MEMORIZING SCRIPTURES GOD’S POWER SUPPLY FOR POWERFUL LIVING-Part 1
By Frank Eiklor and Cecilia Contreras
LESSON 46 (Part 1)
INTRODUCTION
I consider the following lesson as one of the most important I will ever share. That’s because of the value I place on the Word of God as the Holy Spirit’s greatest resource for making disciples more like Jesus Christ. And in an artificial world, how desperately we need the real Jesus to be seen in our lives.
This lesson is given following fifty years of experience. That’s how long I have been memorizing and reviewing verses of Scripture and finding the memorized Word a source of power unlike any other. It’s a lesson that I wish could be placed in the hands and hearts of every believer. Whether you’re eight or eighty, you can memorize more of God’s mind—the Bible—than you imagine. And you can see victories in areas of your life where you have only known defeats.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Let me lay the foundation by stating a shocking fact. Neither prayer nor reading the Scriptures can make up for the supernatural benefits of the memorized Word. Maybe that’s the reason why God has many “Christians” but few “disciples.” Don’t misunderstand me. Memorizing the Word can never substitute for a lack of prayer, or meditating on the Scriptures. However, no one can memorize and retain sufficient portions of God’s Word and be content with a weak prayer life or a lack of obedience to the Lord. That’s because in order to memorize the Word, one must employ the three simple secrets to retain it. One, review. Two, review. Three, review.
That means that you and I will either start obeying the Word of God as we review it over and over again, or we will not be able to withstand its powerful pressures. I repeat, memorizing and reviewing God’s Word will either force you and me to start obeying the Word—or stop memorizing and reviewing it.
BENEFITS, BENEFITS!
I first want to speak of the powerful benefits you’ll receive from memorizing scripture verses. Then I shall give you my basic plan for starting to memorize single verses, then chapters, then whole books.
Why should you memorize? Most folks don’t because it requires W-O-R-K. It takes work to prepare food, and even to eat it. Yet who would want to—who could afford to—miss out on the benefits of eating nutritious food? Every worthwhile and precious experience requires some form of labor. The same is true with memorizing God’s Word. But the discovery is worth it—God’s unlimited power supply for powerful living. So let me sharpen your appetite by first reporting some of the benefits I regularly receive from the memorized and reviewed Word of God. You will, too. Just try it and see.
1. Keeping Clean
You will experience constant cleansing. John 15:3, “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Ephesians 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Memorizing and reviewing God’s Word is like taking fresh baths—except these baths are internal where no amount of soap and water can reach. As you quote verses of Scripture periodically through the day, you’ll find a hatred of sin, a love for Jesus, and a sense of His purity and holiness that you will humbly appreciate. Constant cleansing in the midst of a filthy world is a wonderful benefit of the memorized Word.
2. Avoiding Satan’s Traps
Satan wishes to trap and destroy you and me. 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.” You and I have a wide-awake enemy. He’s like a hungry and roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)—and you are the intended victim. He also operates as an angel of light—looking in your direction (2 Corinthians 11:14). But it’s amazing how memorizing and reviewing Scripture will allow the Holy Spirit to close Satan’s traps before your feet ever fall into them.
For example, we live in a lustful world. Here is a young man who is battling to keep his mind and heart pure. He seems to always fall into the trap of inner and outer lust. Determined to defeat the problem, he begins memorizing scriptures such as, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). As he drives down the freeway, he’s quoting out loud that very scripture when just ahead of him is that suntan lotion ad featuring a beautiful woman in a bikini. In the past he has always looked and lusted. But this time he finds himself quoting part of God’s very mind, “Blessed are the pure in heart…”
The Holy Spirit speaks through this scripture, “You’re about to win a great victory, my son. Keep yours eyes on the road and don’t look to the side.” As the car zooms by that sign with him not looking at the ad, my young friend shouts, "“Hallelujah, Lord. We did it! I resisted that trap of the devil through the power of your Word. Thank you, Lord!” And the quiet peace that settles in his heart assures him that the Lord is smiling in approval.
3. “Garden Fresh” Truths
Fresh revelation will come from old scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:7, “Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” The Word of God is alive as nothing else. If you were locked up in prison with only one verse of Scripture, the Holy Spirit could nourish you on that verse every day for the rest of your life.
But why limit yourself to one scripture verse? You may never be a full time pastor or missionary, but you will find fresh revelations coming over and over again as you review scriptures that you have memorized. When you first memorize a verse, you may think you are receiving nothing from it. That’s because you’re working hard to just get it into your mind. But after you review and review and review—you will find truths that will thrill you because you realize that you can hear the voice of the Lord so clearly as He teaches you.
And if you’re in the ministry, your presentation of truth will not be able to get old and stale if you are a memorizer and reviewer of God’s Word. That’s because fresh revelations from familiar scriptures will have you continually updated on your presentation of truth.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
