Sunshine Country: June 2017

I was reading some writings some weeks back, titled: "Profiting from the Word of God" by a preacher now gone to be with the Lord. It was very thought-provoking and convicting. Here is just a portion that I copied from it of the many points to ask ourselves, am I spiritually profiting from God's Word, or am I just reading and being a "forgetful hearer" rather than a "doer"? I hope and pray it's a blessing to you as well.

1. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word convicts him of sin.
Is the reading and studying of God’s Word producing a purging of my ways? Of old the question was asked, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” and the Divine answer is “by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Yes, not simply by reading, believing, or memorizing it, but by the personal application of the Word to our “way.”

2. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word makes him sorrow over sin. Of the stony-ground hearer it is said that he “heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself” ( Matthew 13:20,21); but of those who were convicted under the preaching of Peter it is recorded that they were pricked in their heart ( Acts 2:37).

3. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word leads to confession of sin. The Scriptures are profitable for “reproof” ( 2 Timothy 3:16), and an honest soul will acknowledge his faults. Of the carnal it is said, “For every one that loveth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” ( John 3:20). “God be merciful to me a sinner” is the cry of a renewed heart, and every time we are quickened by the Word (Psalm 119) there is a fresh revealing to us and a fresh owning by us of our transgressions before God. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” ( Proverbs 28:13).

4. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word produces in him a deeper hatred of sin . “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil” ( Psalm 97:10). “We cannot love God without hating that which He hates. We are not only to avoid evil, and refuse to continue in it, but we must be up in arms against it, and bear towards it a hearty indignation” (C. H. Spurgeon).

5. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word causes a forsaking of sin . “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” ( 2 Timothy 2:19). The more the Word is read with the definite object of discovering what is pleasing and what is displeasing to the Lord, the more will His will become known; and if our hearts are right with Him the more will our ways be conformed thereto. There will be a “walking in the truth” ( 3 John 1:4).

6. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word fortifies against sin. The Holy Scriptures are given to us not only for the purpose of revealing our innate sinfulness, and the many, many ways in which we “come short of the glory of God” ( Romans 3:23), but also to teach us how to obtain deliverance from sin, how to be kept from displeasing God. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” ( Psalm 119:11).

7. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word causes him to practice the opposite of sin . “Sin is the transgression of the law” ( John 3:4). God says “Thou shalt,” sin says “I will not”; God says “Thou shalt not,” sin says “I will.” Thus, sin is rebellion against God, the determination to have my own way ( Isaiah 53:6). Therefore sin is a species of anarchy in the spiritual realm, and may be likened unto the waving of the red flag in the face of God. Now the opposite of sinning against God is submission to Him, as the opposite of lawlessness is subjection to the law. Thus, to practice the opposition of sin is to walk in the path of obedience. This is another chief reason why the Scriptures were given: to make known the path which is pleasing to God for us. They are profitable not only for reproof and correction, but also for “instruction in righteousness.”

8. An individual is profited from the Scriptures when they reveal to him his need of Christ. Man in his natural estate deems himself self-sufficient.

9. We are profited from the Scriptures when we are brought to realize the deep importance of prayer.

10. An individual is profited from the Scriptures when they make Christ more real to him.

11. A greater fear of God’s majesty. “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” ( Psalm 33:8).

12. We profit from the Word when we perceive that joy is a duty . “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” ( Philippians 4:4). The Holy Spirit here speaks of rejoicing as a personal, present and permanent duty for the people of God to carry out. The Lord has not left it to our option whether we should be glad or sad, but has made happiness an obligation. Not to rejoice is a sin of omission.

Here, then, is another important rule by which we should frequently test ourselves. Are my thoughts being formed, my heart controlled, and my ways and works regulated by God’s Word? This is what the Lord requires: "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (Jas. 1:22). This is how gratitude to and affection for Christ are to be expressed: "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). For this, Divine assistance is needed. David prayed, "Make me to go in the path of your commandments" (Ps. 119:35)....

Let both writer and reader honestly and diligently measure himself, as in the presence of God, by the....things here enumerated. Has your study of the Bible made you more humble, or more proud of the knowledge you have acquired? Has it raised you in the esteem of your fellow men, or has it led you to take a lower place before God? Has it produced in you a deeper abhorrence and loathing of self, or has it made you more complacent? ... ‘Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear unto all’ (1 Tim. 6:15).

(There were many more points and thoughts in the article, but this is rather long as it is, and it would be far to lengthy if I were to share them all, so I've shortened it quite a bit.)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have

dominion over me.

Psalms 119:133

Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.

John 17:17