Memorizing Scripture
We sing: "I will follow Jesus"
We pray: "Lord I want to be like You"
We desire: "Oh Lord, more of You"
There is one aspect of our Quest for Spiritual Living as Kingdom people we over look:- that is hiding the Word of God in our heart. (ouch)
In the words of another: "If you have ever tried to memorize a speech or a part for a play, then you know that it is hard work to learn something so that you can repeat it word for word. Further, if you do not review it regularly, a couple of weeks after you have memorized it, you have forgotten it. Memorizing passages from the Bible is no different. It is hard work, and could take a huge portion of your time. However, if we look into the Bible to see what it teaches, then we will see that this hard work is not only worth the effort, but it is essential and it is Exopected of us."
Jesus knew the Word of God and was able to drive away Satan when tempted — Matt. 4:1-11
King David clearly saw that knowing the Word of God was the key to purity. — Psalm 119:9-11
Paul says that the Word is a sword in your amour against the devil"s schemes — Ephesians 6:13-18
God"s Word in your heart keeps your feet from slipping — Psalm 37:28-31
We Must Obey His Commands
Verses Supporting Scripture Memorization
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates. — Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. — Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. — Joshua 1:7-8
Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col 3:16
When we memorize the Word of God, several things happen. Psalm 119:11 tells us the psalmist hid God"s Word in his heart so that he would not sin against Him. Not only did he hear and read the Word, but he internalized it and laid it up in his mind and memory for future use. The Word of God is the believer"s only truly potent weapon against sin, and when placed in the mind through Bible memorization, it is a strong influence for godliness and righteous living. Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is "living and active," meaning that it has supernatural power to mold us into Christ-likeness when we meditate upon it, and there is no better way to meditate on the Word than to have it in our minds and memories.
Ephesians 6:13-17 describes the believer's armor in the battle for our souls and spiritual survival. All of the elements of the armor are defensive Exocept one. The only offensive weapon is the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (v. 17). Just as Jesus used God"s Word to fend off attacks of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11), so must we be able to use the same weapon. But rarely does Satan give us time to "look up" the correct passages when we are confronted with his lies and deception. Bible memorization ensures that we will have the appropriate truths and principles in mind and be able to recall them instantly to effectively respond to the evil one who seeks to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). Romans 12:1-2 Exohorts us to "renew" our minds so that we are no longer influenced by the thinking that conforms us to this world. The only way to renew the mind is to fill it with Scripture.
How to Memorize Scripture:
- Read the verse out loud at least 10 times.
- Write it out on a 3"x5" card, thinking about each word.
- Practice quoting it (it should be easy by now).
- Meditate on it throughout the day and review it on subsequent days.
- Share the verse with other people as you converse together.
He knew "His Bible" and he used it many times.
He knew at least 45 verses by heart.
