Should God’s People Memorize His Word?

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YOU will never understand a Bible truth more than when you memorize it!

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15

Memorizing God’s Word takes deliberate intentional effort, diligence, and brings the greatest reward (Psalm 119; Proverbs 2-4; Jeremiah 15:16, etc.). Memorizing Holy Scripture comes by repetition and association.

Where are you weak? Find one or more Bible verses that address your weakness. Write them on an index card. Memorize them.

THE MORE SCRIPTURE YOU MEMORIZE, THE MORE POWERFUL A VESSEL, A WEAPON YOU BECOME IN THE HANDS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Proverbs 4:4; 24:5; 2 Timothy 2:21, etc.).

When stating this, at times the excuse-making, lazy people become upset. Instead of repenting and applying their God-given faculties and time to Him, they attack the mere messenger for stating biblical and self-evident truth.

I’ve heard people misquote verses like the following verse and seem to attempt to use this as an excuse for not memorizing the words of God…..

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;” Hebrews 10:16

If this were the case, if the LORD was doing it all for us and we have no need to get those words of His into us, why then did the LORD command us to “read,” “study,” “retain,” and “meditate” upon His Word? (See Revelation 1:3; Nehemiah 8:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 4:4; Joshua 1:8.)

Knowing King James Bible truth is what equips you with divine substance to share (1 Peter 3:15).

Concerning His words, the LORD commands His people to “write them upon ….”

“And thou shalt WRITE them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:9

“And thou shalt WRITE them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:” Deuteronomy 11:20

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; WRITE them upon the table of thine heart:” Proverbs 3:3

“Bind them upon thy fingers, WRITE them upon the table of thine heart.” Proverbs 7:3

The “write” is to engrave, to inscribe (Hebrew kathab). When we obey the LORD by posting His Word where we can view, read, see, and meditate upon His words, they will become more and more inscribed, engraved upon the table of our hearts as an essential component to conduct our lives forward in God’s will. How else could His words be “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” if we don’t even know those words very well? (Psalms 119:105)

Someone might say: “But brother under the New Covenant we have the Holy Spirit now.” True and He enlightens and bring to our remembrance His Word and yet, He can only bring to remembrance to us that of His Word that we’ve put in us, right? Notice closely what Jesus taught:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

Notice that the Holy Spirit is our “Comforter” and Teacher and yet He brings back to our “remembrance” specifically those things He has “said unto” us. And, the primary way God speaks is through an open Bible, not a closed one. In other words, the LORD speaks to those who are His true disciples, students. And His students study His words (2 Timothy 2:15).

On that note, brother Chris Sitter writes:

“Our job is to put the Word in us, and it’s the Holy Spirit – who will bring it out.”

You cannot possibly fully, properly meditate upon a bible truth you don’t first memorize or at least become very familiar with.

IF you want to most effectively preach the Word, you must memorize it! (See Proverbs 4:4; 22:17-21.)

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5

Is the LORD you claim to love important enough to you to memorize His Word?

It’s not till you memorize a Bible verse that you really begin to see what He’s saying in it. Try it.

ANYTHING you say out loud enough times WILL be memorized! Proverbs 4:4

Don’t just read it – MEMORIZE IT!

WHEN we have a weakness, the best thing to do is pray and find Scripture dealing with that thing. Write it down on index cards and begin memorizing, quoting, and meditating upon it (2 Peter 1:3-4; Psalms 119:11, etc.).

When taking college courses, I reduced the most important test information down and put it on index cards. Worked amazing.

“Christ’s words must abide or continue in us. We must study His words, fairly devour His words, let them sink deep into our thought and into our heart, keep them in our memory, obey them constantly in our life, let them shape and mold our daily life and our every act.” R.A. Torrey

Those who don’t love God enough to devour His Word daily – simply don’t love God – they are full of self!

“IF (IF, IF) ye CONTINUE in my word, THEN are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

IF you aren’t continuing in the Word it’s because you aren’t continuing, abiding in Christ (John 15:1-6).

Something special definitely happens when those divine words flow through your eye gates into your mind and through your hand – onto an index card!

WHEN you memorize the Word, it then owns you, and you own that treasure! (Proverbs 4:4)

“I know sometimes while I am writing out God’s Words on index cards, my hand wants to shake with emotion…I love him so much…I tend to get so excited and want to show the world what I have just read!!” Mary B.

In Israel, the LORD instructed those in places of authority to hand-record His Word.

“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law (Word) in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:” Deuteronomy 17:18-19

It was Satan himself who cast doubt on God’s Word and added just one word to what God had said to the man and woman (Genesis 3:1-6). Apparently Adam and Even didn’t listen to and intimately know the words of God – “EVERY word of God.” This led to the fall of mankind and is today leading to the downfall of many – because they don’t give detailed attention and absolute daily diligence to knowing “every word of God” (Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 4:4). It is my opinion that when someone despises or so much as casts doubt upon God’s Word and/or the need for believers to intimately know God’s Word, such a person is under the influence of Satan who “cometh immediately and taketh away the word.” Is this not the work of the enemy? Jesus says: “Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15).

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

“EVERY word” God has given us in His written Word is important! Listen to what the LORD tells us in Joshua 1:8:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

“Success” and prosperity, as defined by the Almighty, comes from knowing, meditating upon, and observing to do God’s Word.

GOT Bible verses memorized? Now that we have a verse memorized, meditating on it, mulling it over is vital for it’s application. Amen for sure. Many times, when tempted to burst forth with words that may not be edifying or appropriate, Colossians 4:6 comes to me. Have had this one committed to memory for a while. Upon reciting it, mulling it over prayerfully, the LORD comes shining through – every time!

If the Word of God is not to depart out of our mouths, according to Joshua 1:8, how could anyone object to and resist the need to memorize Scripture? Jesus had God’s Word memorized from His childhood and quoted it to the Devil verbatim while being tempted (Matthew 4). What higher precedence and example could there be for memorizing and knowing Scripture?

We cannot possibly properly meditate on a divine truth we haven’t memorized (Proverbs 4:4).

“Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Proverbs 4:4

“I’ve found that reading a verse that catches my eye over and over during my daily reading helps me retain.” Jon Crane

God’s Word cannot get into us unless we get into it.

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

God is able saints. Memorizing verses like these has helped this disciple mightily: Psalms 57:7; 63:8; 1 Chronicles 16:11; 22:19

The following is a divine command:

“STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

At times, some bring up the verses which speak of God writing His Word upon the hearts of His people. Yet, in context, this seems to be speaking of Israel, when they are ultimately restored to the LORD (Hebrews 8). It certainly doesn’t negate the need to know God’s Word intimately.

Did the LORD not tell His people to know His Word? Yes and He instructed them to surround themselves with His Word. Here’s an example of such divine instruction:

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Also, by experience we all know that we’ve been in situations, discussions, etc., where we lacked the distinct words of of the LORD that would have spoken perfectly to the topic being discussed.

Some seem to wish to shirk the responsibility to diligently study, know, meditate upon, and memorize God’s Word by saying things like “the LORD wrote His words on my heart” or “I am led by the Holy Spirit and so don’t need to know God’s Word that well.” This is seriously concerning and pure error.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err (go into error), not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29

When are God’s people “destroyed”?

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6

God’s people are “destroyed” when they lack the knowledge of God’s Word.

When do God’s people increase in strength?

“A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.” Proverbs 24:5

As we personally study and know God’s Word, His strength in us will be increased accordingly. God’s people increase in His strength when they are personally filled with the knowledge of His Word.

The LORD instructs us to write, record, retain His words upon the table of our hearts and by doing so we will obtain His favor:

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; WRITE THEM UPON THE TABLE OF THINE HEART: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4

Charles Pray writes: “You cannot retain any truths from the Word unless you first digest them. In other words God can only bring to your remembrance only that which you stored in your memory. Amen!”

Amen. Yes, this is what Jesus taught us (John 14:26).

Resistance to knowing God’s Word is sourced in the enemy of souls. It’s the Word of God that defeats him as we see our Savior doing when He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan (Matthew 4).

“Whoso despiseth (disrespects, despises) the word (the need for it) shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13

Study Psalms 119.

MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD

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“Them that Love Him”

——WHAT one temporarily has in this fleeting world or doesn’t have, has NOTHING to do with that person’s spiritual state. This is what Jesus taught: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15) In fact James says:

“HEARKEN, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, HATH NOT GOD CHOSEN THE POOR OF THIS WORLD RICH IN FAITH, AND HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM WHICH HE HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM?” JAMES 2:5

James says God chooses those for His eternal kingdom “that love him,” namely “the poor of this world.” We are justified by “faith” and not by what we do or do not temporarily possess in this fleeting life.

IF in your mind you rate people by what they have or don’t have in this fleeting sinful world, you are deeply deceived and in utter need of repentance and the washing of water by the Word of God. You are carnally minded (Romans 8:5-6).

Regrettably, it seems that most people professing to be following Christ, the One who gave all, are not the least bit concerned if their brother or sister has a need. God have mercy upon us and grant us repentance in Jesus’ Name! Are these people truly saved?

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:16-19

“If we are in Jesus we have the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8). Unfathomable (in our small minds), infinite wealth and spiritual blessings! Endless mercy, grace, and forgiveness. That is inexhaustible! Why do we need any worldly riches that will rot and corrupt our hearts!? Lay up in your hearts God’s riches! Which are eternal!” Karen Cochran

Some have tens of thousands in the bank and could care less to find out if a sister or brother has a need. The Bible assures us that they are not saved. If you have even a little to give and don’t, it’s because you simply have chosen not to know and abide in Christ.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:14-17

The financial institutions and their salesmen are vying for your money. They want your money to invest so that you and they earn a financial gain in this life. Christians in need, orphans, and Gospel workers are also available to invest in. To help them is to invest in the LORD’s kingdom and be repaid dividends for eternity. Oh, and your heart will follow where you choose to place your money. Jesus says “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

PRAYER: Holy Father, please break me and make me Your authentic follower. Jesus I love You. Let me walk as You walked, live as You lived, love as You love. Bless this life You gave to be truly crucified with You – dead, buried, and raised up – a vessel of honor for Your glory! In Jesus’ name.

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1 John 4

God Is Love

“7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
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