Hiding God's Word In Your Heart | Tim LaFleur | Psalm 119:9-11

Amen. Last time I was here, I told you that things aren't always as they seem. That has been a recurring theme, things aren't always as they seem. The setting is Colorado in the mid-1900s. An elderly couple seeks to board a train that would take them across a mountain pass for a weekend getaway. While in line, the elderly man gets run over by a young man, causing him to drop his luggage. That young man doesn't even say he's sorry and cuts the line to get on the train ahead of the old man. As you can imagine, the old man is pretty hot. He picks himself up, he gathers his luggage together, gets back in line, and can't believe how rude and brash this young man was. As fate would have it, he and his wife sit right across from that very same young man who's seated next to a beautiful young woman. As the train goes through the ridge cut, it enters a tunnel and everything got completely dark. About that time you heard the sound of a kiss and a slap. On the other side of the tunnel when the light came back on, the young man was rubbing his face. The older woman thought to herself, I know what happened. That young man tried to get fresh with that young girl and she slapped him. The young lady thought to herself, I know what happened. That young man kissed that older woman and she slapped him. The young man, while rubbing his face, thought to himself, I know what happened. That old man kissed that young girl, she thought it was me and she slapped me. And the old man, with a grin of satisfaction on his face, said, I've never had so much fun in all my life. I kissed the back of my hand and slapped the fool out of that young man. Things aren't always as they seem. You would think that every born again believer would long for love and treasure, cherish the word of God. Sad to say, studies reveal that most professing Christians in America don't read the Bible at all and only 10% claim to read the Bible daily. Don't let it be said of us that we're not in the word until the word gets into us. I found through the years that there are three primary ways that God grows us. He grows us through the people he brings in and out of our lives. He grows us through circumstances, especially adversity. Why? Because we're forced to depend upon him when we go through times of adversity. How many of you know that it's not on the mountaintop that we grow, but it's in the valley, amen?

And thank God, the same God who's God of the mountain is God in the valley. But the third way God grows us is through the spiritual disciplines. Now the spiritual disciplines are broken into six categories or six sub-disciplines. And the greatest of these sub-disciplines and what I want to talk to you today about is scripture memory. The greatest sub-discipline, the greatest discipline in my life through the years has been scripture memory. God's not only used it to change and transform my life, but he's also used it to help me to challenge and encourage other believers to embrace this discipline and embrace God's truth. Here are the six subcategories. We hear the Word of God. You listen to sermons, you listen to podcasts, you listen to Bible teaching. You hear the Word of God. You read the Word of God. And I trust that many of you are still reading the reading plan this year at Long Hollow, the Old Testament plan. I've been reading through it and it's been so rich. Reading gives breath, but you know what? Study gives depth. We study the Word of God. It helps us to dig down deep, to know the meaning of the words, to know the passage in context. We study the Word of God so that we can glean truth. We memorize the Word of God. So important, today's text is Psalm 119. That's the key passage that talks about scripture memory. And incidentally, I passed over Gideon and Samson to get to Psalm 119 because I thought, and as the Spirit of God dealt with me, that if we could get some people memorizing

the Word of God, what an impact that would make on your life. Memorizing the Word, meditating on the Word. When you think meditation, you're not emptying your mind, but you're filling your mind with scripture. You picture, you ponder, you pray over the scripture. Pray it back to God. That's meditation. But then the best of all is applying the Word of God. I love what Brother James said in James 1.22. But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Turn, if you would, to 1 Timothy 4 and 7. 1 Timothy chapter four and verse seven. But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. I love the way the New American Standard Bible says, that version says, rather discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. God grows us, I said, in three ways. People, circumstances, and the spiritual disciplines. The spiritual disciplines. I love Donna Whitney's book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. And in his book, he has this quote. The road to spiritual maturity always passes through the spiritual disciplines. And the chief discipline is Bible intake. Today I want to talk to you about Scripture memory. Turn, if you would, to Psalm 119, nine through 11.

Psalm 119, nine through 11. When you get there, say Word. Incidentally, I want you to finish this phrase. We get into the Word until what? Let's say it again. We get into the Word until what? And let me suggest to you that the Word really doesn't find a lodging place in your heart unless you memorize Scripture. Think about it. What do we call memory? We call it knowing something by heart. Get into the Word until the Word gets into you. And a great way to allow the Word to get into you is through Scripture memory. Look at Psalm 119 in verse nine. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your Word. I've sought you with all my heart. Don't let me wander from your commands. Notice verse 11, that's the money verse. I have treasured your Word in my heart that I may not sin against you. Listen, during our time together, here's what I want to do. I want to help you to see the great value of memorizing Scripture so that you can hide the Word of God in your heart and put it to use as the Spirit of God prompts you. Let's pray together. Father, we pray another verse from Psalm 119. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous truth from your law. God we're praying that you'd speak to our hearts as we think about Scripture memory.

