GOD'S WORD: NEGLECT OF IT

Reading: Psalms 119:9, 105, 130

Songs: Holy Bible, book divine

Theme: Importance of reading the Bible

INTRODUCTION 

           A.        It is normally expected that a person who has responsibility will be responsible. However, it is not always true. Medical doctors are sued for malpractice. Parents are negligent with their children. Neighbors are sued because on their property, as a consequence of their neglect a someone got hurt. Auto mechanics are also charged with incompetence. Even God’s people can be negligent.

           A.        For example, the best-selling book of all time is the Bible. It can be found in public libraries, most motel rooms, and in most American homes. In fact many homes have several copies of the Bible. It can be purchased for a little as $1.00 for a newsprint style. Many organizations give copies of it away to anyone who asks for it. t is available for free on the internet. You can even have it read as you listen. In spite of its obvious availability, most Americans have either never read the Bible or read very little of it.

           B.        It is not so surprising that many lost people don’t spend much time reading the Bible. The apostle Paul wrote, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Co 2:14). Without a desire to know the scriptures, there is nothing to draw the lost to read God’s word. What is sad, indeed shameful, is that most Christians spend little time reading the Bible for personal learning and so are ignorant of what God declares in it.

Discussion

I.         CONSIDER THE REASONS FOR NEGLECTING GOD’S WORD (Jer 48:10).

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully ....

           A.        Although most could read the Bible from front to back in a year reading just five chapters a day, taking about an hour or less, among those who believe the Bible is the word of God, most don’t read it frequently.

           B.        There Are Several Reasons That Bible Study Is Often Neglected

                       1.        Plight of this world (Luk 10:41)

                                   a.        Those concerned about the things of the world say things like, “There’s going to be war.” “There’s a sale on at the store.” “Davy has a sports game.” “I have to work.”

                                   b.        Such people claim they don’t have enough time to read the Bible.

                                   c.         People who do study the Bible are busy too, but they leave off other things, understanding what is more important (Mat 6:33).

                       2.        People

                                   a.        their words

                                               (1)       books, magazines, newspapers, school work, and email

                                               (2)       talking on the phone to such as friends

                                   b.        their companionship -

                       3.        Profit - after working hard many see themselves as too tired to read their Bibles; to go to the Bible studies offered by the church and some who do fall asleep during the study (Mat 6:24).

                                   a.        James wrote that a “double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Jam 1:8).

                       4.        Pleasure - computer games, music, movies, radio, sports, TV

                                   The Holy Bible and the TV Guide

On the table side by side,

The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.

One is well worn and cherished with pride,

But that one is not the Bible, it's the TV Guide.

As the pages are turned what shall they see?

It doesn't matter, just turn on the TV.

Then is the confusion started for they can't all agree,

What they shall watch on that old TV.

So they refer to the Book in which they all confide,

But it's not the Bible, it's the TV Guide.

The Word of God is seldom read,

Maybe a verse or two just before bed.

Exhausted and sleepy, tired as can be,

Not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV.

Then back to the table, side by side,

The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.

No time for prayer, no time for the Word.

The plan of salvation is seldom heard.

Forgiveness of sin so full and free,

We find in the Bible and not on TV.

                       5.        For such people who do not habitually read the Bible for learning, their zeal for the Lord has faded.

                                   a.        Jesus spoke of a congregation which was “neither cold nor hot” (Rev 3:15).

                                   b.        He said because they were spiritually “lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Rev 3:16).

                                   c.         For such people laziness and indifference has taken over their spiritual lives.

                                   d.        Such people lack spiritual training and lack discipline.

                                   e.        Such people willingly take another person’s word for what the Bible teaches.

                                   f.         For this reason, they do not study for themselves as the Bereans, who received “the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Act 17:11; cp. 1Jo 4:1-2).

Transition: Without reading the Bible for learning, we will not learn.

II.        CONSIDER THE RESULTS OF NEGLECTING GOD’S WORD

           A.        Jeremiah told Israel that they had been negligent in their service to God (Jer 2:31-32; 13:25; 18:15 -17) and we know the results for Israel (Hos 4:6).

