Welcome to the believer's Bible Assembly This is the day that the Lord has made and we're going to

rejoice and be glad in it Today I want to talk to you about the benefits of the word

The benefits of knowing the word We live in a world that's filled with confusion false teachings

false doctrines People are being tossed to and fro because they don't have knowledge of the scriptures knowledge of

the word of God And this leads to moral decay and uncertainty in life However there is one thing that

remains constant There's one thing that remains unchanged and that is the word of God And as believers we

need to know the word of God It's not optional for us It's essential for our spiritual growth and

our development It's essential for guidance in life essential for our victories in life So as a believer knowing the

word of God is not optional because we understand that God's word is living is powerful

it has a purpose and those who dwell in it will experience the benefits of knowing the word and they

will experience these benefits in this life and the life to come Now when I say

knowing and I mean to know by experience to perceive to come to know or

to understand intimately That's the definition of the word knowing Benosco So we have to know the word

experientially We have to perceive the word the insights the truth that's found in the word We have to come

to know the word which is a process and we have to understand the word

intimately You and the word come one We're not talking about head knowledge information but we're talking

about a deep relational experiential knowledge In this message today I want to talk about 7 benefits of

knowing the word of God that's going to help us connect with the word of God So

that we can know his plan for our life We know his will for our life We can experience God

and come to know him and understand Him intimately not just from the head The number

one benefit of knowing the word of God is spiritual growth just as we need physical food

that's necessary for the body The word of God is necessary for the nourishment of

the soul We need to feed our souls with the word of God First Peter chapter 2 verse 2 says

this as newborn babies we have to desire the pure milk of the word that you may

grow thereby The key word in that verse is desire Do you have a desire to grow If

I were to ask that question everyone would say yes but how is this accomplished How is

this achieved You have to have desire for the pure milk of the word that you can grow thereby

And what the word of God does it nourishes our spiritual lives and it helps us mature in our faith

And just as a child grows through proper nutrition believers grow through the proper intake of the word of God

And just like we need to feed our physical bodies daily We need a healthy intake

of God's word daily for our spiritual lives to grow Just like a newborn baby we have to have a

desire for the word You have to want it You have to want to experience the truth

of God's word in your life and it's necessary because without a regular intake of the word of God on

a daily basis believers will remain spiritually immature They will become spiritually dry And they will become vulnerable

to demonic attacks That's just where the devil wants you He wants you spiritually immature He wants you spiritually dry

Now you're sitting target for his demonic attacks But what does the word do The word bes

us It helps us to discern right from wrong and it builds us up into the likeness

of Jesus Christ which is a process So the number one thing is that the word of God is

spiritual food that's going to help us grow The second benefit of the word of God it

gives us guidance and direction and clarity We live in a world of confusion and

false teaching That's the world that we live in right now But the word of God is our

compass The word of God is what leads us guides us and directs us in life That's what the word

of God is designed to do That's the benefit of the word of God If we

don't let the word of God lead us and direct us and guide us We're gonna get caught up

in this world that's full of confusion moral failure and false teaching Psalm 119105 says Your word is

a lamp to my feet and a light to my path It's light in the midst

of confusion darkness and false teaching When we are confused about decisions that we need to

make or uncertain about the future what does the word of God do It illuminates Our minds

It illuminates our understanding and guides us and directs us to the right path That's why

we can't lean toward our own understanding That's why we have to allow the word of truth to lead and

guide our steps Now I'm able to see past the confusion and the chaos in

life Now I'm able to make better decisions and the thing that I was uncertain about I'm now certain

about why Because the word of God has illuminated my thoughts and my thinking God has showed

me his will his plans his purpose for my life So the word of God is designed to

lead us and guide us and direct us to the truth Now before I make any

life decisions I turn to the word of God first for guidance The scripture said in Matthew 6:33 that we

are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness his right way of doing things and then all

the things that we're trying to do all the right decisions that we're trying to make

will now be added to us because we're seeking the word of God for guidance in our own way not

our own truth Not what seems right to me in my own eyes but what's right pleasing and

acceptable in the sight of God The word of God will give you wisdom guidance

understanding and direction that's far beyond your human reasoning Number 3 talking about the benefits of the word

of God this morning It strengthens us in times of trouble It strengthens us as

we go through the trials of life Knowing the word of God intimately experientially not knowing about the word of

