When do we hear the Word of God gladly?

We hear the Word of God gladly, when we receive it in faith, keep it in our hearts, meditate upon it and live in accordance with it.

James 1:21: Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

Luke 2:19: Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 8:15: But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luther says: “Any observance or work that is practiced without God’s Word is unholy before God, no matter how brilliantly it may shine.”

Assignment: Learn the festivals and seasons of the church year.

Why does God want us to support the preaching and teaching of His Word?

God not only wants us to benefit from His word, He wants others to receive this benefit also.Therefore He wants us to testify of Jesus and to do and support mission work both at home and in other countries.

Mark 16:15: Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Matt. 28:19,20: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.

Assignment: Discuss: How can we do mission work?

When do we gladly hear God’s Word?

We gladly hear God’s Word, when possessing it means more to us than anything else. This is apparent when

1. We want to be present when our congregation meets to hear and study God’s Word.


2. We support the preaching, teaching and spreading of God’s Word according to our ability.


3. We faithfully participate in our family devotions.


4. We individually study God’s Word diligently.
   
   

   Ps. 119:72: The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
   
   Ps. 26:8: Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth.
   
   Ps.122:1: I was glad when they said to me: Let us go into the house of the Lord.
   
   Acts 2:42: And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
   
   Gal. 6:6: Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
   
   Acts 17:11: They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Assignment: Read Luke 10:38-42: Mary, sister Martha. Discuss: How can we help to maintain the office of the ministry and spread the Word of God?

How do we hold the Word of God sacred?

We hold God’s Word sacred, when we at all times with a truly respectful heart regard it as God’s own word and with holy fear avoid desecrating it and taking it lightly.

1 Thes. 2:13: When ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God.

Is. 66:2: To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word.

Why is despising God’s Word such a serious sin?

When a person despises God’s Word, he despises God himself. At the same time he rejects God’s good intention, because God wants to save him through His Word.

Luke 10:16: He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

John 8:47: He that is of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

When do we despise God’s Word?

We despise God’s Word:

1. When we consider worldly matters more important than hearing God’s Word.
   
   

   Luke 8:11,14: From Jesus’parable of the sower: The seed is the Word of God....The seed which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.




2. When we refuse to hear God’s Word.
   
   

   Luke 14: 16-24: Jesus’parable of the great banquet. The invited guests refused to come because worldly matters were more important to them. Read the entire parable.




3. When we do not believe the Word and do not want to live in accordance with it.
   
   

   Heb. 4:2: For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
   
   James 1:22: Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
   

What does it mean to despise God’s Word?

God‘s Word is despised when its divine authority is not respected. This happens openly when the Bible is not regarded as God’s Word, and when God‘s Word is not used, heard, or studied, and the Sacraments are not used.

It happens in a hidden manner, when they are indeed used, but reluctantly, carelessly and hypocritically.

Assignment: Read Jer. 36: Jehoiakim burned Jeremiah’s scroll, on which the Word of the Lord had been written; Luke 8:5-15: Jesus’ parable of the sower.

What does God forbid in the Third Commandment?

God forbids us to despise His Word.

Hebr. 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.

John 8:47: He that is of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

What does God require of us in the Third Commandment?

God requires that we hold His Word sacred, glady hear it and live in accordance with it all the days of our lives.

John 17:17: Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth.

Luther: “At whatever hour, then, God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all...Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled.”

What does it mean to sanctify the holy day?

We sanctify the holy day in the right way, when

1. We join our fellow Christians in our congregation and, with believing hearts, hear the pure Word of God, partake of the Sacraments, pray, and thank and praise God.


2. We individually use God’s Word diligently, and when we sanctify our lives by believing this Word. We do not sanctify the holy day if we only rest but do not use God’s Word.

Acts 2:42: And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Heb. 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.

Acts 17:11: They received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

What does the word ´sanctify´ mean?

To sanctify something means to set it apart and bless it with God‘s Word and prayer for its God-intended use. We cannot sanctify anything without God’s Word.

1 Tim. 4:4,5: For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.

How is the New Testament Church to observe the Third Commandment?

God has not bound the New Testament Church to the Jewish Sabbath, which was Saturday. Nor has he designated any other day to replace it. But he wants us to continue to gather together to worship Him and to hear His Word. Exercising their Christian liberty, Christians chose Sunday or the Lord’s Day as a special day for gathering together for worship because Christ arose from the dead on Sunday, the first day of the week. He brought us genuine rest when He conquered sin and death.

John 5:18: He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Col. 2:13-17: And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.....Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath day.

Col. 3:16: Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spir64 itual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Assignment: Read Heb. 4:1-13: Rest for the people of God.

What day of the week was the Sabbath day during the Old Testament time?

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Thou shalt sanctify the holy day.) What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and his Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

The Old Testament day of rest was the Sabbath day or Saturday. On that day the people gathered to hear God´s Word. Sabbath means rest. The Sabbath foreshadowed Christ in whom we have forgiveness for our sins without having to earn it by our own works. As a result, our conscience is at rest and we are eternally blessed.

Lev. 23:3: Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation.

Heb. 4:3: We which have believed do enter into rest.

Matt. 11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.