How To Live The Word Filled Life This Year

WFL-37

040104AM

DOAGL-37 Scriptures
How to Live the
Word Filled Life TODAY

o If I could describe the best life there could be, a life of peace,
serenity, security, and joy – it would be the Word Filled Life!
o If I could describe the most joy filled marriage you could ever
dream of – it would be the Word Filled Marriage!
o If I could describe the most harmonious and loving family possible
– it would be the Word Filled Family!
o If I could describe the most satisfying, purposeful, and rewarding
employment in the job world for your entire lifetime — it would be
the Word Filled Work Life!
o If I could describe for you childhood, youth, and college years
filled with confidence, purpose, direction, and hope — it would
be the Word Filled Days of Youth!
o And finally, if I could describe to you how to make your final years and
months the “Happy Golden Years” as someone wistfully called them;
the way to be fruitful and faithful to the Lord to the end of our
earthly pilgrimage as we saw recently in Simeon and Anna; the way
to walk through the long valley from Earth to Heaven that is filled with
aches, pains, fears, trials, troubles, loneliness, insecurities, unknowns,
and death triumphantly — it would be the Word Filled Life!
No matter who you are, what your past, no matter where you are in life, no
matter what age you are this morning – God describes for you HIS PLAN.
The Lord of Heaven and Earth has much to say about what He has designed
for each of us. He has the optimal operating range for us to live within. He
has created us and loaded us with all the options that He knows we need to
operate and fulfill His plans.
As believers, God says LOVE, GLORIFY, and OBEY Him.
As men, husbands, and dads God says LEAD, MODEL, and LOVE.
As women, wives, and moms God says FOLLOW, MODEL, and LOVE.
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As young men, brothers and sons God says OBEY, HONOR, and LOVE.
As young women, sisters and daughters God says OBEY, HONOR, and LOVE.
And where do we find the details on how to do all those things? Of course –
in God’s Word!
Every year I always like to remind myself why I need to start through God’s
Word anew and afresh. I’d like to share those reminders I gave myself this
year – with you.
1. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our online downloads.
Why go through life without freshness? Every time we prayerfully open
God’s Word it is like going online and downloading fresh, new,
personal messages from the God of Heaven Himself. How encouraging
it is to hear from God. Did you hear from Him lately? You can as often
as you want to download a message from Him. Just open your heart
prayerfully before the Word of God and like a wireless device — your
soul will start getting downloads from Heaven. There is nothing as
boring as old emails when you want fresh, new updates from someone
you love. So read the Word each day prayerfully — because it is like
an online download. Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is
written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
2. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our battery charged. As
we go through life we expend our strength in the battle of just plain
old life. When we stop in the Word it quickens us, giving us life and
power through the Spirit of God. Why go through life with a dead
spiritual battery? Why miss the calls that come from the Lord? Why
miss the sharing you can have with the One closest of all to us — read
the Word because it is like a battery charger. John 6:63 It is the
Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak
to you are spirit, and they are life.
3. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our Hope. Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so
that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope.
4. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our hot showers. Life is
dirty and gritty, life is hot and sweaty. Before the day starts and after
the day ends are two great times to take showers for those who want
to stay fresh and clean. Is it any less so for the believer? Jesus
reminded the disciples when Hw washed their feet – that we get our
feet dirty as we walk through life. It is the Word that washes us so
that we can come to the Table of Fellowship with God cleansed.
Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the
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washing of water by the word. 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified
your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the
brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
5. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our Weapons to Win.
Ephesians 6:16-17b above all, taking the shield of faith with which you
will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God.
6. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our Exercise. Hebrews
5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil.
7. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our Security. James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and
humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (NIV)
8. The Word Filled Life is the way we get our Growth. 1 Peter 2:2
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may
grow thereby.
9. The Word Filled Life is the way we get to taste of God’s
Goodness. 1 Peter 2:2-3 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of
the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that
the Lord is gracious.
I have found that in my life all the above challenges are distilled down into
one verse of God’s Word. Please open with me to the center of your Bibles
and find Psalm 16.11.
Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life; LEAD ME
In Your presence is fullness of joy; FILL ME
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. KEEP ME
o LEAD ME: If you will listen to the Lord speak to you through the
Word you can rest in His arrangements for your life. “You will
show me the path of life”
o FILL ME: If you will listen to the Lord speak to you through the Word
you can enjoy His companionship through life. “In Your presence
is fullness of joy;”
o KEEP ME: If you will listen to the Lord speak to you through the
Word you can rest in His authority over your life. “At Your right
hand are pleasures forevermore”
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This morning, how can we start cultivating a Word Filled Life? Where do we
start? The Word Filled Life starts by reading God’s Word! The Scriptures are
the voice of God, we must listen. It is amazing that a Christian can imagine
that he or she can live a Christian life without regularly reading the Bible, for
that is impossible! Our minds are such that we do not retain what we need
to know. They need to be refreshed again and again. Some who have been
believers for years have never read the Bible through once. There are truths
God has for us that we have not inconvenienced ourselves enough to
discover. No wonder we are empty. What a difference reading the Word can
make in our lives.
Since it only takes 80 hours to read the entire Bible, this program General
Harrison began obligated him to just ½ hour of reading God’s Word for each
of the days of his life. Let me ask you, do any of us have ½ an hour to give
away each day to cultivate the mind of Christ like General Harrison? How
about 14 minutes to read God’s Word in a year? How about 3 minutes a day
for the New Testament in a year?