And Lord as I share my story and then answer commonly asked questions, help me Lord to share from the heart because I know the goal of my instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. And I ask it in Jesus' name and for His sake, amen. Now let me tell you a little bit about my story. I didn't grow up in a Christian home. I didn't start memorizing Scripture until I was 17. But at 17 in 1972, I had an encounter with the risen Christ and it radically changed my life. A lost friend of mine invited me to a Christian camp. I went there to meet the girls. I met the Lord and I've never been the same. The way he enticed me to go to the camp, he said, Tim, he said, there's some good looking girls there. I was all about the girls, but I went to meet the girls, I met Jesus, amen? And that radically changed my life. Think about this, God had to literally move me a hundred miles. In my hometown, I didn't know one born again Christian. I was raised Catholic and our community was Catholic. And I'm not saying you can't find Christ in the Catholic church, but what I am saying is I didn't. I knew a lot about God, but I didn't know God personally. But at this student camp, I heard the Bible taught, I heard the Bible preached, somebody explained the word of God to me. And what gave that witness such impact was that I saw Jesus in the lives of the students there. Never minimize the impact that you can have with a changed life. Never minimize the impact that you can have to people who don't yet know Christ by simply living what you profess to believe, amen? When I saw Christ in them, I began to think, is this real?

It's working for them. This sounds good. I know a lot about God. It's not inconsistent with what I know, but as I heard the word of God, as the scriptures were explained to me, something on the inside said, that's what you need. I know now it was the working of the Holy Spirit of God, amen? He took the word of God, applied it to my life. I turned from my sin. I put my faith and trust in a living, resurrected Christ. And guess what? He came to live within me. And as Colossians says, I was transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God's dear son. And listen, I've never gotten over it. When I went back to my hometown, I was a mess in a good way. But I remember vividly, I had a love for the word of God because for so long, I was discouraged to read the Bible. We read passages of scripture in the mass. But at that time, the Catholic people were not encouraged to read the scriptures. Listen, the scriptures were life-giving. I had a love for the word of God. I wanted to read it. I read it every day, sometime for... I was looking for a church, and I heard that there was a little Baptist church on the other side of the tracks that taught and preached the Word of God, and I loved the Word of God. So I went to that church. When I finally settled in, the youth pastor challenged me to hide the Word of God in my heart. I said, Conrad, Cormen, how do you do that? And they say you hide the Word of God in your heart by memorizing Scripture.

And so that began a journey for me. The next year I went to LSU in the freshman dorm. A group of guys got together to pray, study the Bible, memorize Scripture, and hold one another accountable. And listen, I've been doing that ever since. I've led dGroups, I've been in dGroups, I've been with guys, I've walked with men. There's something about a few trusted men who love you enough to tell you the truth. Do you have that in your life? Do you have a few trusted men or women, men with men, women with women, that love you enough to tell you the truth? I've been doing that ever since. Ever since my freshman year when I was in that Navigator Bible study and there was a young man, he was an upperclassman, but he loved students enough to invest in students. And Johnny Ainsworth invested in me, taught me more about how to read the Bible, how to study the Scriptures, how to memorize them, hiding the Word of God in my heart and holding each other accountable. He modeled the role. He showed us how to do that. I want to answer several commonly, frequently asked questions about Scripture memory. Psalm 119 is an amazing chapter in the book of Psalms. If you open your Bible in the middle, you get to Psalm 118. One book over is Psalm 119. Listen, we don't know who wrote that Psalm. Some think it's David. Others think it's Hezekiah. Some even think Daniel wrote Psalm 119. And there are so many reasons why. Psalm 119 has been written in such a way where you can commit it to memory. There are 22 sections in Psalm 119. Each section is eight verses, and they all begin, they start like if we would be doing

