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1.he Identity of The WORD
a.
John 1:1-2: "In
the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God." The Trinity, the Godhead, is One GOD. Even so is GOD united
in One WORD. The WORD is GOD, and GOD is His WORD.
b.
Revelations 19:13: "His name is called
The WORD of God." GOD's own WORD is a Name He is known by. The LORD is not only
the person, "The WORD", but His own name is "The
WORD".
c.
John 1:14: "And the WORD was made flesh,
and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth."
God, The WORD, The Son of the Father, was
born in flesh, and lived in our midst.
d.
1John 1:1-2: "That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the WORD of Life; (for the Life was manifested,
and we have seen It, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life, which
was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)."
Many who make excuses, say God is unknowable.
They say you can't know what you can't see. Christ Jesus, The WORD, did live on this
earth, and many who saw Him, and talked with Him, who heard Him with their ears,
who embraced Him, have left us a witness of Him, written with human hands, but inspired
by His own Spirit. And as we read this living, breathing WORD, we also hear Him,
handle Him, look upon Him. In fact, this WORD of Life is the Eternal One who breathes
His life into us. We do hear Him. We do see Him. And there is no one, in this whole
world, past, present, or future, who can convince us otherwise. Why? Because we KNOW Him.
We have spent time with Him. He abides with us and in us. The LORD is more real to
His people, than persons are, who can be seen by sight. 2Timothy 1:12: "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless
I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able
to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." John 20:29: "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen
Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." 1Peter 1:8: "Whom having
not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice
with joy unspeakable and full of glory."
Ephesians 3:16-19:
"That He would grant you, according to
the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner
man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded
in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that
ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."
e.
John 5:38: "And
ye have not His WORD abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not." If a person, who
considers himself to be Christian, doesn't believe what he reads in his Bible, then
he doesn't believe Jesus The WORD, nor the One who sent Him, The Father, The
WORD. And if this person does not believe God, then surely The WORD does not abide
in him.
f.
Jeremiah 15:16: "Thy WORDS were found,
and I did eat them; and Thy WORD was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts." This
is a Christian. A Christian is one who needs, seeks, and finds the WORD of God. A
Christian hungers for, and eagerly eats, the WORD, which then nourishes with
joy the one who rejoices being called by His name. Matthew 4:4: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
g.
1Thessalonians 2:13: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because,
when ye received the WORD of God which ye heard of us, ye received IT not as the
word of men, but as IT is in truth, the WORD of God, which effectually worketh also
in you that believe." The identity of
the WORD is God. God gave the WORD. The WORD is God. And the identity of God's people
are those who know, and love, The WORD.
Psalm 119:74:
"They that fear Thee will be glad when
they see me; because I have hoped in Thy WORD."
2. he Content of The WORD
a.
John 18:37: "To
this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the Truth. Every one that is of the Truth heareth My voice." God's people know
Truth. They listen to the WORD of God, and they know why Jesus came to this earth.
They know Him. They believe Him. Psalm 100:5: "For
the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His TRUTH endureth to all generations." Psalm 115:1 "Not unto us,
O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy TRUTH's
sake." James
1:18 "Of
His own will begat He us with the WORD of TRUTH, that we should be a kind of firstfruits
of His creatures." John 17:17: "Sanctify them through Thy TRUTH: Thy WORD is TRUTH."
b.
John 5:39: "Search the SCRIPTURES; for
in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me."
The WORD is life to believers. Jesus Christ, The WORD, secured Eternal Life
to those who believe His testimony. Philippians 2:16:
"Holding forth the WORD of Life; that
I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured
in vain."
c.
Psalm 119:41: "Let Thy mercies come also
unto me, O LORD, even Thy salvation, according to Thy WORD." Along with life, The WORD
gives us His mercy and salvation.
d.
Hebrews 6:5: "And
have tasted the Good WORD of God, and the powers of the world to come." The WORD contains
only good, because only God is good. Anything in the world, that is good,
comes from God. James 1:17: "Every good
gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Psalm 73:1: "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean
heart." Matthew
19:17: "There
is none good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
e.
Psalm 119:140: "Thy
WORD is very pure: therefore Thy servant loveth it."
