Revive Yourself according to God’s Word (Psalm 119:25)
-Katelyn Nicole Davis, who was a 12-year-old girl and lived in Cedartown, Georgia, committed suicide on December 30, 2016. She live-streamed her death through SNS site. After she alleged physical and sexual abuses by a family member, she killed herself. It is a miserable and heartbroken incident. Like this incident, many people are disappointed and despaired due to problems, conflicts, abuses, and environments. Some of them choose to commit suicide themselves. Why does the rate of suicide increase? It is because many reasons like family discord, mental illness, bankruptcy, abuses, and so on. But there is a root of all these reason. These come from sinful people who are separated from God and caught up by Satan. The Book of Romans exactly explains behaviors and attitudes of sinners.
Romans 1:29-31, being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
-Therefore, without resolving sin, separation from God, and slaves of Satan, human beings cannot have true peace, rest, and happiness in their life. However, if they believe in Jesus Christ, their lives are changed according to God’s Word. John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
-Jesus Christ gives His peace to the children of God. In this peace, rest, and happiness, Christians can overcome all things through Christ who strengthens themselves (Phil.4:13). Then, Christians can revive themselves according to God’s Word. Why is the Word of God important for God’s children?
1.Experience the power of God’s Word!
1)Salvation through the word of God
-When we believed in Jesus Christ, we heard the Word of God concerning His great redemptive plan through the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith in Jesus Christ comes through the word of God.
Romans 10:17 (ESV), So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
1 Peter 1:9, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
-Everyone who needs salvation has to listen to the gospel (Rom.1:16).Then, they become new creations before God (2 Corin.5:17).
2)The method of God’s children- to live by the Word
-Originally, human begins were so created in God’s image as to live inside of God’s Word (Gen.1:27; 2:17). God wants His people to live by the Word of God. Therefore, sometimes He leads them into crises, problems, conflicts, bad environments in order to make them experience the power of His Word.
Deuteronomy 8:3, So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
3)Answers of prayer within the Word
-God’s children can receive certainly answers from God according to God’s will (1 John 5:14). How can we pray according to His will? It is very simple and easy. Pray with the Word of God! Find prayer topics within God’s Word!
John 15:7, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
4)Change, healing, sanctification by the Word of God
-After we become God’s children and are saved, we still have many scars, bad habits, mental illness, spiritual problem, and incorrect imprints, roots, and natures. If we stay in the Word of God and keep it in our heart, we can experience healing for our body, mind, heart, and even spirit (Heb. 4:12). Our lives can be revived according to God’s Word (Ps.119:25).
-Furthermore, we can become holy and sanctified. Not religious efforts, but God’s Word. 1 Timothy 4:5, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Psalm 119:11(ESV), I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
-The method to overcome the power of sin is to store up God’s Word in our heart.
5)Direction and future by the Word of God
-We live in the dark world. Without the Word, we get lost our way. If we have God’s Word, we have clear direction for us to run a race.
Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
2.Personalize and internalize the Word!
1)Meditation - to digest the Word of God as ours.
-In the Bible, God clearly gives us the method to have His Word as ours. It is meditation. God emphasizes that we need to meditate upon His Word day and night. We need two important times to think of and apply God’s Word to ourselves. Through this time, we can digest the Word as ours.
2)Method of internalization of God’s Word
-How can we carry out personalization of God’s Word through mediation? First, we must read, think, and apply God’s Word until it becomes our delight and joy. Then, we will naturally meditate upon God’s Word with gladness.
Psalm 1:2, But his (the blessed) delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
-Second, we memorize important and meaningful biblical passages. Meditate upon it and do a small practice (mission) from the Word.
Joshua 1:8, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Conclusion
1)Find and hold onto a biblical passage from pulpit and remnant message!
-Psalm 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; -The Word of God that you find can refresh your soul and make your confused life and thought simple. This Word can provide you joy and open your eyes to see God’s will.