Crown the Sword: Ch. 7-Living a Scripture-centered life
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)
God wants us to present each moment to Him in obedience, let Him rule our lives, and submit all of our ways. I don’t know about you, but I struggle in doing so. I have to humbly remind myself I cannot accomplish His purpose without humbly surrendering to His leading. It starts the minute my eyes open each morning. Each day is a gift given and it is my responsibility to hand it over so the LORD can lead it. Trust me, when I depend on myself and my ability to handle life (good or bad) I fall short every time. His direction and instructions far exceed my own. Besides, He knows the future so I need to trust His jugdment!
When I made the commitment to live my life through an open Bible, I began searching for a routine to assist me. A plan to keep me from failing. A way to live out Joshua 1:8 (NIV) “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Anything to keep me plugged into God and His Word. I wanted a good connection.
If there was an approach to studying Scripture and learning to infuse it into my life, I was willing to try it. There are many of them out there. (yet, I find it hard to discover who created them?) I love the primary goal of each-to allow the very Voice of God to penetrate your soul. I think it is essential for everyone to determine ways to study Scripture and open their heart to discovering new methods and techniques for a lifetime. Also, I believe the Holy Spirit will guide and prompt you to a deeper understanding as you travel together with God.
Listen friends, ten years ago I was probably hesitant to study Scripture on my own without an associated text, facilitator, or sermon notes. God prompted me to go deeper into knowing His Voice and stop “cherry picking” verses and memorizing Scripture just to quote it and manipulate it to what I wanted it to mean.
AMPS was primarily created for my own personal Bible study because of gaps I found in other methods. They fell short on focusing and fully listening to God, gathering the entire meaning from context, praying out Scripture, safeguarding my understanding, etc. The list continues. So, I began with four categories: attention, meaning, perspective of God, and saturation. This is an extremely lean skeleton. It may even be missing a few bones, but it is the foundation on which I have begun building my Bible study methods.
I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts from the book along with so much more I have to tell you about AMPS. Hang in there friends! Press into those study questions. They are essential in Chapter seven to help you digest the second half of Crown the Sword! Let the journey begin…
Crank up the AMPS Bible Study Method
| A: | Attention Prepare your heart-Pause Read with purpose Be aware of what catches your attention |
| M: | Meaning History: author/timeline/location/original audience/culture Identify: Attributes of God, promises, instructions Terminology: Greek/Hebrew Translations: read more than one Entire Context: main message Seek the full counsel of Scripture: investigate cross references |
| P: | Perspective of God Pray for God’s perspective Present your concerns, thoughts, and confusion to the Father Ask the Lord for the meaning, clarity, and personal message Be open to reproof Ponder the application for your life |
| S: | Saturation Ask the Lord for help to live out Scripture Infuse His instructions into your life Pray out Scripture: claim His promises over your life and circumstances |
Praise & Worship for Chapter 6
Crown the Sword: Ch. 6-What will I Crown as my Life Manual?
Crown-(verb): a mark of honor, to officially recognize, adorn, to pay tribute, to signify reverence, etc. Handing over reigning authority and giving up control is what it personally means to me. The Crown is my choice to rank the highest treasured possession in my life. It goes beyond a physical act and lip service. The crowning takes place daily when I make my choice what will rule my day.
We all have crowning power. In a recent social media conversation with a pastor, we briefly discussed this concept. He stated that in Ephesians 6 “we’re biblically exhorted to “crown” Christ” and therefore we should do likewise to His Word. I responded by saying that Christian or not, we all crown things in our lives. My philosophy is we all own one crown to do with as we so desire. Now, I may move my crown from item to item, but I can only crown one thing at a time. After doing so, it has the power to reign and control my actions, thoughts, words, and goals.
I have “crowned” myself in the past. Manipulated Scripture to fit my need. Convinced myself that “if you want something done, you have to do it yourself without relying on ANYONE!” (pg. 69). I knew people would let you down and I had a long list of proof especially when it came to the opposite sex. So day after day, I “crowned” my personal strength and had a motto, “Love what YOU do and do what YOU love!” It even hung on the wall in our living room. Why? Because it was about satisfying that deep hunger inside of my heart and no one else seemed capable of doing so, so I would just have to do it myself. (Miss. Little Red Hen)
Boy, this is when the disclaimer should pop-up and say “Do NOT try this in the home of your heart! It can prove fatal and/or harmful to those who try!” Red flags, flashing lights, sirens, caution tape-whatever catches your inward attention: PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT CROWN THE WRONG THING! Go retrieve the crown, hold it in your hands, and really think about the authority you want to reign over your life. What will give you life everlasting? What will furnish you with a reliable life manual?