                       1.        Sennacherib king of Assyria, ignorant of God’s word went against God’s people, Israel, and sent three men to Hezekiah; one of whom was Rabshakeh (2Ki 18:17).

                                   a.        “Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest” (2Ki 18:29-35)?

                                   b.        A second time Rabshakeh sent the message to Israel (2Ki 19:5-14).

                                   c.         The Lord however, destroyed the Assyrians and Sennacherib for pitting themselves against Israel (2Ki 19:32-37).

                       2.        One time, the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection came to Jesus and asked him a question.

                                   a.        “Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren” (Mat 22:24-25).

                                   b.        A brother had died without children and each of his brothers in turn married the wife, each also leaving no children.

                                   c.         The Sadducees, in trying to poke at the resurrection, asked whose wife she would be in heaven having properly had seven husbands.

                                   d.        “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Mat 22:29-30).

                       3.        The council of the Jewish leaders, ignorant of God’s word which had been given to them, thought they could stop the preaching of it (Act 5:17-40).

                                   a.        As a result of the work of the apostles, many were persuaded to believe, so much so that multitudes went out to the apostles to be healed of infirmities (Act 5:11-16).

                                   b.        Then the high priest and others with him laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison (Act 5:17-18).

                                   c.         However, the Lord opened the doors for the apostles and sent back to preach in the temple (Act 5:19-20).

                                   d.        After having brought the apostles back before the council and Peter having said, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” (Act 5:29) the high priest took counsel to slay the apostles (Act 5:21-33).

                                   e.        Gamaliel, having a little more understanding of God’s ways than they, said, “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” and they set the apostles free (Act 5:34-40).

                                   f.         If the Jews had known their Old Testament scriptures, they would have known Christ (Act 13:27).

                                               (1)       There are more than 300 prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament (cf. Psa. 22:1, 7-8, 16-18; Isa. 53:3-5).

                                               (2)       It is understandable that a number of them might have been overlooked; but not several hundred prophecies.

                                               (3)       With such overwhelming evidence at hand to them, there was no excuse for such ignorance.

           B.        Foolishness Is The Outcome For Those Who Don’t Well Know God’s Will (Pro 1:7),

                       1.        Jeremiah wrote, “For my people is foolish, they have not known me” (Jer 4:22).

                       2.        There are many in the church who by their lives seem to know no more about what is on TV or in the movies, than what is in the Bible.

                                   a.        They know more sports statistics than Bible statistics.

                                   b.        They have more songs memorized than scripture.

                                   c.         They know popular books or novels better than the Bible.

                                   d.        I’d like to make a challenge.

                                               (1)       I like to challenge everyone of us to learn twelve key scriptures before the year is finished.

                                               (2)       Any who would like to take up the challenge talk to me after services regarding the specific scriptures.

                                               (3)       The scripture teach that a fool will meditate day and night upon the word of God.

                                               (4)       I wonder how many of us scripturally speaking are fools?

                                               (5)       God’s people of old suffered for their foolishness (Isa. 5:13).

                                               (6)       It is sad that God’s own people suffered for their spiritual ignorance but sadder still that many of them will still go into captivity because they refuse to learn God’s word.

           C.        Overcoming Neglect Of God’s Word (Psa 119:15-16)

           D.        Associate with "doers of the word" (Psa 119:63; 2Th 3:14-15)

III.       CONSIDER THE REWARD FOR NOT NEGLECTING GOD’S WORD

           A.        Spiritual preservation ((1Ti 4:12-16)

Conclusion:

Select a time to read it.

Memorize it

Take heed to it

Where do you suppose neglect of the Bible is going to lead you? If you’re neglecting the time you should spend with God’s word

Sources:

Michael D. O'Neal , THE NEGLECT OF THE WORD OF GOD

Lenny Santee, CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECT 376

Mark S. Aites, THE RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE

in charity through Christ,

Raymond Wiseman

What the world says about bible and god
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