May 7, 2025 • 44 mins
In this message from Psalm 119, David Platt gives us 50 reasons to memorize God’s Word. Hiding the Word in our hearts and meditating on it all day is not merely a religious routine but rather the way to flee sin and find lasting joy in God himself.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are listening to Radical with David Platt, a
weekly podcast with sermons andmessages from pastor, author and
teacher David Platt.
Well, if you have a Bible and Ihope you or somebody around you
does that you can look on withlet me invite you to open with
me to the middle of the Bibleand you'll be close to Psalms
(00:21):
and open to Psalm 119.
Psalm 119.
Psalms and open to Psalm 119.
Psalm 119.
I have a ton of ground to coverin a little bit of time today,
so I'm going to dive right inwith a question for every
follower of Jesus.
So I want to ask you are youcurrently memorizing God's word
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and obviously I don't mean thewhole thing, god's word, and
obviously I don't mean the wholething but do you currently have
a plan that you areimplementing to memorize verses
or chapters or books of theBible?
And over the next few minutes Iwant to build a case from God's
word for why memorizing God'sword to the extent that you are
(01:03):
mentally able to do so iscritical for your walk with
Jesus.
I will never forget the momentwhen God showed me this in a
memorable way as a teenager.
I was in a worship service, theguy leading musical worship at
one point, just put down hisguitar and he just quoted a
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chapter of the Bible.
It was so powerful.
I'd never heard anybody do thatbefore, and afterward a leader
in the church pulled me asideand said David, if you commit to
memorization of God's word, itwill totally transform every
facet of your life, and my lifehas never been the same since.
It was a defining moment for meand I don't want to be
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presumptuous today, because onlythe Spirit of God can make
those moments happen.
But I have prayed that todaymight be a defining moment for
some of you, whether you're ateenager or younger or young
adult or middle age or senioradult, whether you're new to
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faith or you've been followingJesus for decades, including
leaders or maybe even pastors inour church family who are not
currently implementing a planfor Scripture memorization.
So this is for all of us, andI'll add, this is the overflow
of fresh conviction in my ownlife of how I need to grow in
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this.
So at the end of our time, a fewminutes from now, I'm gonna put
two questions before all of us.
The first is what challenging,attainable goal will you set for
memorizing God's Word over thenext four months, so between now
and the end of the summer andthat's obviously not to say once
you get to September just stopmemorizing God's Word.
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I actually want to build a casefor why followers of Jesus to
the extent where we're mentallyable to do so would be wise to
always be memorizing someportion of God's Word.
But I want to put a practicalset period of time in your mind
today.
So what challenging, attainablegoal can you set for memorizing
certain verses over the nextfew months?
(03:14):
Maybe it's a verse a week, orevery couple of weeks, or a
couple of verses a week, ormaybe it's a chapter of the
Bible, or a couple of chapters,or a book of the Bible.
My encouragement is for you toset a challenging goal.
Realizing this is gonna takework, but things that are
worthwhile in our lives takework.
I wanna show you you're notalone in this work.
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I wanna show you that God wantsto help you in this work and
you need others to help you.
So the other question I'm goingto ask you at the end is who
will you share this goal with sothat they can pray for you and
encourage you along the way?
I want you to think about whoyou can enlist today or tomorrow
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to help you reach your goal ofmemorizing God's word by praying
for you and encouraging you.
Now, if you're not a follower ofJesus, you may think this is
not for you.
But while you may not be at apoint where you're ready to
commit to memorize part of theBible, I wanna show you today
why this book is worthmemorizing.
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So this is for all of us,whether you're a follower of
Jesus or not.
In the next few minutes, Iwanna show you a few reasons.
Actually, that's not completelyaccurate.
In the next few minutes, I wantto show you 50 reasons, so 5-0,
.
I want to show you 50 reasonswhy you would be wise to always
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be implementing a plan forScripture memorization.
So I told you that's what Imeant when I was saying I have a
ton to cover and a little bitof time.
So if you're taking notes, getyour pen or pencil or device
ready.
It's gonna be like sitting infront of a fire hydrant.
I want you to walk away soakedfrom the next few minutes.
And all 50 of these reasons aregonna come straight from one
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chapter in God's word, psalm 119, that just so happens to be in
our church's Bible reading thisweek A week ago.
I was not planning on us doingthis today, but as we got into
our Bible reading this week Ijust sensed God saying camp out
here.
So today in our Bible readingwe're actually finishing Psalm
119 and I should mentionmcleanbibleorg slash Bible
(05:24):
reading.
We're actually finishing Psalm119.
And I should mentionmcleanbibleorg slash Bible
reading.
We're reading as a churchfamily through the whole Bible
over the course of this year andit's always a good time to jump
in or jump back in.
But Psalm 119, it's the longestchapter in the Bible.
It's 176 verses.
It is a poetic masterpiecearranged around the 22 letters
of the Hebrew alphabet.
That just exalts the wonder andthe beauty of God's Word.
(05:47):
And I want to jump straight toverse 11.
So it's one of the morewell-known verses in the Bible.
And I tell you what.
Let's just read it out loudtogether at the same time.
So you read this out loud withme.
Psalm 119, verse 11, says I havestored up your word in my heart
that I might not sin againstyou.
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Do you see this language?
I have stored up your word inmy heart.
How do you do that?
And I think the answer to thatquestion is obvious you memorize
it, you store it inside you.
It's what you do which leads toa word we see all over this
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psalm meditate or meditation.
I'll show you just one examplePsalm 119, verse 97.
Oh, how I love your law.
It's my meditation all the day.
And this picture of meditationis not like an Eastern search
for inner peace by emptying yourmind.
This is actually filling yourmind with God's word, just
turning it over and over andover again, chewing on it,
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digesting it.
We've talked about this manytimes before.
I've shared an acrostic maps asa guide for reading the Bible.
I actually put it into a smallgroup that comes out a small
book that comes out this weekcalled how to Read the Bible a
simple guide to intimacy withGod.
I meet so many Christians whoare missing out on the treasure
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we have in God's word on a dailybasis.
We're missing out on life.
So it's just a short littlebook that walks through a map
that we've talked about beforein our church family for reading
Scripture, and the M stands formeditate and memorize, because
memorization is one of the mostpractical ways that we can
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meditate on Scripture.
When you're memorizing a verseor a passage or longer, you're
saying it over and, over andover again until it's in you,
it's second nature to you, it'sa part of you and that's the
only way that God's word can beyour meditation all the day,
unless you're carrying aroundyour Bible and looking at it all
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day.
This means you need God's Wordinside you, so you're thinking
about it and you're reciting itand you're remembering it all
day long because don't miss this, because you love it and that
Word is so important, becausethe last thing I would want for
you is to walk away todaythinking I guess I'm supposed to
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memorize God's Word to be agood Christian.
If that's what you're thinkingafter today, then you and I'm
supposed to memorize God's wordto be a good Christian.
If that's what you're thinkingafter today, then you and I will
have both missed the point.
I want to show you 50 reasonsso that you're like, yes, I want
this word, I love it and allthat it does, and I want to
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memorize, meditate on it all daylong, because I want all 50 of
these benefits.
So, without further ado, let'sdive in.
And if you're taking notes andyou miss one or more of these
reasons because I'm going toofast, which is probably going to
happen.
There's no reason to getfrustrated or mad at me.
Our team is putting the wholelist together.
(09:04):
We're gonna send it out througheNews this week or other means
so you can have it and you canalways go back and watch, listen
online as well.
So if you find yourself gettingso focused on writing things
down that you're missing whatGod's saying, then just calmly
put the pen and device down andjust soak it in.
So all right, here we go.
Reason number one to always beimplementing a plan for
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Scripture memorization.
One because it will bring youtrue, lasting happiness.
And I'm just going to put theverse numbers from Psalm 119 in
parentheses because we're notgoing to have time to read them
all.
And all 50 of these reasons aregoing to begin with the word it
, and all 50 of these reasonsare going to begin with the word
it, so it will always refer tohaving and implementing a plan
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for scripture memorization.
So I exhort you to put thatplan into practice at all times
in your life, because it willbring you true, lasting
happiness.
And this is not me saying this,this is God saying this.
It's the first two verses ofthe psalm Verse.
One blessed are those whose wayis blameless, who walk in the
(10:11):
law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep histestimonies, who seek him with
their whole heart.
That word means happy, liketrue everlasting happiness.
It's how the whole Psalm starts.
It's actually how the wholebook of Psalm starts.
