Feeding on God's Word: Overcoming a Loss of Appetite in April Bible Study Series

How to Feed on God s Word April Bible Study Series

A Loss of Appetite A Loss of Appetite for God s Word for God s Word

Chapter 6:21 Chapter 6:21 Foundation Scripture Foundation Scripture

Blessed are you Blessed are you who hunger who hunger now, for you now, for you shall be filled. shall be filled. Luke 6:21 (NKJV) Luke 6:21 (NKJV)

Hunger is a good sign of a Hunger is a good sign of a thriving Christian. thriving Christian.

A lack of desire for reading Gods word may A lack of desire for reading God s word may result in stunted spiritual growth, weakened result in stunted spiritual growth, weakened faith, and disobedience to God. faith, and disobedience to God.

Six Reasons for Loss of Six Reasons for Loss of Appetite for God s Word Appetite for God s Word A reduced desire to feed on scripture include: A reduced desire to feed on scripture include:

1 1. Ignorance Ignorance Lack of Knowledge Lack of Knowledge

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. your children. Hosea 4:6 Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) (NKJV)

2. A Busy Schedule 2. A Busy Schedule

Now it happened as they went that He entered a Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, Lord, do You not and she approached Him and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me. Therefore, tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. taken away from her. Luke 10:38 Luke 10:38- -42 42 And she had a sister And Jesus answered

God does not God does not want part of you want part of you part of the time, part of the time, He wants all of He wants all of you all the time! you all the time!

If we were to ask a person who claims to be a If we were to ask a person who claims to be a Christian, How long is it since you enjoyed Christian, How long is it since you enjoyed real communion with Jesus? He/she would real communion with Jesus? He/she would find it difficult to answer. The great mass of find it difficult to answer. The great mass of those who claim to be Christians those who claim to be Christians are too much taken up with the world, taken up with the world, too busy, too frivolous, or too unbelieving. They too frivolous, or too unbelieving. They could could feast every day upon the bread of feast every day upon the bread of heaven, but they prefer to starve or fill their heaven, but they prefer to starve or fill their mouths with the husks of earth. mouths with the husks of earth. are too much too careful, too busy, too careful,

3. Troubles and/or Persecution 3. Troubles and/or Persecution

Unless Your law had been my Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. perished in my affliction. Psalm 119:92 Psalm 119:92 (NKJV) (NKJV)

Grace grows best in winter.

Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties. Charles Spurgeon

4. Hurt and Disappointments 4. Hurt and Disappointments

Simon Peter said to them, I Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to am going fishing. They said to him, We are going with you him, We are going with you also. They went out and also. They went out and immediately got into the boat, immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught and that night they caught nothing. nothing. John 21:3 John 21:3 (NKJV) (NKJV) And He said to them, "Cast the And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." boat, and you will find some." So, they cast, and now they So, they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of because of the multitude of fish. fish. John 21:6 John 21:6 (NKJV) (NKJV)

5. Worldly Associations 5. Worldly Associations

For Demas has forsaken me, having For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica departed for Thessalonica II Timothy 4:10 II Timothy 4:10 (NKJV) (NKJV)

6. Sin 6. Sin

And this is the condemnation, that the light And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. deeds were evil. John 3:19 John 3:19 (NKJV) (NKJV)

The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. Dwight L. Moody

5. Ways To Get Your Hunger 5. Ways To Get Your Hunger Back: Back:

1.Confession 1.Confession Talk to God and confess your lack of interest. Talk to God and confess your lack of interest.

2. Elimination of the Unholy 2. Elimination of the Unholy If you allow the spirit of the world to dwell in your If you allow the spirit of the world to dwell in your heart, it will control our life. heart, it will control our life.

3. Make Time for Bible Study 3. Make Time for Bible Study Make an appointment to feed on God s Word Make an appointment to feed on God s Word and keep it. and keep it.

4. Participate in a Bible Study Group 4. Participate in a Bible Study Group Find a group where you can grow in faith, Find a group where you can grow in faith, knowledge, and understanding. knowledge, and understanding.

5. Be Determined 5. Be Determined Start reading your bible, even in small doses. Start reading your bible, even in small doses.

God God is most glorified is most glorified in in us when we are us when we are most satisfied in most satisfied in Him. Him.

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