1) Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
I love the picture that this Psalm gives of the person who delights themselves in the Word of God. Verse three says, He shall be like a tree, not a tumble weed, planted, not in a pot plant, but planted beside rivers of life giving water. There is a sense here of a gardener strategically planting the tree in a specific location according to a grand design and according to what best suits the needs of the tree. The Psalmist then goes on to say that this person will be like a tree that brings forth fruit in season, that does not wither, in other words it’s there for the long haul and then summing it all up, the Psalmist says, whatever that person does will prosper. What a powerful encouragement to love the word of God.
2) Galatians 1:6
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
I marvel at how quick you are departing from the faith. I love this scripture as it reminds me that even if the Apostle Paul himself was the person who led me to The Lord, and/or started my church, the longevity of my faith is not a guarantee without me continually firing up my faith and making sure that I have a biblical orthodoxy. The background to this scripture is that the church at Galatia had after just a very short time, returned to the teaching of the law. The emphasis of the law in those days was human effort to connect with God. Another reason why I love this scripture is because it serves as a reminder for me to always emphasis grace in my life and that I am saved by the mercy and grace of God and that it is not a works based faith at all.
3) Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with wise men will be wise.
I love this scripture as God use this scripture to speak into my life when I was 18. I had just read in the books of James that God gives wisdom liberally to anyone who asks:- and so I asked. Two days later I was reading Proverbs and when I read He who walks with wise men will be wise, God spoke and said – there is the key to wisdom. 25 years later and that verse continues to unlock wisdom for me as I surround myself with wise men and women.
4) Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
I love this verse as to me it sums up the priorities of my life. One is an inquiring heart:- What do you require of me Lord? My heart is to serve you, follow you and be obedient to you. And then He gives the answer. I am to act justly. I am to love Justice. I am to cause Justice to happen. I am to champion Justice. I am to be a Justice Hero. Secondly God says I am to love Mercy. Not just to be merciful, but that I would love mercy. That mercy and I would be in relationship and then change my life so that mercy would overflow through my world, much actions, my words, my spending, my thoughts, my relationships. Thirdly, as I inquire of The Lord and I am being a Justice Hero, and I am loving Mercy, that I would build humility around my life as I walk with The Lord. To walk with The Lord, means we are going the same direction, heading to the same destination, walking at the same pace, and have close proximity.
5) John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Herein is the entire bible summarized in 25 words. It speaks of man’s sinful need, his eternal density as a result, the moving and motivating love of God being the agenda behind the sacrifice of Christ, the most precious only son:- which speaks of the expense of my salvation. Its a gift, which to me shows the character of God is being amazingly generous and just this one aspect alone demands a response from my life, that I too would reflect that generosity. It continues with the universality of the access to salvation:- the whosever, and the means by which one accesses this salvation:- faith, which is awesome that it is not by works so it is emphasizing Grace. Finally it promises eternal life, laying out the most amazing promise of the scripture, that I can be with God for all eternity.
6) Acts 17:16
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
At the time of writing there were about 30,000 idols in Athens. Paul looked around and saw the futility of all this idol worship going on and his spirit was provoked within him. In other words there was a heart reaction. It is a sad person who cannot be moved by the injustices of the world or the need of people for salvation. The bible records multiple times that Jesus was moved with compassion. I love this verse in Acts as it inspires me to keep my heart soft in the presence of God, so that I can be moved by what moves God’s heart.
7) Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hope is the spine of our faith and I love how here God introduces himself as the God of Hope. He then goes on to say that through the Holy Spirit and faith, we may abound in Hope. In a world that is filled with hopelessness and plagued with philosophies that rob the world of Hope: like Evolution, Post Modernism and Atheism, what a contrasting picture – abounding in faith is. This verse reminds me of the power of my faith. I live my life abounding in hope.
8) Psalm 82:3
Rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men.
This is a new favourite for me. I have recently researched a lot on human slavery and this verse God used to motivate me to do something about it. As a Western Christian, I must do something about the abomination called the Human Slave trade. I must rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men.
9) 1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient. Love is Kind.
Kindness is love’s conduct. Its how love behaves. Kindness is love in shoe leather. Kindness adds sweetness to everything. Of great consequence is the immense power of kindness in bringing out the good of the characters of others. I use this verse to keep my life focussed on kindness.
10) Isaiah 29:13
In as much as the people draw near me with their mouth and they do honor me with their lips, yet their heart is far from me.
Love this scripture as it sums up the fact that relationship with God is about sincerity of heart.
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Categories: Nowra City Church, Sermon Notes, Theology, Top Ten
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TOP TEN BIBLE VERSES THAT GUIDE ME. by Tim Janes
PSA 9116 (NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
I confess this scripture most days. It promises so much to the believer. To meditate through the day on its promises is a great builder of faith-for- the- moment. For instance “I will be with you in trouble” reassures one that He knows what you are going through and further more, is able to help. I knew a man who lived for three years behind enemy lines in WW2. He quoted this Psalm every day. One day he was in a tight spot firing at the enemy when the man either side of him was killed but he survived without a scratch. His name was Ted Bench.
Psalms 103:1-5 (NKJV) 1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
I am a spirit being and I command my soul and body to bless the Lord. It makes me so aware that I am a spirit (Zech 12:1) I have a soul and live in a body. My spirit leads not my soul or body.
Psalms 23:1-6 (NKJV) 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
This Psalm is a model confession of strong faith. It is a declaration of an intent and commitment which is unconditional.
Amos 3:7 (NKJV) 7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
This is scripture tells us that the word of God confirms itself. The Spirit reveals ahead of time what the Lord will do. The prophets rarely saw their prophesies occur in their own lifetime. The principle that every truth established by two or three witnesses.
1 Cor 10:12-13 (NKJV)13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
This tells me that the Lord knows exactly what I am going through and is limiting it to what I can bear with His help. It also shows He is in control.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Gods people are destroyed because they don’t know what Jesus has won for them by His sacrifice. They in effect reject knowledge of God’s ways by not putting attention to His word and thus finding out His ways.
2 Cor 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
I am the righteousness of God. Not through my works but through the works of Jesus. All I have to do is believe in HIM. It’s too easy we think but it is what the word of truth says. My performance may not be perfect yet but I am ; the spirit me is.
2 Thess 2:6-8 (NKJV) 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
This tells me one of the main functions and motivators of my life. Through my words, actions and prayers I am helping to restrain wickedness in the world. I stop then unrighteousness is restrained less.
Matt 18:19 (NKJV) 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
The power of agreement seems to be little realised among humanity. Husband and wife can fulfil this promise from Jesus. What power among two! Mixed with Mark 11:24 “…when you pray, believe that you receive them”.
Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV) 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
This was the subject of my maiden sermon. I am convinced that this is true of every born again, spirit filled, believer. If we are taught it and are convinced of it, the saints would be so much more influential in our communities
How can I say these are my favourite ten scriptures. Ask me tomorrow and I will probably pick different ones. These however came quickly to mind as I sat to consider them.