Welcome back to week two of our Breakthrough Disciplines series.  Today, we’re going to start with probably the most fundamental spiritual discipline.  A discipline that’s so easy a three year old can do it, but is so rich and powerful that we’re still growing in it even when we’ve been a follower of Jesus for 50 or more years – the spiritual discipline of prayer.  We’re going to talk about how to pray for breakthrough. 

I can imagine that some of our listeners can be a little uncomfortable when it comes to prayer.  If that’s you, I want to read a verse that may encourage you.  

Luke 11:1 – One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray”

Jesus’ own disciples, the men who followed him around, who were able to see his miracles first hand, who were able to hear his teaching, said, “Teach us to pray”.  It’s so encouraging to me that they were humble and honest.  They said, “Jesus, we don’t know how to pray.  Teach us.”  Maybe that’s you today.  Perhaps you’re thinking, I want to have breakthrough in my life from anxiety, anger, bitterness, depression, but if prayer is the answer, I’m not sure I even know how to pray.  Well, you’re in good company because even Jesus’s disciples weren’t sure how to pray – so this is relevant for you, and I think you’ll be encouraged. 

Schedule It 

Find a time and place that works for you. Start with 5 minutes a day and work towards longer times with God.

• We’re talking about the discipline of prayer.  This is prayer that is intentional and consistent. This isn’t just about lifting a prayer of desperation when you’re in a difficult situation.  God certainly listens to those prayers, but remember, we’re talking about the spiritual discipline of prayer. 

Mark 1:35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Luke 6:12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 

• Several verses in the Bible that say, “as was his custom” when talking about Jesus and prayer.  This was a habit.  This was consistent.  Even Jesus had a time and place.  If he needed that, how much more do we need it? 
• When you hear start with 5 minutes some of you are probably thinking I already pray more than five minutes a day – that’s great. Some of you probably thought, “Five minutes, how am I going to concentrate in prayer for five minutes.”  
• Find a place that works for you.  For my wife, it’s at the kitchen table.  For me, it’s in my bedroom or in the upstairs office at the church.  Using the same place frequently helps your mind to settle in to the fact that this is where I pray.  Find a place that is free from distraction or at least where distractions are limited.  
• Find a time – put it on your calendar. I think there is something powerful in starting the day off in prayer.  Asking God for strength to get you through the day. Asking him to set divine appointments for you throughout the day where you get to help people pursue him.  But again, if you’re not a morning person, maybe you just quickly pray to give the day over to God and then spend more time in prayer in the afternoon or evening, or whenever you’re at your best.  Start small, especially if you’re new at this.  Give God this small sacrifice.  Schedule it and you’ll find over time you can start spending 10 minutes, 20 minutes, even an hour or longer in prayer.

PRAY 

Use music and scripture to get focused on God. Start by praising or thanking God before you ask him for things.  Using the PRAY acronym can help prevent your prayers from just becoming a wish list to God. 

Psalm 145:1-3I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.2 I will praise you every day;    yes, I will praise you forever.3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

• It’s so easy to make our prayer time just about us.  God, here is what I need or want.  Here is what is giving me anxiety.  Remember, prayer is conversation with God.  If the only time you talked with your spouse, children, or friends is when you were asking them to do something for you, what kind of relationship would that be? 
• PRAY acronym – Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield – Start with praise and thanksgiving.  Praise can be as simple as declaring things that are true about God – God you’re almighty.  God you’re omnipresent. God you’re gracious.  God you’re holy. Repent – confess your sins to God.  Ask him to search your heart and reveal sins you may have forgotten.  Ask – present your requests to God.  Yield – listen, ask God to reveal his desires for your life to you.  Ask him to help you discern his will for your life.  

Matthew 6:9-13 Pray like this:Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.10 May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us today the food we need,[a]12 and forgive us our sins,  as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b] but rescue us from the evil one.

• When his disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, this is how he answered them.  I don’t think he’s talking about repeating these exact words every time we pray, although there is nothing wrong with reciting the Lord’s prayer.  This is a framework for prayer.  

Pray with Boldness

If your mind wanders when you pray, don’t panic. Let those thoughts help you focus on the things that need prayer. Pray with boldness and intent. God is not offended when we’re honest about what’s on our heart. 