Look at Psalm chapter one,verse one Blessed is the man
same word who walks not in thecounsel of wicked, nor stands in
(10:32):
the way of sinners, nor sits inthe seat of scoffers, but his
delight is in the law of theLord and on his law he does what
.
He meditates day and night,meditates day and night.
So if you delight in the wordof God and you meditate on it,
you think about it, you turn itover and over in your mind, you
soak it in day and night, thenyou will experience true
(10:57):
everlasting happiness.
Need I say more?
I don't need 49 more reasons,right?
Is this not enough?
Who of us does not want truelasting happiness?
We all want that, every one ofus, no matter how, what age,
stage we are in life.
We want true lasting happiness.
And God is saying I want thisfor you, and the way to get it
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is through meditating on my wordday and night.
So the other 49 reasons areessentially an explanation of
what this happiness looks likein action.
So, number two, it will helpyou experience freedom from and
victory over sin.
So this is the verse we readtogether out loud a moment ago.
I have stored up your word inmy heart, memorized it so that
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purpose I might not sin againstyou.
This word stored in my hearthelps me experience victory over
sin.
A couple of verses before that,in verse nine how can a young
man keep his way pure byguarding it according to your
word?
So my way can be pure when it'sguarded by your word, which
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can't happen if your word is notin me.
Just think Jesus, when he wastempted by the devil three times
in Matthew, chapter four allthree times what did he do in
response?
He quoted scripture.
You and I are powerless in ourbattles with temptation and sin
if we're fighting without God'sword stored in our hearts.
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You need God's word in you toexperience freedom from and
victory over sin in your lifeperiod.
Along these lines, number three, it will crucify your pride.
And number four, it willcultivate your humility.
All throughout this psalm, thewriter is asking God to help him
, teach him, lead him, keep him,save him from himself.
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God's word hidden in our heartsreminds us we need God all day
long.
We cannot live like, truly livewithout him, because he knows
better than us what is best forour lives.
Yet we're prone to thinkotherwise.
That's our pride, and we needhumility, and God's word in us
crucifies that pride andcultivates that humility.
(13:10):
So hiding his word in yourheart and mind will then, number
five, lead you in good ways andit will keep you from evil ways
.
Verses 128 and 129.
Therefore, I consider all yourprecepts to be right or good and
I hate every false way.
Your testimonies are wonderful.
Therefore my soul keeps them.
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So.
Good ways, right, good waysthat are wonderful.
Therefore my soul keeps them so.
Good ways, right, good waysthat are wonderful, and evil,
false ways.
How do you know the differenceand how do you walk in one and
not the other?
By keeping his testimonies,precepts.
And how do you do that?
By considering them all thetime.
Then, number seven it will,implementing a plan for
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scripture memorization will makeyou richer than the wealthiest
person in the world.
Verse 72,.
The law of your mouth is betterto me than thousands of gold
and silver pieces.
Verse 127,.
Therefore, I love yourcommandments above gold, above
fine gold.
I've used this illustrationbefore.
It's in this little book that'scoming out this week, but I'm
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gonna mention it again herebecause I know some people are
thinking right now I just can'tmemorize scripture.
I just can't do it, and I knowdifferent people have different
abilities to memorize and I knowa relatively few people may not
be mentally able to do so,which means figuring out the
(14:32):
best way for you to work tomeditate on scripture.
But if I were to tell you todaythat I will give you $100,000
for every verse you can memorizebetween now and this time
tomorrow, most of you couldfigure it out John 11, 35, jesus
(14:55):
wept Boom 100K Like.
You'd Google search shortestverses and you'd go for it
Hardcore between now andtomorrow.
You would totally do that.
So the question is apparentlynot can you memorize?
The question is what's morevaluable to you, money or the
word of God?
What means more to you?
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And this is better than money,it's better than a lot of it.
God help us to believe this.
Our church is spread out acrossfive of the seven wealthiest
counties in the United States,which is one of the wealthiest,
if not the wealthiest country inthe entire world.
God raised up a pocket ofpeople in McLean Bible Church
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who love the word of Godinfinitely more than the wealth
of this world, and it's evidentin the way we live, in the way
we treasure and love this word.
You store this word in yourheart and you are richer than
the richest people in this world.
Believe that.
Believe that the world, theadversary in it, are selling you
(15:57):
, lies all day long.
Don't buy it.
This is treasure.
And and number eight it willsatisfy you more than the finest
meal in the world.
How sweet are your words to mytaste?
Sweeter than honey to my mouth.
This word is fine dining,waiting for you to feast on all
day long.
The Bible is not a fast foodrestaurant.
(16:19):
Get something really quick andmove on.
This is food to linger over.
Number nine it will open youreyes to wonderful things.
The more you hide God's word inyour heart, the more your eyes
will see wonderful things thatyou could never see another way.
Number 10, it will thrill youwith endless treasure.
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Psalm 119, verse 162,.
I rejoice at your word like onewho finds great spoil.
Isn't that a great verse?
Spoil just waiting for youEvery morning when you wake up.
Just spoil waiting for you.
Who doesn't like the thrill ofdiscovering treasure and
delighting in it?
That's scripture memorization.
Knowing number 11, it will fillyou with what will never fail
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you.
Verse 140, your promise is welltried and your servant loves it
.
God's word filled with promiseswill prove itself worthy of
your love.
Over and over, and over andover again, it will fill you
with what will never fail you.
Number 12, it will help youunderstand God's ways and it
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will help you trust God's plans,especially when those plans are
hard to understand, which isthe whole context for this psalm
.
Don't get the idea that theperson who's writing this is
just walking through just rosylife where everything's going
great.
He's in the middle ofaffliction and trials and
challenges, which is why heneeds to hide God's word in his
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heart.
It's why we need to hide God'sword in our hearts so when we're
hit with flaming darts of theadversary, when we're walking
through difficult days, we havethe shield of faith.
Trust in the word of God toextinguish those flames.
Which leads to number 14.
It will guide you amidstchallenges in this world.
It will transform your trialsfor good so that you see God's
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good purposes in your trials.
It will strengthen you insorrow.
That's language straight fromverse 28.
And it will sustain you instruggles.
I love verse 92.
Essentially it says if your lawhad not been inside me, I would
not have made it through.
But you can't make it throughLife challenges and trials and
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sorrow and struggles in thisworld without the word of God
hidden in you, feeding you,helping you go on, which leads
to number 18.
It will counsel you when you'reconfused.
It will comfort you when you'reafflicted.
Verse 50, this is my comfort inmy affliction.
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Your promise gives me life.
It will quiet you when you'reanxious.
Verse 143 says when anxiety is.
Here's the language it sayswhen anxiety is finding you out,
god's word will be your delight.
When you're overwhelmed withanxiety, when it's overtaking
you, god's word, your delight,and it will keep you from being
(19:20):
ashamed.
Mark it down.
You will never, ever, everregret knowing and hiding God's
word in your heart.
Never you will regret all thetimes you turn to your ways
because his word is not in yourmind and heart.
You will never regret clingingto God's word and putting it
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into practice.
Never it will keep you frombeing ashamed, number 22,.
It will guard you from livingfor selfish gain.
And number 23, it will guardyou from living for selfish gain
.
And number 23, it will free youfrom looking at and living for
endless triviality in this world.
You and I are inundated with themundane, all day long Hours
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spent on screen scrollingthrough mind-numbing content
Like fill your mind withsomething better everlasting
truth.
This is what meditation,memorization does.
It takes over your mind inthose idle moments so that,
instead of thinking about thingsthat don't matter all the time
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and reflexively pulling out yourphone at those idle moments,
we're so addicted to our devices.
Memorization makes us addictedto God's word, so that, whether
you're in bed or the bathroom orthe waiting room or the
stoplight, you're getting readyin the morning, you're looking
in the mirror.
Don't you want all thosemoments to be filled with truth
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and wonder from God's word, notlies and silliness from this
world?
So get off the hours here andput hours here.
Fill your mind with this Fromlooking at living for endless
triviality.
It's beckoning us every singleday, at every idle moment.
And along these lines, number24, it will give you perspective
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on power in this world.
We need this word filling ourminds, reminding us what real
power is.
We think presidents arepowerful and CEOs of big
companies are powerful.
Athletes and singers and moviestars are powerful.
People, wake up.
This is what our Bible readingand Isaiah has been this week.
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God holds the people we thinkhave power in the palm of his
hand.
You really think Putin'spresidency or Trump's second
term or Taylor Swift's followingis power?
