Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. And here in Psalm 18, verse 28, Divid rights. The God is my lamp. The Lord my God lightens my darkness. Your word, the word of God, is a lamp.
to my feet. and the light to my path, think of that. God's word is Alight. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many families own a Bible.
But the Bible isn't just a religious keepsake to be passed down through generations. It's the living Word of God. Today we're returning to our study on the life of David. by considering David's relationship with the Word of God.
Now, with today's message, here's Pastor John Monroe. In the last few broadcasts, we've been thinking of particular events. in the life of David. But today I want us to think of David and the Word of God. Because David also wrote many of the Psalms, We have a unique perspective into his thoughts.
and spiritual life. Here is a man. After God's own heart. That means David delights in the law of the Lord. What is your approach to the Word of God?
If we are going to walk with God and seek to do His will, it's essential we know the Word of God, obey the Word of God and seek to be guided by it.
So today, Let's learn about the Word of God from a couple of the Psalms of David. There are several people in the scriptures who are referred to. as friends of God. There are many people referred to as servants of the Lord, but only David, King David. is referred to as a man after God's own heart.
And that has intrigued me. And what was it about David? that God could say of him, this is a man after God's Own heart. When Saul, the first king of Israel, is rejected as king of Israel, Samuel says in 1 Samuel 13, verse 14, the Lord. has sought out a man after his own heart.
And the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people. Because you, Saul, have not kept what the Lord commanded you. In the New Testament, in Acts chapter 13, when Paul is rehearsing the history of Israel, he says this, Acts 13, verses 21 and 22. Then they asked for a king. Israel asked for a king, you remember, and God gave them Saul the son of Kesha, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.
And when he had removed him, he raised up his head. David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart. Who will do all? My will. We see the sovereign hand of God.
And setting aside Saul, the first king of Israel. and raising up this unknown young man, this shepherd. from Bethlehem. the youngest of a large family. And David, this unknown person, is going to become Israel's greatest king.
And in spite of his failures, in spite of his sin, He is called a man after God's own heart. Isn't it true that only God knows The heart. That's why we should be careful, shouldn't we? And be very slow to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ. And in referring to David in Acts chapter 13, Paul not only describes him as a man after God's own heart, But one who will, quote, will do all my will, that is, will do all the will.
of God. But how does David know the will of God? And that brings us to today's subject, David. And God's Word. David And the word of God.
George Gallup said Americans revere the Bible But by and large, they don't read it. Do you hear that? We revere the Bible, but says George Gallup. We don't read it.
Now David wrote many Psalms. He loved the word of God. And as we begin, I have to ask you: would you say truly before God, that you love. His word. All of us who are followers of Jesus, I'm sure, without exception, have good intentions to read and study and to memorize and to obey the living word of God.
That certainly is my desire at the beginning of every year, I'm sure. Uh like many of you, you Think of ways in which You're going to grow in the Lord? Is there some particular sin that has tended to tempt you a lot during the past year. What about the fruit of the Spirit? I like to take perhaps one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit and focus on that during the year.
And also to renew our commitment. To the word of God, and as your pastor. I say I renew my commitment to be A man of this book. Not to entertain you. But my goal is to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
I want and I want you To be an authentic follower of Jesus Christ, to be a mature, a growing, Servant Of God, and to do that, we need the word of God. Have you ever watched? A parent, some of you have done this, trying to get a young child to eat food they didn't want to eat. And they go to all kinds of little games. You know, the pretend the Brussels sprites.
I love Brussels sprites. Our grandchildren are less enthusiastic. But you see, some mother or grandmother. saying here's a here's a little plane and it's going to land or here's a little train going into the tunnel and and they're doing all of these little tricks to get the children to eat nourishing food.
Sometimes I think some pastors are like that. We've got to entertain, we've got to do little tricks to get people into the Word of God. That really shouldn't be necessary. Part of being a follower of Christ is that we have the indwelling spirit. And we have a desire and a love for The word of God.
In Ezra chapter 7, verse 10, we read this of Ezra. Ezra had set his heart to to study the law of the Lord. and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Did you notice the order? Pastors, elders.
Life group leaders. Bible study leaders, did you notice the order? First. Ezra set his heart to study the law of God. That was the first thing.
He desired to study the word of God. Secondly, he desired to do it. And then third, notice the order, then to teach it.
Sometimes there are people who want to teach the Word of God, but they've not given themselves to study it. And so they take someone else's notes. or a curriculum or a book, not the book. And regurgitate what someone else has said.