the ABCs in the Hebrew language, their alphabet. It starts with the first letter of the alphabet, eight verses, and then our text is in the second letter of the alphabet, eight verses, 176 verses in all. And the writer, whoever it was, David or Hezekiah or Daniel, the writer loved the Word of God. Let me ask you a question. Do you love the Word of God? Look at verse 11. Notice what the psalmist says. He says, I've treasured your Word in my heart that I may not sin against you. Do you treasure the Word of God? Do you cherish the Word? Do you love the Word? The ESV version says, I have stored up your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. The King James Bible says, I have hidden your Word in my heart that I may not sin against you. The CSB we just quoted says, I have treasured your Word. Now the question is, how do you store up, hide, and treasure the Word of God in your heart? You do it by... committing it to memory. And if you're not memorizing Scripture, I'm hoping today that you will walk away from this time of worship, purposing in your heart to memorize the Word of God. So let's ask ourselves several questions. The first question is this, what do we mean when we say Scripture memory? What do we mean when we say Scripture memory? Here's an easy definition. Scripture memory is committing the Word of God to memory so

that it can be recited and put to use. Simple. Scripture memory is committing the Word of God to memory so that it can be recited and put to use. You're aware of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6. Deuteronomy 6, 6, after he shares the Shema, hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, all your strength. Verse 6 says, and these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. Listen, is the Word of God on your heart? Turn, if you would, to Colossians 3 and verse 16. This would be a great verse for you to commit to memory. I'm going to quote from the SV version. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. That means dwell in you, settle, and feel at home in you in full measure, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. The key part of that verse is this. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in full measure. And one wonderful way to do that is to memorize the Word of God. Let the Scripture dwell in you richly. The second question is this, why should you memorize Scripture? Why should we memorize Scripture? There are so many reasons why, but let me give you three. The first reason is this, to be able to share a word fitly spoken, to be able to share a word fitly spoken. Psalm 2511 in the New King James Bible says,

a word fitly spoken is as apples of gold in the setting of silver. And I want you to listen carefully. During each day, we have countless opportunities to encourage or share a word of witness with others. Turn, if you would, to Hebrews chapter 10, 24 and 25. I'm going to be quoting from the ESV Bible. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day approaching or drawing near, I think the ESV says. You can encourage others when you have the Word of God committed to memory. Remember, it's committed to memory so it can be recited and put to use as you're prompted by the Holy Spirit. We have countless opportunities in a day to encourage others. And when we've got the Word of God in our hearts, it's not just words of encouragement from us, but it's words of encouragement from God and His Word. What a joy it is to be able to encourage others with the truth of the Word of God. How about sharing a word of witness? 1 Peter 3.15 says this, hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy. Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. That's a command in Scripture. Listen, we're to be always ready to make a defense. And the best way that I can make a defense is not sharing what I think, but sharing what the Word of God says, amen?

So the first reason is to share a word fitly spoken. The second reason is to overcome temptation and discouragement. How many of you deal with temptation? If you don't raise your hand, you're lying. Hot, right? How many of you deal with discouragement? Listen, from time to time, we're discouraged. Notice verse 11, I have treasured your word in my heart. Why? That I might not sin against you. We all face temptation. And one wonderful way, one wonderful strategy to overcome temptation is by hiding the truth of God's word in our heart. Listen, when you're confronted with a lie, because you've got the Word of God committed to memory, listen, a red flag ought to go up. Satan, that's a lie. If you say, I'm worthless, guess what? I'm a child of the king. I know my identity in Christ. I've been chosen in him before the foundation of the world. I've been adopted as a son. I've been accepted in the beloved. I've been redeemed. I've been forgiven. And you can quote verse after verse after verse, not on your own authority, but on the authority of the Word of God. How about discouragement? Listen, if we're honest, we all face from time to time discouragement. Rather than believing God's lies, Satan's lies, we believe God's truth. Amen?

Here's the way it works. Satan will try to get you to invest your time in worthless things. But God wants us to invest our time in things that are eternal, our relationship with him, our relationship with the Word, and the souls of men. Turn, if you would, to Philippians 4.8. Look at Philippians 4.8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, if there be any excellence, if there be anything worthy of praise, think on these things. If it doesn't meet the criteria, listen, it's worthless. Don't think about it. I like the New King James Bible rendering. It says, meditate on these things. I want to fill my mind with the Word of God. And you know what's so beautiful? Is rather than facing discouragement, when I fill my mind with Scripture, when I've committed it to memory and I can recite it as the Spirit of God prompts me, I can do like David said, I can strengthen myself in the Lord. I can help others who need encouragement and need to be strengthened with the strength that God supplies. Why? Because we're reciting a word fitly spoken to help them. The third reason we ought to memorize Scripture is to renew our minds, to renew our minds. Turn, if you would, to Romans 12, 1 and 2. Romans 12, 1 and 2. I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies unto God as a living sacrifice, holy.

