40 Days in the Word Week 1

40 Days in the Word - BUILDING MY LIFE ON THE BIBLE

Message by:
Pastor Terry Carwford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

JAMES 1:19-25 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 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. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

5 Ways to build my life on the Bible:

1. I receive it with my EARS.

Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

James 1:19-21 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 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.

For good reception I need to be quiet, calm, clean and humble.

2. I READ it with my EYES.

James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

God’s Word is like a mirror which helps us evaluate ourselves.

3. I RESEARCH it with my hands and mouth.

John 5:39 (NLT)

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

Acts 17:11 (NLT) And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
- writing down what I learn
- talking about what I learn (why groups)

4. I REVIEW and REMEMBER it with my mind.

James 1:25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

The Bible term for remembering & reviewing God’s Word is MEDITATION.

Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

5. I respond to it with my ACTIONS.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Matt. 7:24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

For more information, please visit: Covenant Church