LUKE 9:23-25 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

PSALM 119:9-16

GOD’S WORD DOESN’T JUST INFORM ME – IT TRANSFORMS MY DIRECTION

YOU CAN’T ARRIVE AT GOD’S WILL BY IGNORING GOD’S WORD

3 PRAYERS YOU CAN PRAY BEFORE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE

1. GOD, PLEASE HELP ME KNOW YOU MORE TODAY

2. PLEASE HELP ME TO GROW CLOSER TO YOU

3. PLEASE HELP ME TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS

MATTHEW 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

MATTHEW 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

3 THINGS WHY THE BIBLE MATTERS IN YOUR LIFE

1. IT HELPS YOU TO FOCUS

HOW I SEE DETERMINES HOW I STEP

PSALM 119:10 With all my heart I have sought You;

Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

2. IT IS A FORCE IN YOUR LIFE

LUKE 4:13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

1 PETER 5:8-9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in yourfaith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

PSALM 119:13 With my lips I have told of

All the ordinances of Your mouth.

3. IT HELPS ME TO REMAIN FRUITFUL

THE WORD PLANTED IN ME PRODUCES THE LIFE GOD PROMISED ME

IT'S NOT HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED. IT'S HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE WILL OF GOD

JIM DOWNING – “THEY LEARN THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING FRUITFUL WITHOUT BEING PURE.. THEY BEGIN TO BELIEVE THAT PURITY DOESN’T MATTER. EVENTUALLY, THEY BECOME LIKE TREES ROTTING INSIDE THAT ARE EVENTUALLY TOPPLED BY A STORM.”

DON’T MISTAKE THE FRUITFULNESS IN YOUR LIFE FOR OBEDIENCE.

JOHN 15:16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

IF MY DESTINATION IS GOD’S WILL, THEN MY ROUTE MUST GO THROUGH GOD’S WORD.