acceptable, which is your spiritual worship. Look at verse 2, don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind so that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Did you catch it? How are we transformed? One way we're transformed is by the renewal of our minds. And how does that happen? We fill our minds with the word of God. Is your mind being renewed by the truth of Scripture? Is God doing that work of renewal your mind, renewal and renewing your mind? It can only be done through the word of God. When you and I hide the word of God in our hearts, he renews our mind. Rather than seeing things from a worldly perspective, we get to see things from God's perspective. Amen? That makes all the difference in the world. How do you memorize Scripture? That's the third question. The first answer is to share word fitly spoken. The second is, the second reason we memorize Scripture is to overcome temptation and discouragement. And the third reason is to renew our mind. Now, how do you memorize Scripture? There are so many neat apps to memorize Scripture. And if you're into technology, you're going to want to check out three. Remember Me is a really good one, jot it down. Fyder used to be called Fyder Versus. I think it's just one word now, Fyder. And then there's another app called Versus.

And there are so many neat ways to memorize Scripture. But I'm going to share with you my way, and I've been doing this for years. This is a step-by-step process to memorize Scripture. It's very practical. Step one is this, select a Scripture during your reading, during your study, during your time in the Word. Select a Scripture that you find particularly helpful, that you want to know by heart. So, as you're reading, you come across a Scripture and you say, that is a great verse, I need to commit that to memory. The second step is this, get a flash card and on one side of the card, write the reference. On the other side of the card, write out the verse. Be careful as you write out the verse that you get it word perfect. The third step is this, you memorize or commit to memory one phrase at a time, getting it word perfect. So, you memorize the first phrase and then you build on it by memorizing the second phrase. And you keep going, keep building until you work your way all the way through the verse. Now, remember, you want to memorize it word perfect or as close as you can get. Step number four is this, recite the verse to yourself at least 20 times. You're thinking to yourself, this is hard work. Yes, it is. But I want to tell you, friend, it's worth it. Amen? It's worth it. Step five, and this is absolutely crucial, review, review, review. The key to Scripture memory is review.

Now, for 20 years, after my eyesight went bad, I preached expositorily. That meant that I memorized whole books of the Bible, but unfortunately, because I haven't reviewed, I haven't kept up with it. So, review is so important. So, here... Here's what I want us to do together, okay? This is gonna be the audience participation. I want us to memorize two verses of scripture. I want you to leave today having memorized two verses of scripture. Turn, if you would, in your Bible, and I assume most of you have the CSB, Christian Standard Bible. That's the one you use here at Long Hollow. Turn, if you would, to John 3, 30. And so I'm gonna get you to repeat after me, and maybe we'll throw it up on the screen. And we're gonna do one phrase at a time. Now, let's do a verse analysis of this verse. John the Baptist is speaking. And what he's doing is he's telling his disciples, my ministry is gonna fade away. But Christ's ministry is gonna flourish. Basically, in a word, that's what it means. How does it apply to you and I? Here's how it applies. The more and more we allow Christ to be Lord of our lives, he's gonna increase within us, and we're gonna decrease. So let's say it together.

John 3, 30, repeat after me. All right, audience participation. John 3, 30. He must increase. John 3, 30. He must increase, but I must decrease. All right, let's say it all together. John 3, 30. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3, 30. All right, let's say it one more time. He must increase, but I must decrease. 3, 30, amen. Second Corinthians 5, 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, repeat after me. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Second Corinthians 5, 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Second Corinthians 5, 17. Second Corinthians 5, 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Second Corinthians 5, 17. Second Corinthians 5, 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away, and see, the new has come. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, and see, the new has come. Amen. Praise God. You just memorized two verses of scripture. Give yourselves a hand. Amen. All right, what do you take away from a message like this? I know we're talking about spiritual disciplines, and that's where I've lived for the last several years. In fact, when I was on staff here, I taught, some of you were in my spiritual disciplines class. What do you take away from a message like this? The first thing is this. Memorize scripture. And let me suggest a couple of ways. Do it as a family. Would it be wonderful if you, around your kitchen table, would open the Bible, and with your children, with your spouse, memorize the word of God? Memorize scripture as a family. And the second thing is, if you're not in a D group, get in a D group. You know the three spiritual disciplines of a D group? You read the Bible in journal, you pray. and you memorize scripture. Let me pray for us. Father, I ask that your people

would spend time in your word. I pray, Lord, that the word of Christ would dwell in us richly. Help us, Lord, to have your word on our hearts, and we ask it in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen.