Not by Bread Alone

Not by Bread AlonePart 1 of 2

September 30, 2007AM

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Daily Bible reading is essential for your spiritual growth and health. Man cannot live by bread alone, but rather by every word of God. Job esteemed the words of God’s mouth more than his necessary food. How many meals do you skip in a week? How about reading God’s word?

Introduction:

  1. God fed Israel with miracle manna to teach them that health depends on God’s blessing, for keeping God’s commandments are more useful for your life than anything else (Deut 8:1-20; Matt 6:25-34).
  2. God fed Israel with manna to teach them that spiritual health depends on every word of God, for you cannot know of Him or how to please Him without those words being constantly supplied to you.
  3. When the devil tempted our Lord with the bread of this world, Jesus quoted this passage (Luke 4:4).
  4. If man is to live by every word of God (Luke 4:4), you must read the Bible’s words to have a life!
  5. The Bible is a spiritual book from a spiritual Author. If you are born again, you need spiritual food.
  6. The word of God will increase your sensitivity for righteousness and against wickedness by reading.
  7. Psalm 19 has three parts – creation, scripture, and self-examination – to lead us in a holy progression.
  8. This is one of the most important sermons I can preach to you, but only if you submit to God’s words.
  9. We have studied Joshua, but we must examine our commitment to Bible reading (Jos 1:7-8; Ps 1:1-3).
  10. You will amount to nothing in life before God and men, unless you crave and devour His word daily.
  11. Israel rejoiced to hear the words of God read and explained to them for hours, and we must examine ourselves to see if we are of the same character toward scripture as they were (Nehemiah 8:1-12).
  12. Job considered the words of God more important than his necessary food, and we should consider how great this man was in God’s sight (Job 23:11-12; 1:1-8; Eze 14:14). Do you esteem it as highly?
  13. David, the man after God’s own heart, loved the word of God and knew its value (Ps 119:9,11,14,18, 24,25,28,49,50,52,54,57,59,62,72,73,80,92,97-100,103,104,105,111,127,131,141,162,165,168,176).
  14. Every father is bound before God to teach his children the Bible (Deut 6:4-9; Psalm 78:1-8; Eph 6:4).
  15. There is only one way to be an Elihu in a world of Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (Job 32:8). Read!
  16. We know which Bible to read, which should provoke an exceptional love for reading our KJV Bibles.
  17. We vigorously defend the KJV, but it is more important that we read it than defend it against others.
  18. Moses said it is your wisdom, good, righteousness, and life (Deu 4:5-8; 6:24-25; 10:12-13; 32:46-47).
  19. A great advantage of being a Jew was having the oracles of God, as we do today (Romans 3:1-4).
  20. The church, persecuted by the dragon, the devil of pagan and papal Rome, sealed the Bible with the blood of martyrs, which condemns us greatly for not finding the time to read it (Rev 1:9; 12:17).
  21. Few men have had scripture, understanding, time, and freedom as we have. Be warned (Luke 12:48).
  22. If our nation, especially the NEA and ACLU, is against Bible reading, then it must be worth reading!
  23. What are the inputs in your life? The world is competing against scripture more than ever. Beware!
  24. Noble men receive the word with ready minds and search the scriptures to prove it right (Acts 17:11).
  25. The Bible is a spiritual book for spiritual men, and it operates above natural reasoning (I Cor 2:9-13).
  26. Our experience confirms that our fruitfulness as Christians is in direct proportion to Bible reading, for our faith, love, joy, peace, hope, holiness, and zeal wax or wane depending on our time in the Bible.
  27. The ebb and flow of Christians from serving saints to carnal complainers is based on Bible reading.
  28. We are to exhort one another daily to oppose sin’s deceit, but how much more reading (He 3:12-13)?
  29. Remember Josiah’s reaction to the reading of scripture after it had been lost a while (II Kings 22:11).
  30. How does the emphasis and time compare to the reading of other material, textbooks, and television?
  31. When you fear physically or financially, the best thing you can do is to go to God’s words, for it is only God’s blessing, not your extra effort, that is able to save you from trouble (Ps 127:1-2).

Why Read the Bible?

