The Secret Tool of the
Christian’s Quiet Time
Psalm 119:18
May 29th 2011 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (John 10:27-29)
“My sheep hear my voice”
A.
We are
basically ignorant of this Book. A person may not have all the
understanding, all the “smarts” to piece together everything in the Bible
and understand everything that God is saying in the pages of this Book, but
there is Someone who will help us
B.
The Holy
Spirit
C.
I want to
show you how to learn to “listen” to the Holy Spirit teach you as you read
God’s word
D.
I call it,
Learning God’s Word Prayerfully – with MUCH prayer, AS you are reading and
studying.
1.
Prayer is
more than just asking for things from God
2.
It is the
way to walk with God, conversing with Him, ASKING Him, and listening to Him
3.
And every
Christian needs to do when they are reading and studying God’s words, so
that they hear not the words on a page, but the words of eternal life!
II.
Message
A.
The Bible is
God’s Revelation of Truth (John
17:17)
1.
It is not
figured out naturally (1Cor 2:12-15)
a.
There are
things that do make sense
b.
But much
that will seem only foolishness
2.
The missing
ingredient is the teaching power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26)
a.
One of the
main functions of the Holy Spirit is to help you understand the Bible, and
how to apply it to your life.
b.
If you are
not prayerfully reading your bible, you are trying to understand the Bible
based on your own skill.
3.
Did you ever
stop and realize that John 14:26 is a promise by Jesus?
a.
This is also
a wonderful chance to put God to a test.
b.
Ever come to
a verse where you are not sure what it means? Try praying something like
this: “Father, the Bible says that the role of the Holy Spirit is to teach
me all things. I don’t understand this verse, help me please, amen.” This is
where the supernatural ability of God will often come into your life. God’s
reputation is now on the line because He promised he would teach you all
things and here is a “thing” you don’t comprehend. I am convinced by
experience God answers those prayers because it is an opportunity to give
the glory to God and not yourself.
c.
When you are
stuck, you can pray for God’s guidance
4.
There is
nothing wrong with asking God to help us understand what we are reading. We
need to be smart enough to ask directions from God gentlemen!
5.
It is how He
reveals Himself (Luke 10:21) - to ignorant babies who are not so smart
B.
The Need for
No Speed
(Psalm 119:97-99)
1.
Compared to
eating food (Job 23:12)
a.
Chew on it
before you swallow!
b.
Enjoy the
savour, the flavour
c.
Sometimes it
is bitter and hard to chew
d.
But the
enjoyment is in the chewing (Ps 119:103)
2.
Pray through
every line – it takes time!
3.
Meditate on
every word
4.
Talk with
God, using His own words!
5.
You have to
make time to do this! To stop and think about what you are reading
C.
What You Are Doing When You
Pray As You Read
1.
You are
Listening for a Voice (Contrast with Mt
13:15)
a.
Most of the
time, people fake their relationship with God
b.
They go
through the motions
1)
Sitting down
2)
Opening
their Bible
3)
Reading
their set chapters
4)
Closing
their Bible
5)
Heading off
back to their same old life
6)
Never
experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit
c.
But when
there is a conversation going on between you and God…
1)
Then there
will often be a battle
2)
There is
debate
3)
There is
wrestling
4)
And then a
peace
5)
And a
blessing from God
6)
A strength
that comes from listening to His “still, small voice”
d.
Example of
Jacob (Gen 32:24-26)
1)
He needed to
hear God encourage him, bless him
2)
But only
after wrestling with the Lord, arguing with Him
2.
You are
Opening Up to God (Psalm 32:1-6)
a.
Bible Study
is not a one way communication
b.
You are
supposed to argue with God, and wrestle with His will
c.
It opens up
that cold hard heart of yours
d.
God is a big
boy, and can handle Himself – question is, will you let HIM answer you as
you probe what He is doing in your life, and what he is meaning by His
words?
e.
People today
are incredibly “open” about too much stuff with everyone around them –
thanks to Oprah Winfry and other talk shows
f.
Yet when it
comes to their relationship with God, they are stiff as a board!
g.
Talk as you
read God’s word
h.
Talk with
God about what you are reading
i.
Ask Him the
questions that come to your heart
j.
Put yourself
in the verse and see if it fits YOUR situation
k.
Illustration
of Daniel (Dan 9:1-4; 10:1-6)
1)
By-the-way,
stay at it until you get an answer from heaven
2)
Don’t be
short on time with God – impatient
3.
