The DNA of What is a Christian – Part # 6 “What Does a Christian Feed On?”
The DNA of What is a Christian – Part 6
“What Does a Christian Eat?”
The spiritual nourishment of a Christian is the Word of God. Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want – Psalm 23:1
Every new believer, every Christian must realize for yourself what your Bible will do for you if you only take it seriously, literally and personally!
We know from Scripture that we have an inner man, that part of us has an appetite that must be fed by truth and reality. Sadly too many Christians today are malnourished, weak and powerless.
The prophet Amos said there would be a time when there would be a famine in the land….Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
Australia today we are told is a nation that is becoming obese. That is we as a people are consuming a diet that is actually killing us.
At the same time we have believer’s starving in relation to their diet of God’s precious Word.
Food from Heaven
God provided food from heaven (called manna) to the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings – literally it was bread from heaven.
But the people had to each day, except the seventh day, go out and gather the manna themselves. If they waited too long, the manna would actually melt and disappear. – Exodus 16.
Jesus picked up this illustration of heavenly food in John chapter 6, but here Jesus declared that He was indeed the Bread of Life – the heavenly manna.
Both the manna and Jesus came from heaven.
Both were to be received personally.
Both were to meet a need.
To reject either meant death.
But Jesus in using this amazing illustration pointed out two great contrasts!
The Old Testament manna would only sustain human life.
But the New Testament “Bread of Life – Jesus” would give divine life!
How do we receive this divine nourishment?
Through God’s Word!
We receive heavenly nourishment through God’s Word.
Jhn 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life.
John told us that Jesus Christ is the Word become flesh – John 1:14
Therefore when we meditate (chew over) Scripture and take in its truth into our hearts, we are feeding on Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.
NB – The Children of Israel would have to get up early to gather the manna before the sun would melt it – we should follow this example and get our food early so we can be nourished spiritually by God’s Word and keep us strong for what ever would come across our path through the coming day.
So the Word is bread – Man shall not love by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. – Matt 4:4 Deut 8:3
The Word is also milk – 1Pe 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
The Word is also like honey – Psa 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, [Sweeter] than honey to my mouth!
But I have also met people who read and study God’s Word only so they can impress others with their knowledge of Bible trivia – what a tragedy!
Whilst it is important to know Bible facts, it is critical that our “eating of God’s Word” is to know Jesus Christ in greater way! To know Him our Lord and Saviour
In addition, feeding on God’s Word is food to make us wise!
2Ti 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Calvary Chapel teaches expository through the Bible because – 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul wrote that the Scriptures when we feed on them can equip us for living and serving God because God’s Word is profitable for:
Doctrine – what’s right
Reproof – what’s not right
Correction – how to get right
Instruction – how to stay right
Listen carefully, it is not enough to let the Holy Spirit teach us the basic truths of God’s Word; we must also let the Holy Spirit reprove us when we have strayed, wandered, done our own thing, so that He can get us back on course, the right path and then equally important instruct and teach us how to stay on the right path for our lives that God has planned.
Reproof can be hard but it is God’s way of maturing us and us learning to be more dependent upon God.
Pro 10:17 He who keeps instruction [is in] the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.
Just as important as the reproof is how you respond to it for it reveals whether we are wise or foolish, humble or proud.
Pro 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction [is] stupid.
So how do we have a disciplined devotional life that ensures our inner man is kept well fed on God’s holy Word so that we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might – Ephesians 6:10
Three things are needed – discipline, system and balance.
We need to live and have a devotional life – which is one that has a quiet time in God’s presence, includes a time in prayer and the consistent reading of God’s Word. This is a daily devotional life.
A devotional life is not one that is lived simply to meet and fulfil an obligation! NO!!!!!!
It is to deepen our relationship with God and so that we love to do His will in everything.
Discipline – Most people have no problem with eating breakfast, lunch and dinner each day – having time set aside for three meals.
But when it comes to setting aside time each day for the Lord – there seems to be a massive ‘black hole’. So that what should be our most amazing part of our day becomes a burden, a struggle and a crazy sense of guilt!
How does this happen?
Two common mistakes are made:
You aim too high with too much self determination – we hear about all these famous old saints and their examples and we try to imitate them from the get go.
(This is a classic principle detailed by Paul in Romans 7, that when we determine not to something bad, we do it; and when we determine to do something good, we don’t do it. This always happens when we depend on our own strength and determination instead of yielding to the Holy Spirit alone Who can fulfil God’s righteousness in our lives.)
Romans 8: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
So start off with 15 minutes in the time of day when you are at your “best”.
Keep that special between you and the Lord every day.
Keep that appointment!
As your devotion with the Lord deepens and you are meeting with God not as a ritual appointment but because you love Him – you will find that time of 15 minutes extending and you enjoying it so much you look forward to it each day!
That’s discipline, now we need System!
2. System
King David wrote, My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. – Psalm 5:3
DIRECT – means to ‘set in order’. In the Old Testament it is used to describe organizing soldiers for battle (Gen 14:8); arranging a sacrifice on the alter (Lev1:8); setting a meal before a guest (Ps23:5) – so what does all this mean?
David is teaching us that we approach our devotional life in an orderly way so that our devotions aren’t spontaneous and unrehearsed like an amateur hour at a social club.
Remember Paul teaches us, Let all things be done decently and in order – 1 Cor 14:40
(the General has a battle plan, the host a plan for the meal and table setting)
The danger is if you base your devotional practices on how you feel you will never make progress in your Christian walk.
Your devotional life should include worship and praise, Bible reading and mediation, and confession and prayer.
So first few minutes of your 15 minutes should be devoted to worship and coming into God’s presence to exalt Him and glorify Him for Who He is.
Next, read a portion of God’s Word and think about it, applying what it says to you life. (Don’t play “spin the bottle” and just open the Bible up at any place, because that is not how you read this blessed letter from God or any book in fact.)
If you are just starting a devotional life, a great place to start is Psalm 1 and Matthew 1. So read a psalm and use it as an expression of worship followed by a chapter in Matthew and allow time for God’s Word to speak to your heart.
Systematically do this day after day.
What does meditating on God’s Word mean?
It means to chew over like a cow chewing its cud to get all the goodness out of the grain or grass. It means to talk to oneself about what God is saying to us. God commanded Joshua to keep the Word in his mouth – Joshua 1:8
Meditation is to your soul what digestion is to the body so that what you take in becomes part of you.
3. Balance
The danger is that we do with the Bible what we do with our physical diet; we major on the things that we enjoy the most and are the easiest to prepare. This will rob you of spiritual nourishment as you neglect certain “foods”.
Remember we are to live by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God.
An unbalanced diet leads to an unbalanced Christian life.
The Bible is a balanced book. It contains law and grace, encouragement and warning, heaven and hell.
Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Finally, God your heavenly Father longs to meet with you everyday.
Develop a healthy balanced devotional life with all the right ingredients:
Meditation, worship, praise, confession, intercession and the reading of God’s Word that feeds your soul building you up in the things of the Lord.
What about Devotional books???
They are a great help BUT they are never to be a substitute for your Bible.
Use your devotional book therefore AFTER you have done your time in God’s Word and your prayer and meditation.
Relying purely on a devotional, is life relying on fast food alone to feed you, and you never want to live on substitutes.