The word Christian means like Christ: after we are saved, we spend the rest of our lives learning how to take on the character of Christ, to become more like him. And we learn how through his Word. Staying in God’s Word includes three activities.

God uses the Word to teach us how to become like Him. Matthew 4:4 tells us that we are to feed on every word. “But he answered and said: It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Christianity is the only religion in America that is under constant attack from secular society. The reason is that they know it to be the truth. Spiritual growth is the process of replacing the devil’s lies with the truth of the word. Jesus prayed in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth.”

Sanctification requires knowledge. And knowledge comes through the Word. The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit), uses the Word of God, to make us like the Son of God. To become like Christ, we must fill our lives with his Word. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:17, “that through the Word we are formed and formed for the tasks that God has for us.” (The Bible prepares us to do his will).

James I:18 tells us “that God gave us life by the word of truth, so that we might be the most important of all the things he made.” He put us above all other creation. All creation exists because “God said so.” He spoke everything into existence. Without the Word of God we would not even be alive.

The Bible is much more than a guide we use for church doctrine. The Word of God generates life, creates faith, produces change, scares away the Devil, works miracles, heals wounds, builds character, changes circumstances, brings joy, overcomes adversity, overcomes temptation, instills hope, liberates

power, cleanses our minds, gives life to things and guarantees our future forever! We cannot live without the Word of God!

REMAIN IN THE WORD OF GOD. – There are more Bibles in print today than ever before, but a Bible on the shelf is worthless. Millions of believers are plagued by spiritual anorexia, starving to death from spiritual malnutrition. To be a healthy disciple of Jesus, feeding on God’s Word must be our first priority. Jesus called it “abide.” He said, in John 8:31-32 “…If you abide in my word (abide), you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (freedom brings peace)

REMAINING IN THE WORD OF GOD INCLUDES THREE ACTIVITIES

FIRST ACTIVITY — I MUST ACCEPT HIS AUTHORITY — 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God, and useful for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for instructing in righteousness:” KJV

The Bible must become the authoritative standard for my life: — the compass I trust for direction, — the advice I listen to for wise decisions, — and the benchmark I use to evaluate everything. The Bible should always have the first and last word in my life.

Many of our problems occur because we base our choices on unreliable authorities:

1. Culture – “do what others do”

2. Tradition – “do what we have always done”

3. Reasoning – “do what seems logical”

4. Emotion – “do what feels right”

The most important decision we can make today is to decide to make “The Word of God” the highest authority in our lives. Determined to ask first, “What does the Bible say?” when making decisions. Accept when God tells you to do something. Be determined to trust God’s Word and do it whether or not it makes sense or if you feel like doing it.

SECOND ACTIVITY – I MUST ASSIMILATE (ABSORB) ITS TRUTH — It is not enough to believe in the Bible (even the Devil believes in the Bible); I must fill my mind with it so that the Holy Spirit can change me with the truth (make me more like Jesus). If we do not have knowledge, the Holy Spirit has no tools to teach us.

There are five ways to assimilate the Word.

A. RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD — And listen and accept it with an open and receptive attitude. The parable of the sower illustrates how our receptivity determines whether or not God’s Word takes root in our lives and bears fruit (see Luke 8:4-15). Jesus identified three non-receptive attitudes.

HARD SOIL (closed mind) – SHALLOW SOIL (superficial mind) – SOIL WITH WEEDS (distracted mind). – and then said in Luke 8:18 “To consider carefully how you listen.” Every time he feels that he is not learning anything from a sermon or a Bible teacher, he should check his attitude.

What is bearing fruit? Essentially, it is becoming like Jesus. Spiritual fruit will show up in our lives as a change in our character and outlook. As we spend time with Jesus and get to know him better, his thoughts will become our thoughts. His purpose will become our purpose. We will become like Him.

B. READ GOD’S WORD – “Like newborn infants,” wrote the Apostle Peter, “long for pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow unto your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2) — Millions of us have access to the Bible. Despite this, many believers are more faithful to reading their journal than to the Bible. Or they think that what they receive in church is enough. Or we watch TV for three hours, then read the Bible for three minutes and hope to grow. We must establish a daily Bible reading plan.

C. RESEARCH AND STUDY OF THE WORD OF GOD – The difference between reading and studying the Bible involves two additional activities: asking questions about the text and writing down your thoughts. You’ll find out much more if you pause and ask questions as simple as who? that? when? where? because? and how? Surround yourself with study aids and don’t be afraid to ask others for their opinion.

The Bible says in James 1:25: “But whoever looks intently at the perfect law of freedom (the Word), and perseveres in it (takes time to see and examine the state of his soul, the grace of his God), not being a forgetful listener, but a doer of the work, he will be blessed in his work.”

D. REMEMBER THE WORD OF GOD – We often think that we have a bad memory, but the truth is that we remember what is important to us. If God’s Word is important to you, you will take the time to

to remember it There are enormous benefits to memorizing Bible verses. It will help you resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice, and share your faith with others.

Col 3:16 tells us “May the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly in all wisdom…” (Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise)

E. REFLECT ON GOD’S WORD – The Bible calls it meditation, which is focused thought. It takes a serious effort. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate. Worry is thinking focused on something negative. Meditation is doing the same thing, just focusing on God’s Word instead of your problem. No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on the Scriptures.

One of the reasons God called David “a man after his own heart” is that David loved to ponder God’s Word. He said in Psalm 119:97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.”

THIRD ACTIVITY – I MUST APPLY ITS PRINCIPLES — It is useless to receive, read, investigate, remember and reflect on the Word if we do not put them into practice. The Bible says that we are to become “doers of the Word.” This is the most difficult step of all, because Satan fights it very intensely. He doesn’t mind if you go to bible studies as long as you don’t do anything with what you learn.

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these words of mine and does them, I will be like a prudent man, who built his house on the rock:”

To become more like Christ we must: Read the Word of God – Accept it – Absorb it and Apply it.