Nowadays, online, you can get all of this information. But there's really no study. It's like someone serving you a meal and they haven't. Thought carefully how to bake the meat or how to bake the cake, and it comes in into these raw ingredients. That's not what God.
once.
Sometimes We come across people who do seem to study the Word of God. But they're not. doing it. Remember, Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2, verse 15: I want you to present yourself to God. As a workman, Who is not ashamed?
Rightly dividing the word of truth. God wants us to study the word of God. than to do it. It's got to touch our heart. Let me say to those of you who are teachers of the Word of God, the Word of God has got to come into our heart.
We first preach to ourselves, as it were. You know that when you're raising your children. Whatever you say to your children, the children are watching what you do. And it was said of the Pharisees: remember, Jesus said to them, do what they do. Say, but don't do what they do.
They knew the law. Ah, but it had not had the transforming impact In their lives.
So we study the Word of God not as an academic exercise, although there is great, great, rich truth for the profoundest of Minds. but that we ourselves first would grow in the Lord and then have the joy of teaching that to others beginning in our own home. When Luke begins the book of Acts, He writes in Acts 1 verse 1, you may recall. Luke says, I've dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. Again, notice the order.
It was what Jesus did. And Tell it.
So, we don't first study the Word of God so we can teach it to others. We teach it because we know. That we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth. of God. So let me ask you having Said that to open your Bibles to Psalm chapter 18.
which is a sum of triumph, of thanksgiving. as stated in the superscription. And I don't want to look at the particulars of Psalm 18, although that's a fascinating Psalm. But want to read. Verses twenty-eight through thirty.
And then look at the next Psalm, Psalm 19. Psalm 18 then. Verse Twenty Eight. For it is you who light my lamp. The Lord my God lightens my darkness.
For by you I can run against the troop. And by my God, I can leap over a wall. This God His way is Perfect. The word of the Lord proves true. He is a shield.
For all those who take refuge. in him aren't these wonderful verses. God's word is Alight. Psalm 119. one of the best known Verses in Psalm 119, Psalm 119, verse 105.
We read your word. is a lamp to my feet. And the light to my path. Many things are true about this book, the Bible, but one of them is. that God's word is Alight.
We thought on Christmas Eve about God creating light in the beginning. God said, let there be light, and there was light. John writes that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.
And here in Psalm 18, verse 28, Divid rights. That God is my lamp. The Lord my God lightens my darkness. Your word, the word of God, is a lamp. to my feet.
and a light to my path. Think of that.
So we go into a new year.
Some of you anticipate some difficulties, don't you? There's concerns. About the future at work, in your family, in the church, there are personal struggles. And we think there may be Darkness and confusion, God's word. Here is the promise, it gives us light.
It gives us direction. in the uncertain and dark situations of life. All of us face difficult situations. All of us face situations which seem very dark, very, very bleak. We wonder what we should do, how should we react, how should we respond.
Notice what David says in Psalm 19, the next Psalm, Psalm 19, verse 8. The commandment, the latter part, the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening. The eyes. God's word producers Light. In the darkness.
Psalm 119 verse 130, The entrance of thy word gives light. The ESV says the unfolding of your word gives Light. That's a great promise, isn't it? When we're in the dark and the uncertain places of life, In the dark nights of the soul, We open The word Of God. Do you do that?
Have you found that it gives Light. It shines in our path. Jesus said that men prefer darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. And the word of God reveals the darkness of sin in our own lives. And in the lives of others.
So the word of God turns on the light. In fact, it is the light. We call that illumination. Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 that the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them. From seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
And then he says. For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts. to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. God's word. is Light.
Now As we look at verse 30 of Psalm 18 and look into Psalm 19, we see that the Word of God not only is a light, The word of God in fact is perfect. The word of God It's perfect. Verse 30 of Psalm 18, this God. His way is perfect. All of us made mistakes last Yeah.
There are things we'd like to redo, there are conversations we wish we could have done. God never has to apologize. God's way is perfect. And then says David, the word of the Lord proves. True.
Psalm 19 verse 7. The law of the Lord is Perfect. Reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned. In keeping them, that is the word of God, there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.
Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart. Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. My rock.
and my redeemer. The Word of God is perfect. Psalm nineteen, verse seven. We believe that very strongly, church, that God's word is absolute truth. Truth.
David has said in chapter 18, verse 13: the word of the Lord proves true. Paul in 2 Corinthians 6 says that all scripture is breathed out by God. That is, when the Bible speaks, God speaks. This is our absolute authority. It is.
Perfect.