• You might think that after being a Christian for almost 40 years and being in ministry full time that I would be really good at prayer.  But I actually feel that sometimes I’m really bad at prayer.  My prayer time is the only time when I think I might have ADHD.  Maybe you can relate.  I’ll be praying, “God, please help me to be more kind to my family.  Help me to be more patient.  Thank you for your provision in my life.  I’ve got to stop and get gas on my way into town.”  Wait, what?  Where did that come from?  Then I refocus, and it happens again 2 minutes later.  I have to think Peter was probably like that early on.  Jesus is teaching him to pray. He was probably, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, squirrel.”  
• If you can relate, this might be the most practical tip you get today.  If your mind wanders, that doesn’t mean you’re not spiritual.  Maybe it means that should be the thing you need to be praying about.  Instead of saying, “I’m a terrible person because I keep thinking about how angry I am at so and so” Stop, and capture that thought.  Pray for that person.  Pray for God to give you a heart of forgiveness.  Or if your mind keeps wandering to all of the things on your to do list, ask God to help you keep first things first and to have an eternal perspective.  Ask him to grant you peace and wisdom as you try to prioritize the things you need to get done.  Don’t just put those thoughts away, but pray for that right now.  When you find your mind wandering, let that be a trigger. 
• If my mind keeps returning to a particular topic during prayer, it is probably an indication that this is the topic that is of most concern to me, and I need to talk to God about it.” The Life You’ve Always Wanted – John Ortberg 

Hebrews 4:14-16 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

• The author of Hebrews is referencing back to the Old Testament image of the priest who would walk with incredible fear and trembling into the Holy of Holies in the temple.  God’s temple was set up with several different courts and areas.  Some people could go into the outer courts.  Even fewer people could go into the inner courts.  But the holy of holies, the place where God’s spirit was said to dwell, could only be entered by one person, the high priest, and he could only enter it one day out of the year – the day of atonement.  He went in there to represent the people before God.  He walked in with fear and trembling because any misstep in the presence of God, and he was afraid it would be the end.  
• That’s the imagery the author of Hebrews is using here.  But look at what he says in the passage.  He says we have a great high priest – Jesus.  And Jesus didn’t enter the holy of holies, He entered heaven. He is the Son of God.  So because we have this great high priest who has gone before God on our behalf, who has been our mediator, we don’t have to be afraid. We can come boldly to the throne of our Glorious God!  We don’t have to walk in with fear and trembling like the High Priest did.  You can go boldly into the throne room of God because of Jesus! And you can tell God what’s on your heart.  You can tell him what you need, you can tell him your desires.  Don’t be afraid to tell God what you want.  He already knows, so be honest with him.  Some of you have not because you ask not.  Ask, and pray with boldness.  
• Now, I want to be careful here.  I’m not talking about a name it and claim it type of prayer life where we get to determine what we need or where we have control over God granting us all of the desires of our heart.  I’m not saying to boldly tell God you want a new Mercedes and that as long as you’re bold enough, you’ll get it.  Or even on a deeper level, I’m not saying that if a loved one has a terminal illness that if you just pray hard enough or with enough boldness that I can guarantee you they’re going to be healed.  But, whenever I pray for healing for someone I pray with boldness.  I ask God to bring healing, and I keep on asking him to bring healing until He let’s me know that it isn’t his will to bring healing.  
• Related to this idea of coming to God with boldness, don’t feel like you’re bugging God when you bring the little things to him.  Sometimes I think we’re ashamed of asking God to intervene in the little details of our life.  You can approach God with boldness in the details.  My wife is a great example to me in this.  She’s always lifting little things up to God.  When she can’t find her keys, she prays.  Just last week, when her contact lenses got delivered to the wrong house, she prayed.  She’s never timid about bringing the little things to God.  And God answers those prayers.  Seeing God answer those prayers often helps to build our faith when we’re praying about the bigger things.  I know God wants me to learn to pray with courage and to learn to pray with boldness.  That’s one side of the coin.  I want to make sure we talk about the other side of that same coin. 

Thy Will Be Done

Pray with humility and submission. Learn to listen to God, and be ready to hear what’s on his heart.