God invites you to crown Him and therefore crown His Word.
I leave you with a direct quote from the book:
“My sweet heavenly Father extended a fresh encounter with Him and gave me the gift of renewal and redemption through Scripture. The invitation I accepted from the Lord is the same He extends to you-come and experience the miraculous possibilities of a life submitted to His authority. Your willingness to let Him reign unlocks a world of potential beyond your imagination! I am living proof!” (pg. 71).
Praise & Worship for Chapter 5
Crown the Sword: Chapter 5-Absorbing God’s Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17 informs us that God’s word is profitable. Paul advises Timothy to live in the Word because it is enduring. Paul knew Scripture would stand forever and equip us ALL if we so choose. Just like in Ezra’s days and the days ahead of our own lives on earth, God’s Word can sustain daily living and can be tangible if we strive for our understanding to be deepened.
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17 NIV) His pure truth is worth absorbing. It has a return on our investment and we can rejoice over it. We have to make margin for the Lord and His Word to grasp full understanding.
What will it take for you to release your grasp on life’s sponge and align yourself with the living water? How can you reposition yourself where you can make God and His Word real in your life? Do you need to eliminate areas of our life to help shift your perspective? How can you be useful in God’s economy if you are allowing other things to absorb in your sponge?
Get up-squeeze it out-and separate yourself from all those things holding you back. Claim Ephesians 3:20 over your life. Tell God you are believing He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Start allowing Scripture to comfort, feed, center, motivate, and calibrate your life. Feast on His Word. Start where you are. Open to one book of the Bible and stay within it until you have read it from beginning to end regardless of how long it takes. Let your life sponge be saturated.
I had to believe Scripture was good for my soul or I would have never even turned my eyes toward it. As I have said before-God’s Word revealed a treasure unlike anything I had experienced. Oh LORD, help me spend more time feasting on Your Word.
Gosh, I have spent plenty of hours on other things in my life-wasted time-chasing people, selfish dreams, and perishable rubble! I want God’s Voice to be the loudest and His Word to get inside of me in a way that it causes me to be fully anchored in Him. I want something planted in my life that will grow and nourish not only to sustain me but those around me. (squeezing out the overflow of goodness I have soaked up from spending time at His feet)
God speaks to us through His Word. We have to be open to hear and understand. The Holy Spirit will lead us in our comprehension and reveal reproof to align our thoughts with truth. I have found Scripture to be firm and secure even when crying out to God “I don’t understand this!” Somehow He has always shed light on His Word through various ways, but not until I did my part on pursuing more understanding. I had to stop just adding God to my life and surrender to His kingship. It took me separating myself for some deep rooted loves in my life that were holding me back from moving forward. For me, I had to completely hand over my sponge because I had spoiled it-it was useless. The Father restored it and gave me another chance. I struggle over and over yet I refuse to let the enemy saturate my life. I want to be a bold follower by knowing God and His Word. May He fill me to overflowing, work through me, and give me understanding of Scripture to use my sponge for His Glory.
Beyond Scriptural Typography (Exceeding Text Elevation)
Treasured Treasure
Adored Adornment
Prized Prize
Valued Valuable
Treasured Treasure
The Bible…the very words of God.
For centuries, time has been devoted to the mere visual art form of Scripture. WHY? Like any written craft, its legibility and appeal are key factors in enticing its audience. Man has spent endless hours arranging and selecting the letter spacing, typefaces, and line lengths to attain the preferred typographic anatomy.
Experts in the field have continually taken in account all the essential principles when designing a layout of the recorded words of God. Their main aspiration is to fabricate an alluring product with an optical invitation. Placement and alignment concerns are just the beginning to their labor in achieving the goal, a visual hierarchy.
Typography is big business when it comes to the Bible. God’s Word, a treasured treasure, routinely generates $425 million in annual sales according to an article by Brandon Gaille. Valued as valuable to numerous believers, the demand for published Scripture not only requires a skilled typographer but also breeds a steady workload for the industry due to needing “the perfect Bible”.
Do you have this in large print? Does this devotional Bible come in an English Standard Version? What are the language options for the Message Bible? Could you suggest the best user-friendly study Bible for a new believer? Are there any Spanish NIV translations with comfort print in a red-letter edition?
Then, let us not forget to consider the digital world as well. How can I access this version on an e-reader or tablet? What are my Bible options for a smartphone? Is there an audio app for the New King James translation? And the list of specific wishes and requests continue-an endless petition for “the perfect fit” according to the consumer.
Thanks to technology and individual preferences revolutionizing the delivery methods and presentations of God’s Word, the publishing industry has gone beyond ink and paper. Believers now have a multitude of alternatives to be able to connect with God’s Word. So, the bigger question is, “What suits your personal needs?”.