In a world as polluted as ours, where can we
turn to find pureness, both in motive and practice? And once you think you've found
something, or someone that is pure, how do you know you can trust it, or them, implicitly?
To really know The WORD is to believe and trust Him. He is pure.
f.
Psalm 119:162: "I
rejoice at Thy WORD, as one that findeth great spoil." The WORD is the greatest
Wealth, the greatest Treasure, any man could EVER hope to obtain. Psalm 16:11: "Thou wilt show
me the path of Life: in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at Thy right hand there are
Pleasures for evermore." Psalm 119:14: "I have rejoiced
in the way of Thy TESTIMONIES, as much as in all riches." Psalm 119:111: "Thy TESTIMONIES have I taken as an Heritage for ever:
for they are the rejoicing of my heart."
In fact, all the vast riches that a person could possibly find in His WORD, are abundance beyond human imagination. There is no creature, nor creation, that has EVER experienced all that God is, or offers to be-- nor EVER shall! Psalm 147:5: "Great is our LORD, and of great power: His understanding is infinite." Psalm 145:3: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable." Isaiah 40:28: "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." Job 5:9: "Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number." Romans 11:33: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Job 9:10: "Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number." Job 11:7: "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Psalm 86:10: "For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone." This is The WORD, the Wealth of Heaven, Who desires you to find Him.
And just think of it! All this wealth is in Him,
waiting to be searched for, and in such abundance, that you could never deplete
Him! Colossians 1:19: "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell." Colossians 2:9: "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily." Psalm
27:8: "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face;
my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." Deuteronomy 4:29: "But if from
thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy
heart and with all thy soul." 1Chronicles
16:10: "Glory
ye in His holy NAME [The
WORD]: let the heart of them rejoice that seek
the LORD." 1Chronicles 22:19: "Now set your
heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God."
Ezra 8:22:
"The hand of our God is upon all them
for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake
Him." Psalm 14:2: "The LORD looked down
from Heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand,
and seek God." Psalm
10:4: "The
wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not
in all his thoughts." Psalm 70:4: "Let all those
that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say
continually, Let God be magnified."
g. Psalm 119:172: "My tongue shall
speak of Thy WORD: for all Thy COMMANDMENTS are righteousness." How many times, in life, have you been disappointed with
the outcome of a story, a movie, a news item, where the "bad guy gets away with
murder"? How many times have you hated the cruelty that insidiously goes on
around you? The concept of "righteousness" may seem to be a natural-born
function, or instinct, that all men should have. But "righteousness" comes
from God only. Without the righteousness of The WORD, man would be left to his own
devices to conceive his own convenient brand of that which is "right in his own eyes".
Proverbs 12:15: "The
way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto Counsel is wise."
Proverbs 21:2: "Every
way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." And because we see so much injustice around us, we know
man has NOT sought the righteousness of The WORD.
h.
Psalm 119:103: "How
sweet are Thy WORDS unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Yes, true believers really do enjoy The WORD this
much. He gives such sweet pleasure and enjoyment! He is contentment. He does taste
good! Psalm
119:143: "Trouble
and anguish have taken hold on me: yet Thy COMMANDMENTS are my delights."
3. he Function of the WORD
a.
2Timothy 3:16: "All SCRIPTURE is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works." The function
of the WORD, according to this verse, is to equip believers with ALL the wisdom and
moral help they will need, in living a successful life for Him. If your life is successful
for Him, ie, righteous, perfect, fruitful, then your life is worth living. And for
this life, He has given you His WORD, His MIND,-- the MIND of God Almighty-- to think
His thoughts, and to judge with His judgment.
b.
Hebrews 4:12-13: "For The WORD of God
is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is A Discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with
Whom we have to do." It would be a dreadful thing, indeed, to have an adversary that possessed
the type of powers mentioned here! But to stand in opposition to God, is to have
The WORD as exactly this ADVERSARY. Whether you are backslidden, that is, walking
in known sin, or whether you have never been on God's side, if in such condition(s),
the SWORD of God's WORD can powerfully split you open, and reveal all your innermost,
hidden, and secretive "intents of the
heart". You are "naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom" you must contend. And do not be deceived, He will
win-- and even has already!
c.
Proverbs 1:2-4: "To
know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the WORDS of understanding; to receive the
instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; to give subtlety to the
simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."
