THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD

Psalm 119:105

Ps. 119:105 (GW) - Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

INTRO:  Prof. W. G. Moorhead of Xenia Theological Seminary, told a story that one day he was returning to his home from one of his journeys, and wanted to take with him some present for his children. He decided at last that the present should be a dissected map. When he gave it to
his two girls he said, "Now if you can put this together you will know more of geography than if you studied a book." They worked very patiently, but at last one of them rose to her feet, saying, "I cannot put it together,'' and said the great Bible teacher, "it was an awful jumble." They had a part of North America in South America, and other mistakes quite as serious were made. Suddenly, however, the larger who was still on her knees, discovered that the other side of one piece of the map was a man's hand. Curiosity prompted her to turn over the other piece and there was a part of his face, and then her fingers working rapidly she turned over every piece of the man, and called to her sister saying, "Come back, there is a man on the other side, let us put the man together first," and almost instantly, said the father, the figure of the man was completed, and when the map was turned over every river and lake, every mountain and plain was in the proper place. And this said Dr. Moorhead, is the secret of Bible study. Put the man, Christ Jesus, together first. Jesus in Genesis is the same as Jesus in the Revelation. The fact is there is one name that binds the book together. Learn the meaning of that name, and you have gotten
hold of the power of the Bible.

Because of Jesus, the Bible is a book that is different than any other book.  First off, the Bible has every type of genre out there to read:   Action/Adventure, History, Romance, Comedy, Poetry, Future events, the spiritual world, etc…

Not only does it have all of this, but it is like a road map for our lives like in this story.  Every event in life that you and I may face, the answer can be found in the Bible.

You see, not only do we have ministries as individuals, but the Bible has a ministry as well.  And 12 of them can be found in Psalm 119.

Just a little contextual information on this Psalm before we get into the meat of the sermon.  First off, this Psalm is the longest chapter in the entire Bible.  It is also acrostic – meaning, it was divided by the Jewish Alphabet.  It is also a lengthy prayer concerning the Word of God.  The Word of God is the theme of all 176 verses.

Let’s look at the 12 ministries the Word of God has that is found in this Psalm.

1.  The Word purifies or cleanses.

Verse 9 - How can a young person keep his life pure? {He can do it} by holding on to your word.

A.     You notice that this verse is directed toward young people.

1.      They face so many temptations.  It seems that the works of the flesh aren’t just for the hidden places anymore, but people performing them proudly do it in public.

2.      They make the young believers in Christ feel that something is wrong because they don’t participate.

B.     The Bible declares in this verse that the young person keeps their life pure by holding on to the Word.

1.      Young people – get into the Bible daily.  Read it.  Memorize it.  Study it.  Obey it.  That is your answer to remaining clean in an unclean world.

2.  The Word gives new life.

Verse 25 - I am close to death. Give me a new life as you promised.

A.     Church here is an encouragement.  When you are struggling, and at what seems to be at the point of death (death of your family, dreams, whatever it may be), hold on to the Word of God, it will produce in you new life to carry on.

3.  The Word strengthens us in times of sorrow.

Verse 28 - I am drowning in tears. Strengthen me as you promised.

A.     There are times that sorrows just seem to cover us like a blanket.  During those times it is easy to feel sorrow for oneself and question things.  Hold on to the Word of God.  You will find strength in it’s very pages.

4.  The Word keeps it’s promise.

Verse 38 - Keep your promise to me so that I can fear you.

1. We as people break our promises to one another.
2. But know this, if God has promised something in His Word – He is going to perform it.
3. This should humble us and cause us to reverence Him.

5.  The Word gives us answers greater than the insults hurled our way.

Verse 42 - Then I will have an answer for the one who insults me since I trust your word.

A.     Insults and persecution for the cause of Christ Jesus hurts.  Make no mistake about it.

B.     But when you trust in God’s Word – the answers of the Word bring a greater and more powerful restoration of His presence than what the insults and persecution tries to destroy.

6.  The Word provides comfort in misery.

Verse 50 - This is my comfort in my misery: Your promise gave me a new life.

A.     Don’t sit in the miserable pit you may at times find yourself in.  Pick yourself up, get into the Word and let God provide you comfort.

7.  The Word instructs and makes us wise.

Verses 98-99 - ⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, because your commandments are always with me. ⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers, because your written instructions are in my thoughts.

A  The purpose of digging into the Word is not to show everyone how smart we are, or to make super-christians out of us.  The purpose is to instruct to live Godly, wise lives.  To avoid pitfalls and to do what is right.

8.  The Word brings light.

Verse 105 - Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

A.     The Word not only lights up our path, but lights up each pitfall so that we can avoid them and lights up each dark chamber of our heart so that it can be cleaned.

9.  The Word bring hope.

Verse 114 - You are my hiding place and my shield. My hope is based on your word.

A.     Our hope is not based on what we see, or what report we may be given, but on what the Word of God says.

10. The Word brings help.

Verse 116 - Help me God, as you promised, so that I may live. Do not turn my hope into disappointment.

A.     The Hebrew for help means, “to prop up.”

B.     That is what the Word does.  When we are weak and need an extra support to prop us up, it does just that.

11. The Word brings peace and keeps us from stumbling.

Verse 165 -  There is lasting peace for those who love your teachings. Nothing can make those people stumble.

A.     When we study the Word, interpret correctly, and apply it correctly to our lives, we have lasting peace and will not stumble.

12.  The Word rescues.

Verse 170 - Let my plea for mercy come into your presence. Rescue me as you promised.

A.     The Word is powerful enough when properly interpreted and applied to rescue us in our time of need.

CONCL:  What is your need this morning.  The Word of God is there to meet it.  Make a new fresh commitment not to just read it casually, but to study it, interpret it correctly, and apply it correctly as well.

Being a student of the Word is a life-long adventure.  As long as we are alive on this earth, we will never graduate.  Become a student and share in the joy and experience of discovering the Word for yourselves and hiding it in your heart and obeying and applying it as well.