First Baptist Church Litchfield
January 18, 2026

      • Ephesians 1:3–6ESV

  • Come Praise And Glorify
  • Blessed Assurance

      • Ephesians 2:4–7ESV

  • In Christ Alone
  • Before The Throne Of God Above

  • Faithfully Anchored in God’s Word in 2026

    Before Jesus ever preached a sermon, healed the sick, or called His disciples, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness (Matt. 4:1), into a desolate place of hunger, isolation, and testing. And there, for forty days, Jesus faced the full weight of temptation.
    In His wilderness, Jesus teaches us to learn how to fight temptation. There is nothing self-willed about Jesus’ time in the wilderness. He is not teaching his impressive willpower to overcome Satan’s fiery darts. Jesus does not use clever reasoning to outwit Satan’s schemes. Jesus simply, but amazingly, abides in the Word of God.
    In His hunger He said, “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4).” The word of God satisfies your soul’s hunger. God’s word is your life and sustenance, your shield and your sword.
    When Satan tempted Him to grasp glory without obedience, Jesus did not argue. He did not negotiate. He did not improvise. Each time, He answered with Scripture: “It is written…” (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). Jesus resisted the devil so that he would flee (James 4:7), with an abiding dependence on God’s Word.
    Jesus remained faithful in the wilderness of temptation because His heart was anchored in the word of God, and he abided in it.

    What does it mean to “abide in God’s word?”

    At its most basic level, the word abide means to stay, remain, or dwell. Abiding is about attachment, allegiance, and living union with Christ.
    Throughout the Old Testament, abiding language describes a life under God’s care. The psalmist longs to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6), abiding securely in God’s presence. God is repeatedly called the One who abides, who remains faithful, unchanging, and enduring (Ps. 102:27; Mal. 3:6; Isa. 40:6–8).
    The Gospel of John highlights that abiding is the mark of discipleship. Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4), using the vine and branches metaphor to show that spiritual life and fruitfulness come from ongoing union with Him. The branch bears fruit by staying connected.
    Jesus doesn't command His disciples to create union with Him but to stay in the union He already secured. The call to abide is a call to trust and live daily from the life He provides: man shall not live by bread alone, but by abiding in the Word of God.

    Abiding in Christ is tied to Abiding in God’s Word

    Abiding in Christ is inseparably tied to abiding in His Word. Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you…” (John 15:7). To remain in Christ is to remain rooted, shaped, corrected, and nourished by Scripture. God’s Word is the means by which Christ communes with His people (John 17:17; Rom. 10:17). Those who dwell in the Word dwell in Christ, and those who dwell in Christ will abide in His word.
    So, if you are going to walk the P.A.T.H in 2026, you must commit to abiding in God’s word that roots you, shapes you, corrects you, and nourishes you so you can joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus in the church, community, and home.
    This morning, I want to show you in Psalm 143, what abiding in God’s word looks like, and how it helps you remain anchored in 2026. In short,

    Abiding in God’s Word reveals His glorious works, requires listening to His voice, and teaches you His good and perfect will.

    Abiding in God’s Word Reveals His Glorious Works (Psalm 143:5)

    “5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” Psalm 143:5
    The Bible, from beginning to end, is a testimony to the character and nature of God Himself. At times, God speaks directly and tells us who He is. One of the clearest examples comes in Exodus 34:6–7, when the Lord proclaims His own name:
    “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”
    Here, God does not leave His people to speculate about His identity. He declares it plainly—merciful, gracious, faithful, just, and forgiving—yet never at the expense of righteousness or holiness.
    But Scripture does more than record what God says about Himself. It also displays what God does. The Bible is filled with the works of God that confirm and validate His self-revelation. From the opening words of Genesis—“In the beginning, God created…” (Gen. 1:1)—to the climactic sacrifice of His Son on the cross (Rom. 5:8), Scripture traces God’s mighty acts in history so that we might know both His name and His ways, and in turn all his works to shape our present hope.
    For example, consider the righteousness of God. We see it when He judges sin in the flood (Gen. 6–9), when He delivers Israel from Egypt while hardening Pharaoh’s heart (Exod. 7–14), and ultimately when He pours out His just wrath on sin at the cross so that He might be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:25–26).
    We see the power of God on full display when He speaks creation into existence (Ps. 33:6–9), parts the Red Sea for His people (Exod. 14:21–22), raises dry bones to life (Ezek. 37:1–14), and most gloriously, when He raises Jesus from the dead by the power of the Spirit (Eph. 1:19–20).
    Scripture also bears witness to God’s faithfulness and dependability. The psalmist declares, “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ps. 25:10). We see the work of God’s faithfulness as He keeps His covenant promises to Abraham despite centuries of delay (Gen. 12:1–3; Josh. 21:45). He sustains Israel through wilderness rebellion (Deut. 7:9). He remains faithful even when His people are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13).
    You see the love of God woven into every chapter of redemptive history. He sets His affectionate electing love on Israel (Deut. 7:7–8). He pursues wayward sinners through prophets (Hos. 11:1–4). And in the fullness of time: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8; cf. John 3:16).
    All of this culminates in God’s great work of salvation. The Exodus becomes the pattern of redemption (Exod. 6:6–7). The sacrifices of the Old Testament points forward to a greater substitute (Lev. 16; Isa. 53). And in Jesus Christ, God accomplishes what no human effort or animal sacrifice could—rescuing sinners from sin, death, and judgment by grace alone through faith alone (Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7). These are the glorious works of God, and you see them and are shaped by them when you abide in His word.

    What is the fruit of seeing His glorious works?

    Abiding in God's word helps you get to know Him. It awakens your heart's eyes to see His glory, trust His character, and rely on His promises. Importantly, you're not doing this alone; God’s Holy Spirit opens your heart to see beyond natural wonders and behold the living God behind them (1 Cor. 2:12–14; 2 Cor. 3:18). Through His Spirit, scripture reveals not just what God has done but who He truly is—faithful, righteous, loving, powerful, and mighty to save.
    Another fruit of abiding in God’s word to see his glorious works is the works shape your hope. Seeing God be faithful to deliver his people shapes your hope for deliverance from sin, the wicked, even death. Seeing God use weak ordinary sinful men and women to do extraordinary kingdom works, shapes your hope that God will use even you to do extraordinary works for his kingdom.
    At L.C.S, students explore famous paintings and artists on Fridays. For example, Abigail created a 3D wall mural of Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Sunflowers." Van Gogh has become a favorite artist among our students.
    Imagine I take the students to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, to see Van Gogh’s Starry Night. We are standing in the quiet museum gallery, facing Starry Night. At first glance, it overwhelms you. The sky seems alive—swirling, pulsing, almost restless. The stars burn brighter than nature allows, the moon glows with intensity, and the village below feels strangely calm beneath the chaos above. You know it’s beautiful, but you’re not quite sure why it feels so powerful.
    Now imagine someone from the museum is standing beside you—an expert on Vincent van Gogh. They begin to explain what you’re seeing. They tell you this painting wasn’t created from a peaceful hillside stroll, but from the view outside Van Gogh’s asylum window. They explain that the swirling sky reflects his inner turmoil, his longing for order in the midst of suffering. The exaggerated light is intentional. Van Gogh didn’t paint the night as it appeared, but as it felt to him in that moment. Suddenly, the painting changes. The beauty of it deepens. What once seemed so chaotic now carries meaning to you. You’re no longer just seeing paint on canvas—you’re encountering the heart and mind of Vincent van Gogh.
    That is what Scripture does for us with God.
    The Bible stands beside us like that expert guide, both revealing God’s works and interpreting God’s works so we might know not only what He has done, but who He is.
    Scripture tells us that the God who spoke stars into existence is merciful and gracious (Exod. 34:6), righteous in all His ways (Ps. 145:17), faithful to every promise (Josh. 23:14), steadfast in love (Lam. 3:22–23), and mighty to save (Isa. 59:1). And nowhere is His character more clearly revealed than at the cross—where His righteousness is upheld, His power is displayed through weakness, His faithfulness is fulfilled, His love is poured out, and His salvation is accomplished for sinners (Rom. 3:25–26; 1 Cor. 1:18).
    So let me ask you, beloved:
    When you open the Bible, are you merely looking at the painting—or are you listening to the Artist explain Himself?
    If we read Scripture only for quick encouragement, moral guidance, or trivia, you will miss God's heart. God gave us His Word to know Him (Jer. 9:23–24) and to be shaped by His glorious works.
    This week, as you open your Bible, slow down. Ask,

    “What does this work of God show me about His character and nature?”

    What does God’s work reveal about me?

    How does God, revealed in this work, help me live better for Christ?

    Your Christian life, you soul, in this Genesis three world, is sustained by a clear, growing vision (i.e abiding) of God’s character as revealed by His works in His word. And the more clearly you see Him in His Word, the more steadily you will trust Him—no matter how dark or swirling the night sky may feel. Abide in God’s Word seeing his glorious works.

    Abiding in God’s Word Requires Listening to God’s Voice (Psalm 143:8)

    “8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8
    For the last two weeks, we have spent a great deal of time talking about prayer. Prayer is God’s gracious gift that allows us to bring our hearts before Him—to confess, to plead, to praise, and to depend. In prayer, we do a lot of talking to God (Phil. 4:6; Ps. 62:8). But as we speak to God in prayer, God speaks to us through His Word. Abiding in Scripture is not silent devotion, it is listening. And listening, beloved, must be learned.
    David models this posture when he prays, “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love” (Ps. 143:8). David is not asking for mystical impressions or inner voices. He is asking God to speak covenant truth into his soul—to remind him, early and clearly, of who God is before the noise of the day begins.

    Begin the Day Listening to God’s Voice

    While Scripture does not command a specific time of day for Bible reading, there is wisdom in letting God be the first voice you hear. The morning often sets the tone for everything that follows (Mark 1:35; Ps. 5:3). Before emails, news cycles, social media, or the anxieties of the day begin competing for your attention, it is good to let God speak first.
    Now, I must be pastorally realistic. Not everyone’s “morning” looks the same. Some of you work night shifts. Some of you come home exhausted and must prioritize rest or family responsibilities. Your “morning” may be late afternoon, a quiet moment in the car, or a lunch break with the Word open. The point is make it a priority to listen to God.
    For most of us, however, when the sun rises, so does the opportunity to listen to God. I would encourage you: get up and get after it. Let God’s Word frame your day before the world tries to define it (Ps. 119:147–148).
    But this raises an important question.

    How Do I Listen to God’s Voice in His Word?

    1. You Must Know God to Hear God

    Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). In context, Jesus is confronting the Pharisees’ unbelief. They hear His words audibly, but they do not hear the truth He proclaims about Himself and God’s redemptive plan (John 10:25–26), which means you can read the Bible, and still not hear the voice of the Lord.
    Hearing God’s voice requires humility, repentance, and faith. Scripture warns us that we can hear without hearing if our hearts are hardened (Heb. 3:7–8). James tells us that true hearing always moves toward obedience (James 1:22). You must know the Lord before you can hear from him.

    2. You Must Trust the Inerrancy and Sufficiency of God’s Word

    To hear God’s voice rightly, you must be convinced that Scripture is fully sufficient and completely inerrant. The Bible does not merely contain God’s Word—it is God’s Word written (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21). God’s voice is not hidden behind the text; it comes through the text.
    God’s Word has always proven itself trustworthy, pure, and utterly dependable. Scripture repeatedly testifies to its own reliability. The psalmist declares, “The words of the LORD are pure words” (Ps. 12:6), and again affirms that “the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul” (Ps. 19:7–9). Proverbs affirms this saying, “Every word of God proves true” (Prov. 30:5).
    Jesus Himself places His full authority behind the truthfulness of Scripture. In His prayer to the Father, He says without qualification, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). He goes on to insist that God’s Word is so firm and enduring that “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matt. 5:18).
    Most decisively, Jesus affirms the absolute authority and inerrancy of Scripture when He says, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). In other words, God’s Word cannot fail, cannot deceive, and cannot be set aside. What God has spoken is true, binding, and eternally reliable. For the believer, this means we may rest our faith, our obedience, and our hope entirely upon the Word of God, confident that it will never lead us astray.

    3. You Must Read Scripture Through Its Redemptive Center

    To truly hear God’s voice, you must read the Bible in its redemptive context. All Scripture ultimately points to Jesus Christ. In Lukes gospel, Jesus began with Moses and the prophets interpreting them in light of himself (Luke 24:27). In John’s gospel, Jesus said, “39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,” (John 5:39).
    God’s voice is clearest where His grace in Christ is central.
    When you read the Law, hear the holiness of God exposing your need for the Savior (Rom. 3:20).
    When you read the Prophets, hear the mercy of God calling rebellious sinners home (Isa. 55:6–7).
    When you read the Gospels, hear God speaking definitively through His Son (Heb. 1:1–2).
    When you read the Epistles, hear the Spirit applying Christ’s finished work to your daily life (Rom. 8:1–11).
    Do not read the Bible detached from the gospel. Remove Christ from Scripture, and God’s voice grows distorted.

    4. You Must Read in Dependence on the Holy Spirit

    Hearing God’s voice requires cooperation with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the truth and will of God. He does not whisper new revelation into your ear; He illuminates revealed truth to your heart (1 Cor. 2:12–14).
    To hear God’s voice clearly do not grieve the Spirit through unrepentant sin (Eph. 4:30). John assumes confession of sin to be habitual (1 John 1:7-9). In Psalm 32:3-5, the psalmist says unconfessed sin burdens the soul while confession restores joy and relief. Solomon tells his son, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13).”
    With the Spirit, the Bible becomes living and active, able to discern the thoughts and intentions of your heart (Heb. 4:12).

