John Piper was recently the Keynote Speaker at the International Christian Retail Show for publishers & authors. He gave the following seven reasons why the Bible is of infinite value.
Many American believers are drowning in personal copies of God's Word, yet seldom open a single copy from Sunday to Sunday. They neglect to plug into our God-given source for power, a tool the Holy Spirit can use to great effect if we would only soak ourselves in it.
This is in contrast to believers around the world who hunger and thirst for God's Word. When my son spent a summer ministering in Uganda, men walked for miles and miles just to hear solid teaching and be given a Bible. A missionary friend, with New Tribes Missions in Papua New Guinea, just started teaching through Scripture, beginning with Genesis. Again, men and women are walking for miles to hear the teaching. They recognize it for what it is, the source of Truth, and it is beginning to have an affect upon them. How many people groups long for a copy of the Bible in their own language ... and you have so many available to you! Show your thankfulness by reading it, meditating upon it and obeying it!
Believers need to spend time deeply engaged with God's Word on a daily basis. "If conscience is to be directed by the Spirit of God it must be governed by the Word of God." (Mary S. Wood) Plug into your power source!
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The Bible is of infinite value ...
1. ... because it awakens and sustains faith.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom.10:17)
2. ... because by it we receive the Holy Spirit, who is infinitely valuable.
"Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by
hearing with faith --" (Gal.3:5)
Companion Passages: "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph.5:18) / "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly"
(Col.3:16)
3. ... because it creates and sustains spiritual life.
"these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing
you may have life in his name." (Jn.20:31)
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Mt.4:4)
4. ... because it gives hope.
"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and
through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Rom.15:4)
5. ... because it leads us to freedom.
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free." (Jn.8:31-32)
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (Jn.17:17)
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free." (Jn.8:31-32)
6. ... because by it alone can we defeat Satan. He's a real being and he's very powerful. Jesus relied
upon Scripture to defend Himself against him, can you do any less?
"I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one." (1Jn.2:13)
7. ... because it is the source of full and lasting joy.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits
in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and
night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not
wither. In all that he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3)
"I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil." (Psalm 119:162)
"for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love." (Psalm 119:47)
"Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97)
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:93)
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
(Jn.15:11)
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