  1. The Bible has Spirit-inspired and profitable words for light (II Tim 3:16-17; II Pet 1:16-21).
  2. The Bible has the spiritual words of God that build faith (Rom 10:17; 15:4; Luke 16:29-31).
  3. The Bible has the spiritual words of God that will bear fruit in you (Col 1:4-6; I Thess 2:13).
  4. The Bible has the spiritual words of God that nurture spiritual growth (I Pet 2:1-3; Pro 4:18).
  5. The Bible is able to make you content by giving you a rich heritage (Psalm 19:10; 119:111).
  6. The Bible is the primary source of objective truth in the world (Ps 119:142,151; John 17:17).
  7. The Bible is the source of wisdom (Deut 4:5-6; Psalm 19:7; 119:98-100,130; Prov 1:23; 8:8).
  8. The Bible is to help answer questions (Pr 22:17-21; Ps 119:46,172; Heb 5:12-14; I Pet 3:15).
  9. The Bible has an incentive plan of rewards for learning and obeying it (Ps 19:11; Jas 1:25).
  10. The Bible brings prosperity and success in all parts of life (Josh 1:7-8; Ps 1:1-3; Pr 8:12-21).
  11. The Bible reveals Jesus Christ and the way of salvation (John 5:39; II Tim 3:15; Rev 12:17).
  12. The Bible keeps us from sin (Ge 39:9; Ps 19:11; 119:11; Lu 4:1-13; II Tim 3:16-17; Ja 1:21).
  13. The Bible gives great joy by revealing God, His will, and His works (Jer 15:16; Ps 119:111).
  14. The Bible is the way to seek God, and He will come to readers (Isaiah 66:1-2; Acts 8:26-40).
  15. The Bible reveals numerous mysteries unknown to the world (I Cor 2:6-10; I Timothy 3:16).
  16. The Bible leads us in the way of righteousness (Ps 43:3; 119:105; Prov 6:23; II Tim 3:16-17).

How to Read the Bible

  1. Bible reading should be a meaningful habit, with a set time for it, preferably in the morning.
    1. It is better to read when you are rested than when tired, for your flesh hates the Bible.
    2. Find a time and place you will not be distracted or interrupted. Ask your family for help.
    3. If you miss a day, do not be foolish like those dieting or exercising; start again tomorrow!
  2. A reading program of some sort is helpful by giving discipline, structure, and what to read.
    1. Try the pastor’s simple program to read the Bible with one easy chapter a day, or read four of them a day and get through the Bible in three months or four times in a year.
    2. There are many different ways you can structure your reading for discipline and profit.
    3. You can focus on the N.T., add Psalms and/or Proverbs, include the O.T., or straight thru.
  3. How you read is more important than how much you read. Read meditatively to meet God.
    1. Read prayerfully to learn His will. Be alert when you read, and read for comprehension.
    2. Seek the meaning of what you read. Avoid settling for words or sounds. Study the intent.
    3. How does the meaning affect you. Put yourself in the passage. Apply lessons to your life.
    4. Read both ways: a chapter three times for quality, or three chapters one time for quantity.
    5. Pray for understanding and obedience before and after (Ps 119:18; Pr 2:3; Eph 1:17-18).
    6. Be sure to obey as you learn, or you will not learn more (Is 29:13-14; Jn 7:17; 12:37-43).
  4. Questions carefully asked can help you discover, identify, and apply the lessons of the Bible.
    1. Ask who, whom, what, why, when, and where to determine the context of each passage.
    2. Ask yourself how you see Jesus Christ in the passage (Luke 24:27; John 5:39).
    3. Ask yourself what doctrine is being taught in the passage (Prov 4:2; II Timothy 3:16-17).
    4. Ask yourself what example is provided for you to follow (Ps 37:37; Phil 3:17; I Pet 2:21).
    5. Ask yourself what sin is described here for me to avoid (I Cor 10:6-11; II Peter 2:4-17).
    6. Ask yourself what prayer is in the passage that you can pray (Ps 42:1-11; Matt 6:9-13).
    7. Ask yourself what promise is in the passage that you can claim (II Cor 1:20; Heb 13:5-6).
    8. Ask yourself what comfort is in the place to receive (Ps 119:50; Rom 15:4; Heb 6:17-20).
    9. Ask yourself what duty you have read that you should perform (Eccl 12:13; Ps 119:128).
    10. Ask yourself, What is the best or key verse? What is the leading lesson for me here?
  5. When reading the “One-Year Bible” or “Daily Light from the Bible,” make sure you also read the Bible in full context, for such helps can exalt the sound of scripture over its sense.
  6. The world uses inventions for techno-sins, but we can exploit Scourby, Online Bible, etc.