God but knowing the word of God You hid in the word of God deep in

your heart it's in your mind it's in your soul it's in your animals being Knowing the word

of God equips us to endure hardships in life and it helps us to remain steadfast

unmovable in our faith Romans chapter 15 verse 4 says this for everything that was written in

the past was written to teach us It was written for our instruction so that through the endurance

taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide we may have hope See that's why

you can't look at the Bible as just some old ancient book from way back

when But all of the events of the scripture all of the things that happened in the past all the

promises God made all the truths that are found in the scripture They're there to encourage us They're there

to give us hope They're there to remind us that we're not alone in this life They're there to

remind us that God is faithful and has been faithful throughout the ages That's the benefit that we get

when we read the word of God It encourages us It keeps us from throwing in the

towel It gives us hope We look at the saints of old and we see how God worked in the

life of David We see how God worked in the life of Moses We see how God worked in the

life of Job And it gives us hope It encourages us That's why we have these examples in the

scriptures to see what God did then and the same God who's unchangeable is ready willing and able to

do the same thing today in your life God is not respected person So it's not like Abraham's life

is better than your life No Abraham continued to walk by faith despite all the obstacles that

were in his life and there was many So we read Abraham and the things that happened in his life

and the faith that he stood on and how God fulfilled his promises how God

was faithful That was written as an example to us If we endure whatever we have

to endure knowing that God is faithful God is truthful knowing that God will bring us

out of whatever situation we might be in We have all these examples in the scriptures That's why

they were written to give us encouragement to give us hope So if you disconnected from the scripture you'll never

get the understanding you never get the wisdom you never get the guidance and direction You never have hope

You walk around in life hopeless That's a terrible place to be and God doesn't want you there He wants

you to be encouraged He wants you to be edified He wants you to be

comforted by the scripture Third thing the scripture does it strengthens us in trials It strengthens us in this

thing called life And listen nobody is exempt from the trials of life but we've been assured that

as we go through these trials in life God is with us Fourth benefit of the word

of God it equips us for battle Listen we're in spiritual warfare Whether or not you want to be or

not you're in spiritual warfare and the benefit of the word of God it equips us

for battle and you're in this battle whether you want to be in it or not If you're on the

lower side you're gonna be battling against the mining forces each and every day But

the word of God equips us for the battle It teaches us how to fight The word

of God is our only offensive weapon against the enemy Ephesians chapter 6 verse 17 says and take the

sword of the spirit which is the word of God That's our offensive weapon against the enemy and his daily

attacks So if you're not taking up the sword of spirit how in the world

can you defend yourself against the daily attacks of the enemy He doesn't like you He

hates you You know why Because you switched sides You're on the other team now Before we were born

again we were on his side We were on his team But now we are on God's side

we're on his team Now every attack is coming against you in the spirit realm in

the physical realm So if you don't have the sword of spirit if you don't take up the sword

of spirit daily how in the world are you going to defend yourself against the fiery attacks that's

coming against you daily Now let's look at Jesus as an example When Jesus was tempted by Satan in

the wilderness after fasting for 40 days he thought that Jesus was weak He thought that Jesus was vulnerable

He thought that this was the time for him to attack So he came at Jesus with

all kinds of temptations and with each temptation Jesus responded back to him with the word It is written it

is written it is written What was written the word the promise of God He

came back as Satan and his temptations with the scripture What are you coming back with

Satan with tears crying fear worry doubt you're playing right into his hand The only thing that's going

to get Satan off your back is the word of God and you have to know it Cause

you don't know when Satan is gonna take That's why you have to have the

word of God on the inside of you That's why you have to meditate on the

scriptures daily So when these attacks come your response will be quick fast and furious Jesus said it's

written it's written is written He went back to the word to counter the attacks of the enemy And likewise

you and I we need to know the scripture So that we can resist the

temptations of Satan And stand firm against the lies and his accusation because he is

the father of lies There's no truth in him He comes to steal kill and destroy

That's his assignment And he comes to steal kill and destroy you A benefit to the word of

God It equips us for spiritual warfare It equips us for battle James 4:7 says therefore submit to

God resist the devil and he will flee from you Now this is one of the most misquoted

scriptures in the Bible This is how you normally hear it Resist the devil and

he will flee from you No he won't no he won't No he won't That's not

what the scripture says The scripture says submit to the authority of God Now you're able to resist the devil

Now you're able to stand firm against him Now he will flee from you And many believers they are trying

to deal with the attacks of Satan on a daily basis without submitting to the authority

of God and submitting to the authority of God is submitting to the authority of his word because that's

where our power comes from That's where our spiritual defenses come from from the word of God

Now you are able to resist the devil and his daily attacks You can stand firm against him and he

will flee from you And we overcome Satan's temptations we overcome Satan's attacks by speaking and standing on the

word And here's the reality You can't speak or stand on something that you don't know That's why it's

critical that we know the word of God not what somebody said about the word You can't stand against

the devil based on what somebody said about the word That's why you got to know the

truth of the word for yourself Now you can speak with authority like Jesus spoke Now you can stand on

the truth of God's word like Jesus stood on the truth of God's word and now the

devil he has to flee from you but you can't stand and speak on something that you don't

know Number 5 the word of God brings peace and stability in your life Life is filled

with storms both physical and spiritual There's no separation of life from the storms of

life but the word of God serves as an anchor in our lives The word of God serves as

an anchor to our hearts and our minds The word of God anchors us in the promises of God It

doesn't matter what storm comes into your life You may bend but you won't break Because your life

is built on the solid rock which is Jesus Christ and His word And the fact that your life is

anchored on the rock Jesus Christ You can have peace and stability when these storms of life

come Isaiah 263 it says you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed

on you because he trusts in you God will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is stayed on

him because you trust him in the midst of the storms of life Don't be like

Peter Peter had the courage to step out the boat He had the courage to

walk on the water as long as he kept his eyes stayed on Jesus But

as soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus and put his eyes on the storm

