were in the days. By the way, before CDs and all of the things that we have today.

He said that he bought the New Testament on records. Now you can tell that that was a long way away long time ago. But he said he said we played the New Testament we listen to it. He said I when I became anxious or angry I began to read God's word and then these are critical words that he said he said the word of God in our hearts squeeze all the fear and the negativity out Jesus would agree with that.

Considering the illustration.

He gave about the demon who left the man. The man was empty and other demons came in the vacuum of your mind will be filled somehow maybe filled with God's holy word. How we nail this down for ourselves.

Just let's look at the text again. Shelley first of all, I noticed that the path of the wicked leads to ruin the path of the wicked leads to ruin verse for the wicked are not. So they are like the chaff that the wind drives away doesn't mean that they are annihilated by any means what it means is they don't leave anything behind of eternal value they may leave money. They may leave their fame.

They may leave a certain admiration of men.

They may leave all that behind. There's nothing permanent. That is the spiritual legacy. The imagery is of course a point being thrashed and the wheat falls down chaff is blown away the end of no eternal contribution to their children to their family to their church their lives. It's just simply gone and they will not stand in the judgment that means that when they're judged there in trouble they will not be able to stand against the judge.

Because you see they have not come under the protection of God's salvation and therefore the Bible says that they will not stand in the judgment in the end, the end, no matter how famous they may be. Fact is they live the lives without permanent significance. Now that's the path of the wicked. What about the path of the just. The Bible says that the Lord knows the way of the righteous will doesn't he know the way of the wicked whenever you come across the word no. In the Bible like that.

It means God has regard for you know the Lord knew the nation Israel of course in in terms of intellectual knowledge omniscience. He knows all things. But notice that the Lord knows the way of the righteous. He has regard and them I miss the phrase, not deliberately, just didn't comment on it and at whatever he does prospers.

Why because it's the blessed life is not the life of lies.

That is the life that leads to ruin. It is the blessed life is like a tree planted and whatever he does prospers. Why because he is God's blessing.

Is there anything more wonderful in all the world than us being able to say we been blessed by God me what what an unbelievable honor God gives us an and it's there to the meditation of the work is not to happen just by listening to sermons not going to happen. Even singing wonderful songs. It will only happen you meditate in the law of God day and night. That's the transformation that overcomes often times addictions and and that the anxieties and the fears and and and somebody who does that can take false accusations they can take injustice and it doesn't destroy them because their core is anchored in God's word is perhaps a final lesson and that is this that Tim if you want to enjoy the path of the righteous.

You want to do that.

How do you do that this is what Jesus said enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many.

Those of the folks you see whose advice we should avoid.

We should not walk with them. Stand with them and sit with them because they are scoffers. Many a child has been destroyed and an adult because of bad friends.

So don't enter that way. But before the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few and amazing are you among the few.

Now when you come to Christ. The way in which you and I get on that narrow path is first of all, were confronted with him. You don't get on the good path.

The path of the righteous.

Apart from Jesus Christ is the only way and and if you're listening today and you've never entered into a personal relationship with him, you can receive him as your Savior because of your need and your sin that you can't save yourself, self salvation does not work, we need to be saved by someone qualified to say this and that is Jesus you know this past week Rebecca and I flew to Dallas because her sister-in-law died after 20 years of a lot of suffering. There's there's nothing like attending a funeral to make you realize what reality is really all about.

Well, the answer is simply this, that here's a case in which a woman lived for God and even though she died young. Her three children and grandchildren will rise up and call her blessed. Why because mom believed in God and she chose that righteous path.

Jesus, by the way, when you look at Psalm one. What you discover is what you had all the way through the Bible, you have the path of the wicked, and you have the path of the righteous, and I always want to say the middle path. Where are the people who are too good to be lost forever, but they're not quite good enough yet for happen. So they're not on the righteous path, but nor should they be classified with the wicked, either because they're good people. Answer there are only two paths Jesus at the Broadway in the narrow way and I'm being at that funeral knowing that she had been on the narrow way. I couldn't help but think of the verse of Scripture that comes from Proverbs chapter that the path of the just is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter. To the fullness of day. That's the path of the righteous. That's the path I hope that you're on, that's the path that Jesus died to bring us on and once were on that path were committed now to meditate in the law of God day and night and that is the path of blessing begin to day to meditate on God's word and you'll grow and you will be transformed. Father we pray your blessing upon us today.

Help us to know that call us to love you deserve, you, we thank you today that because of your word. We have been transformed in Jesus name, amen.

You know my friend. After a very busy here. I'm so glad that the holiday season is just around the corner were reminded of the fact that Jesus Christ came to redeem us and that's the reason why we can be on that narrow road. I don't know about you but I need time to meditate. I need time in order to look at things in perspective and nothing helps me do that more than Christmas music.

That's why we are making available to you a very special CD entitled songs for a holy night. It is really the ministry of those who participated in songs in the night a broadcast that is been heard throughout many years on hundreds of stations songs in the night actually features the Kings carolers send soloist Glenn Jory and and of course as you might guess in this CD are some of your favorites. Oh come all ye faithful silent night at some point I'll tell you more about that song O holy night, and others for a gift of any amount.

This can be yours.

And what a wonderful opportunity for us to refocus ourselves in the midst of what has been a very hectic year for gift of any amount. It can be yours.

Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask more songs for a holy night, go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. Remember that we are listener supported. So thanks in advance for helping us as we get the gospel to thousands upon thousands time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor lutes or a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Today's question from an anonymous listener may be one of the toughest Everest on running to win. Must I try to reconcile with the man who abused me when I was a child. The answer is no. You can try to reconcile. If you feel that reconciliation is a possibility but unfortunately most abusers don't admit to it so you can't reconcile with a person like that. Can you if there's a person who abused you when you were a child and won't admit to it really can't be any reconciliation.

Oftentimes, reconciliation is impossible because you can't have reconciliation unless you have honesty and trust in all that needs to be developed and often times the most evil people are not interested in those qualities. So what you must do is to give this matter to God.

The important thing is your heart to give your heart to the Lord to give the bitterness that you feel to the Lord to give the emptiness to give the the struggles that resulted because you were a victim give those to God so that you will no longer be bound by the terrible things that happened to you.

God wants you to be able to walk in freedom and hanging on to bitterness simply does not help you. It doesn't affect the perpetrator of the evil he doesn't care. So you are the one than that is hurt. If you continue to allow this terrible deed to fester in your heart become acquainted with other Christians pray attend a good church become discipled and finally I would say remember this, you don't have to have it all together in order for God to use you. Some people think to themselves, I'm going to be on the sideline until everything within my heart becomes perfect and everything is reconcile life often times is very messy and sometimes people are not interested in cleaning up their messes. But in the midst of it, God is able to give you hope he's able to use you in your past does not have to define your future my heart to yours. God bless you and keep moving on some wise counsel is always from Dr. Erwin lutes or thank you documents are if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor lutes or or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us have run into when 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614.

Next time I'm running to when we look to the New Testament to find out how the word of God helps us praying running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church