## Growing Spiritually: Disciplined in the Word

## II Timothy 3:16

We have been considering the topic of Spiritual Growth on the last several Sunday evenings. We have talked about the necessity of being confident in our relationship with God in order to facilitate spiritual growth. Tonight we want to address what may seem to be simple and obvious, but in order to grow spiritually it is necessary for the believer to get to know the Word of God. I often tell new believers that a good place for them to start isn't Genesis 1:1, but rather it is John 1:1. By starting in the Gospel of John they will begin to know more about Jesus and their relationship to Him. We know that new believers who get into the Word will grow spiritually. But that is also true of those who have been saved a while. For us to continue to grow spiritually we must continue to read, study and meditate on God's Word. But this takes discipline. It takes determination. The flesh wants to read the paper, watch T.V., and spend time outside or in the workshop; really anything BUT reading the Word of God. We make excuses… 'I am not a good reader', 'I get sleepy', 'I am just too busy', etc. What we must do is acknowledge that we may not WANT to read and study the Bible, but we will because we KNOW it is what we should do. That is called discipline! Discipline isn't easy, but it is necessary. As a new recruit going through boot camp, I didn't understand why they treated us the way they did.

But then it finally dawned on me that I was in basic training … I was being disciplined in the way of the Navy. This was necessary for me to function as a part of the whole. You may have never been through a military basic training, but all of us have certain disciplines built into our lives. We discipline ourselves to get up on time in order to get to work or school. Without that discipline, we would never earn a paycheck or pass a class. In much the same way, unless we discipline ourselves to be in the Word daily, we will never grow spiritually.

Paul understood this concept. Even the apostle Paul had to discipline his own life.

(1 Corinthians 9:24-27) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Three areas of discipline with regard to the Scriptures that we will consider this evening are: the NATURE of God's Word - what it is like, the NECESSITY of God's Word - why we need to study it and the NAVIGATION of God's Word - how can we study it.

I. The NATURE of God's Word.

A. The Word of God is INSPIRED.

1. "Inspiration" is a critical word.

2. It literally means God breathed.

3. What Paul was saying to Timothy is that all Scriptures are God-breathed!

4. They were penned by human authors, but under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

(2 Peter 1:20-21) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

5. 'As they were moved by the Holy Ghost' means they were instruments in the hand of God to record every word He breathed.

6. This is an important point of discipline…it will impact how we view what we read in the Bible.

B. The Word of God is INERRANT and INFALLIBLE.

1. This is the obvious result of the Word of God being inspired.

2. It cannot have mistakes…because it reflects the nature and character of God.

(Titus 1:2) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

C. The Word of God is SUFFICIENT.

1. The Bible is sufficient for everything we need.

2. There is no need in life that is not addressed in the Bible.

3. There is no relevant question that goes unanswered.

4. Everything we need to live this life in service to the Lord is found in the Scriptures.

(2 Peter 1:3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

II. The NECESSITY of God's Word.

(Deuteronomy 6:6-8) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

(Joshua 1:8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

A. The Word of God gives us DOCTRINE.

1. Many people don't want "doctrine."

2. But the word simply means "teaching."

3. It means understanding what is true.

4. It teaches us the truth about God and about men.

5. It teaches us the truth about the past and the future.

6. It teaches us about our sinfulness and God's graciousness.

7. It teaches us about heaven and about hell.

8. It teaches us how to live, act, speak and think.

9. It teaches how to have a healthy church and a happy marriage.

10. It teaches us how to raise our kids and handle our money.

11. It teaches us the differences between men and women.

12. It teaches us "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Pet.1:3).

B. The Word of God gives us REPROOF.

1. "Reproof" carries the idea of convicting us when we are wrong in what we think or do.

2. It exposes sin and false doctrine or misleading ideas.

3. That is why we bring every thing back to the Bible.

4. The question is not "what have we always done" or "what have we always believed" but what does the Bible say.

5. That question is the foundation upon which this church is built. 6. We are far from perfect, but we want to measure ourselves by the perfect true edge of Scripture.

C. The Word of God gives us CORRECTION.

1. "Correction" comes from a word that means "to restore to the original condition."

2. Negatively, the Word reproves us.

3. Positively, it corrects us. 4. It shows us where we are wrong, and they instructs us on how to make things right again.

D. The Word of God gives us INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

1. I have often said the Word will tell us what is right, tell us what is wrong, tell us how to make it right, and then tell us how to keep it right!

2. Righteousness = doing right.

3. As we study the Word, we will be trained up in order to live righteous lives.

4. We all need continual training in righteousness.

E. Many additional benefits that point to the necessity of the Word.

1. The Word of God gives us LIFE.

(Psalms 119:50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

2. The Word of God gives us UNDERSTANDING.

(Psalms 119:130) The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

3. The Word of God gives us WISDOM.

(Psalms 19:7) The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

4. The Word of God gives us SANCTIFICATION.

(John 17:17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

5. The Word of God gives us FAITH.

(John 20:31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

6. The Word of God gives us HOPE.

(Romans 15:4) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

7. The Word of God gives us COMFORT.

(Romans 15:4) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

8. The Word of God gives us JOY.

(Psalms 119:111) Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

III. The NAVIGATION of God's Word.

A. DESIRE spiritual growth.

(1 Peter 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

B. DESIGNATE a time and place for the Word.

1. It must be a discipline.

2. Whatever will work best with your schedule, have a time when you are in the Word every day.

3. It is also important to have a set place.

4. Make sure it is a place where you can be comfortable and not interrupted.

5. Keep your Bible, a pen and a notebook handy.

C. DETERMINE a systematic approach to study.

1. A Bible reading schedule is invaluable…

2. It will keep you accountable and will keep you from wandering around in the Scripture with no real purpose.

3. Take notes as you read, if you have questions write them down for later study.

4. Avoid the distraction of running references until after you have completed your reading. (I use a different Bible for reading than for studying)

To grow spiritually we must be confident in our relationship with the Lord, and we must be disciplined in our approach to God's Word. Are we growing spiritually? Not if we are not confident in our salvation, and not if we are neglecting the Word of God!