Matthew 26:39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 

• Jesus modeled this in the garden the night he was arrested.  He was praying so intently and so boldly that he was sweating drops of blood.  He poured out his heart to the father, but he yielded. 
• I want you to look at the first part of that prayer: My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Do you think Jesus prayed this timidly?  Just before this verse, Jesus told his disciples “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful,even to the point of death”.  Do you think someone whose soul is sorrowful to the point of death lifts up a timid prayer?  Of course not, if you’ve ever been in a desperate situation where you were sorrowful to the point of death, I’ll bet your prayer wasn’t timid.  He said, “My Father! If there is any way possible that this cup of suffering can be taken from me, this cup of your wrath, of your fury, please take it from me.”  Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.  You know, the bible doesn’t tell us how much time passed between those two sentences.  Was it a second?  Was it 30 seconds, 3 minutes, longer?  I don’t know, but I know all of creation held its breath as Jesus, being fully God but also fully man,  wrestled with the consequences of submitting to the Father’s will.  God’s redemptive plan, that He set in place before the foundations of the world, hung in the balance in that space between me and yet.  
• I just said a few minutes ago that we need to learn to pray with boldness and be honest with God about what’s on our heart – and we should.  But what’s going to happen over time as you learn this discipline of prayer is you’re going to discover that prayer is really more about listening to God.  Prayer connects us to Jesus.  So when we’re just learning to pray, a lot of our prayer is coming boldly to God about what is on our heart.  The more we get to know God and the more we experience real relationship with him – his patience, his kindness, his goodness – The more we want to know what is on his heart.  We begin to boldly approach him to find out what is on his heart.  That only happens when we listen.  It happens when we come to God with a humble heart.  With an attitude that recognizes, He’s God and I am not.  A submitted, listening heart says to God, “ I want you more than anything else”. A submitted, listening heart rests in the truth of  Psalm 37:4 which says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart” 

Two Way Conversation 

As we develop this discipline of prayer, our conversations with God will begin to look more like conversations with others that we love. 

• I know for me, one of the reasons prayer can be difficult is I don’t hear the audible voice of God.  If I physically heard God speaking to me in my prayer time, I would do it so much more.  I have found, though, that when my time is consistent I do hear from him.  I”ll read a verse in the Bible that has a direct connection to something I’ve been praying about – That’s God talking to me.  I’ll get a nudge from the Holy Spirit to reach out to that person I’ve been praying for.  I’ll get a sense of peace over a decision I need to make that I’ve been praying about.  And when I do hear from him in those ways, it gets me excited to continue in this spiritual discipline of prayer.  

 Today we talk about fasting for breakthrough. Now, before you say, “Woah, that’s not for me!” I want you to know that Jesus has an expectation that his followers will incorporate fasting into their spiritual journey.  Fasting isn’t just for “Super Christians” or pastors and church leaders.  It isn’t something that only legalistic people do.  It’s something that every believer should incorporate into their disciplines and it’s something that will bless you.

Matthew 9:14-15  One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast[e] like we do and the Pharisees do?”15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

• The disciples of John the Baptist feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick.  They’re fasting, but Jesus’ disciples are not.  The Pharisees fast, so why are Jesus’ disciples fasting on a regular basis?  Jesus tells them now isn’t the time to fast, because he is with them.  But, someday the groom will be taken away and then they will fast. Jesus is the groom and Jesus is saying, there will be a time for fasting when I am gone.  He says, “Then they will fast.”  He doesn’t say then they might fast.  He has an expectation that they will fast.  

Matthew 6:16-18 And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[d] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

• Jesus is giving instructions about fasting to the crowds as he’s teaching them.  He leads off with “when” you fast.  He says “when” not “if”.  There is an assumption that we will fast.  And then he goes on to give instructions about how to fast.  Basically, we shouldn’t try to make it obvious that we’re fasting.  We don’t fast to garner attention or respect from others.  The only one we should want to know we’re fasting is God.  Now, there will be times when you’re fasting that others are going to know, particularly if you’re doing it as a small group or as a church, but we don’t try to make it obvious.  
• Lastly, I would just say that if you’re a little hesitant or you’ve never really incorporated fasting into your spiritual journey, I know exactly how you feel.  A couple of years ago when we preached through this series, I was convicted that fasting had never really played a regular role in my relationship with God.  I had fasted on some occasions, but there was no rhythm to it.  There was no consistency.  I committed to God to fast on a scheduled basis and it has been such a blessing to me.  I feel like it has led into richer prayer times with God.  It has been a great reminder of my dependence on God, and it has helped me to develop self control, which is a fruit of the Spirit.  