So we live. in a culture where we determine our own authority. Where we determine our own meaning. And our culture defines meaning and truth based on personal experiences. What someone feels What someone thinks What someone says, well, this is my perception.
That becomes the source of authority and truth. Just think of that, how foolish that is. We put ourselves at the very center of our lives. rather than God and His word.
Someone says, well, this is what I feel. And they seem to disregard the facts or the logic of an argument and say, well, that's just how I feel. How do we know truth? How are we able to discern between truth and error the word of God? It is.
Perfect.
The word of the Lord is perfect. The word of the Lord proves true. This is why we study and love the Word of God. In Romans we learned that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Christ.
The way we grow is through the Word of God. The way we come to saving faith in Christ is through the Word of God.
So Paul says to Timothy, From a child you've known the holy scriptures. Which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. What's going to be profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction? for training in righteousness. Paul says at the end of 2 Timothy 3, it is the word of God.
Your salvation, your eternal destiny, your spiritual growth is dependent on the Word of God. See, the word of God has supernatural. Power.
Sometimes I'm ask, why do I Preach. The Bible so much. Could give political commentary. Think of all I could say. about what's going on in politics.
I'd love to say some things. I've got ideas and opinions and all kinds of things. And I'm quite prepared to bore you, but not from the pulpit. When I come here, when you come here, It is, someone says amen, it's the only time they've ever agreed with me, but never mind. When I come here, when you come here, it's to hear the word of God, isn't it?
David says, Psalm 18 verse thirty eight. That God, thank you, God. is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. and that God's word is a shield. How did Jesus respond to the temptations of the devil?
The Word of God. It is written. It is written. It is written. As he quotes mainly from the book of Deuteronomy.
How did Jesus respond? when he's questioned by the Pharisees. When he's questioned by the religious leaders over and over again in the Gospels, he asks the question: Have you not read? Have you not read? Have you not read?
In other words, if you knew the word of God, you would know the answer. What an inspiring example. Not what we think. Not your opinions, not our feelings, but what scripture says. And this is what David is saying.
And all of the varying circumstances of his life, and he led a very, very full life, a very unusual life. He came to understand this: that the law of the Lord is. Perfect.
The old adage is true. Sin will keep you from this book. And this book will keep you from sin. The more we make a commitment A challenge of total commitment to Christ. The more young men Young woman.
That you desire before God to be used by God, this I guarantee: that the devil will be after you in a way that you've never experienced before. Told you before. I have a friend, pastor, who calls me when he and his Question is always a How is the devil harassing you this week? I think I go, you know, go away. Please go away.
But the devil harasses us, doesn't it? Are you going to fear that? No. The word of God is a shield around us. If we keep true to the word of God, if we keep in the word of God, Psalm 119 verse 9.
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? Is it possible for a young man to live a clean life in today's society? How? Answer? By Living according to your word.
Psalm 119. Verse 9. Psalm 119, verse 11, your word. Have I treasured in my heart That I might not sin against you. Yeah.
in our sleazy world. Where the devil is so active and attacks us and harasses us, is it possible to live a life for God? Absolutely. If you live it according to this book. Notice what David says here in verse 7 of Psalm 19: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
Restoring the soul. What's going to bring spiritual revival? to your heart. To this church. Is this Book.
This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and the start of a message titled. David and God's Word. John has more to share in just a moment, so keep listening. First, as a special bonus for this study on the life of David, we'd like to offer you a free copy of the helpful listening guide John has put together for this series. Designed to walk you through each of these lessons in the coming days, this printable workbook will equip you with key notes, questions, and specific prompts to help you apply the Biblical teachings from the life of David to your own life to day.
So, take advantage of this free resource by downloading your free copy of the Life of David Listening Guide when you visit theverdict.org. And while you're there, be sure to also sign up for John's monthly email newsletter. And today, will you consider joining our efforts to bring the truth of God's Word into new communities and across the globe? You can help us continue spreading these biblical teachings by making a financial gift of any amount. We've made it quick and easy to give through our website.
Go to themverdict.org. And one more reminder: if you haven't already, to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast. In addition to these daily lessons, you'll receive John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam, where he addresses relevant topics like politics in the church, the danger of idols, and the uniqueness of Israel. You'll find all this and more by subscribing to the Verdict Podcast.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Will you make a plan to read the Word of God each day? Not one of us know what we will face. There may well be dark and difficult times, but with the Word of God to guide us. We will know how to live and how to respond.
And the more you read the Word of God, the more you'll love it. and your love for God will deepen and grow. Don't miss the broadcast next time. As we continue to think of David, and the word of God. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict.
I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mm.