Some of the measures used to select the “perfect” version of the Bible is based on the need of convenience, simplicity, compatibility with an on-the-go lifestyle, and inclusion of hi-tech devices. Shall we say…finding a suitable option in the world where digital and audio Bibles abide. It seems as though we have God’s Word at our fingertips and can connect with His Holy Word at the drop of a hat.
These multifaceted doorways allow us to handpick a version based on our liking. We can select a format exclusively for our lifestyle. Gone are the days of being restricted to a physical book. Thanks to publishers, we have been extended an expanded invitation to interact with Scripture on a grander scale than ever before.
Ponder this. In a moment’s notice, we can access the Bible on our phone, bookmark passages, and even magnify that so-called “perfect” text if need be. We are blessed with the engagement opportunities afforded to us left and right. It is as painless as downloading an app. Free at that! WOW! Every mode luring each believer to go beyond the typography.
What more could we desire? Our prized prize and adored adornment can be displayed beyond a coffee table. We can showcase it on every device we own and pull up any passage regardless of our location. We can even screenshot verses of interest in the middle of a sermon and share it immediately on social media.
What a welcoming welcome. An opportunity to see past the layout we choose. A chance to experience the life-changing power the words hold. An open invitation to go beyond the charming print. An ability to interact with Scripture through exceeding levels of availability far outweighing anything previously offered. Oh, how attractive, tantalizing, and downright alluring.
Inviting invitation
Tempting temptation
Charming charm
Welcoming welcome
Inviting invitation
The Bible…and for some, it stops here!!…the very words of God.
Gaille, Brandon. “29 Good Bible Sales Statistics.” Bradon Gaille Small Business & Marketing Advice, 23 May 2017, https://brandongaille.com/27-good-bible-sales-statistics.
Praise & Worship for Chapter 4
Crown the Sword: Chapter 4-How can Scripture Impact?
Have you ever studied the impact of a water droplet? Do you know the effects according to the surface it hits? Think about it this way-what happens to the water droplet landing on granite versus landing in a pond? You may not be able to scientifically explain it but it is obvious to the naked eye-the impact is different.
With that analogy in mind, what impacts your life? Are there times when God’s Word finds the surface of your heart hard? Can your eyes see the insight of Scripture? Does your entire being respond and absorb the Bible’s principles and apply it to your daily living? Will that single drop of His Word increase your desire to want the entire out pouring? Do you really want the ripple effect of the Lord?
As stated in Chapter 4, Ezra was impacted by divine wisdom. He “allowed Scripture to penetrate his inner being and transform him entirely”. I want that! I want that kind of devotion! I want to study Scripture beyond my own ability! I want to obey God’s Word in every aspect of my life! And, even as I write this, I fall short. There are areas of struggle in my life right now that are a part of my own doing. Places where I haven’t learned to live out Scripture and allow God to grow.
What about you?
However, when I have clung to Scripture, abided full in Christ, and claimed God as my Yahweh Nissi, I found a beautiful treasure. Scripture-“It is a mighty gift-the best I have ever unwrapped on any occasion.” (page 49)
Do you really want a life submerged in God’s Holy Word? Make your appeal known to God. Please ponder your thoughts and pour out your desires to Him no matter how far fetched they make seem. Let this week be the beginning to a Word-fed life. Ask God for a heart His Word can penetrate. Write it, Claim it, Shout it, Pray it, Draw it, Sing it, Cry it-
God has been waiting for this moment. He knew you would be right there, in that very spot, reading these very words! His disposition towards you is complete love. Stop and read John 3:16 in several translations and get a good view of this Love.
What is your disposition to God? Is it love for Him and His Word? Let this be the week to get in touch with your inward aspiration. It is an individual choice to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)
I don’t know about you but I needed to hear this:
IF NOT NOW-WHEN?
Women’s Retreat: July 1-3, 2021
Mark your calendars! This will be a time filled with fun & applicable life sustaining information. We extend a warm invitation to you for an amazing getaway. You will experience fellowship, Bible study, praise & worship, candlelight with God, and discover Scripture through a variety of techniques. The goal is for you to walk away from the retreat empowered to live life through an open Bible.
Come fall deeper in love with God’s Word through an intentional walk in Philippians with like-minded sisters in Christ. As an added plus, Kris Swiatocho will be the guest speaker on Saturday morning. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to meet this dynamic speaker She has the largest Singles ministry in the United States! Kris has a wealth of knowledge to share with you regarding living a life saturated with Scripture.
Download the brochure for more details:
REGISTRATION FORM:
Refining [Spiritual Growth] 