Some of the functions of The WORD are to equip
you "to know", "to perceive", "to receive", and "to give", "wisdom and
instruction... understanding... justice, and judgment, and equity... subtlety...
knowledge and discretion" to the "simple... young man",
or woman.
d.
Proverbs 20:18: "Every purpose is established
by Counsel: and with Good Advice make war."
For every situation in life, with all it's
faceted reflections, purposes, hardships, decisions, endeavors, and surprises-- with
all of life's many lessons-- we should be seeking counsel from The Counselor. We
should ask, "'What saith the Scripture' concerning this-or-that?" If our
desire is to not, "live by bread alone,
but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," (Matthew 4:4) then we should be consulting The WORD for advice. It's not
just a "good idea" to read The WORD-- it's essential for survival! You
cannot live or survive "the war", without The WORD.
e.
Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God."
To believe God, and thereby have faith in God,
you must know what God said that you should believe. When you know what you
should believe, then you can exercise faith to believe.
f.
Ephesians 5:26: "That
He might sanctify and cleanse it [the Church] with the washing of water by the WORD." Christ Jesus, our LORD, washes clean His Church, His people,
with The WORD, Himself. And then He keeps His people clean, sanctified, sinless,
also by His WORD. Hebrews 12:14: "Holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD." Psalm 119:133: "Order my steps
in Thy WORD: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure
in heart: for they shall see God." Romans 6:22: "But now being made free from sin, and become servants
to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." John 17:17: "Sanctify them
through Thy Truth: Thy WORD is Truth."
John 15:3:
"Now ye are clean through The WORD which I have spoken unto you." Exodus 30:29: "And Thou shalt
sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy."
Psalm 119:9:
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse
his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy WORD."
g.
Hebrews 11:3: "Through
faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of God, so that things
which are seen were not made of things which do appear." God spoke the creation
into existence. Genesis 1:14-15: "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament
of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for
seasons, and for days, and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of
the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so." God said He did this, and as Christians, we know this is absolutely
true. The WORD was in the beginning, therefore, He alone knows what really happened
"in the beginning"! John
1:1-3: "In
the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. The
SAME was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him
was not any thing made that was made."
This is the power of the Omnipotent WORD!
h.
1Peter 2:2: "As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby."
If you claim Christ, then you WILL desire The
WORD. And if you study The WORD, then you WILL grow. These are facts. If you claim
Christ, and don't desire The WORD, then you won't study The WORD; and if you
don't study The WORD, then you won't grow. And if you don't grow- you're dead! James 2:14-20: "What doth it
profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith
save him? But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
i.
Romans 15:4: "For whatsoever things were
written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort
of the SCRIPTURES might have hope." Did you notice the function, or purpose, for the giving
of His precious WORD was for us? Doesn't that show us how much He cares? Not that
He needs to prove it above what He already did on the Cross for us! And notice,
"Why?" "That we through patience
and comfort of the SCRIPTURES might have hope."
How many people do you know who care whether
or not, you have hope? This world has nothing to offer us, when we talk about "hope",
because this world is only temporal. It can give us no "hope" of anything
eternal. 1John 2:16-17: "For all that
is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and
the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Now, that's what I call "hope"! And how did I
find out about that "hope"? The WORD told me. The WORD gives me "hope".
Psalm 119:49: "Remember The WORD unto
thy servant, upon Which Thou hast caused me to hope."
Psalm 119:81: "My soul fainteth for Thy
salvation: but I hope in Thy WORD." Psalm
119:116: "Uphold
me according unto Thy WORD, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope."
j.
Psalm 119:65: "Thou
hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto Thy WORD." When the LORD, The
WORD, gives to you by sight, what He has caused you to hope for by faith, then you
have been "dealt well with". And considering the wealth of The WORD, what He offers
you to hope for, is nothing less than the riches of God! Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Psalm 13:6: "I
will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me." Psalm 16:5-6: "The LORD is
the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines
are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Psalm 119:17: "Deal bountifully
with Thy servant, that I may live, and keep Thy WORD." 2Corinthians 9:8: "And God is
able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency
in all things, may abound to every good work."
Psalm 18:35:
"Thy gentleness hath made me great."
k.
