If you need an answer to a specific need and you do not appear to be receiving it, there is ONE QUESTION you must ask yourself and honestly answer without being defensive.  “Are you a consistent student of God’s Word?”  “Do you read, study, and meditate on His Word?”

You may answer this by saying, “I know the Word of God. I can still recall scriptures I learned as a child.”  Yet, that is not the same thing as meditating on His Word today!  Let me share with you just a few obvious reasons from scripture as to why regularly being in God’s Word will lead you to a place of receiving the answer you need.

First, God directly tells you to “study” His Word. The meaning in 2 Timothy 2:15 is more fully described as ‘correctly analyzing and accurately dividing, rightly handling and skillfully teaching.’  Many Christian leaders look at this meaning only in connection to the “study” they do in preparing to teach or preach.  If the only study you do in the Word is for giving out to others, what, then, are you taking in for yourself?  2 Timothy 2:15 begins with more personally directed words, ‘present yourself to God,’ revealing that this time of deep study is one of private instruction with God.

Indeed, we can see the command of studying His Word, but how does it connect to answered needs?  Consider Isaiah 62:6 where God has commissioned you to be a ‘watchman.’  The specified duty of a watchman is to ‘put the Lord in remembrance.’  Of what then are you to remind God?  His Word!  Not that the Omniscient God forgets, but for our own spiritual benefit.  God tells us in Isaiah 43:26 that when we come to Him, stating our case, that we do so by reminding Him of His Word.  We see a practical example of the Psalmist doing this in Psalm 119:49.

The result of ‘reminding God’ is stated in Isaiah 62:7 and then reiterated in Zephaniah 3:20.  Continue bringing to God’s remembrance “until He establishes” and “makes it a praise.”  Zephaniah declares that God will “turn back your captivities” when He “makes you a praise.”  In other words, God will meet your need and restore to you what has been stolen or held back; health, direction, favor, finances, mended relationships, etc…

So, the bottom line question to consider is: “How can you remind God of His Word if you are not studying His Word?”

Of course, you may be thinking, “Pastor Gary, answers to my needs come through faith.”  True, but where does faith come from? “Faith comes through hearing, and hearing the Word of God.”

As the saying goes, “Do yourself a favor!”  Read, study, and meditate on His Word today, and every day!  State God’s promises back to Him in prayer until they are established in your life and result in praise to God for the mighty things He has done!

-Pastor Gary

Give Us a SHOUT!

You SHOUT for joy!  You SHOUT when you have the victory!  On the other hand, you SCREAM in fear, when you are about to lose or be defeated.  So…..  “Why Scream When You Can SHOUT!?!”  This is a TREMENDOUSLY POWERFUL, FUN & EXCITING, HIGHLY INTERACTIVE, Kids’ Worship Service that I know your group will LOVE!

Get it at:  http://childrensministry.org/estore/why-scream-when-you-can-shout-event-service-kit/