The Why

Fasting can unlock breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. When you fast, you reaffirm your dependence on God’s power, not your own. 

Mark 9:17-18 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.[d] So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

• There could have been multiple reasons that the disciples couldn’t deliver the boy.  We know from the greater text that the religious leaders were there. When Jesus came upon the scene that was a great argument going on between the disciples and the religious leaders.  Maybe the added pressure of the religious leaders being there caused them to doubt their ability to do so.  Maybe, in their pride, they thought, ‘This is our chance to show the religious leaders that we have the right Rabbi and that we’ve been given power’.  It’s possible that they made it more about themselves than about helping the young boy who was demon possessed.  
• Later on, the disciples ask Jesus why they were unable and he responds that this kind of evil spirit can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.  – It’s not like fasting is some magical charm that forces demons to flee or causes God to be obligated to answer the way we want to answer. Think about what prayer and fasting do.  They force us to recognize our dependence on God.  They also cause us to turn our attention from the things of this world to spiritual things.  
• I know for me, personally, that shifting my attention away from the things of the world causes me to sense God’s leading more clearly.  When I was asked to consider filling the role that I currently hold at our church, I got away for about a day and a half for a time of fasting and prayer.  I was very intentional about putting myself in situations that would be free from the distractions of the world.  It wasn’t a really long fast by any means, but just being intentional about being away from the noise and taking the times when I would feel hungry and acknowledge to God that he is my provider, he gives me every good thing, and that as much as I wanted food, what I wanted more was wisdom and understanding about whether or not he was calling me into that role was a powerful time for me.  

Acts 13:2-3 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. 

• It was while they were worshiping and fasting that they heard from the Holy Spirit.  I’m not saying the Holy Spirit only speaks when we’re fasting.  That’s obviously not true, but there is something about fasting that seems to invite the Holy Spirit to speak and give guidance.   

The How

Fasting is voluntarily depriving yourself of food or drink (or some other good thing) in order to focus on God. You can fast alone or in a group, in crisis or in preparation.

Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

• Fasting is typically going without food or without food and drink for a particular amount of time.  That isn’t the only type of fasting, but it is the most common and the one the Bible typically is talking about when it references fasting.  
• My fasts are typically liquid only fasts.  I’ve never really tried an extended time of going without food and drink.  One of my hardest types of fasts is when I go without soda for lent.  I’m not fasting in the normal sense of the word, but I’m giving up something I really like, and I can assure you, I think about it multiple times.  I do it for lent because this tiny sacrifice helps me to really think about the mind-blowing sacrifice that was made for me.  Maybe for some of you it’s a coffee fast. 
• You might try a social media fast, a fast from eating out at your favorite restaurant, a fast from a particular TV show or some other form of entertainment.  If your knee jerk reaction is “no way” to something that might be the very thing you should consider fasting from.  
• Do you know that the only time a husband and wife are supposed to deprive one another is if they’ve both agreed by mutual consent to abstain from physical intimacy to use that time for prayer?  Then they’re to come back together again so that they won’t be tempted.  That’s what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7.  I know we probably just lost half of our listeners.   I’m not saying you’re required to do that as a fast, but it kind of makes you think.  If I pursued prayer with my wife with the same intentionality as I pursued intimacy with my wife, I bet it would have an impact on my marriage.  
• Whatever your fast is, I’d encourage you to start small and build up. I wouldn’t recommend trying to go 40 days without food like Jesus and Moses did right out of the gate.  I would make it so that you feel it though.  And the trap I can sometimes fall into is taking that time I would normally be eating and filling it in with something else that isn’t prayer and seeking God.   

The What  

Fasting is a faith-building exercise. It’s about releasing control to God, not obligating him to give us breakthrough on our terms.

