Habits of the Heart
Ken Pierpont
1. The Bible gives spiritual life. “…the law of the LORD is perfect converting (reviving) the soul.”
Matthew 4:4 "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" 2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever
2. The Bible is the only accurate record of who God is. “…the testimony (biography) of the Lord is sure (accurate) making wise the simple.” (What you believe about God is the most important thing about you).
3. The Bible gives specific direction for living. “…the statutes or precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart…” (Joy comes from walking in the right way, sorrow and destruction from straying from the path).
4. The Bible contains the commandments of God. “…the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes…”
5. The Bible shows me how to experience genuine, lasting worship. “…the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever…” I am made to admire, adore, and worship God. The Bible shows me how to reverence (fear) God in a pure and lasting way.
6. The Bible shows you how to live a righteous life. “…the judgments of the Lord (rulings or case law) are true and righteous altogether…” warnings and rewards.
• If you read your Bible every day you will find it is more valuable than anything else
• You will see that it is more satisfying than anything else
• You will find that it effectively works in you to keep you from self-destructing your life through a cycle of presumptuous sins, secret sins, and great transgressions. “This book will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from this book”
Conclusion: Example: Pitcairn Island. While the Bible was still in the chest there was sin, sadness, chaos, selfishness, ignorance, drunkenness, debauchery, murder, and suicide. When the Island was governed by the Bible there was order and peace and tranquility. All will be death and sickness and chaos until you order our life under the Word of God
For the word on life from the life-giving living God. Regeneration
For the satisfaction of your soul
For the joy and rejoicing you desire
For the warnings you need
To keep right values.
To keep your heart tuned to eternal things
To drive out impurities that threaten us every day.
Spiritual Vitality Requires Regular Spiritual Nourishment. So feed continually on the Word of God.
Five Stages of growth after salvation: One Great Act of Consecration, Seasonal renewals of consecration, weekly, daily, moment, by moment intimacy with Christ. Do you have daily habits of the heart and moment-by-moment intimacy with Christ? Our meditation time, our devotional time is not “checking boxes” Its not completing assignments. It’s not required reading, it is more like sitting in the window of a coffee shop, or going on a walk, or sitting in a deer stand. Not duty, but delight. Not ritual but relationship.
Wise, noble people are people to make the Bible a part of their daily routine. Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, [20] that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States, said, "For years I have read my Bible through once a year. I read It every morning, as the very best way to begin the day.” Advice for the new president: Read the Bible every day and take it seriously. My advice to you, too.
Best Pastoral Advice: As your pastor I am eager to help you grow spiritually. There are many tips I could give you but there is one thing that I would say is Read your Bible every day. Start in Genesis and read as much time as you can and move the ribbon each day to the next spot. If you drop a day don’t worry. Start early the next morning and pick up where you left off.
• Get a new Bible and mark your way through.
• Get a Bible you like
• Read in a quiet place you like
• Make it your first priority
• Use a different version than you are used to .
• Keep it simple and read with a conscious awareness of the presence of God.
• If you read the Bible aloud at a slow reading rate, you could read through the Bible in 80 hours
• If you make it a habit to read the Word of God every day, you will read through the Bible eventually…probably sooner than you think.
• Once while speaking at Lake Ann camp I read through the entire New Testament in the NIV in one week.
• Press through hard parts like getting through a hedge. (ill) Like hiking North Manitou Island—speed up until you get to the vistas, then slow down.
The Bible is a powerful book: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
You need help with what you should think. “doctrine” (v. 13). what you should not think. “reproof” with what you should not do. “correction” with what you should do. “instruction in righteousness”
Notes from my Pastor speaking on reasons to read your bible everyday :)
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