Memory Verses by Monk Preston
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Introduction: Why Memorize Scripture? "I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word." -Psalm 119:16 Why should Christians memorize God's Word? To know God's Will, To live God's way, to share God's truth, to worship God, and to receive God's blessing. To Know God's Will: To resist temptation: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." -Psalm 119:11 We read the Bible to learn about God. God reveals Himself to us through His Word. He also reveals His will for our lives; what He wants us to do; how we should live. "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." (John 17:17) "The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Psalm 119:130). To Live God's Way: We memorize scripture to internalize the truth of God's Word into our minds and hearts, and that God's Will for our lives may be manifested in our living the way that He wants us to. To Share God's Truth: We memorize Scripture so that we can better share the Gospel, the Good News of Christ's Salvation for a lost world; to fulfill the Great Commission. Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."(II Timothy 2:15). "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:" (I Peter 3:15). To Worship God: We memorize Psalms to use in our prayer time with God. Martin Luther said that what he felt was so great about the Psalms was that in them we get to actually see and hear the Prayers of David and some other Old Testament Saints. Athanasius said that what is so great about the Psalms is that God is speaking to us through his word, even as we are praying them to Him. They cover every need in prayer of the human condition, and contain the solutions to the very problems that we are praying about. With The Lord's Prayer, they are God's own instruction book (by example) for his people in the ways of prayer. To Receive God's Blessing: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) The greatest blessing that God can give to us is Himself; a closer relationship with Himself; and the revelation of the knowledge of Himself. We receive everything from the Father through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. As Hank Hanegraaff says, prayer is primarily not about asking for things, but about developing and growing in communion with, and in a relationship with God. To quote him word for word, "Prayer is the essence of the Christian life." __________________________________________________ See Also: __________________________________________________ Copyright © 2002 S.G.P. All rights reserved. Next Memory Index Plan of Salvation
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