Close

A rhythm of fasting creates on-going opportunities for us to be reminded of our dependence upon God. As we incorporate them, you’ll find yourself looking forward to that time of concentrated focus on God and his goodness.  

• I don’t know that I would want to set a fasting schedule for our listeners, because I think it can be different for different people based on the season of life you’re in, based on your health needs if we’re talking a food and drink fast, but I would encourage you to get into some sort of rhythm with it.  I wouldn’t recommend just doing it when you’re in a chaotic situation or randomly.  One of the things I’ve noticed now that I’ve had scheduled fasting for a couple of years is that I start to look forward to it a day or two before it starts.  I know I’m going to have that extra time with God.  I start thinking about the prayer requests I’m going to lift to him.  I start thinking about the ways he’s answered prayer since my last fast.  I think about all the ways he’s provided for me since my last fast.  And I confess, I think a little bit about what I’m going to eat to break the fast.  
• So I encourage you to start doing something on a regular basis.  Maybe it’s just giving up a certain type of food to start, maybe it’s just skipping one meal and using that time for prayer. Whatever it is, commit to it, and see how God uses it in your life.  

Talk about it:

1. Read “The Takeaway” above as a group. What are your initial thoughts about the article?
2. How would you describe your current pace of life: a sprint, a stroll, or a chaotic race? Why?
3. Which “hurry sickness” symptoms do you recognize in yourself most (irritability, restlessness, inability to focus)?
4. Why do you think we feel so much pressure to be “busy” all the time? What are we afraid will happen if we slow down?
5. Of the practical slowing exercises mentioned (longer lines, slow lane, phone-free time), which one sounds the most difficult for you? Why?
6. How would your relationship with the people closest to you change if you committed to a slower pace of life this week?

See also:

• What Did Jesus Mean by “Take My Yoke Upon You”?
• What Is Hurry Sickness?
• How Do I Eliminate Hurry From My Life?
• What Is the Spiritual Discipline of Silence?
• What Is the Spiritual Discipline of Solitude?
• What Is the Fourth Commandment All About?
• What Is the Spiritual Discipline of Slowing?

This topic is adapted from the Navigator’s Word Hand.

We’re heading into our last breakthrough discipline today and it’s probably the discipline you expected us to lead off with – reading the Bible. Hopefully, in this series, you’ve discovered that it isn’t the discipline in and of itself that gives us the full and abundant life Jesus promises; it’s what the discipline does.  In John 15:5, Jesus said “I am the vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.”  What all of these disciplines do is help us stay connected to the vine. Prayer and fasting, solitude, slowing, and silence, and spending time in God’s Word – all help us stay connected to Jesus.  

We’re going to discuss 5 strategies to allow the Bible to transform us like Paul talks about in Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  

Hearing

Hearing the Word is reading through someone else. What can you learn about a passage from a godly pastor or mentor?

• Right now you’re hearing from us, but a lot of what you’ll be hearing is the Word of God.  You’re hearing God’s Word through us.  That’s a very biblical concept.  Going to church, having a mentor, listening to a podcast or online sermon are all simple ways to let God’s Word get into your life.  The question you should be asking when you’re doing this first thing is what can you learn about a passage from a godly pastor or godly mentor in your life.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

• Faith comes from hearing.  Think about this in the context of the early church.  We don’t realize how blessed we are to have bibles as individuals or to have the bible on our phone.  To think that each of us can have access to a personal copy of the inspired Word of God would have been mind blowing to Christians in the early church.  In the early church, only the very wealthy had books.  Very few people had scripture in their personal possession.  It was mainly hearing in the synagogue, hearing when they would come together in house churches.  They would listen as someone else read from the scroll.  Someone would read from the Old Testament, someone would read one of Paul’s letters to the churches and the majority of the people received God’s Word by hearing. 
• The same is true even for sharing the gospel.  The scarlet thread of the gospel winds itself through the bible from the very first book to the very last book.  But the gospel is a great example of something most of us heard before we read it

Reading

Reading the Word (devotionally) is reading for application. What does the passage mean for you today?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

