Intro:

• Report from Kenya and Albania
  • Over 1000 attended outdoor evangelism event, and the team baptized 150
  • Note for video (have pictures ready)
• Pray for us starting Bkids camp TOMORROW
• Loving teaching through the Scriptures.

Today is the day that I build your passion for the WORD OF GOD! 

Psalm 119:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

One thing is for sure: THE WORD RELEASES A BLESSING

Psalm 119 Context

• Author unknown but most think David
• 176 verses because 22 letters in the Hebrew Alphabet, and each letter is given 8 verses. 
• All 176 verses are about the Word of God.
• Jewish people’s devotion to the Word of God

Message:

1. A Passion to LEARN His Word
   1. Key Verse: Psalm 119:11–12 (NLT) — 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
   2. The Psalmist is passionate about LEARNING the word
      1. Jewish children memorize Torah and quote it by 12
      2. Jewish children learned in rote, meaning someone would read it, and they would repeat it. 
   3. We are all passionate to learn something! Whatever we are into, we are into! Many people don’t know that I am a licensed sailor. When I got into it, I got INTO it. 
   4. To learn His Word you must 
      1. Hunger for it: Verse 20 - "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times."
      2. Read it: Verse 15 - "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways."
         1. One Year Bible
         2. M'cheyne plan
         3. Stats
            1. In 2009, the Center for Biblical Engagement issued a report that concluded that people who read the Bible at least four days a week experienced the following benefits:
               1. Getting drunk = 57% lower odds
               2. Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds
               3. Pornography = 61% lower odds
               4. Gambling = 74% lower odds
            2. Christians who read their Bible at 4 days per week were also far more likely to engage in evangelism and discipleship:
               1. Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds
               2. Discipling others = 231% higher odds
               3. Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds
      3. Memorize it: Verse 11 - "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
         1. Satan cannot steal something that is “stored.”  When you are tempted, the Holy Spirit brings it our of your “vault” and gives you power to conquer that temptation or problem.
         2. Marylyn Hickey
2. Passion to UNDERSTAND His Word
   1. Key Verse: Psalm 119:18 (NASB95) — 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
   2. There is understanding the Bible from an exact literal portrayal, but there are infinite truths to be unlocked throught the spirit of revelation, but how do we see these things?
      1. Ask God for Revelation: Verse 18 - "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."
      2. Meditate on it: Verse 27 - "Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds."
      3. Read the Word WITH the Author, let Him speak to you through it
3. Passion to OBEY His Word
   1. Key Verse: Psalm 119:4–6 (NLT) — 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.
   2. The Word is useless if you don’t APPLY it! The Apostle James talked about this, about being a hearer of the Word but not a Doer. 
      1. Repent of wrong ways: Verse 59 - "I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes."
      2. Adjust your life: Verse 133 - "Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me."
      3. Stay close to the Word: Verse 31 - "I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame."
      4. Return to it if you depart: Verse 67 - "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word."
   3. Angie and I cooking - I like to follow the recipe
4. Passion to RELY on His Word
   1. Key Verse: Psalm 119:41–43 (ESV) — 41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
   2. An anchor in the storm. God’s Word is worth trusting. 
      1. Put your trust in it: Verse 42 - "I trust in your word."
      2. Put your hope in it: Verse 114 - "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."
   3. Dodie Osteen “standing” on the Word
   4. Houses built on sand vs. houses built on the rock
5. Passion to SPEAK His Word
   1. Key Verse: Psalm 119:54 (NLT) — 54 Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived.
   2. The Word coming out of your mouth is life. 
      1. Talk about His Word: Verse 13 - "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth."
      2. Sing out His word: Verse 54 - "Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge."
   3. There is a power in communicated out loud the word of God. 
   4. It is WARFARE
   5. It is FAITH-BUILDING 
   6. With your words you are “setting” the temperature in your life

Closer:

• All Scripture points us to JESUS 
• John 5:39–40 (NLT) — 39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
• The point of all the Scriptures is LIFE, and they all point to JESUS