No, wake up.
Behold your God.
The nations, the nations of theworld, are like dust on scales
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and a drop in a bucket.
Behold God, and you have hisword.
God, help us to hide your wordin our hearts so we aren't
deceived and worked up overcheap imitations of power in
this world.
The one who has all the poweris speaking to us.
Let's listen.
Let's listen and then look atthe world in light of what he's
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saying and putting in our minds,hiding it deep there, knowing
number 25,.
It will build and embolden yourfaith.
To memorize scripture,especially when people taunt you
about your faith.
Verse 42 says and it will equipyou to encourage others.
You will not be able to speakGod's word into others' lives,
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to help encourage, bring life tothem, if you aren't hiding
God's word in your heart.
Out of the overflow of theheart, the mouth speaks.
That's why we talk abouttrivialities all the time,
because our hearts are so fullof them News, sports, weather,
current events.
It's not that that's bad, butat some point let something that
really matters for the next 10trillion years come out and it
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won't come out if it's not inhere.
It will equip you to encourageothers.
So fill your heart with God'sword in a way that comes out in
words.
You speak in ways that thenlead to number 27, continual
worship of God.
This psalm is filled withspontaneous praise and worship
and thanksgiving, because theoverflow of hiding God's word in
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your heart is enjoying andexalting God's glory in your
life.
We read it this morning inPsalm end of Psalm 119,.
Seven times a day I'll praiseyou for your righteous rules.
It's a picture of justperfection.
Seven like all day long, I'mpraising you, as your word is
overflowing in me to praise toyou, and it will show you the
sufficiency of God as yourportion, as the one who is
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sufficient to provide for yourevery need, and it will fill you
with hope in God.
Over and over and over again,the psalmist says your word
gives me hope.
Psalm 119, 147,.
I rise before dawn and cry forhelp.
I hope in your words, hope fromthe early morning is in your
word.
We need this.
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We are all prone to despair andwe need the hope of God and his
word hidden in our hearts andminds.
Number 30, it will fuel yourprayer life.
I could put almost every versehere, because the whole psalm is
a prayer.
It's a conversation with Godwhich makes sense.
How can you have a conversationwith God if you never listen to
what he's saying and reallythink about soak in what he's
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saying, like having God's wordhidden in your mind and heart?
Is God always speaking to you?
You're speaking back to him.
This is conversation with God.
This is relationship walkingwith God and at the same time,
it will deepen your friendshipswith other people who know God's
word, because you'll have abasis for that conversation
foundation that's literally outof this world.
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It's part of what I love aboutdoing a Bible reading plan with
my wife or my kids or us as achurch family.
We have so much to talk about.
We could talk all afternoonabout Isaiah 58 through 60 today
and the last part of Psalm 119,just this morning's reading.
Like as soon as we see eachother.
Did you see that?
That was amazing?
Like what Isaiah 58 said abouttrue fasting, what Isaiah 59
(25:13):
said about.
God is our protector, ourdefender.
He's your protector.
He's your defender.
Now we're having a good lunchconversation.
Isaiah 60,.
His light shines on us in a waythat spreads through us.
Let's do this together.
All that's just from readingthe word on the same day,
letting it hide in your heartand mind.
Number 32, it will calm youamidst attacks against you.
(25:35):
There's so much I would love tosay here, but I'll just say
this you do not want toexperience people saying all
kinds of evil about you or toyou without having your mind
filled with what God says aboutyou and to you.
You need his voice, drowningout their voices.
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And I'll share a little secretI've learned when their voices
become louder, his voiceactually becomes sweeter in ways
you've never experienced before.
It's true.
It's true.
It will calm you amidst attacksagainst you.
Number 33, memorizing God's wordwill unite you with generations
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before you who've done the samething, going all the way back
to Joshua.
Meditate on my word day andnight.
We're doing the same thingGod's people have been doing
century after century,generation after generation, and
in the process, it will remindyou of God's faithfulness to you
, hiding God's word in yourheart will ultimately save you
from sin and death and provideyou with true safety and
(26:39):
security.
So, for all who are visitingtoday or you may not yet be a
follower of Jesus, this word haspower to save you from sin and
death, because this wordcontains the greatest news in
all the world that we have allbeen made for relationship with
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God, that God loves us, desireslife for us forever.
The problem is, we've allrebelled against God, turned
from his ways to our own waysand, as a result, we're
separated from God and wedeserve eternal separation,
judgment before God.
But the good news of this wordis that God loves us so much
(27:20):
he's revealed himself to us andhe's revealed his love for us.
He came to us in Jesus, knownas the Word made flesh, who
lived a life of no sin, neverdisobeying this word, and then,
even though he had no sin forwhich to die, he chose to die on
a cross to pay the price forour sin, for our rebellion.
He died on the cross for oursins and then, three days later,
(27:43):
rose from the grave.
He defeated sin and death sothat anyone, anywhere, no matter
who you are, no matter whatyou've done, if you will turn
from your sin yourself and trustin Jesus as the Savior of your
sin and the Lord of your life,god will forgive you of all your
sin and restore you to the lifeyou were made to live forever
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with him.
That is worth meditating on allday long and it never, ever,
ever gets old.
And nothing else in this worldcan save you from sin and death
and provide you with true safetyand security and everlasting
life.
Your 401k can't do that.
(28:25):
Your nice house, nice car, yourjob security that's not
security.
I'm talking 10 trillion yearsfrom job security that's not
security.
I'm talking 10 trillion yearsfrom now.
Security Only the word hiddenin your heart provides.
That Leads to number 37.
It will make you wiser thanyour enemies and it will make
(28:46):
you more knowledgeable than yourteachers.
The 10-year-old little girl whohides God's Word in her heart
is more knowledgeable than thedistinguished doctor or
professor who denies God's Wordin his life because she knows
God.
(29:07):
Memorizing God's Word will belight for your steps.
When you're on in the dark, youdon't have time to pull up a
verse.
You need verses in your mind tolight the way and not just
light over and over again.
The psalmist says it will belife for your soul.
Verse 107 give me life, o god.
According to your word, number41.
(29:28):
It will cause you to love whatgod loves and it will cause you
to love what God loves and itwill cause you to hate what God
hates.
We need the desires of ourhearts transformed by God's word
in our hearts.
We need new desires, knowingour hearts are prone to wander,
which leads to so.
This is so interesting.
(29:49):
So this is so interesting.
Number 43.
It will rescue you fromwandering.
So verse 176.
It's the only verse 176 in theentire Bible.
After 175 verses filled withlove for and devotion to God's
word, listen to the last verseof this song.
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I've gone astray like a lostsheep.
Seek your servant, for I do notforget your commandments.
Wow, at the end of the psalmexalting God's word, the
psalmist's last word is and Istill wander from it.
Is that not honest andrelatable, applicable to all of
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us, myself included?
I can preach this message, Ican memorize scripture, I can
meditate on it every morning,but as soon as I finish and
start to get ready for my day, Iam already in a battle to keep
believing it.
Amen.
So how do we stay close to God,our shepherd, when we so easily
(31:00):
stray like lost sheep.
Here's how you do not forgethis commandments you have his
word hidden in your heart.
So then, those moments whenyou're wandering, you hear God's
spirit saying to you I'mseeking you, I love you, come
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back to me.
This is why we need God's wordin us deep and this is why,
parents, this is why we help ourkids memorize scripture,
knowing there's no guarantee forhow their story is gonna play
out.
But if they wander, the more ofGod's word they have hidden in
their minds and their heartsfrom their parents and their
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church family, pouring that wordinto them when they're young,
the more power there is insideof them for their rescue.
They need it.
We all need it.
We need God's word hidden in usto rescue us from wonder.
All right, let's draw this to aclose Hiding God's word in your
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heart.
Number 44, will remind you thatGod is with you At all times,
no matter what's coming at youin this world, to have his voice
speaking to you at the top ofyour mind.
We need that.
You're not alone.
I'm with you and I'm for you.
Number 45.
It will draw you to God's lovefor you.
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Verse 41, your steadfast love,o Lord, comes to me through your
word, his love just pouring outthrough his word.
Why would we not just wannaabide in his love by abiding in
his word?
And 46, it will captivate youwith love for God and his word.
And 46, it will captivate youwith love for God and his word.
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How we respond to God's word isa reflection of how we respond
to God.
If we ignore his word, we areignoring God.
Are you ignoring God?
Just look at your practice inyour life.
If you're ignoring God's Word,it's a picture of ignoring God.
