Apr 18 2021 Restoring Relationship Through the Word

Thanks, Scott and Melissa –

I’m going to continue on with what they’ve already shared.

Last week, I talked about – in the series – the first section – restoring our relationship with the Lord – and I talked about Peter and how he denied the Lord. Restoring might not be the right word – as it implies falling away – maybe renewing or refreshing. We are constantly having to turn back to God – and maybe multiple times per day. Life is busy, stressful and hectic – we might not fall away, we might just be forgetting.

Maybe a metaphor – and there are a couple out there who can really relate to this – like purchasing a house that is 100 years old or more – and having to restore that house.

We have a 60-year-old house and it is really no different. It is an ongoing process and you’re never finished. When you think you’re finished – other things show up!

That is a good metaphor for our souls.

The Word of God

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7 NAU)

I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me. (Psalm 119:93 NAU)

Our souls are like this restoration project. The Bible says we have this old man, not this old house, living inside of us, and the process is not completed until the very end. As long as we are on this earth, a restoration process must take place.

I’d like to talk about restoring our relationship through The Word.

For them - The Law of the Lord – Deuteronomy, Leviticus…

For us – we think of the entire Bible

When we talk about God’s word, there is that phrase – the word of God – there are 2 aspects – first, the Bible. The written revelation of God. There is another Word… Or another WORD – and that is Jesus. He IS THE WORD. Most of the time, in the New Testament, when the Word of God is used, it is speaking of Jesus, the person – not necessarily the Bible!

That is the ultimate revelation of God – the purpose, the goal, and the function of the Bible is to point us to Jesus.

That is so important – as the Bible has many other benefits.

There is tremendous teachings, promises, warnings, blessings – things that cover real-life, practical applications – from handling money to raising kids – all of it is good and important to us – but, in reality – I think this happens to all of us at times. We get so focused on that that the Bible becomes a book of morality and Christian practice, we forget about Jesus.

We get so caught up in how we are doing things – we forget it is about Jesus. Coming to know Jesus through a reading of scripture is one of the most practical things we can do.

Like Tozer – what you think about when you think about God is the most important thing about you – as that is the thing you will become.

I am going to go through some ways of reading the Bible that will help to restore, renew, and refresh our relationship with Jesus.

I like what Scott shared – he found a way for himself – there is no formula for everyone. We need to find something that works in our natural rhythms – and God has a unique way He wants to speak to us.

First – we can read the Bible as a spiritual reading – devotionally – to know God. And to hear from God.

To go to the Bible to know God and hear from Him – and especially to allow Him to speak into our current condition, trouble, need, and concerns.

We need to have times where we just allow God to speak to what is going on in us.

Speaking to the need of the moment. There is no right way, but there are processes that take place.

Firs t- to prepare our hearts to hear from God.

Having our appetizer – to get us ready to hear from God.

To do that – we must first STOP! Stop everything else, whether it is the activities we are doing or the activities of our minds – so we can turn ourselves and attention to the Lord.

Then we examine ourselves – asking what am I carrying or holding onto that I need to set down so I can commune with God – it might be a relational issue – or some control thing that is going on. Moments where you can hear from Him.

Then ask God to speak to us – O Lord, SPEAK! We need to hear from You!

When you ask someone to speak, it is good to listen!

A helpful way to do that – read slowly and thoughtfully. Listening to what God is saying through the passage –

Devotional Reading

The purpose of spiritual reading is to open ourselves to how God may be speaking to us in and through any particular text... We are seeking not merely information but formation.

(M. J. Thompson)

We are listening – and the goal is not to get through so many chapters – there is a time for that – but the goal is to hear – and we need to pay attention to the words where God is speaking.

We have all experienced this – God wants us to experience this – those words POPPING off the page – jumping off the page into our hearts! And then when that happens… I used to underline – and there is a problem with that – and that is, after a few times through, all the verses are underlined and you have no idea why it was a thing then!

God, what is going on in my life – what are you saying through this to me? Meditate – contemplate.

I was talking with someone – and they were sharing – having extra time on my hands – time for contemplation – really thinking through what God is saying and doing in my life.

As you do that – discover what is going on in me that God is speaking in this passage?! It might sound scary, but God does want to speak to us! It is not something weird. There might be some unexpected things – but He can speak to you in a way you can appreciate, understand, and relate to.

A second way of readding scripture to restore souls – reading the Bible as Narrative. It is story and it points to Jesus – the majority of the Bible is written as a narrative – story. And all those in between have been written with a story behind them. Even the book of Romans has a story behind it. There is stuff going on in Rome – and there is a story in Rome about Jews and Gentiles coming together and not working out the relationships. You cannot understand the theology of Romans if you don’t understand the narrative, the story, behind it. The theology is tied to the story behind it.

It is true of Philippians, Ephesians, Galatians, etc.!

There are some simple things you can do – and some not so simple –

If you have a study Bible – and to do this well – read the stuff in the study Bible before chapter 1 – the setting and theme of the story – that is good stuff! If you want to go a little deeper, and want to spend a little money –

An Old Testament Survey – and New Testament Survey – they go in-depth into what each book is about and the story behind each book. These are expensive, so you may not be able to use those – there is software and stuff online to help study the Bible.

You do that to get background. If you want the easy, cheaters way to do that – Go to the Bible Project – and they have a video for each book and turn it into a ten-minute video that explains what is going on in that book!

As we do this – look for themes, patterns, motifs, phrases – the entire Bible is this narrative that leads to Jesus – and it is in those repeating themes and patterns that there is so much to learn!

I agree with Scott – I read the Bible – and jump around. I don’t know why I do it that way.

Larry is always reading through and starting again. I have done that in the past.

Here is a ‘practice’ that is helpful in reading as narrative. The Gospel contemplation – taking a story – not like, the entire story of Abraham, but maybe the Abraham and Isaac story – read the story through the perspective of one of the characters of the story.

Zacchaeus – read as if you are him! Prophetic imagination! Or read it as someone in the crowd – or one of the Pharisees! Then switch!

It pulls back the layers of meaning in Scripture. The bible is filled with meaning that goes deeper and deeper. When Proverbs talks about getting wisdom – digging as if digging for treasure. And this requires moving a lot of material! TO get down into it!

And what is cool about the Bible – it can talk to us at each level!

Sometimes you just read one verse and have to stop right there! But it also can be something that can be worked and dug into. Dig deeper and God reveals more of Himself to us. And it is our choice how much we want to learn – how much we want to connect.

I encourage you, in closing – find one way to start – to go deeper into God’s word – find one way to do that – one of the practices – of reading through scripture – however long it takes – find one way –

Lord, we thank You – for Your word – the Bible restores our souls. We need You to restore us. We want to know You – to turn to You – to know that You are just waiting for us to turn. Let your face shine upon us. That we would be restored and revived from You – in Your name we pray!

Narrative Reading

Seek to allow the passage to open to you its deeper dimensions, its multiple layers of meaning. At the same time, you seek to allow the text to probe deeper levels of your being… (M. R. Mulholland)

We are to, “inhabit the narrative as the people of God addressed in its pages.” (J. B. Green)

Psalm 1:1 Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ² but who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night. ³ They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-- whatever they do prospers.

Joshua 1:8 ⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.

Hebrews 1:1

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. ³ He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,