You are
Worshipping
a.
Worship is
thankfulness
b.
Worship is
awe
c.
Worship is
yieldedness to God’s will
d.
You won’t be
any of those unless you are engaged, involved in a relationship with God
according to the words of this Book
e.
Most people
attempt to relate to a God they do not know – a God of their own design
f.
But the
Bible is the only way to know how to talk to God, what you can ask, how far
you can trust him
g.
Don’t spend
your whole life ignorant of the person of Jesus in your life
4.
You are
Reminding God of His Promises (actually,
you are reminding yourself to TRUST what He has promised)
a.
Start
noticing what God is saying so that you can claim what He is offering you
b.
If you were
reading the newspaper, and out of the corner of your eye, down at the
bottom, noticed a free give away of a 3 course meal at a local restaurant,
wouldn’t you cut out the coupon and head over and claim that free meal?
c.
What if you
found out that there were loads of free offers spread throughout every page
of the newspaper – wouldn’t you read it more closely?
d.
Example of
Psalm 91
1)
“Help me
find and stay in that secret place” (1)
2)
“Help me
trust in your refuge” (2)
3)
“I need you
to deliver me from Satan’s attacks” (3)
4)
“Let me feel
your protection like a chick knows the hen is there” (4)
5)
“I will not
be afraid of anything, because you are with me” (5,6)
e.
Example of
Psalm 92
1)
“I better
thank God for something, right now” (1)
2)
“I will sing
out louder at church so that I can point out just how wonderful you are, and
how worthy you are of all my talent” (2,3)
f.
Example of
Psalm 93
1)
“Help me
Father to remember that you reign – are in control” (1)
2)
“You are
above all earth’s disasters” (2-4)
3)
“Keep me
holy and clean in my heart for you” (5)
g.
The examples
are countless! Name a promise of God!
D.
What to Pray As You Read
1.
Open My
Eyes (Psalm 119:18) – don’t let me waste
my time NOT seeing the wonderful truths and promises and important commands
that are here for me!
2.
Show me
great and mighty things that I do not expect
(Jer 33:3). Quit NOT expecting something awesome from your reading and study
of God’s word
3.
Help my
unbelief (Mk 9:24).
a.
What a
prayer!
b.
This is why
there are so few great things happening
c.
Not because
God has grown weaker, but because we really don’t believe God
d.
Jesus could
not do many miracles most of the time because of people’s unbelief
4.
Increase my
Faith (Luke 17:5)
a.
We need to
be on the increase in our confidence in the Lord
b.
Most
Christians only increase in “faith” as they see good times
c.
Faith comes
by hearing, believing and obeying this Book!
5.
Glorify
Thyself through Me (Jn 12:28)
a.
Is the Bible
about YOU, or about the Lord God of heaven?
b.
Stop being
so selfish as you read and study
c.
Ask God to
glorify himself through your life
6.
Help Me to
Obey (Mt 26:42)
III.
Conclusion
A.
Don’t just
go through the motions of a religious duty
B.
Christians
need to be listening to Christ’s voice “My sheep hear my voice” as they read
1.
It happens
only when you take time to pray as you read – to listen to God, and talk
back with Him as you read
2.
Questioning
Him, and wrestling with what you are learning
3.
And finally
yielding to His way of doing things
C.
Take the
time to do the following things when you are reading God’s word
1.
Pray
– not just before, but while reading
2.
Listen
– meditate on what you are hearing God say – think about
it, and then think some more
3.
Talk with God about what you
just read
4.
Open up to God
a.
Go ahead and
wrestle with His will
b.
Let God
crack open that cold hard heart of yours
c.
Stay at it
until you get an answer from heaven – it will take some time
d.
Don’t be
short on time with God – impatient
5.
Worship God
a.
Tell Him how
much you love Him, and need Him
b.
Take note of
the greatness of the God you serve!
6.
Remind yourself to TRUST what
He has promised
D.
What to Pray As You Read
1.
Open My
Eyes (Psalm 119:18)
2.
Show me
great and mighty things that I do not expect
(Jer 33:3).
3.
Help my
unbelief (Mk 9:24).
4.
Increase my
Faith (Luke 17:5)
5.
Glorify
Thyself through Me (Jn 12:28)
6.
Help Me to
Obey (Mt 26:42)