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Conversely, if we love God'sWord, we're loving God.
Let's love God and love HisWord.
Hiding God's Word in our heartswill lead us to deeper love for
God and it will create in us alonging for God and His Word.
The psalmist says I open mymouth and pant for your Word
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because I long for yourcommandments.
And so many people, so manypeople say well, I just don't
desire God's Word like that.
So what do I do?
I just don't have a desire forit.
And the answer is so how do yougrow in a desire for it?
You meditate on and memorize it.
Of course, you don't desire itbecause you're filling your
stomach with drivel from thisworld.
(33:55):
You need new taste buds.
Stop eating the junk of thisworld.
Start feasting on God's word.
It's better than Netflix.
It's better than all the socialmedia feeds.
It's so much, infinitely betterthan all that.
And once you see it, you'relike why am I tasting this?
(34:17):
I got this over here.
Why settle for McDonald's pattywhen I have like steakhouse
filet or whatever the comparablevegetarian illustration would
be?
It's better, it's better, it'sbetter.
You taste this.
You won't wanna go back ever.
(34:38):
Number 48, at least the number48,.
It will help you endure to theend.
I think about my mentor, jimShattuck so I've shared about
before who went to be with theLord a couple months ago after a
year-long bout with braincancer.
I sat by his hospice bed.
He was barely able to move,struggling to breathe, could
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only speak with a whisper, andas I would read scripture over
him through whispers, he wouldfinish the verses I was reading.
He knew them.
They were hidden deep in hisheart all the way to the end.
Don't you want that to be yourstory On a hospice bed whenever
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that moment comes, which leadsto the last two, number 49, it
will prepare you to stand beforeGod on that day.
One day you are going to standbefore God with all of your ways
, before him.
You need his word deep in you,guiding your way, to prepare you
for that day.
This world and all that's in it, everything in the DMV,
(35:46):
everything in the DMV,everything in the United States,
in the world, none of it'sgonna last.
It's all gonna be gone.
We read it in Isaiah 40 thisweek the grass withers, the
flower fades.
The word of God alone standsforever.
So you wanna live, but what'sgonna matter on that day?
Fill your heart with this wordtoday, knowing number 50, it
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will enable you to walk with Godon this day, not just about
later.
It's now All day, all nightlong, walking with God.
Can I share something with you?
Long walking with God.
Can I share something with you?
Before I came here this morning,I heard the voice of God.
(36:47):
Without question, it was God.
I heard his voice.
I had an encounter with God.
He spoke to me.
He spoke to me, david Platt,god speaking to me.
And the beauty is he didn'tjust speak to me.
He will speak to you, you,right where you're sitting.
God Wants to talk with you, you.
You Right where you're sitting.
God wants to talk with you.
(37:09):
He wants to have conversationwith you.
He wants to hear you and hewants to speak to you through
his word Every single day andnight.
All you have to do is open upthe book, listen to it, turn it
over in your mind.
If God wants to speak to us,don't you think it'd be wise to
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listen and remember and hidewhatever he says to us in our
hearts like a treasure, like inthat how to Read the Bible book?
I talk about it and I've talkedabout this before here,
probably to the point wherey'all are sick of it, like
letters heather would send mewhen we were dating and how I
obsessed over them.
And that's what we're talkingabout here.
(37:54):
We're not just going throughmotions here.
Check off a sunday morning box.
We're in love, relationship,relationship with the God of the
universe.
We're walking with God.
You were created to know, enjoy, savor God, fill your mind,
(38:14):
your heart with what he's sayingto you in ways that lead you to
talk to him.
Like just this conversationwith God.
Like I put all 50 of thesereasons on the screen here, and
I know you can't read it, butthat's kind of the point.
Do you want this?
Do you want all 50 of thesethings that we just walked
(38:35):
through?
Because and I should add,there's more I had to cut it off
somewhere.
So do you want all of this andmore than you can imagine?
Then I ask you, whatchallenging, attainable goal
will you set for memorizing Godover the next four months,
because all those things areavailable to you, and who will
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you share this goal with so theycan pray for you and encourage
you along the way?
And I wanna encourage you toanswer those questions ASAP.
And you might be thinking Idon't even know where to start.
Here's just a few ideas just tokind of get your mind going.
Like, maybe just digest a versea day, or a verse a week, pick
a verse in the morning that youhaven't memorized and chew on it
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all day, or the beginning ofthe week and chew on it all week
.
I was doing this yesterday withPsalm 119, 147.
That's why I was just kind oftop of mind.
I rise before dawn and cry forhelp I hope in your words so all
day long.
Yesterday I'm coaching kidsgames.
I'm like I do not hope in this,the outcome of this game, or I
don't hope in this referee who'slike totally missing it.
(39:45):
Anyway, that's my hope is inyour word all day long, just in
practical.
And then last night lay my headon the pillow and last thing
I'm saying to myself I hope inyour words I rise before dawn,
cry for help.
I hope in your words Just chewon it all day long.
You do that.
With one verse a week, you'llhave close to 20 verses hidden
in your heart over the next fourmonths.
Maybe you can do more.
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So or maybe try a chapter or abook, which I know to many of
you sounds totally unrealistic,but I just think.
About years ago we were walkingthrough 1 John.
We were memorizing 1 John 1together during that series and
one brother, who'd never doneanything like that before he
went for it, invited his teenageson to do it with him.
So they memorized versestogether on their way to school
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in the morning and they did it.
They got the whole chapter andthat was all we did as the
church.
But the son said to his dadafter they finished the first
chapter.
He said we're not stopping here, are we?
And he and his son memorizedthe whole book of first John.
You tell me what better use ofyour time with your kids is than
filling it with God's word likethat, or your time with your
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parents, your time with yourfriends.
Take Psalm 1 or Psalm 23 orRomans 8 or 1 Corinthians 13 or
a short book of the Bible.
Do not underestimate what youcan do with the Holy Spirit's
help.
And along these lines, I hopethe book I've mentioned that's
coming out this week is helpfulfor you how to read the Bible,
but I also want to encourage youto get how to Memorize
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Scripture for Life.
So this is a book written by afriend of mine, fellow pastor,
named Andy Davis.
Andy has memorized all the NewTestament, many books in the Old
Testament.
He is such a humble,christ-like brother and he's
written an excellent, helpful,practical book on memorizing
everything from a verse to abook.
I wrote an endorsement for thatbook.
(41:30):
I said I wish every Christiancould read this book and do what
it says.
It would change everything.
And then, finally, here's onemore just practical tip.
Start with one hour.
You have 168 hours ahead of youthis week.
Spend one of them inconcentrated attention focused
on memorizing scripture.
Just put distractions aside forone hour and you will be
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surprised how much you canmemorize in that one
uninterrupted hour and thenspend the rest of the week,
whenever you have idle time,sitting at a stoplight getting
ready in the morning, gonna goin here or there Instead of
pulling out your phone just.
Or maybe, if it's on your phone, pull out your phone just.
Or maybe, if it's on your phone, pull out your phone but don't
look at anything else, but justfocus on reviewing, reciting
what you've been learning.
It'll start to take hold inyour heart.
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You can do this.
This is not rocket science.
All of this is accessible toyou today, so just start
somewhere.
So, all right, let me give you amoment with God to reflect on,
answer, or at least begin toanswer, these two questions.
Let me pray.
Let me pray for you, god.
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I pray for every person withinthe sound of my voice.
Pray that you would speak tothem now by your spirit.
I trust God.
I pray you've been speakingthrough your word, by your
spirit.
I trust God, I pray you've beenspeaking through your word, by
your spirit, and in this momentyou would open their eyes to see
all the good that you have, allthe good that you desire for
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them that comes from hiding yourword in their hearts and I pray
that you would help them to nothold back from however you're
calling them to memorize yourword over the next few months.
I pray, oh God, that this wouldbe a defining moment in many
people's lives that will bearfruit far beyond this moment.
(43:18):
So you pray and reflect beforeGod and I, or somebody at your
location, will lead us fromthere.
We hope you've enjoyed thisweek's episode of Radical with
David Platt.
For more resources from DavidPlatt, we invite you to visit
radicalnet.
You are listening to Radical with David Platt, a
weekly podcast with sermons andmessages from pastor, author and
teacher David Platt.
Well, if you have a Bible and Ihope you or somebody around you
does that you can look on withlet me invite you to open with
me to the middle of the Bibleand you'll be close to Psalms
(00:21):
and open to Psalm 119.