HOURS	MINUTES	@ DAY
READ BIBLE	80	4800	13
OLD TESTAMENT	77%	62	3695	10
NEW TESTAMENT	23%	18	1104	3

o In an average Bible like this one I’m holding – that is 3 pages each
day.
o In a One Year Bible – that is what I have our children work on, it is
three pages and they get an Old Testament passage, a New Testament
passage, a Psalm, and a Proverb each day.
o On CD or tape you just need to listen 13 minutes each day in the car
or where ever you go.
o On your computer or digital device you can get MP3s of God’s Word for
free and listen anywhere – as you work, as you travel, as you rest.
o Remember 13 minutes a day makes once a year, half and hour makes
twice a year…
Remember this: we can never have a Word Filled Life without reading the
Scriptures regularly because you cannot be deeply influenced by that which
you do not know. When we are filled with God’s Word, our life can then be
informed and directed by God – our domestic relationships, our child-rearing,
our career, our decisions, our interior walk with God. The only way to a Word
Filled Life is time in God’s Word!
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Let me ask you this morning to inventory your promises, commitments, or
decisions that you have (or perhaps haven’t) made for the Lord in the past –
and renew them!
Born again believers – will you say this morning to the Lord: LEAD ME, FILL
ME, KEEP ME? Right where you sit, if you are born again and know the
Lord, whisper to Him from your soul to your Creator, ask HIM — LEAD ME,
FILL ME, KEEP ME!
Now how do we do that? Simply stated from God’s Word choose to have a
Word Filled Life. This morning
1. All of us who are saints, born again believers – will you chose to
have a Word Filled Life in 2004 each day by reading, listening, praying,
and obeying HIM? If so please answer I WILL.
2. Men, husbands, and dads – will you LEAD those God has given you
toward the Lord by seeking a Word Filled Life for the sake of your wife,
children, and family? If so please answer I WILL.
3. Women, wives, and moms — will you FOLLOW the Lord by seeking a
Word Filled Life for the sake of your husband, children, and family? If
so please answer I WILL.
4. Children, sons, and daughters – will you OBEY and HONOR your
parents by seeking a Word Filled Life for the sake of your own personal
growth? If so please answer I WILL.
Living for Jesus a life that is true # 372
Only one life to offer # 378
Take my life # 379
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