How to Read Meditatively

  1. The law of God, even the statutes to Israel, is to be read meditatively (Josh 1:7-8; Ps 1:1-3).
  2. Meditation. “That kind of private devotional exercise which consists in the continuous application of the mind to the contemplation of some religious truth, mystery, or object of reverence, in order that the soul may increase in love of God and holiness of life” (OED).
  3. Meditate. “To muse over or reflect upon; to consider, study, ponder; to fix one’s attention upon; to observe with interest or intentness” (OED).
  4. Biblical meditation is not listening to every point of view (Jer 5:31; Rom 16:17-18), opening your mind or heart to subconscious influences (Jer 29:8-9), closing yourself to anything outside yourself (II Cor 10:12), rearranging thoughts to avoid a passage’s force (Jer 17:9).
  5. Meditation should be directed toward God Himself (Ps 63:6; 104:34), God’s law (Josh 1:8; Ps 1:2; 119:97), God’s works (Ps 77:12), God’s precepts (Ps 119:15,78), God’s statutes (Ps 119:23,48), God’s word (Ps 119:148), His testimonies (Ps 119:99), doctrine (I Tim 4:13-15).
  6. Do you look for Jesus Christ? Our goal is to be Christ-like (Rom 13:14; Eph 4:24; Phil 2:5).
  7. God rewards meditative reading with good success (Josh 1:8), prosperity (Ps 1:2), wisdom over enemies (Ps 119:97-98), wisdom over teachers (Ps 119:99-100), joyful satisfaction in life (Ps 63:5-6), deliverance from spiritual dryness (Ps 77:4-12), defense against criticism (Ps 119:23-24), a balm for proud acts of enemies (Ps 119:78), a source of gladness (Ps 104:34).
  8. Memorization helps in meditation by mulling God’s words over while away from the Bible.
  9. Carefully consider each word, phrase, and lesson by repeating it, by picturing it as clearly as possible, by putting yourself in the picture, by putting it in the first person, or praying it, etc.

When to Read the Bible

  1. If you say, I will use whatever time I have before bed to read, you will hardly ever read it.
  2. If you wait until you have nothing happening to think about reading, you will not read.
  3. It is much better to make time to read, whenever that might be, and then stick to the schedule.
  4. You will have fewer demands and distractions in the morning; you will not be as tired; it will give you matter to consider and think about during the day; and it is a powerful way to start.
  5. When you are in your car, instead of the world’s radio, try Alex Scourby reading the KJV.
  6. What do you do with a lunch hour at work? You can eat in 10-15. Why not read for 10-15?
  7. Discipline your family to read in the morning, at meals, and/or last thing at night (Deut 6:7).
  8. Even infants in your home should see “the big black book” as a thing you love and reverence.

Conclusion:

  1. Your life is racing away, and there is only one way to slow it down – read the Bible carefully today!
  2. Few men have had scripture, understanding, time, and freedom as we have; be warned (Luke 12:48).
  3. What are the inputs in your life? The world is competing against scripture more than ever. Beware!
  4. Let Psalm 19 be a short description to compare the natural and written revelations of God to man.
  5. Let Psalm 119 be a collection of short statements exalting the word of God and its value to readers.
  6. We must help each other by encouraging, exhorting, pressing, and warning to more time in the Bible.
  7. We must build habits in our homes of daily Bible reading and devotions that will be continued.
  8. Reading alone is not enough, for it is obedience that counts, as James describes well (James 1:22-25).
  9. Reading alone is not enough, as the Pharisees proved, who knew scripture well but did not obey it.

For Further Study:

  1. Sermon Outline: A Preaching Service
  2. Sermon Outline: Every Word of God
  3. Sermon Outline: Why I Believe the Bible
  4. Sermon Outline: Mysteries of Hidden Wisdom
  5. Devotional Outline: Life Is Like a Maze
  6. Sermon Outline: Thus Saith the Lord
  7. Sermon Outline: A Bible Contradiction
  8. Sermon Outline: Do We Need Teachers
  9. Sermon Outline: Noble Hearers
  10. Sermon Outline: Bible Entertainment
  11. Sermon Outline: Back to the Bible
  12. Sermon Outline: A Bible Christian
  13. Sermon Outline: The Bible Cannot Profit
  14. Web Document: Knowing the Scriptures
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