Psalm 119.
Psalms and open to Psalm 119.
Psalm 119.
I have a ton of ground to coverin a little bit of time today,
so I'm going to dive right inwith a question for every
follower of Jesus.
So I want to ask you are youcurrently memorizing God's word
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and obviously I don't mean thewhole thing, god's word, and
obviously I don't mean the wholething but do you currently have
a plan that you areimplementing to memorize verses
or chapters or books of theBible?
And over the next few minutes Iwant to build a case from God's
word for why memorizing God'sword to the extent that you are
(01:03):
mentally able to do so iscritical for your walk with
Jesus.
I will never forget the momentwhen God showed me this in a
memorable way as a teenager.
I was in a worship service, theguy leading musical worship at
one point, just put down hisguitar and he just quoted a
(01:24):
chapter of the Bible.
It was so powerful.
I'd never heard anybody do thatbefore, and afterward a leader
in the church pulled me asideand said David, if you commit to
memorization of God's word, itwill totally transform every
facet of your life, and my lifehas never been the same since.
It was a defining moment for meand I don't want to be
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presumptuous today, because onlythe Spirit of God can make
those moments happen.
But I have prayed that todaymight be a defining moment for
some of you, whether you're ateenager or younger or young
adult or middle age or senioradult, whether you're new to
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faith or you've been followingJesus for decades, including
leaders or maybe even pastors inour church family who are not
currently implementing a planfor Scripture memorization.
So this is for all of us, andI'll add, this is the overflow
of fresh conviction in my ownlife of how I need to grow in
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this.
So at the end of our time, a fewminutes from now, I'm gonna put
two questions before all of us.
The first is what challenging,attainable goal will you set for
memorizing God's Word over thenext four months, so between now
and the end of the summer andthat's obviously not to say once
you get to September just stopmemorizing God's Word.
(02:53):
I actually want to build a casefor why followers of Jesus to
the extent where we're mentallyable to do so would be wise to
always be memorizing someportion of God's Word.
But I want to put a practicalset period of time in your mind
today.
So what challenging, attainablegoal can you set for memorizing
certain verses over the nextfew months?
(03:14):
Maybe it's a verse a week, orevery couple of weeks, or a
couple of verses a week, ormaybe it's a chapter of the
Bible, or a couple of chapters,or a book of the Bible.
My encouragement is for you toset a challenging goal.
Realizing this is gonna takework, but things that are
worthwhile in our lives takework.
I wanna show you you're notalone in this work.
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I wanna show you that God wantsto help you in this work and
you need others to help you.
So the other question I'm goingto ask you at the end is who
will you share this goal with sothat they can pray for you and
encourage you along the way?
I want you to think about whoyou can enlist today or tomorrow
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to help you reach your goal ofmemorizing God's word by praying
for you and encouraging you.
Now, if you're not a follower ofJesus, you may think this is
not for you.
But while you may not be at apoint where you're ready to
commit to memorize part of theBible, I wanna show you today
why this book is worthmemorizing.
(04:19):
So this is for all of us,whether you're a follower of
Jesus or not.
In the next few minutes, Iwanna show you a few reasons.
Actually, that's not completelyaccurate.
In the next few minutes, I wantto show you 50 reasons, so 5-0,
.
I want to show you 50 reasonswhy you would be wise to always
(04:41):
be implementing a plan forScripture memorization.
So I told you that's what Imeant when I was saying I have a
ton to cover and a little bitof time.
So if you're taking notes, getyour pen or pencil or device
ready.
It's gonna be like sitting infront of a fire hydrant.
I want you to walk away soakedfrom the next few minutes.
And all 50 of these reasons aregonna come straight from one
(05:03):
chapter in God's word, psalm 119, that just so happens to be in
our church's Bible reading thisweek A week ago.
I was not planning on us doingthis today, but as we got into
our Bible reading this week Ijust sensed God saying camp out
here.
So today in our Bible readingwe're actually finishing Psalm
119 and I should mentionmcleanbibleorg slash Bible
(05:24):
reading.
We're actually finishing Psalm119.
And I should mentionmcleanbibleorg slash Bible
reading.
We're reading as a churchfamily through the whole Bible
over the course of this year andit's always a good time to jump
in or jump back in.
But Psalm 119, it's the longestchapter in the Bible.
It's 176 verses.
It is a poetic masterpiecearranged around the 22 letters
of the Hebrew alphabet.
That just exalts the wonder andthe beauty of God's Word.
(05:47):
And I want to jump straight toverse 11.
So it's one of the morewell-known verses in the Bible.
And I tell you what.
Let's just read it out loudtogether at the same time.
So you read this out loud withme.
Psalm 119, verse 11, says I havestored up your word in my heart
that I might not sin againstyou.
(06:09):
Do you see this language?
I have stored up your word inmy heart.
How do you do that?
And I think the answer to thatquestion is obvious you memorize
it, you store it inside you.
It's what you do which leads toa word we see all over this
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psalm meditate or meditation.
I'll show you just one examplePsalm 119, verse 97.
Oh, how I love your law.
It's my meditation all the day.
And this picture of meditationis not like an Eastern search
for inner peace by emptying yourmind.
This is actually filling yourmind with God's word, just
turning it over and over andover again, chewing on it,
(06:57):
digesting it.
We've talked about this manytimes before.
I've shared an acrostic maps asa guide for reading the Bible.
I actually put it into a smallgroup that comes out a small
book that comes out this weekcalled how to Read the Bible a
simple guide to intimacy withGod.
I meet so many Christians whoare missing out on the treasure
(07:18):
we have in God's word on a dailybasis.
We're missing out on life.
So it's just a short littlebook that walks through a map
that we've talked about beforein our church family for reading
Scripture, and the M stands formeditate and memorize, because
memorization is one of the mostpractical ways that we can
(07:39):
meditate on Scripture.
When you're memorizing a verseor a passage or longer, you're
saying it over and, over andover again until it's in you,
it's second nature to you, it'sa part of you and that's the
only way that God's word can beyour meditation all the day,
unless you're carrying aroundyour Bible and looking at it all
(08:01):
day.
This means you need God's Wordinside you, so you're thinking
about it and you're reciting itand you're remembering it all
day long because don't miss this, because you love it and that
Word is so important, becausethe last thing I would want for
you is to walk away todaythinking I guess I'm supposed to
(08:22):
memorize God's Word to be agood Christian.
If that's what you're thinkingafter today, then you and I'm
supposed to memorize God's wordto be a good Christian.
If that's what you're thinkingafter today, then you and I will
have both missed the point.
I want to show you 50 reasonsso that you're like, yes, I want
this word, I love it and allthat it does, and I want to
(08:42):
memorize, meditate on it all daylong, because I want all 50 of
these benefits.
So, without further ado, let'sdive in.
And if you're taking notes andyou miss one or more of these
reasons because I'm going toofast, which is probably going to
happen.
There's no reason to getfrustrated or mad at me.
Our team is putting the wholelist together.
(09:04):
We're gonna send it out througheNews this week or other means
so you can have it and you canalways go back and watch, listen
online as well.
So if you find yourself gettingso focused on writing things
down that you're missing whatGod's saying, then just calmly
put the pen and device down andjust soak it in.
So all right, here we go.
Reason number one to always beimplementing a plan for
(09:26):
Scripture memorization.
One because it will bring youtrue, lasting happiness.
And I'm just going to put theverse numbers from Psalm 119 in
parentheses because we're notgoing to have time to read them
all.
And all 50 of these reasons aregoing to begin with the word it
, and all 50 of these reasonsare going to begin with the word
it, so it will always refer tohaving and implementing a plan
(09:49):
for scripture memorization.
So I exhort you to put thatplan into practice at all times
in your life, because it willbring you true, lasting
happiness.
And this is not me saying this,this is God saying this.
It's the first two verses ofthe psalm Verse.
One blessed are those whose wayis blameless, who walk in the
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law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep histestimonies, who seek him with
their whole heart.
That word means happy, liketrue everlasting happiness.
It's how the whole Psalm starts.
It's actually how the wholebook of Psalm starts.
Look at Psalm chapter one,verse one Blessed is the man
same word who walks not in thecounsel of wicked, nor stands in
(10:32):
the way of sinners, nor sits inthe seat of scoffers, but his
delight is in the law of theLord and on his law he does what
.
He meditates day and night,meditates day and night.
So if you delight in the wordof God and you meditate on it,
you think about it, you turn itover and over in your mind, you
soak it in day and night, thenyou will experience true
(10:57):
everlasting happiness.
Need I say more?
I don't need 49 more reasons,right?
Is this not enough?
Who of us does not want truelasting happiness?
We all want that, every one ofus, no matter how, what age,
stage we are in life.
We want true lasting happiness.
And God is saying I want thisfor you, and the way to get it
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is through meditating on my wordday and night.
So the other 49 reasons areessentially an explanation of
what this happiness looks likein action.
So, number two, it will helpyou experience freedom from and
victory over sin.
So this is the verse we readtogether out loud a moment ago.
I have stored up your word inmy heart, memorized it so that
(11:43):
purpose I might not sin againstyou.
This word stored in my hearthelps me experience victory over
sin.
A couple of verses before that,in verse nine how can a young
man keep his way pure byguarding it according to your
word?
So my way can be pure when it'sguarded by your word, which
(12:05):
can't happen if your word is notin me.
Just think Jesus, when he wastempted by the devil three times
in Matthew, chapter four allthree times what did he do in
response?
He quoted scripture.
You and I are powerless in ourbattles with temptation and sin
if we're fighting without God'sword stored in our hearts.
(12:25):
You need God's word in you toexperience freedom from and
victory over sin in your lifeperiod.
Along these lines, number three, it will crucify your pride.
And number four, it willcultivate your humility.
All throughout this psalm, thewriter is asking God to help him
, teach him, lead him, keep him,save him from himself.
(12:49):
God's word hidden in our heartsreminds us we need God all day
long.
We cannot live like, truly livewithout him, because he knows
better than us what is best forour lives.
Yet we're prone to thinkotherwise.
That's our pride, and we needhumility, and God's word in us
crucifies that pride andcultivates that humility.
(13:10):
So hiding his word in yourheart and mind will then, number
five, lead you in good ways andit will keep you from evil ways
.
Verses 128 and 129.
Therefore, I consider all yourprecepts to be right or good and
I hate every false way.
Your testimonies are wonderful.
Therefore my soul keeps them.
(13:31):
So.
Good ways, right, good waysthat are wonderful.
Therefore my soul keeps them so.
Good ways, right, good waysthat are wonderful, and evil,
false ways.
How do you know the differenceand how do you walk in one and
not the other?
By keeping his testimonies,precepts.
And how do you do that?
By considering them all thetime.
Then, number seven it will,implementing a plan for
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scripture memorization will makeyou richer than the wealthiest
person in the world.
Verse 72,.
The law of your mouth is betterto me than thousands of gold
and silver pieces.
Verse 127,.
Therefore, I love yourcommandments above gold, above
fine gold.
I've used this illustrationbefore.
It's in this little book that'scoming out this week, but I'm
(14:12):
gonna mention it again herebecause I know some people are
thinking right now I just can'tmemorize scripture.
I just can't do it, and I knowdifferent people have different
abilities to memorize and I knowa relatively few people may not
be mentally able to do so,which means figuring out the
(14:32):
best way for you to work tomeditate on scripture.
But if I were to tell you todaythat I will give you $100,000
for every verse you can memorizebetween now and this time
tomorrow, most of you couldfigure it out John 11, 35, jesus
(14:55):
wept Boom 100K Like.
You'd Google search shortestverses and you'd go for it
Hardcore between now andtomorrow.
You would totally do that.
So the question is apparentlynot can you memorize?
The question is what's morevaluable to you, money or the
word of God?
What means more to you?
(15:15):
And this is better than money,it's better than a lot of it.
God help us to believe this.
Our church is spread out acrossfive of the seven wealthiest
counties in the United States,which is one of the wealthiest,
if not the wealthiest country inthe entire world.
God raised up a pocket ofpeople in McLean Bible Church
(15:37):
who love the word of Godinfinitely more than the wealth
of this world, and it's evidentin the way we live, in the way
we treasure and love this word.
You store this word in yourheart and you are richer than
the richest people in this world.
Believe that.
Believe that the world, theadversary in it, are selling you
(15:57):
, lies all day long.
Don't buy it.
This is treasure.
And and number eight it willsatisfy you more than the finest
meal in the world.
How sweet are your words to mytaste?
Sweeter than honey to my mouth.
This word is fine dining,waiting for you to feast on all
day long.
The Bible is not a fast foodrestaurant.
(16:19):
Get something really quick andmove on.
This is food to linger over.
Number nine it will open youreyes to wonderful things.
The more you hide God's word inyour heart, the more your eyes
will see wonderful things thatyou could never see another way.
Number 10, it will thrill youwith endless treasure.
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Psalm 119, verse 162,.
I rejoice at your word like onewho finds great spoil.
Isn't that a great verse?
Spoil just waiting for youEvery morning when you wake up.
Just spoil waiting for you.
Who doesn't like the thrill ofdiscovering treasure and
delighting in it?
That's scripture memorization.
Knowing number 11, it will fillyou with what will never fail
(17:05):
you.
Verse 140, your promise is welltried and your servant loves it
.
God's word filled with promiseswill prove itself worthy of
your love.
Over and over, and over andover again, it will fill you
with what will never fail you.
Number 12, it will help youunderstand God's ways and it
(17:26):
will help you trust God's plans,especially when those plans are
hard to understand, which isthe whole context for this psalm
.
Don't get the idea that theperson who's writing this is
just walking through just rosylife where everything's going
great.
He's in the middle ofaffliction and trials and
challenges, which is why heneeds to hide God's word in his
(17:47):
heart.
It's why we need to hide God'sword in our hearts so when we're
hit with flaming darts of theadversary, when we're walking
through difficult days, we havethe shield of faith.
Trust in the word of God toextinguish those flames.
Which leads to number 14.
It will guide you amidstchallenges in this world.
It will transform your trialsfor good so that you see God's
(18:09):
good purposes in your trials.
It will strengthen you insorrow.
That's language straight fromverse 28.
And it will sustain you instruggles.
I love verse 92.
Essentially it says if your lawhad not been inside me, I would
not have made it through.
But you can't make it throughLife challenges and trials and
(18:35):
sorrow and struggles in thisworld without the word of God
hidden in you, feeding you,helping you go on, which leads
to number 18.
It will counsel you when you'reconfused.
It will comfort you when you'reafflicted.
Verse 50, this is my comfort inmy affliction.
(18:57):
Your promise gives me life.
It will quiet you when you'reanxious.
Verse 143 says when anxiety is.
Here's the language it sayswhen anxiety is finding you out,
god's word will be your delight.
When you're overwhelmed withanxiety, when it's overtaking
you, god's word, your delight,and it will keep you from being
(19:20):
ashamed.
Mark it down.
You will never, ever, everregret knowing and hiding God's
word in your heart.
Never you will regret all thetimes you turn to your ways
because his word is not in yourmind and heart.
You will never regret clingingto God's word and putting it
(19:43):
into practice.
Never it will keep you frombeing ashamed, number 22,.
It will guard you from livingfor selfish gain.
And number 23, it will guardyou from living for selfish gain
.
And number 23, it will free youfrom looking at and living for
endless triviality in this world.
You and I are inundated with themundane, all day long Hours
(20:05):
spent on screen scrollingthrough mind-numbing content
Like fill your mind withsomething better everlasting
truth.
This is what meditation,memorization does.
It takes over your mind inthose idle moments so that,
instead of thinking about thingsthat don't matter all the time
(20:27):
and reflexively pulling out yourphone at those idle moments,
we're so addicted to our devices.
Memorization makes us addictedto God's word, so that, whether
you're in bed or the bathroom orthe waiting room or the
stoplight, you're getting readyin the morning, you're looking
in the mirror.
Don't you want all thosemoments to be filled with truth
(20:48):
and wonder from God's word, notlies and silliness from this
world?
So get off the hours here andput hours here.
Fill your mind with this Fromlooking at living for endless
triviality.
It's beckoning us every singleday, at every idle moment.
And along these lines, number24, it will give you perspective
(21:11):
on power in this world.
We need this word filling ourminds, reminding us what real
power is.
We think presidents arepowerful and CEOs of big
companies are powerful.
Athletes and singers and moviestars are powerful.
People, wake up.
This is what our Bible readingand Isaiah has been this week.
(21:31):
God holds the people we thinkhave power in the palm of his
hand.
You really think Putin'spresidency or Trump's second
term or Taylor Swift's followingis power?
No, wake up.
Behold your God.
The nations, the nations of theworld, are like dust on scales
(21:56):
and a drop in a bucket.
Behold God, and you have hisword.
God, help us to hide your wordin our hearts so we aren't
deceived and worked up overcheap imitations of power in
this world.
The one who has all the poweris speaking to us.
Let's listen.
Let's listen and then look atthe world in light of what he's
(22:19):
saying and putting in our minds,hiding it deep there, knowing
number 25,.
It will build and embolden yourfaith.
To memorize scripture,especially when people taunt you
about your faith.
Verse 42 says and it will equipyou to encourage others.
You will not be able to speakGod's word into others' lives,
(22:41):
to help encourage, bring life tothem, if you aren't hiding
God's word in your heart.
Out of the overflow of theheart, the mouth speaks.
That's why we talk abouttrivialities all the time,
because our hearts are so fullof them News, sports, weather,
current events.
It's not that that's bad, butat some point let something that
really matters for the next 10trillion years come out and it
(23:01):
won't come out if it's not inhere.
It will equip you to encourageothers.
So fill your heart with God'sword in a way that comes out in
words.
You speak in ways that thenlead to number 27, continual
worship of God.
This psalm is filled withspontaneous praise and worship
and thanksgiving, because theoverflow of hiding God's word in
(23:24):
your heart is enjoying andexalting God's glory in your
life.
We read it this morning inPsalm end of Psalm 119,.
Seven times a day I'll praiseyou for your righteous rules.
It's a picture of justperfection.
Seven like all day long, I'mpraising you, as your word is
overflowing in me to praise toyou, and it will show you the
sufficiency of God as yourportion, as the one who is
(23:47):
sufficient to provide for yourevery need, and it will fill you
with hope in God.
Over and over and over again,the psalmist says your word
gives me hope.
Psalm 119, 147,.
I rise before dawn and cry forhelp.
I hope in your words, hope fromthe early morning is in your
word.
We need this.
(24:08):
We are all prone to despair andwe need the hope of God and his
word hidden in our hearts andminds.
Number 30, it will fuel yourprayer life.
I could put almost every versehere, because the whole psalm is
a prayer.
It's a conversation with Godwhich makes sense.
How can you have a conversationwith God if you never listen to
what he's saying and reallythink about soak in what he's
(24:30):
saying, like having God's wordhidden in your mind and heart?
Is God always speaking to you?
You're speaking back to him.
This is conversation with God.
This is relationship walkingwith God and at the same time,
it will deepen your friendshipswith other people who know God's
word, because you'll have abasis for that conversation
foundation that's literally outof this world.
(24:51):
It's part of what I love aboutdoing a Bible reading plan with
my wife or my kids or us as achurch family.
We have so much to talk about.
We could talk all afternoonabout Isaiah 58 through 60 today
and the last part of Psalm 119,just this morning's reading.
Like as soon as we see eachother.
Did you see that?
That was amazing?
Like what Isaiah 58 said abouttrue fasting, what Isaiah 59
(25:13):
said about.
God is our protector, ourdefender.
He's your protector.
He's your defender.
Now we're having a good lunchconversation.
Isaiah 60,.
His light shines on us in a waythat spreads through us.
Let's do this together.
All that's just from readingthe word on the same day,
letting it hide in your heartand mind.
Number 32, it will calm youamidst attacks against you.
(25:35):
There's so much I would love tosay here, but I'll just say
this you do not want toexperience people saying all
kinds of evil about you or toyou without having your mind
filled with what God says aboutyou and to you.
You need his voice, drowningout their voices.
(25:57):
And I'll share a little secretI've learned when their voices
become louder, his voiceactually becomes sweeter in ways
you've never experienced before.
It's true.
It's true.
It will calm you amidst attacksagainst you.
Number 33, memorizing God's wordwill unite you with generations
(26:18):
before you who've done the samething, going all the way back
to Joshua.
Meditate on my word day andnight.
We're doing the same thingGod's people have been doing
century after century,generation after generation, and
in the process, it will remindyou of God's faithfulness to you
, hiding God's word in yourheart will ultimately save you
from sin and death and provideyou with true safety and
(26:39):
security.
So, for all who are visitingtoday or you may not yet be a
follower of Jesus, this word haspower to save you from sin and
death, because this wordcontains the greatest news in
all the world that we have allbeen made for relationship with
(27:00):
God, that God loves us, desireslife for us forever.
The problem is, we've allrebelled against God, turned
from his ways to our own waysand, as a result, we're
separated from God and wedeserve eternal separation,
judgment before God.
But the good news of this wordis that God loves us so much
(27:20):
he's revealed himself to us andhe's revealed his love for us.
He came to us in Jesus, knownas the Word made flesh, who
lived a life of no sin, neverdisobeying this word, and then,
even though he had no sin forwhich to die, he chose to die on
a cross to pay the price forour sin, for our rebellion.
He died on the cross for oursins and then, three days later,
(27:43):
rose from the grave.
He defeated sin and death sothat anyone, anywhere, no matter
who you are, no matter whatyou've done, if you will turn
from your sin yourself and trustin Jesus as the Savior of your
sin and the Lord of your life,god will forgive you of all your
sin and restore you to the lifeyou were made to live forever
(28:04):
with him.
That is worth meditating on allday long and it never, ever,
ever gets old.
And nothing else in this worldcan save you from sin and death
and provide you with true safetyand security and everlasting
life.
Your 401k can't do that.
(28:25):
Your nice house, nice car, yourjob security that's not
security.
I'm talking 10 trillion yearsfrom job security that's not
security.
I'm talking 10 trillion yearsfrom now.
Security Only the word hiddenin your heart provides.
That Leads to number 37.
It will make you wiser thanyour enemies and it will make
(28:46):
you more knowledgeable than yourteachers.
The 10-year-old little girl whohides God's Word in her heart
is more knowledgeable than thedistinguished doctor or
professor who denies God's Wordin his life because she knows
God.
(29:07):
Memorizing God's Word will belight for your steps.
When you're on in the dark, youdon't have time to pull up a
verse.
You need verses in your mind tolight the way and not just
light over and over again.
The psalmist says it will belife for your soul.
Verse 107 give me life, o god.
According to your word, number41.
(29:28):
It will cause you to love whatgod loves and it will cause you
to love what God loves and itwill cause you to hate what God
hates.
We need the desires of ourhearts transformed by God's word
in our hearts.
We need new desires, knowingour hearts are prone to wander,
which leads to so.
This is so interesting.
(29:49):
So this is so interesting.
Number 43.
It will rescue you fromwandering.
So verse 176.
It's the only verse 176 in theentire Bible.
After 175 verses filled withlove for and devotion to God's
word, listen to the last verseof this song.
(30:10):
I've gone astray like a lostsheep.
Seek your servant, for I do notforget your commandments.
Wow, at the end of the psalmexalting God's word, the
psalmist's last word is and Istill wander from it.
Is that not honest andrelatable, applicable to all of
(30:37):
us, myself included?
I can preach this message, Ican memorize scripture, I can
meditate on it every morning,but as soon as I finish and
start to get ready for my day, Iam already in a battle to keep
believing it.
Amen.
So how do we stay close to God,our shepherd, when we so easily
(31:00):
stray like lost sheep.
Here's how you do not forgethis commandments you have his
word hidden in your heart.
So then, those moments whenyou're wandering, you hear God's
spirit saying to you I'mseeking you, I love you, come
(31:22):
back to me.
This is why we need God's wordin us deep and this is why,
parents, this is why we help ourkids memorize scripture,
knowing there's no guarantee forhow their story is gonna play
out.
But if they wander, the more ofGod's word they have hidden in
their minds and their heartsfrom their parents and their
(31:42):
church family, pouring that wordinto them when they're young,
the more power there is insideof them for their rescue.
They need it.
We all need it.
We need God's word hidden in usto rescue us from wonder.
All right, let's draw this to aclose Hiding God's word in your
(32:05):
heart.
Number 44, will remind you thatGod is with you At all times,
no matter what's coming at youin this world, to have his voice
speaking to you at the top ofyour mind.
We need that.
You're not alone.
I'm with you and I'm for you.
Number 45.
It will draw you to God's lovefor you.
(32:27):
Verse 41, your steadfast love,o Lord, comes to me through your
word, his love just pouring outthrough his word.
Why would we not just wannaabide in his love by abiding in
his word?
And 46, it will captivate youwith love for God and his word.
And 46, it will captivate youwith love for God and his word.
(32:48):
How we respond to God's word isa reflection of how we respond
to God.
If we ignore his word, we areignoring God.