Isaiah 55:11: "So shall My WORD be that
goeth forth out of My mouth: IT shall not return unto Me void, but IT shall accomplish
that which I please, and IT shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." The same WORD that
formed all creation, that discerns the intent of man's heart, that lives and abides
forever, is the same WORD, that, once IT is sent forth-- IT does prosper!
God Almighty does not speak thoughtlessly, as does man. Isaiah 14:24: "The LORD of
hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall IT come to pass;
and as I have purposed, so shall IT stand."
If God has said something, then that WORD,
from His own mouth, mind, and heart, is eternally important. IT has eternal consequences.
Isaiah 46:10: "Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying, My COUNSEL shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." If you want to trust
something, or someone-- count on The WORD. You will never go wrong.
l.
Psalm 119:25: "My soul cleaveth unto the
dust: quicken Thou me according to Thy WORD." The
concept of your soul cleaving the dust imparts a sense of desperate futility and
defeat. There's a feeling of doom, of dirt being thrown on your coffin, of death's
strong grasp dragging you DOWN. Surely, to be "quicken"ed, is to be "resurrected, made alive, to rise up".
If The WORD gave life to all of creation, just think what He can do for you! Psalm
119:154: "Plead
my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to Thy WORD."
m.
Psalm 119:28: "My
soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy WORD." If "the worlds were framed by the WORD of God" (Hebrews 11:3), then
wouldn't you like the strength of The WORD undergirding your life?
n.
Psalm 119:130: "The
entrance of Thy WORDS giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:169: "Let my cry
come near before Thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to Thy WORD."
The WORD guides us through this world of confusion
and deception. He teaches us. He shows us the path that He knows will work to our
good. Psalm 119:105: "Thy WORD is a Lamp
unto my feet, and a Light unto my path."
Psalm 16:11: "Thou wilt show me the Path
of Life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore." Psalm 119:35: "Make me to go in the path of Thy COMMANDMENTS; for
therein do I delight." Proverbs 2:9: "Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment,
and equity; yea, every good path." Isaish
26:7: "The way of the just is uprightness:
Thou, Most Upright, dost weigh the path of the just." Did you ever wonder which path was right? Wouldn't it be wonderful
to have that Understanding in a complex life like this?
How can a person know all the right choices
in life? How can a person have the assurance that they will do the right thing? How
can a person feel the certainty that their values please God? No other book, none
than God's own WORD, can have this wisdom, or the authority and ability to impart
Life from within it's pages.
o.
Psalm 33:11: "The COUNSEL of the LORD
standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations." The WORD induces us to stand forever in His thoughts.
4. he Indestructibility of the WORD
a.
Matthew 24:35: "Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but My WORDS shall not pass away." Immortal.
b.
Luke 16:17: "And
it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the LAW to fail." Inevitable.
c.
Hebrews 1:3: "Who being the brightness
of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the
WORD of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high." Powerful.
d.
1Peter 1:23,25: "Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of God, which
liveth and abideth for ever. But the WORD of the LORD endureth for ever. And this
is the WORD which by the Gospel is preached unto you." Ageless and Incorruptible.
e. Acts 6:7: "And the WORD
of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly;
and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 12:24: "But the WORD of God grew and multiplied." Acts 19:20: "So
mightily grew the WORD of God and prevailed."
Augmenter. Enlarger. Almighty.
f.
John 10:35: "the
SCRIPTURE cannot be broken." Impregnable.
g. Isaiah 40:8: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the WORD
of our God shall stand for ever." Psalm
117:2: "The
TRUTH of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 119:152: "Concerning Thy TESTIMONIES, I have known of old that
Thou hast founded Them for ever." Psalm
119:89: "For
ever, O LORD, Thy WORD is settled in Heaven."
Unchangeable. Unyielding. Existent.
h.
2Timothy 2:9: "The WORD of God is not
bound." Boundless.
i. Psalm 100:5: "For the LORD
is good; His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Everlastingly
Merciful.
5. he Infallibility of the WORD
a.