    5. You Must Abide Regularly, Not Occasionally

    Finally, to hear God’s voice consistently, you must abide in God’s Word regularly. Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you…” (John 15:7). Hearing God’s voice is not a one and done season. It a lifetime commitment.
    Over time, Scripture trains your ears. You begin to recognize God’s tone—His holiness, His patience, His truthfulness, His tenderness. You learn the Shepherd’s voice because you spend time with the Shepherd (Ps. 119:97–104).
    And the more you abide, the more clearly you hear. The more clearly you hear, the more you are like David, who says, “for in you I trust… for to you I lift up my soul.” And clearly hearing God’s voice teaches you the way God wants you to go, that is his good and perfect will.

    Abiding in God’s Word Teaches you to do His Good and Perfect Will (Psalm 143:10)

    At the heart of David’s prayer is a simple but searching request: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.” David longs to know what God desires of him. God is not one voice among many competing affections; He is David’s supreme love and highest loyalty. When David says, “You are my God,” he is confessing exclusivity. There is no rival throne in his heart. Only God’s will ultimately matters (Ps. 73:25–26).
    What is the will of God? Simply put, the will of God is to love him with all of your mind, heart soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. To do this is to fulfill the law and the prophets. In David’s context, he is likely speaking to discerning how he can be the most faithful in what he needs to do next. For us this morning, we have a similar plea.

    How does abiding in God’s word teach you to do the will of God?

    David asked for God to teach him to do His will. David already knew the will of God, but now he wants to know how to do it. There are five brief truths about abiding in God’s word to teach you to do His will.

    1. God’s Will Is Revealed, Not Discovered

    One of the great confusions among Christians is the idea that God’s will is hidden somewhere, waiting to be unlocked by a feeling, a sign, or a perfect set of circumstances. But Scripture teaches us otherwise.
    “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deut. 29:29).
    God has not left His people guessing. He has spoken. His revealed will is found in His Word. When you abide in Scripture, you are placing yourself where God has promised to speak with clarity and purpose (Ps. 119:130).

    2. God’s Word Renews Your Mind to Discern His Will

    Paul makes a direct connection between Scripture-shaped thinking and knowing God’s will:
    “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
    Abiding in the Word renews your mind. It recalibrates your values. It exposes sinful desires and replaces them with godly affections. Over time, you begin to recognize which paths align with God’s character and which do not so you can obey rightly.

    3. God’s Will Is Learned Through Relationship

    David does not pray, “Give me the answer,” but “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God” (Ps. 143:10). That language is relational. David wants to be taught by God because he belongs to God.
    Abiding in the Word places you in an ongoing teacher–student relationship with the Lord. You begin to know His ways, not just His commands (Ps. 103:7). Like sheep learning the voice of their shepherd, you grow in recognizing what sounds like Christ and what does not (John 10:27).

    4. God’s Spirit Uses God’s Word to Guide God’s People

    The Holy Spirit works through the word of God to reveal his will.
    “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable… that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
    As you abide in God’s Word, the Spirit applies it to your conscience, your circumstances, and your decisions. He brings truth to mind at the right moment, convicts when you drift, and steadies you when obedience is costly.

    5. Abiding in God’s Word Forms the Kind of Person Who Does God’s Will

    Ultimately, abiding in God’s Word teaches you the will of God by shaping who you are, not just what you decide.
    Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you…” (John 15:7)
    When God’s Word abides in you, obedience becomes the overflow of love. You grow into the kind of person who wants God’s will because you trust God’s heart. And that is the goal.
    God’s will is a life shaped by His truth, led by His Spirit, and grounded in Christ.
    So if you want to know the will of God, abide. Stay. Remain. Dwell in His Word. Over time, you will find that God has been teaching you His will all along—one faithful step at a time.

    Anchored by Abiding in God’s Word

    As we stand on the threshold of 2026, facing uncertainty, cultural instability, spiritual confusion, and personal trials yet unknown, the path forward is the same. If we are to honor Jesus in the days ahead—if we are to walk in dependence rather than fear—we must learn to abide in God’s Word. It is the Word that teaches us the way we should go (Ps. 143:8). It is the Word that trains our ears to hear God’s voice (Ps. 143:8). And it is the Word that shapes hearts ready to obey (Ps. 143:10). Amen.

      • Psalm 143:5ESV

      • Psalm 143:8ESV

      • Psalm 143:10ESV

      • Psalm 143:5ESV

      • Psalm 143:8ESV

      • Romans 3:20ESV

      • Isaiah 55:6–7ESV

      • Hebrews 1:1–2ESV

      • Romans 8:1–11ESV

  • Knowing You
First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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