This is the Truth Network. This is the Truth Network. Boating and floating. Are you ready? To listen to to.
Hear the word of God. Nancy Epperson is ready. She's my mom. And she may not be in a pool right now, but I did catch her with a scripture on her heart. Mom.
Why is it so important to always be ready? With the word of God. With the word of God hidden in your heart, why is that important for everyone? And then I would love it if you would quote a scripture for us today.
Well, it's so important to memorize God's word because God's word contains the wisdom of God. And when you hide it in your heart and you counsel people, you point them to truth, you can do that with such authority. Because you're quoting, thus saith the Lord. And my opinion is no better than anyone else's. But when I'm quoting the word of God, I can do it with authority and with confidence, knowing that I am giving out truth.
So I love to memorize scripture. And I love this passage, Psalm 91. I quote to my grandkids at night when I tuck them in, and I quote it to my children when I tuck them in. And this is one I love to quote to them. It's very comforting.
Psalm 91. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God. In him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wing shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night. nor for the arrow that flieth by day. nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness.
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand. But it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High thy habitation.
there shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder the young lion and dragon shalt thou trample under feet Because he has set his love upon me. Therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high. because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91.
Yeah. Mom, that's so rich. Thank you for sharing that with us. Can you give. Our listeners A little perspective on what it took for you.
to be able to quote that from memory. And what you go through in terms of spiritual discipline to keep it. In your mind, reviewing and all that. What does it take? Just take us from the beginning.
Well, what I do is. My ultimate goal is to meditate on scripture. And so the entire process of memorizing is an act of worship. If you always remember that, it makes it such a joy to memorize. It's not drudgery.
It's not work. It's a pleasure. And the Bible speaks time and again of the importance of meditating on scripture.
So when you are memorizing, it forces you to think about what you're learning. And to me, the key word in memorizing is repetition. If you go over anything enough times. Believe me, you will lock it into your heart and mind. In fact, last night as I was.
a quoting scripture and tucking in my grandson. I was quoting that and I said, you know what, I bet you know this chapter by now just because I have quoted it to you so many times when I come in to pray with you and tuck you in. The power of repetition, I cannot emphasize enough.
So, even if you just take, for example, a psalm and read it over every single day, thoughtfully meditating on it. You will discover in so many days, you will know it. It may take. 30 days, it may take 60. And it may even take 100.
It may take 200, but eventually you will learn it. Then, once you learn it, Don't Throw it away, but keep meditating on it because what you don't use, you lose.
So yes, it is a discipline and it's something you have to work on every day. And mom, speak to the seriousness and the power. And what we're talking about, we're not talking about. Memorizing, meditating on Shakespeare or literature. There's Eastern meditation, which is the idea to clear your mind, get everything out.
But biblical meditation is the opposite. It's, Christian meditation is we're trying to fill our mind. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3 tells us, can you talk about how important it is that what happens when you're value, when you value God's Word, which He values? Yes.
What many things happen? We're told in Romans 12 1 and 2, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect. will of God. The renewing of your mind comes as you fill your mind with scripture.
And we're told in Philippians 4. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, Yeah. on these things.
So if you fill your mind with the word of God. You're you are thinking. Scripture and the Bible says, as a man thinketh in his heart.
So is he. What you fill your heart and mind with is what you become. And of course, in this case, it's the word of God, and it's becoming more Christ-like. And then. The Bible says, out of the abundance of the heart, The mouth speaks.
So what goes in is what will come out.
So are you ever unhappy with what you find coming out of your mouth?
Well, then you need to put the right things in your heart. And we're told in Hebrews 4, 12, the word of God is quick, living, and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and narrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word of God is so powerful. Sharper than a two-edged sword. When we give the word of God.
We are giving power. We're giving truth. The Spirit of God will take that. And just Zap the heart of the listener. That's what I love.
We do our part, God does his. when we witness, when we share the gospel. We share it. God does the work. Romans 1:16 says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
That Greek root word is power. Pseudomos, the same root word for dynamite. The gospel is so powerful. And when we give it out, the Spirit of God then takes it and touches and pierces the heart.
So the definition of witnessing is sharing the good news, the gospel. and leaving the results to God.
Now, there's some confusion, Stuart, about what the gospel is. Let's get this straight. 1 Corinthians 15 shares exactly what the gospel is. or Paul said he delivered.
Well to them what was of first paramount importance, the gospel, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. He was buried, he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. He was seen by over 500 people. the power of the gospel. And when we share that powerful message.
The Spirit of God then does the work. The word of God is there. God has made his word available. It is legal in the United States of America. Be a part to partake of to own a Bible.
Some countries it's actually illegal. We have a museum of the Bible, an amazing resource. You can become a member. for very cheap. In Washington, D.C., with amazing Bible artifacts and great Bible tools.
We have the public reading of scripture.
Some friends in New York that have an amazing app where you can listen to the word and have it coming in all the time. And I have. A mom who I've been interviewing today, and she shared Psalm 91 with us, who has committed her life to studying. teaching, hearing. Meditating on and memorizing God's word.
It's so important. And I thank you, Mom, for that. Say a prayer, will you? Quick mom, you know, you used to read the scriptures to us as we would drift off to sleep.
Well, you would quote them to us, and then you'd always say a little prayer. Will you pray for everyone out there, folks, going through different stuff here, listening to this little broadcast podcast? Just say a prayer. Uh taking everything you've discussed and just taking it to the Lord. Yes, dear Lord, I just pray for each person who is listening to this message.
Lord, I just pray you'll put within their hearts and all of our hearts a true desire to learn your word, to hide it in our hearts, that we may hunger and thirst after righteousness, Lord, and that we may be. Living epistles known and read of all men that when we speak, we might speak truth because we've hidden your word in our hearts. And Lord, I know there are people listening who have deep hurts and wounds, heartaches. And I pray for them, Lord. I just pray your healing touch in their lives.
And I just pray for your comfort, Lord. And I pray you'll drive them to your word so they may be comforted by the beautiful truths of your word as they learn more of you, Lord, of your goodness, of your mercy, of your kindness, of your grace.
So we just. We commit them to you, Lord, and I pray you'll do a mighty work in each heart of each person listening. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray. Amen. True to the blood.
I love you.