Psalm 68:11: "The
LORD gave the WORD: great was the company of those that published It." From the time "the
LORD gave the WORD", man has loved IT,
hated IT, believed IT, mocked IT, printed IT, and burned IT. But one thing is certainly
true-- man has "published" God's WORD, and in a variety of ways; a main one being,
of course, the printed page. But in all of man's existence, he has spread The WORD
by mouth, that is, verbally. Listen to the LORD Jesus pray to The Father-- John 17:8: "For I have
given unto them the WORDS which Thou gavest Me; and they have received THEM, and
have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst
send Me." Notice
Who gave Jesus The WORDS. The Father gave His WORDS to the Son, Who is The WORD.
And since God is infallible, His WORD is infallible. And where does the Holy Spirit,
the third person of the Godhead, come into this? Well, God inspired The WORD that
the Holy Spirit then breathed into God's prophets.
2Timothy 3:16:
"All SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration
of God." 2Samuel 23:2: "The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His WORD was in my
tongue." 2Peter
1:21: "For the PROPHECY came not in old
time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost."
b.
Ephesians 1:13: "In
whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the WORD of TRUTH, the gospel of your salvation:
in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." James 1:18: "Of His own will begat He us with the WORD of TRUTH,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." 2Corinthians 6:7: "By
the WORD of TRUTH, by the power of God."
Psalm 33:4:
"For the WORD of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth."
Psalm 119:160:
"Thy WORD is true from the beginning:
and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." God does not lie. His WORD defines what is true. Numbers 23:19: "God is not
a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He
said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" Romans 3:3-4: "What if some
did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid:
yea, let God be true, but every man a liar." Every
man in the world can, and does, lie. But God never lies.
c.
2Peter 1:16-21: "For
we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power
and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He
received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him
from the Excellent Glory, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. And
this Voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.
We have also a More Sure WORD of Prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star
arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the SCRIPTURE is of
any private interpretation. For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." It takes a lifetime
of studying God's WORD, and we will have an eternity of that, but eventually, gradually,
God's people grow to the understanding He purposed. His interpretation is the
one that lasts forever. All our private "little guesses", initially
mused, are given over to His Truth, as revealed to us by His Spirit. 1Corinthians
2:10,12-14,16: "But
God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given
to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned. For who
hath known the mind of the LORD, that He may instruct him? But we have the Mind of
Christ." And
this "Mind of Christ" is His WORD. If we know His WORD, then we know His
Mind.
d.
Psalm 119:86: "All
Thy COMMANDMENTS are faithful." Psalm 119:128: "Therefore I esteem all Thy PRECEPTS concerning all
things to be right; and I hate every false way."
His WORD is
"faithful" and "right"-- infallible.
6. he Treatment of the WORD
a.
Matthew 4:4: "It
is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God." The WORD of God is our food, our life-giving sustenance.
A Christian is one that can't LIVE life without Him.
b.
2Timothy 2:15: "Study
to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the WORD of Truth." A Christian is one who wants the true meaning of God's WORD--
not one who makes the WORD fit his own purposes.
c.
Proverbs 1:5,7: "A wise man will hear,
and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels...
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction." A
Christian is one who listens to, and learns from, The WORD. Proverbs 9:9: "Give instruction to a wise
man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
d.
John 8:47: "He
that is of God heareth God's WORDS: ye therefore hear Them not, because ye are not
of God." A
non-Christian, or heathen, is one who does not listen to The WORD.
e.
James 1:19,21-22,25: "Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath... Wherefore
lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness
the engrafted WORD, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the WORD,
and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. But whoso looketh into the perfect
LAW of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer
of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." A
Christian is one who not only listens to God's WORD, but obeys God's WORD.
f.
Proverbs 14:6: "A
scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth." A Christian is one
who understands the Knowledge of God.
g.
Psalm 119:11: "Thy
WORD have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." A Christian is one
who treasures the WORD as his help to defeat sin.
h.
Mark 8:38: "Whosoever therefore shall
be ashamed of Me and of My WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him
also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with
the holy angels." A Christian is one of whom the LORD Jesus will not be ashamed, when
He returns to the earth to reign as The Everlasting KING of kings.
i.
Acts 20:27: "For
I have not shunned to declare unto you all the Counsel of God." A Christian is one
who speaks to others what God speaks to all.
j.