He began sing but even with that Jesus was still faithful and he reached down and rescued Peter The

word of God will give you perfect peace in the midst of the storm but you

have to meditate on God's word You have to hide the word of God in your

heart And when you do that the word of God now replaces your anxiety with

truth It replaces your fear with faith It replaces your confusion and disorder with peace calm and tranquility The 5th

benefit of the word of God it brings peace and stability That's what you need God's word

promises that he is our refuge He is a safe dwelling place for us By meditating on God's

word it keeps our heart anchored in the peace of God A storm may be raging on

the outside but when your mind is stayed on the word you will be still

and you will be able to know God Then you will be able to rest in His

peace The 6th benefit of the word of God It produces fruit in our life If you really

want to know if your life is benefiting from the word of God there'll be fruit in

your life Knowing and obeying God's word leads to a transformed life that bears good fruit Psalm chapter

who meditates on his law day night continuously consistently That person is like a tree planted by the streams

of water which yields its fruit in season meaning that your fruit will come to

full maturity in season But this is the life that the Lord wants for us

when we delight in His law we delight in His word and we meditate in his word day

and night There's gonna be some fruit in your life When we know and obey God's word

our lives will produce spiritual fruit in your life We're talking about love we're talking about

joy we're talking about peace we're talking about patience we're talking about kindness We're talking about

goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control These are the fruit of the spirit that will manifest in your

life when you're rooted and grounded in the word of truth And when your life is rooted in

the word and your life is producing fruit that will be a testimony to other people They see your

life they see what you're going through they see what you're dealing with and you're still producing fruit That's

what the word of God does Knowing and applying the word leads to a fruitful consistent

and prosperous life Knowing and applying the word of God So it's more than just knowing it you

have to apply it You have to be a do of the word and not a hero or reader only

Because a lot of us are doing a lot of knowing and reading But it's only when you

apply the words to your life that's gonna lead to a fruitful consistent and prosperous

life and that's what you want Jesus said a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot

bear good fruit Matthew chapter 7 verse 18 He also said in John 15:8 this

is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit And when you bear much fruit you now proven yourself

to be his disciple As a disciple of Christ our life should be bearing fruit

If you know the word and if you're applying the word to your life your life will produce fruit And

this fruit that you bear is to the Father's glory and when your life bears fruit you proven to yourself

that you are His disciple The 6th benefit of the word it produces fruit in our life The 7th benefit

of the word it leads to salvation and assurance of eternal life The word of God is

what brings the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ 2 Timothy chapter 3:15 says The holy

scriptures which are able to make you wise meaning to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation and this

is how it's done through faith in Christ Jesus by surrendering your entire self to Him

and having absolute confidence in his wisdom power and goodness The more we know the word the more we understand

the good news of salvation that comes through Christ I'm convinced that one of the reasons we don't share Christ

is because we don't fully understand salvation You have some Christians that don't even think they're saved because they think

that salvation comes to work I got to do this and do that No that's why you need to

know the scriptures because the scripture is gonna make you wise unto salvation And once

you are wise to salvation you understand The cost of salvation You understand now what Jesus had to do

on the cross in order for us to receive the free gift of salvation You understand that salvation leads to

eternal life We know that we belong to God We're on God's team We're on God's side

now You know that you cannot lose your salvation which is a topic of discussion in Christianity Don't know why

Because they understood the wisdom that comes from the scripture That would be a question because to

say that you could lose your salvation means that what Jesus Christ did on the cross was in vain It

contradicts all of the New Testament That's why you have to know the scriptures for yourself so you

won't be living in a confusion so you won't be tossed to and fro by every

window of doctrine that comes your way The main purpose and function of false teaching is to

get you to question your relationship with Jesus Christ And if you can question your relationship as we come

to salvation You'll never be able to live the life that Jesus Christ desires you

to live You'll never be able to benefit from the word of God So the more we know about

the word and the more we understand salvation now we can not only live it out but we can

share it with others with confidence So I wanna leave you with this Knowing the

word of God is more than just having head knowledge It's all about transformation It's all about having

intimacy with God It's all about living out his truth on a daily basis Knowing

the word of God studying the word of God just for every believer If you

want to receive the benefits of the word you must be rooted and firmly established in his word

That's the key To live a victorious fruitful and prosperous life then you will receive the

benefits of the word And as we commit to daily studying daily meditating and daily applying the

word this is how we're rooted and built up and establishing him And when we do these things then

we will be able to experience all of the benefits of the word And much much more and we will

be able to walk in the fullness of God's purpose for our lives Amen Everyone be blessed