How To Start Reading the Bible & Journal (SERMON)

Let's Begin!

All you need...

• 1 Journal (preferably lined to keep efficient and neat)

• 1 Bible (does not have to be a journaling bible-preferably not, so it is light, and you can carry it everywhere)

• 1 Pen & or Pencil

• 1 Red Pen

• 1 Highlighter (not too light/dark or vibrant)

• Tabs/Sticky Notes (does not have to be color coded)

Preface: This is just one way to start reading the bible and journaling. You are not limited to this, but this is one of the most minimalistic yet spiritually filling ways to begin!

INTERACTIVE PART

• Write 1 lie the devil is trying to speak over you

• Write 1 sin you keep falling into/something you are struggling with

EXAMPLE:

Anxiety/Fear

Acts on emotions

NEXT

• Find scripture(s) that combat the lie & sin

This is important because life & death are in the tongue! Speak Truth-Jesus! and the truth shall set you free!

Matthew 4:1-4

"It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

• 5 Min. PRAYER (Write your prayer as you are speaking to God)

What to include in prayer

• Dear ________________, (who are you addressing to)?

• Tell God/Jesus all the anxiety and thoughts and feelings you are having

• Thank God for what you have, what He has done, what He will do, etc.

• Ask God for your wants and needs

• Write, "For it is written"... (the scripture you are quoting and the scripture itself)

  • tip you can quote a song you feel The Spirit has put on your heart in your season of life

• In Jesus name, Amen!

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS: For it is written in Philippians 4:4-7,

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

More... Philippians 4:8-9

Matthew 6:19-34

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where rust and moth destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven where rust and moth do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The lamp of the body is the eye for if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. If life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look and the birds of the air for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: They neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day in its own trouble."

The Opposite of Anxiety is Peace!

The enemy is going to try and attack at night. "Then He said to them, '" Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."' (Luke 22:46).

NOTE: Jesus crucified with your sins!

II Corinthians 5:21 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

• Romans 5:1-11 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

ACTION: (*scribble with red pen* over the lie from the enemy and the sin you struggle with, etc.*)

Testing Your Faith

James 1:2-8

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways."

• Prayer Journal

  • Armor of God

Ephesians 6:13-20

"Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly. as I ought to speak."

Write Scripture on Your Heart - Pray Day & Night! Pray Continuously!

Joshua 1:8-9 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be of good courage; do not be afraid nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

NOTE:

LORD = "Yahweh" ('I am who I am' or 'He is/Will Be.')

Lord = "Adoni" ('Sovern Lord')

*Elohim = "Strong One"

*El Shaddai = "God Almighty"

*El Roi = "the God who sees me"

*Jehovah Rapha "The God who heals"

*Jehovah Jireh = "Lord who Provides"

(CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD- LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY GOD HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS)

Jesus is The Bread of Life

John 6:35-38 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

Take Up Your Cross Daily

Luke 9:23-25 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life for his sake will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sale will save it. For what profit of a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?"

What do you consume?

• movies

• podcasts

• music

• friends/family

• books

• social media

STARTING TO READ THE BIBLE OUTSIDE OF CHURCH AND STUDY GROUPS...

TIPS!

• Write life verses

• Write important verses that apply to you and your testimony/purpose in life

• Write revelations the Spirit is speaking to you

DIG DEEPER!

• If you already do this, dig deeper! Find context! There is so much to learn!

ALSO!

You do not need a fancy aesthetic journaling bible, every primary, secondary, tertiary and pastel color highlighter, gel pens and sticky notes to learn the bible

I started writing my prayers down on pieces of paper. I used to have major OCD when it came to my handwriting being perfect. I would rip up and start writing it over and over till it was perfect. Eventually I got so fed up with my anxiety and I slowly gave it over to God and I slowly stopped caring about what it looked like. I would scribble it and then eventually I started writing in Calanders and journals. Over the years God has blessed me with even better handwriting.

It is hard to surrender things you want to control (the big and the small). At times you want to ask God to bless you with things, when really once you learn to not rely on yourself and surrender your anxieties to God, He will bless you with the things He already knows you need, and you will recognize all He has blessed you with.

Do not let anxiety and fear have a stronghold over you. God is in control! He is The Way! The Truth & The Life! You are who He says you are!

You are a child of God! You are beautiful- made in His image and His likeness! You are Beloved! You are never alone! If God is for me, who can be against me? You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation! You are the light of the world! A city set upon a hill that cannot be hidden! For He knows the plans He has for you declares The Lord! He is the Vine we are the branches who bears fruit in His name! Even when we are squeezed and pressed, we know we can depend on The Lord, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light! Thank You Jesus! Halleluiah! For He is risen! I have received His inheritance! He has plans to prosper you and not harm you! In Jesus Holy and Mighty and Powerful name! Amen! Hallelujah! I pray that you will give us the deep desire to learn and become more like You and not like others! Help us seek your face and turn away from sin! Let us not fall into temptation and deliver us from the evil one! For You are Good and Faithfull! You are Merciful and Just! For we are only made whole because of You Lord! Amen!

HEART CHECK!

Know the Truth! Know your testimony! Stand on the foundation of Jesus Christ! If you don't know the foundation you are standing on, how can you help others come to know Christ? How is your relationship with Christ? Are you too busy? Are you going through life too fast? Are you depressed? Anxious? Are you tired? Are you lonely? Are you worried about the future? Do you want what others have? Do you seek Him wholeheartedly? Do you find joy in suffering? Where is your heart?

It is important to know what the Lord has done for you, to know your testimony and write scripture on your heart so you can spread the gospel! Our mission in life-to make disciples of many nations! It is prevalent to do this! Why would you want to keep the good news to yourself? If you know what God has done for you, we should share it so others can know of His good works too! It always begins somewhere! If you can testify it on paper, if you have the ability to share it on paper, confirm in words the works He has done, it is then written and engraved on your heart, what the Lord has done! Your journals will become like children to you. The fruit of His labor written down in a personal and meaningful way to you creates a developing and personal relationship with God.