Are you ignoring God?
Just look at your practice inyour life.
If you're ignoring God's Word,it's a picture of ignoring God.
(33:11):
Conversely, if we love God'sWord, we're loving God.
Let's love God and love HisWord.
Hiding God's Word in our heartswill lead us to deeper love for
God and it will create in us alonging for God and His Word.
The psalmist says I open mymouth and pant for your Word
(33:34):
because I long for yourcommandments.
And so many people, so manypeople say well, I just don't
desire God's Word like that.
So what do I do?
I just don't have a desire forit.
And the answer is so how do yougrow in a desire for it?
You meditate on and memorize it.
Of course, you don't desire itbecause you're filling your
stomach with drivel from thisworld.
(33:55):
You need new taste buds.
Stop eating the junk of thisworld.
Start feasting on God's word.
It's better than Netflix.
It's better than all the socialmedia feeds.
It's so much, infinitely betterthan all that.
And once you see it, you'relike why am I tasting this?
(34:17):
I got this over here.
Why settle for McDonald's pattywhen I have like steakhouse
filet or whatever the comparablevegetarian illustration would
be?
It's better, it's better, it'sbetter.
You taste this.
You won't wanna go back ever.
(34:38):
Number 48, at least the number48,.
It will help you endure to theend.
I think about my mentor, jimShattuck so I've shared about
before who went to be with theLord a couple months ago after a
year-long bout with braincancer.
I sat by his hospice bed.
He was barely able to move,struggling to breathe, could
(35:01):
only speak with a whisper, andas I would read scripture over
him through whispers, he wouldfinish the verses I was reading.
He knew them.
They were hidden deep in hisheart all the way to the end.
Don't you want that to be yourstory On a hospice bed whenever
(35:23):
that moment comes, which leadsto the last two, number 49, it
will prepare you to stand beforeGod on that day.
One day you are going to standbefore God with all of your ways
, before him.
You need his word deep in you,guiding your way, to prepare you
for that day.
This world and all that's in it, everything in the DMV,
(35:46):
everything in the DMV,everything in the United States,
in the world, none of it'sgonna last.
It's all gonna be gone.
We read it in Isaiah 40 thisweek the grass withers, the
flower fades.
The word of God alone standsforever.
So you wanna live, but what'sgonna matter on that day?
Fill your heart with this wordtoday, knowing number 50, it
(36:12):
will enable you to walk with Godon this day, not just about
later.
It's now All day, all nightlong, walking with God.
Can I share something with you?
Long walking with God.
Can I share something with you?
Before I came here this morning,I heard the voice of God.
(36:47):
Without question, it was God.
I heard his voice.
I had an encounter with God.
He spoke to me.
He spoke to me, david Platt,god speaking to me.
And the beauty is he didn'tjust speak to me.
He will speak to you, you,right where you're sitting.
God Wants to talk with you, you.
You Right where you're sitting.
God wants to talk with you.
(37:09):
He wants to have conversationwith you.
He wants to hear you and hewants to speak to you through
his word Every single day andnight.
All you have to do is open upthe book, listen to it, turn it
over in your mind.
If God wants to speak to us,don't you think it'd be wise to
(37:33):
listen and remember and hidewhatever he says to us in our
hearts like a treasure, like inthat how to Read the Bible book?
I talk about it and I've talkedabout this before here,
probably to the point wherey'all are sick of it, like
letters heather would send mewhen we were dating and how I
obsessed over them.
And that's what we're talkingabout here.
(37:54):
We're not just going throughmotions here.
Check off a sunday morning box.
We're in love, relationship,relationship with the God of the
universe.
We're walking with God.
You were created to know, enjoy, savor God, fill your mind,
(38:14):
your heart with what he's sayingto you in ways that lead you to
talk to him.
Like just this conversationwith God.
Like I put all 50 of thesereasons on the screen here, and
I know you can't read it, butthat's kind of the point.
Do you want this?
Do you want all 50 of thesethings that we just walked
(38:35):
through?
Because and I should add,there's more I had to cut it off
somewhere.
So do you want all of this andmore than you can imagine?
Then I ask you, whatchallenging, attainable goal
will you set for memorizing Godover the next four months,
because all those things areavailable to you, and who will
(39:00):
you share this goal with so theycan pray for you and encourage
you along the way?
And I wanna encourage you toanswer those questions ASAP.
And you might be thinking Idon't even know where to start.
Here's just a few ideas just tokind of get your mind going.
Like, maybe just digest a versea day, or a verse a week, pick
a verse in the morning that youhaven't memorized and chew on it
(39:24):
all day, or the beginning ofthe week and chew on it all week
.
I was doing this yesterday withPsalm 119, 147.
That's why I was just kind oftop of mind.
I rise before dawn and cry forhelp I hope in your words so all
day long.
Yesterday I'm coaching kidsgames.
I'm like I do not hope in this,the outcome of this game, or I
don't hope in this referee who'slike totally missing it.
(39:45):
Anyway, that's my hope is inyour word all day long, just in
practical.
And then last night lay my headon the pillow and last thing
I'm saying to myself I hope inyour words I rise before dawn,
cry for help.
I hope in your words Just chewon it all day long.
You do that.
With one verse a week, you'llhave close to 20 verses hidden
in your heart over the next fourmonths.
Maybe you can do more.
(40:05):
So or maybe try a chapter or abook, which I know to many of
you sounds totally unrealistic,but I just think.
About years ago we were walkingthrough 1 John.
We were memorizing 1 John 1together during that series and
one brother, who'd never doneanything like that before he
went for it, invited his teenageson to do it with him.
So they memorized versestogether on their way to school
(40:27):
in the morning and they did it.
They got the whole chapter andthat was all we did as the
church.
But the son said to his dadafter they finished the first
chapter.
He said we're not stopping here, are we?
And he and his son memorizedthe whole book of first John.
You tell me what better use ofyour time with your kids is than
filling it with God's word likethat, or your time with your
(40:48):
parents, your time with yourfriends.
Take Psalm 1 or Psalm 23 orRomans 8 or 1 Corinthians 13 or
a short book of the Bible.
Do not underestimate what youcan do with the Holy Spirit's
help.
And along these lines, I hopethe book I've mentioned that's
coming out this week is helpfulfor you how to read the Bible,
but I also want to encourage youto get how to Memorize
(41:09):
Scripture for Life.
So this is a book written by afriend of mine, fellow pastor,
named Andy Davis.
Andy has memorized all the NewTestament, many books in the Old
Testament.
He is such a humble,christ-like brother and he's
written an excellent, helpful,practical book on memorizing
everything from a verse to abook.
I wrote an endorsement for thatbook.
(41:30):
I said I wish every Christiancould read this book and do what
it says.
It would change everything.
And then, finally, here's onemore just practical tip.
Start with one hour.
You have 168 hours ahead of youthis week.
Spend one of them inconcentrated attention focused
on memorizing scripture.
Just put distractions aside forone hour and you will be
(41:52):
surprised how much you canmemorize in that one
uninterrupted hour and thenspend the rest of the week,
whenever you have idle time,sitting at a stoplight getting
ready in the morning, gonna goin here or there Instead of
pulling out your phone just.
Or maybe, if it's on your phone, pull out your phone just.
Or maybe, if it's on your phone, pull out your phone but don't
look at anything else, but justfocus on reviewing, reciting
what you've been learning.
It'll start to take hold inyour heart.
(42:12):
You can do this.
This is not rocket science.
All of this is accessible toyou today, so just start
somewhere.
So, all right, let me give you amoment with God to reflect on,
answer, or at least begin toanswer, these two questions.
Let me pray.
Let me pray for you, god.
(42:35):
I pray for every person withinthe sound of my voice.
Pray that you would speak tothem now by your spirit.
I trust God.
I pray you've been speakingthrough your word, by your
spirit.
I trust God, I pray you've beenspeaking through your word, by
your spirit, and in this momentyou would open their eyes to see
all the good that you have, allthe good that you desire for
(42:57):
them that comes from hiding yourword in their hearts and I pray
that you would help them to nothold back from however you're
calling them to memorize yourword over the next few months.
I pray, oh God, that this wouldbe a defining moment in many
people's lives that will bearfruit far beyond this moment.
(43:18):
So you pray and reflect beforeGod and I, or somebody at your
location, will lead us fromthere.
We hope you've enjoyed thisweek's episode of Radical with
David Platt.
For more resources from DavidPlatt, we invite you to visit
radicalnet.
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