10-13-19 – “The Road Map to Freedom – The Bible, God’s Word – Evaluate It” – JD Tew

10-13-19 - “The Road Map to Freedom - The Bible, God’s Word - Evaluate It” - JD Tew Road Map to Freedom…  The Bible, God’s Word. How many want God, God’s Word and Christ to be R.E.A.L. in their Life? R – Read His Word E – Evaluate It A – Apply It L – Live It READ IT! 2 Primary Reasons to READ God’s Word: * We read God’s Word to KNOW HIM, to experience an intimate and personal relationship HIM! THAT IS OUR DESTINATION!  THAT is where we’re going! Heaven is simply a “by-product” of the intimate Relationship with Jesus! People who want Heaven without an intimate relationship with Jesus, have created a god that doesn’t exist!  John 17:3 - 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. * We Read God’s Word in order to Live a life of Faith in Him (Believing, Trusting, Obeying). How in the world are we going to live a life of Faith that pleases Him if we don’t KNOW Him and don’t READ HIS WORD! EVALUATE IT! Evaluate or Examine =  * Inspecting, investigating, analyzing thoroughly, taking a closer more detailed look.   * Looking at the “value, nature, character, integrity” of something or someone.   Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.   John 17:17 – Jesus prayed, Sanctify them (Set them apart, make them holy, approved or acceptable) by the truth; your word is truth.   God’s Word has already been established as TRUTH…  So, what are we Evaluating it for?  (Why Inspect, Investigate, Analyze, look closer & in more detail?  Because it’s the RoadMap for a Resurrected LIFE Here and Now and ETERNAL LIFE when we leave here!   * It Reveals our Sinful Nature. * It Reveals God’s Plan for us to be Restored to Him. * It Reveals HOW we are Restored. The RIGHT Relationship with Him.  The one that HE wants. * It Reveals how to Live a life of Faith in Him. (Believing, Trusting, Obeying) * It Provides Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical Nourishment * It reveals how to be Set Apart, Holy… * It gives us Hope! * It gives us Joy! * It gives us Strength for the Battle * It gives us Wisdom * It gives us Direction/Guidance * It keep us from falling into Temptation * It provides Correction * It gives us Comfort * It provides Protection and Provision. * It Encourages and builds us up. * It Equips us to be what God wants us to be here and Now!   Those are just a FEW things we can discover if we Evaluate and Examine God’s Word!   SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - 16 All Scripture is inspired by God (Breathed out by God, through His divine inspiration) and is useful (profitable, productive) to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (God’s Word is alive!  As we read the Holy Spirit convicts, corrects, counsels and comfort us… leads us into all TRUTH.) 17 God uses it (His Word) to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (To Serve Him and do the things He has called and commanded us to do.)   * The Bible is “Inspired by God.” (I went over this in great detail last Sunday but we can’t skip over it!)   Inspired = Breathed out by God!