• One of my favorite passages in the Bible.  I think men like things that are useful and helpful.  To know that the Bible is literally God-breathed makes it unlike any other book in history. It means that when we read the Bible, it’s like sitting at God’s feet and listening to his words, listening to him tell you how much he loves you, how he created the world, how he wants you to live, how he’s coming back again to make all things new! We have such a privilege to have access to the very words of the almighty God of the universe! It’s no wonder Christians in places like North Korea and China weep when they get their hands on a copy of the bible.  It’s no wonder people risk their lives to get bibles into countries that are closed. It’s no wonder Christians who are in those persecuted countries would rather lose their life than lose God’s written word – because it is God breathed.  And yet, in many of our homes, it sits on a shelf somewhere collecting dust.  
•  When you read the Word devotionally you’re asking yourself, what does this passage mean for me today? How does it apply to the situation I am facing?  How does it impact the way I love my spouse or parent my children?  Does it address how I should spend my time today, or how I should spend my money today?  
• There are different ways to read devotionally.  Maybe you’re reading a daily devotional book that incorporates thoughts from the author with scripture.  Maybe you’re reading a chapter a day in your bible, or you’re trying to read through the entire bible in a year.  Some people make it a goal to read through the bible chronologically.  There’s no absolute way to do it.  These are all good ways to read the bible devotionally. And when we read it, we’re asking, how does this impact me right here and right now. 
• When I read devotionally, I like to ask myself four questions about the passage I am reading. 
  •  1. The first question I like to ask is does this passage tell me anything about God’s character?  Do I learn something about the nature of God as I’m reading this? 
  • 2. Second, I ask, “Do I learn something about my character as I read this passage?”  I’ll never forget the first time I really paid attention to Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is above all else deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?  I’ve never looked at my feelings or their trustworthiness the same way because that verse tells me something about my heart- that without Jesus, it is desperately wicked.  I can’t trust my feelings.  
  • 3. Is there a command I need to obey in this passage?  
  • 4. Is there a promise I can claim in this passage?  There are so many wonderful promises we can hold onto in the bible. And there are a lot of promises that people will tell you are made to us in the bible, that aren’t.  They only way you’ll know which is which is if you spend time reading the Word. 

Studying

Studying the Word is reading for interpretation. What did the passage mean in its original context? 

Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

• If reading devotionally is for application, studying the Word is for interpretation.  This may be new for some of you.  When you’re studying the Word, you’re not just looking at how it applies to you, but you’re asking what did it mean in its original context.  What was being said to the original audience?  How does this passage fit into the greater context of the bible or into the gospel story?  Is this a fulfillment of a prophecy from earlier in scripture.  You can study God’s word individually or you can do it in a small group or as a family.  
• I would encourage you to invest in some good, solid bible commentaries for this kind of reading.  There are great, Godly professors and experts on this who have spent more time studying God’s word.  I won’t say they’re smarter than you, but they’re definitely smarter than me.  They’re often experts in the original languages that were used by the authors and they’re more familiar with the culture in which the original audience lived.  This is so helpful when we’re asking, “How would the original audience have received this?” 
  • New Bible Commentary
  • Expositor’s Bible Commentary
  • Enduring Word Commentary
  • Pillar New Testament Commentary
  • Olive Tree Bible App
• There are also great, free tools online where you can read the passage side by side in the original Greek or Hebrew language and the English translation.  I mentioned John 15:5 earlier “I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.  Apart from me you can do nothing.”  I remember looking at the Greek lexicon for that several years ago and seeing that the original word that’s translated “remain” can also mean “to tarry with.”  All of a sudden that verse had an even deeper meaning to me.  Did I want to tarry with Jesus?  Did I want time to slow down when I was hanging out with Jesus?  You remember when you were first dating your spouse and it always seemed like it took an hour to say goodnight?  And I’m not talking about the goodnight kiss.  I just mean how you wanted just five more minutes in their presence before you left.  I started asking Jesus to give me that same kind of desire for my time with him, that time would slow down when I was having my quiet time with him.  That deeper understanding of the verse wouldn’t have happened without slowing down and studying that passage.

Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

• Think of how radical Paul’s message would have been to them.  He was saying some crazy stuff to them.  He was saying, “Hey! I’ve got great news! Jesus came to save us.  Jesus is the Messiah! We’re not saved by following the Old Testament Law.  We’re saved because Jesus perfectly followed the law and we’re saved when we place our faith in him.” They didn’t just take Paul’s word for it.  They dug into the scriptures.  Which in this case would have been the Old Testament.  Maybe they looked in Genesis, Isaiah, or other Old Testament prophets and they started putting 2 and 2 together.  They started to confirm the message Paul was preaching to them.  They believed it because they studied the scriptures.  
• Some of you may want to push back and say, but why is it important that I dig in?  I’ve already put my faith in Jesus.  I believe He is who He says he is.  Well, Jesus answers this for us in John 8:32.. 

John 8:32 And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free

• The truth matters, and that means you need to study God’s Word.  I encourage you, be a student of God’s word.  It will provide blessing and freedom. 

Memorizing 

Memorizing the Word is reading for readiness. Will you be able to recall the passage in a moment of crisis? 

• One of the things you’ll find as you read devotionally and study is that, from time to time, a verse or passage is going to jump right off of the page at you.  That’s a good thing.  And sometimes, when that happens, you should say, “I’m going to memorize this one.”  You’re going to see things in scripture that speak to an area where you need breakthrough.  You’re going to find things that bring you encouragement. You want to memorize those verses so that you can recall that passage in a moment of crisis.  You can use it when you need it.  
• Men, when you’re on your phone at night and that image comes across the screen that you know you shouldn’t click on – 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality” Flee it! Don’t fight it.  Don’t see how close to the line you can get without going over, run away!.  Put the phone down, go in the other room, use your phone to look up a passage of scripture, whatever it takes.  But let that verse be your trigger to get out of the situation.  
• If you’re in a season of life where you seem to be struggling with a lot of worry or anxiety.  Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything.  But in every situation with prayer and Thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  
• If you’re going through a trial or a loss in your life, and you just don’t see why God would allow this to happen, Romans 8:28 “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose” Being able to recall that verse, in the moment, has helped me many times through the years.  
• When you’re stuck behind that guy in the fast lane who obviously doesn’t understand the concept of keep right except to pass – Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  

• When I hide his Word in my heart, I have it with me at all times. 

Matthew 3:3-4 During that time, the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”  But Jesus told him, “No! The scriptures say people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 

• So immediately following his baptism, we read in scripture that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where he would fast for 40 days.  The devil tempts Jesus to break his fast. Look at what Jesus does when he’s tempted.  He uses scripture! If Jesus, God in the flesh, used scripture when faced with temptation, how much more should we have it available when we face the schemes of the enemy?  In fact, if you read though the full story in Matthew chapter 4, you’ll see the devil would tempt Jesus three different times and in each case, Jesus uses scripture to refute him.  I also want to point out that the third time Satan tempted Jesus he tried to use distorted scripture to tempt Jesus.  That’s why the disciplines of studying and reading devotionally that we looked at earlier are so important because the devil will even try to use twisted scripture to tempt and trick you.  Satan hates God’s Word.  He’ll try to distort it.

Meditating

Meditating on the Word is reading for transformation. Will you allow the Author of the passage to do his work within you?

Psalm 1:1-3 Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.  

• I love the imagery of that. He doesn’t say “Oh the drudgery of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.  He says, “Oh the Joy!”  Do you want a life that is joyful? Then delight in the law of the Lord! As you delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it, you’re like a tree planted along the riverbank.  You will bear fruit.  You’ll be a refuge and provide shade for others. You’ll have strong roots that grow deep.
• Our wives, children, and communities need men with strong roots. 

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 

• That’s why it’s hard to read sometimes, isn’t it?  We’ve got those thoughts and desires that we stuff down and we can kind of ignore them in the busyness of the day, but when we slow down and get in God’s Word, it exposes them.  There they are, staring us in the face. When you meditate on God’s Word, He begins to do his work in you.  It’s like a surgeon’s knife.  There are many places in scripture where God’s Word is likened to a sword.  That’s a good thing.  Let him operate on you.  Let him do the work that only He can do.

Close

The goal isn’t to get through the scriptures; the goal is to get the scriptures through us

• When we let God’s Word work through us, it will change the way we think.  When we change the way we think, it doesn’t stop there.  It will naturally lead to breakthroughs in the way we act and speak as well.