1

THE WORD OF GOD

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and

Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever.

Amen.”II Peter 3:18

2

GROWTH REQUIRES SEVERAL THINGS

• EXERCISE• REST• FOOD

I Peter 2:2-3 --- “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

3

FOOD – AN ESSENTIAL

PHYSICAL vs. SPIRITUAL GROWTH(WHAT KIND OF DIET)

PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL

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GROWTHHOW IT OCCURS

PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL

• MILK• PABLUM• BABY FOOD• STEAK

IT IS A NATURAL PROCESS THAT OCCURS WITH NO ADDED EFFORT ON THE BABY’S PART

We become mature Christians only as we

consciously endeavor toBecome mature

Christians

5

THE BIBLE IS THE SPIRITUAL FOOD

NEEDED FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT

• SHOULD BE SWEET TO THE CHRISTIAN

– Psalm 119:103– Matthew 4:4– Deuteronomy 8:3

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WHAT THE BIBLE DOES

FOR US• We are saved through the instrumentality of the Word of God

I Peter 1:23,25

• We are changed by the Word of God

Psalm 119:7

• We grow by the Word of God

I Peter 2:2,3

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• We are cleansed by the Word of God

Psalm 119:9

• Our faith develops by the Word of God

Romans 10:17

(Everything we believe must be based on the Word of God. II Peter 3:18 says that we are to “grow in …

knowledge.” That knowledge comes from the Bible. The Bible

must become our authority so that everything we believe is checked

by the Bible.)

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• We are kept from sin by the Word of God

Psalm 119:11

• We defeat Satan through the Word of God

Psalm 17:4Matthew 4:4,7,10

(“it is written”)

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HOW WE SHOULD LEARN GOD’S WORD

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two - edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and

intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

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MEDITATE(PSALM 1:2,3)

MEMORIZE(PSALM 119:9,11)

STUDY(ACTS 17:11)

READ(REVELATION 1:3)

HEAR(ROMANS 10:17)

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• We hear the Word of God for faith (Romans 10:17)

• We read the Word of God for food & strength (Job 23:12)

• We study the Word of God for knowledge (II Tim. 2:15)

• We memorize the Word of God for an effective testimony (Psalm 119:11)

• We meditate on the Word of God for spiritual profit (I Tim. 4:15)

12

DESIRED RESULT

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JAMES 1:22-25

“ But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man of man he was. But whoso … being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”