Hebrews 5:12-14: "For when for the time
ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first
principles of the Oracles of God; and are become such as have need of Milk, and not
of Strong Meat. For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the WORD of righteousness:
for he is a babe. But Strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
1Peter 2:2: "As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby."
A Christian is one who grows in the WORD. One
who does not grow is one who no longer lives.
Luke 20:38:
"For he is not a God of the dead, but
of the living: for all live unto Him."
k.
Colossians 3:16: "Let
the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts
to the LORD." A
Christian is one who demonstrates the riches of God's wisdom by ministering to others
with the LORD's song in his heart.
l.
Psalm 56:10: "In God will I praise His
WORD: in the LORD will I praise His WORD."
A Christian is one who loves to praise
the WORD.
m.
John 14:23,24: "Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My WORDS: and My Father
will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He that loveth
Me not keepeth not My SAYINGS: and the WORD which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's
which sent Me." 1John 2:3-5: "And hereby
we do know that we know Him, if we keep His COMMANDMENTS. He that saith, I know Him,
and keepeth not His COMMANDMENTS, is a liar, and the TRUTH is not in him. But whoso
keepeth His WORD, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that
we are in Him." Psalm 119:101: "I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that
I might keep Thy WORD." A Christian is one who loves God. He loves The WORD. He obeys The
WORD. If he doesn't obey God, then he doesn't love God. It's really very simple.
n.
Acts 20:35: "...remember the WORDS of
the LORD Jesus..." Psalm 119:16: "I will delight myself in Thy STATUTES: I will not
forget Thy WORD." Hebrews 2:1: "Therefore
we ought to give the more earnest heed to The Things which we have heard, lest at
any time we should let Them slip." A Christian is one who does not forget God.
o.
Titus 1:9: "Holding
fast the faithful WORD as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."
2Timothy 4:2:
"Preach the WORD; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine."
A Christian is one who knows the WORD, and
can share Him instantly, with anyone.
p.
1Thessalonians 1:8: "For
from you sounded out the WORD of the LORD not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also
in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak
any thing." A
Christian is one who cannot keep the Good WORD to himself. He must discreetly "sound
out the WORD" in some form, in some place.
q.
Hebrews 4:2-7: "For unto us was the Gospel
preached, as well as unto them: but the WORD preached did not profit them, not being
mixed with faith in them that heard It. Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying
in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His
voice, harden not your hearts." A Christian is one who believes God, and can therefore profit
from His WORD. Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently
seek Him."
r.
1Peter 2:8: "And
a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offence, even to them which stumble at the WORD,
being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." A Christian is one who is not offended by The WORD telling
him how to live his life.
s.
Titus 3:8: "This
is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things
are good and profitable unto men." A Christian
is one who is careful to please The WORD.
t.
Revelations 6:9: "And
when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were
slain for the WORD of God, and for the testimony which they held." John 17:14: "I have given
them Thy WORD; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world." A Christian is one who would willing give his mortal life,
if God called him to witness his love for The WORD to a hating world.
u.Acts
4:29: "And now, LORD, behold their threatenings:
and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy WORD." Psalm 119:172: "My tongue shall
speak of Thy WORD: for all Thy COMMANDMENTS are righteousness." A Christian is one
who faces a hating world, when called to do so, with God's strength and boldness
in speaking out loud the righteousness of His COMMANDS.
v.Psalm
119:161: "Princes have persecuted me without
a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of Thy WORD."
A Christian is one with an overwhelming reverence
of who The WORD is, and acutely so when facing the enemy.
w.
Psalm 119:114: "Thou art my hiding place
and my shield: I hope in Thy WORD." Psalm 130:5: "I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His
WORD do I hope." A Christian is one whose only hope, whether in this life, or the
next, is the LORD, The WORD of God.
x.
Psalm 119:105: "Thy
WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." A Christian is one who has
a lighted lamp to follow the narrow path of The WORD. Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto Life,
and few there be that find It."
y.
Romans 13:2: "Whosoever therefore resisteth
The Power, resisteth The ORDINANCE of God: and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation." A Christian is
one who does not "resist" The WORD by disobedience, and thereby does "resist"
damnation.
z.
Isaiah 34:16: "Seek
ye out of the BOOK of the LORD, and read."
7. he Promise of the WORD
a.
