Voltaire,
the French infidel who died in 1778, literally traveled the world, especially
"enlightened Europe," speaking against the Word of God. And he
predicted that 100 years after his death, the Bible would no longer be on
earth. Well, Voltaire died, and 50 years later, the Geneva Bible Society bought
his home. Using the presses he had used to produce his atheistic treatises,
they have been producing Bibles ever since. "Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my Word will never die."
1. Ezra
prepared his heart to approach God's Word. Ezra literally prepared himself in the way that he
approached God's Word. He wanted to make sure that he entered into the presence
of God's Word in an appropriate manner. 2. Ezra prepared his heart to study God's Word. As Ezra read it, he allowed his heart to be tender and open to the voice of the Spirit.
3. Ezra prepared to practice what he learned. Ezra not only read it; but as soon as he read it, he practiced it. He began to apply it to his life.
4. Ezra prepared to share what he learned. Ezra not only learned it in his own life and practiced and applied it, but he shared it with others, so they could apply it to their lives.
You see, God's Word is powerful. There is something I have learned about the Word of God that I've never forgotten. There are three things you have to do when you come to the Word;
1. Learn It. It can't change you until you know it. "Learn it, and that deals with your head."
2. Love It. You've got to begin to embrace the Word and let it embrace you.
3. Live It. You've got to let the Word of God that comes into your heart go out through your hands, and you've got to apply it to others.
No wonder the psalmist said, "Your Word I have hid in my heart so that I might not sin against you."
Now what happens is, when we take the Word of God and learn it and love it and live it, we begin to develop biblical convictions. And there are three convictions about the Word of God that I want to make sure that you have today.
1. Even when I don't understand it, I'll trust what God said.
Even when I don't understand it, I will take what God has said at face value. I will place my trust not in my understanding, but in God's Word. Naaman did that, remember? Naaman, the captain of the Syrian army, had leprosy, and his little servant girl suggested that he go to her country and see a prophet who could heal him. So off Naaman went to Elijah's house. He arrives in front of the house in his chariot, and Elijah doesn't even come out -- he just sends a servant out. And the servant tells Naaman that the prophet says for him to go down to the Jordan River and dip seven times in it. This ticks Naaman off. In fact, he says, "If I just needed to dip in the water seven times, I could go back to my own swimming pool in Syria. At least, the water's cleaner there." And off he goes. But then remember, his colleagues talk him into going down to the Jordan and dipping seven times, and when he comes out, his flesh is like a newborn baby's.
Now, what's interesting about this is how Naaman responded. He said, "I had thought the prophet would come out and wave his hand, and I would be healed” (he had preconceived how God would answer his prayer. But now, after his healing, he said, "Now I know that there's a God of Israel." Haven't we all done the same thing Naaman did? Haven't we come to God with a prayer request and told him how to answer it? We have this preconceived idea of how he's going to answer it, and we're just ready for it to be step one, two, three, four…No, “even when I don't understand it, I'm going to trust what God has said.”
2. Although it seems illogical, I'll obey what God has said.
I will obey what God has said, even if it doesn't make sense. Remember Mary? In John 2, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee? They run out of wine, and Mary looks at the servants, and says, "Whatever he says to you, do it."…And, the Word also tells us not to “lean on our own understanding.”
3. While human opinions vary, God's Word is right on every subject.
While human opinions vary, while others will have all sorts of answers, God's Word is right. One more conviction that'll change your life. I need the Word of God as much as I need food. And when I realize that the Word of God, which is the bread of life, is my spiritual staple that allows me to grow in my walk with him, it begins to change my life. And it begins to build convictions that help me to stand.
God's Word has the power to change your life. I would encourage you this week, not only to read God's Word, and apply it to your heart and life, but also to be very grateful for this precious Word that's been passed onto us.
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