Psalm 19:7 – 14 “How to have devotions”
Devotions – time alone with God in prayer and reading the
Bible.
***** Devotional Bible reading is different than Bible
study. It is looking for a “heart –
word” from God. It is relational in
focus rather than “practical” or “intellectual.”
1. Ever struggle with devotions?
a. The “struggle:”
1.) Some people struggle having
devotions.
2.) Others struggle with the significance of
devotions.
b. Reality:
1.) “This book will keep you from sin or sin
will keep you from this book.”
[NOT exactly correct… Fact: your relationship with God is
often reflected in the time and effort you put into the Bible. When your relationship is weaker the struggle
is greater.]
2.) “Busy” Does it seem that life start
early and fast?
[Fact: you have time for what you make time for BECAUSE that
is your priority.]
2. So how do we
have devotional Bible reading?
[Note: Psalm 19:1 – 6 is about “general revelation”… it is
what everyone can know by looking at creation.
Psalm 7 – 11 is about “special revelation”… what is known through the
Bible. Psalm 19:12 – 14 is our response
to what we know.]
a. Understand exactly what the Bible is:
1.) [v 7] It is “perfect.” Literally:
“entire” or “whole” or “complete.” It is spotless and harmless, as being
absolutely well-meaning, and altogether directed towards the well-being of man.
[K&D]
2.) [v 7] It is “trustworthy.” It carries
the idea of “certain,” “permanent,” “to support,” and “to nourish.”
3.) [v 8] It is “right.” Meaning they are
straight, upright, correct.
4.) [v 8] It is “radiant.”
5.) [v 9] It is “pure.”
6.) [v 9] It is “firm.”
b. Understand exactly what the Bible does:
1.)
[v 7] It revives, restores, and
refreshes the soul.
Discovering the nature and will of God, the duty of people,
the belief and practice for happiness now and into eternity… is like a cold
drink of water on a hot day (or in our present case a hot chocolate on a cold
day).
It is the point were the damage done by sin is undone as we
turn to God through the Bible. Reason
and enlightened philosophy do NOT work (as someone claimed this week). It is the work of God, through the Bible that
transforms us.
2.) [v 7] It makes wise the simple.
Teachable disciples continuing to walk in the instruction of
the Bible… we have the movement from simple to mature!
3.) [v 8] It gives joy to the heart.
Revived (KJV “converted”) then made wise… now rejoicing in
that progress! Sin and guilt are the
curse of sin but the redeemed of the Lord, freed from sins terrorism, has joy!
4.) [v 8] It gives light to the eyes.
Many get bogged down in despair… depression can cause us to
pursue unsheathing things… but living in
the freedom of God’s Word there is “light.”
We no longer are slaves to sin.
We are no longer blinded by the “god of this age.”
“Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and
nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed
with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and
followed thee.” [Charles Wesley “And Can It Be?”]
5.) [v 10” “They are more precious than
gold… sweeter than honey.”
Gold is valuable… and shiny.
Honey is sweet… and some claim healing.
We desire the beauty of gold. We
desire the value of gold. We enjoy the
sweetness of honey. Yet better than all
that put together is found in the Bible.
6.) [v 11] “By them your servant is warned.”
Ever notice that just about everything we purchase comes
with a warning? Certainly nobody is that
stupid? REALITY CHECK: when was the last
time you complained or grumbled? The
Bible says that “unbelief” and cost a generation of Israel 40 years in the
desert… dying.
If you had cancer, would you rather know about it and be
able to do something about it? Did you
know that prostate cancer is the biggest risk to men… while colorectal is the
third biggest cancer risk to men? Both
are easily treated if caught early enough… but mean don’t get checked… (obvious
reason)
c. Understand that the Bible makes healthy
demands on us.
1.) [v 11] We are reminded that there is
“great reward” in keeping the word of God.
So what’s the “reward?”
Eternal life, yes. Joy now,
yes. But it also seems that we are
spared all sorts of agony between here and there.
2.) [v 12] We can be free from the darkness
in our lives.
Errors, hidden faults, and the deceitfulness of our hearts
all work to our downfall. We struggle in life and not know why. We argue with
God and get no place. Sometimes God
gives us the desires of our heart but sends leanness into our soul.
3.) [v 13] We can be free from the slavery
of sin.
Willful sin is like an addiction. It is presumptions BECAUSE we are expect God
to forgive us afterwards… the problem is they rule over us and will harden our
hearts to God. They stuff up our ears
and make us unwilling to listen. They
make us cover up and protect what ought to be brought out into the light and
cleaned up.
3. Why have
devotions?
a. We need to deal with two things:
1.) Our mouth.
Jesus said that it was out of the overflow of the heart the
mouth speaks [Matthew 12:24]. James
claimed that it corrupts the whole person and sets the whole course of life on
fire [James 3:6].
2.) Our heart. [The “will”]
Proverbs tells us “ABOVE ALL ELSE” to guard the heart
BECAUSE everything in life comes from it.
Our choices, our attitudes, our emotional responses all come from the
heart.
The heart is a picture of who we are… what we put into the
heart will change it… and change our attitudes, our behavior, our words…
everything.
b. What words and thoughts (meditation)
are you programming your heart with?
Are they pleasing and acceptable to the LORD?
4. Final tips:
a. Set aside time… deliberately. It’s an appointment to keep.
b. Pick a place… somewhere with no
distractions.
c. Start the day with God, end the day
with God.
d. If you have family make one of those
times a family devotions.