Jesus' 45 Memory Verses
| Preface to Actual Quotation | The Memory Verse | Scripture Reference |
|---|---|---|
| You have learned how it was said: | You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. | Lev. 19:18(JB) |
| But when you pray, | Go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray | 2 Kings 4:33(JB) |
| Go and learn the meaning of the words: | What I want i s mercy, not sacrifice . | Ho. 6:6 (JB) |
| For I have come to set | A man against his father, a daughter against her mother in-law. A man's enemies wi ll be those of h i s own household. | Micah 7:6 JB |
| He is the one of whom scripture says: | Look, I am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare your way before you. | Malachi 3:1 (JB) |
| And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be Exoalted as high as heaven? | You shall be thrown down to hell, | Isa 14:15 |
| Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart | and you will find rest for your souls. | Jer. 6:16 |
| For as Jonah | was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights | Jonah 2:1 (JB) |
| So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfill ed: | You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart , and be converted and be healed by me. | Matt. 13:14,15 |
| For God said: | Do your duty to your father and mother. Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death, | Lev 20:9 (JB) |
| Hypocrites! It was you Isaiah meant when he so rightly prophesied: | This people so honors me only with l i p service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations. | Is. 29:13 (JB) |
| Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning | Made them male and female | Gen. 1:27 |
| Do you still not understand? | Are your minds closed? You have eyes: can you not see? You have ears: can you not hear? | Jer. 5:21 Ezek 12:2 (NEB) |
| It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye | than to keep both eyes and be thrown into hell, where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is not quenched. | Isa. 66:24 (NEB) |
| Then Jesus gave a loud cry and said, | Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. | Ps. 31:5 |
| It is written in the Prophets: | They will all be taught by God. | Isa. 54:13 (NIV) |
| Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said: | streams of living water from within him. | Zech. 14:8(NIV) |
| Jesus answered them, "is it not written in your Law, | I have said you are gods" | Ps. 82:6 (NIV) |
| But this is to fulfill the Scripture: | He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me. | Ps. 41:9 (NIV) |
| Jesus answered, "The first is, | Hear, 0 Israel: the Lord our Cod is the only Lord; love the Lord your Cod with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. | Lev. 19:18 (NEB) |
| The second is this: | Love your neighbour as yourself | Deut. 6:4-5 (NEB) |
| Jesus said, "I am; and | you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God and coming with the clouds of heaven. | Dan 7:13 (NEB) |
| He opened the scroll and found the passage which says, | The spirit of the LORD is upon me because he has anointed me; he has sent me to announce good news to the poor, to proclaim release for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind; to let the broken victims go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord"s favour, | Isa 61:1-2 (NEB) |
| "Then how is it," he said, "that David moved by the Spirit, calls him Lord, where he says: | The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand and I will put your enemies under your feet" | Ps. 110:1 (JB) |
| So be it! Your house will be left to you desolate, for, I promise, you shall not see me anymore until you say: | Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! | Ps. 118:26 (JB) |
| You will all lose faith in me this night for the scripture says: | I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered | Zec. 13:7 (JB) |
| Again, in the time of the prophet Elisha there were many lepers in Israel, and | not one of them was healed, but only Naaman, the Syrian. | 2 Kings 5:14 (NEB) |
| Then they will start saying to the mountains | Fall on us. | Hos. 10:8 (JB) |
| and to the hills, | Cover us. | Hos. 10:8 (JB) |
| And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" That is: | My God, my God, why have you deserted me. | Ps. 22:1 (JB) |
| But he replied, "Scripture says: | Man does not live on bread bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." | Deut 8:3 (JB) |
| Scripture also says: | You must not put the Lord your God to the test. | Deut 6:16 (JB) |
| Then Jesus replied., "Be off, Satan! for Scripture says: | You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone. | Deut.6:13 - (JB) |
| You have learned how it was said to our ancestors: | You must not kill. | Exo 20:13 (JB) |
| You have learned how it was said: | You must not commit adultery. | Exo 20:14 (JB) |
| It has also been said | Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. | DL 24:1 (JB) |
| Again, you have learned how it was | You must break your oath, but must fulfill your oaths to the Lord. | Exo 20:7 (JB) |
| You have learned how it was said: | Eye for eye and tooth for tooth | Exo. 21:24 (JB) |
| And that he said: | This is why a man must leave father and mother and cling to his wife, and the two become one body" | Gen. 2:24 (JB) |
| Jesus replied, | You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not bring false witness. Honor your father and mother, and you must love your neighbor as yourself. | Exo. 20:12-16 (JB) |
| Jesus answered, "Have you never read this: | By the mouth of children, babes in arms, you have made sure of praise" | Ps. 8:2 (JB) |
| Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: | It was the stone rejected the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see. | Psalm 118:22-23 (JB) |
| Does not Scripture say, | My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations" But you have made it a robbers'" cave. | Isa. 56:7 NEB |
| But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: | They hated me without reason. | Ps. 35:19 (NIV) |
| Jesus said, | I am thirsty. | Ps 69:21 |