3/17/14 - "THE POWERFUL WORD OF GOD"

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

One of the most vital and powerful elements in the life of a believer is the Word of God. The Bible is not a collection of writings that man came up with; it is in fact inspired by God. God and His Word are one, so it stands to reason why the Word of God is so powerful. Once again the Word of God is coming under attack from some places you would not expect. There are ministers who are now saying that it is not relevant for today. Others state that the Old Testament is not for us, that it has no application to our lives since we are now under the New Testament. Some are even going so far as to say that any Old Testament quotes in the New Testament do not apply to us, that the words of Jesus spoken before He was raised from the dead don’t apply to us, and that there are other parts of the New Testament in which it is just the apostle Paul rambling about the law.

It is obvious when you look at all the benefits that scripture has in the life of a believer why satan would deceive people to say such things. If I were the devil knowing what the Word will do to empower Christians to overcome his works and to put him under their feet I would hire every preacher I could to discount the importance of God’s Word. The more I could use these voices to make light of the scriptures the more you could keep believers from learning who they are in Christ and thus defeating the devil and his cohorts. Wouldn’t it make perfect sense from the devils perspective to do so?

No Christian should ever focus only on the Word and never take time to draw near to God in the spirit, but as scripture reveals the best way to develop our relationship with Him is by allowing Him to speak to us through His written Word. As Kenneth Hagin said many times, “The written Word reveals to us the Living Word.” I want to share this week some of the most important truths about this powerful wonderful Word of God and what it can do in the life of a believer.

2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Tim. 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

To begin with we need to recognize something very important about scripture. All scripture has not only been given by inspiration of God, it is profitable. What is profitable? All scripture is profitable, not just the New Testament. What most don’t seem to understand is the Old Testament is filled with wisdom from God, instructions that still can be applied today, and the ability to learn more about God through the relationships He had with those in the Old Testament. If the New Testament is the only thing that would be profitable for us then 2 Timothy 3:16 would tell us so. But in fact as verse 17 above states you become thoroughly equipped for every good work through all of scripture, not just the New Testament.

I will be the first to tell you that as a believer in Christ we should in fact spend most of our time in the New Testament learning who we are in Christ and our rights as a child of God. But when people refer to the Old Testament as the law they are showing their ignorance about scripture. The only book in the Old Testament that is actually the Mosaic Law is the book of Leviticus. That’s it. So we need to realize that the entire Bible is God-inspired and profitable for every New Testament believer. We clearly no longer have to live by the Mosaic law, but the whole of the Old Testament is not the law.

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 He was already with God in the beginning.
John 1:14 The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth.

Back to a statement I made earlier, the written Word reveals the Living Word to us. Jesus is the Word of God. When you pick up your Bible it is one of the greatest ways to fellowship with God. God’s Word is God speaking to and revealing Himself to you. I hear Christians say all the time, “I wish God would speak to me.” He will, just pick up your Bible. When you spend time in scripture you should not do so as a religious duty to read so many chapters a day, but it should be a time you come to fellowship with the Lord. You will be amazed if you make a daily routine of spending time in the Word how many things you need answers to will get addressed just by spending time in the Word. If the Lord is important to you then the Word will be important to you.

Scripture teaches us that we should imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. In other words look to the great men and women of God who don’t just claim to know God; they are those who have seen God working in and through their lives as He has said He would. I know many believers who say they know God, yet they have not experienced much of what He came to do in their life or through their life. Jesus said we are to go and preach the gospel, we are to cast out demons, raise the dead, lay hands on the sick and they will recover. If you really get to know God you are going to be doing these very things He sent us to do.

One such man of God who experienced these works in and through His life was a great apostle named Smith Wigglesworth. Remember scripture says when you find someone who is walking in what they have inherited, what Christ is wanting to do in and through us, you should imitate them for they could not do such works if they were not following scripture. This great apostle of God made the following quote about how he came to know God and continue to grow in his relationship with the Lord.

“I understand God by His Word. I cannot understand God by impressions or feelings; I cannot get to know God by sentiments. If I am going to know God, I am going to know Him by His Word.” – Smith Wigglesworth

If you want to get to know God intimately and in a very personal way His Word will play a vital role in that relationship. Even Kenneth E. Hagin who followed in the same footsteps of Smith Wigglesworth taught time and again about how vital God’s Word is in our life. Would it not be obvious that satan would not want us to know God for who He truly is? So how would he keep us from getting to fully know God? Just get preachers and believers to make light of the Word.

Rom. 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Why would any believer after being born again want to continue to live like the world? In 2 Corinthians 4:4 we find out that satan is the god of this world. To live like the world means to continue to live under his influence. God wants us to walk in victory over the world and it’s ways. To do this you have to be transformed in the way you think. If you don’t renew your mind to change your thinking to God’s way of seeing things, you won’t experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The most important thing for every believer to become all God wants them to be is to continually renew your mind to God’s Word, especially who God says you are now as a child of God washed in the blood of Christ.

Prov. 4:20 My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings.
Prov. 4:21 Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;
Prov. 4:22 for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.

God’s Word will bring healing to every part of your body. People like Kenneth Hagin, John G. Lake, and Lilian B. Yeomans just to mention a few proved this to be true. God’s Word in verse 22 of the Hebrew language is said to be a medicine to all our flesh. One of the easiest ways to be healed and walk in health is to do what Proverbs tells us here. Pay attention to God’s Word, listen attentively to it, and do not let it depart from your sight, guard it within your heart and it will bring healing to your entire body.

There are many benefits that come from the Word of God. Scripture teaches us that if you hide God’s Word in your heart you will not sin against God. God’s Word will bring forth light and understanding expelling darkness and confusion. As we have talked about it is one of the most important factors in developing an intimate relationship with God. It will help you to know and experience the good and acceptable will of God for your life. It is medicine to all your flesh and so much more. So don’t fall for the modern day preachers who make light of God’s Word. The devil certainly doesn’t want you in the scriptures because he knows the entire Bible is God-breathed and profitable for you. Fall in love with the Word and you will deepen your love for God for the Word and God are one.

See You Again Next Week For More “Weekly Wisdom”

May God’s Best Be Yours!

Pastor Darryl Baker