THE ABUNDANT LIFE
AWAITS YOU BY CHRISTMAS, DEAR BROTHER, PROVIDED:
- You Must Receive The “Saving Author of The Bible, for “… the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14).
- You Must Demolish And Disabuse Yourself of the following excuses for not Internalizing the Word:
(1) Begin by believing that it is God’s command and will that you Internalize the Word and He will greatly reward you. (Joshua 1:8).
(2) I have failed before.
(3) I cannot remember the verses I’ve worked on in the past.
(4) I have other demands on my life and am just too busy.
(5) It takes too long to see any progress.
(6) I am too old and it will simply be too difficult for me.
(7) I have never had a good memory.
(8) It seems very boring and I’m not interested.
(9) People around me tell me I don’t have to Internalize the Word to be a good Christian.
(10) I might become too prideful.
(11) I’m too tired after work and need to relax and watch TV. (plain old laziness)
- You Must Follow The Seven Steps to S U C C E S S:
(1) Sanctify this discipline as a spiritual task, getting you closer to the Lord, allowing His Word to nourish you. This will keep you from seeing the discipline as merely a legalistic endeavor, and it will keep you from pride.
(2) Unleash negative thinking. Don’t make excuses, like “I don’t have a good memory,” or “it’s too hard.” Don’t let the devil or other people talk you out of this discipline. It is worth the effort.
(3) Consider the ultimate goal. Remember, the ultimate goal is not to see how many verses you can recite. The ultimate goal is to conform to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). I once heard Howard Hendricks say, “You are either in the Word, and the Word is slowing conforming you into the image of Christ, or you are in the world, and the world is squeezing you into its mold.” As your mind is renewed, your life will be changed. (See Romans 12:2).
(4) Challenge yourself with a difficult goal. Everyone is able to memorize, but it comes easier to some. Know where you are, and push yourself for the glory of God.
(5) Expect difficulties and problems. You may memorize three verses and forget one. You may be able to say the verse perfect in front of your spouse, but not in front of your accountability group. Remember the world, the flesh and the devil do not want you to memorize, therefore expect it to be difficult.
(6) Share with someone else who can help you with your goal. A Sunday School teacher, a Pastor, a co-worker, a friend, or an accountability group can help you stay on track.
(7) Speak your memorized verses during every day conversations, to lost neighbors, in counseling, in prayer, teaching Sunday School, etc. You will not lose them if you use them.
(8) Write them on cards to read when you have a spare moment.
- a. Put cards on mirror as you shave.
- b. Repeat verses as you travel, etc.
The bottom line is that we remember what is important to us. If the Bible is important, then we will develop a systematic way to memorize Scripture, one verse at a time. Your memory is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it will become. Use whatever system you want, but begin today, and don’t quit until you leave this earth.”[1]
- You Must Be Motivated And Thrilled By God’s Promises of The Abundant Life you will enjoy by Internalizing the Word.
(1) Because of the promise of success in life (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3.
(2) Because it will conform me into the image of Christ (2 Tim. 3:17; Romans 8:29).
(3) Because it builds my faith (Romans 10:17).
(4) Because it protects me from pornography.
(5) Because it gives me victory over the devil (Ephesians 6:17).
(6) Because it protects me from sin during trials and bereavement (Psalm 119:92).
(7) Because it comforts me during trials and bereavement (Psalm 119:92).
(8) Because it gives my mind something to meditate on as I am drifting off to sleep.
(9) Because it gives me confidence when I am preaching and teaching.
(10) Because it allows me to help others more accurately (Prov. 22:20-21).
(11) Because it gives me boldness when I am witnessing.
(12) Because it gives me answers when I am defending the faith (1 Peter 3:15).
(13) Because it helps me know when someone is teaching error.
(14) Because it enhances my prayer life, because I can remind God of His Word.
(15) Because it gives me something for the Holy Spirit to use when He wants to speak to me (John 14:26; Psalm 119:24).[2]
- You Must Obey The Teachings of Jesus. You can know of God or about God by reading the Bible but you only KNOW GOD personally and absolutely thrillingly when you obey His commands because of your love for Jesus and by the aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the promise of Jesus in John 14:21, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (NIV) “The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal myself to him.” (TLB).
[1] Josh Franklin, Pathway to Power, 2013, pp. 74-75.
[2] Ibid. pp. 72-73.