When GOD gives His WORD, He gives Himself. Psalm 138:2: "Thou hast magnified
Thy WORD above all Thy name." When a man
gives his word to someone, he is giving that which represents himself, and stands
in his place. His word represents him. When God Almighty gives His WORD, His WORD
represents Him more than His own Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient Name does. He
esteems His wonderously, unique Name below the estimation He gives to His WORD. And even
though, "there
is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"(Acts 4:12), still He honors His WORD above this Almighty name of
"Savior". And when God makes a PROMISE, He really does honor that PROMISE
with all
that He is Himself. With all the power, with all the glory, with all that He is-- this is how He honors His WORD! Hebrews 6:13,17-19: "For when God
made PROMISE to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself,
wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of PROMISE the immutability
of His Counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it
was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled
for refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before us: which Hope we have as an anchor
of the soul, both sure and stedfast."
b.
2Peter 1:4: "Whereby
are given unto us exceeding great and precious PROMISES: that by These ye might be
partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust." This
is His PROMISE. This is His WORD.
c.
1John 2:25: "And this is the PROMISE that
He hath promised us, even eternal life."
There is no way to guarantee this future for
yourself with money, fame, or goodwill. You can be sure of eternal life, only by
His PROMISE. Only by His WORD.
d.
Ephesians 1:13: "In Whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the WORD of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of PROMISE." God's PROMISE is only redeemable to those who believe His WORD has
worth, because only He is worthy. Revelations 4:11: "Thou
art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created
all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelations 5:9: "And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every
kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."
e.
Ephesians 2:12: "That
at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of PROMISE, having no hope, and without God in the
world." To
be without God's PROMISE, is to be, truly, without hope.
f.
Ephesians 3:6: "That
the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His PROMISE
in Christ by the Gospel." By His PROMISE, all believers in His WORD are promised an
inheritance in Christ by the Gospel.
g.
Acts 2:39: "For
the PROMISE is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even
as many as the LORD our God shall call."
The PROMISE of Himself is not only for you,
but also for your children. What better inheritance can they possibly possess, than
the LORD of Glory Himself, the Living WORD?!
h.
Romans 9:8: "That
is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:
but the children of the PROMISE are counted for the seed." Only those who claim The PROMISE
can be counted as His children.
i.
Galatians 4:28: "Now
we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of PROMISE." Hebrews 11:11-12: "Through faith
also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child
when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore
sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky
in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable." Hebrews 11:17-19:
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
offered up Isaac: and he that had received the PROMISES offered up his only begotten
son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that
God was able to raise him up, even from the dead."
As Isaac was "conceived" and "offered
up" by PROMISE, even so is also the believer.
j.
Romans 4:20-21: "He [Abraham] staggered not at
the PROMISE of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."
The LORD is as good as His WORD. Matthew 19:17:
"Why callest thou Me good? there is none
good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments."
This is His PROMISE. This is His WORD.
k.
Hebrews 6:15: "And so, after he [Abraham] had patiently endured,
he obtained the PROMISE." Hebrews 10:36: "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the PROMISE."
You must do your part, just as God must do
His part. John
5:17: "But
Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."
l.Galatians
3:17,22: "And
this I say, that the COVENANT, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Law,
which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make
the PROMISE of none effect. But the SCRIPTURE hath concluded all under sin, that
the PROMISE by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." On God's part, nothing
can void His PROMISE. On your part, you must believe.
m.
1Kings 8:56: "Blessed
be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He
promised: there hath not failed one WORD of all His good PROMISE, which He promised." If He promises rest,
then be assured, there is rest. This is His PROMISE. This is His WORD. Hebrews 3:18-19: "And to whom
sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." Hebrews 4:1-3: "Let us therefore
fear, lest, a PROMISE being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should
seem to come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them:
but the WORD preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that
heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest."
n.
Revelations 3:8,10: "I
know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut
it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My WORD, and hast not denied My
Name. Because thou hast kept the WORD of My patience, I also will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell
upon the earth." What does this PROMISE offer you? What does your faith make of it?
"The hour of temptation" can specifically
mean the time of the Vial judgments being poured upon the earth. It is His solemn
promise to deliver His people, who are trusting under the shadow of His wings, from
the time of "temptation,
which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell on the earth" (Revelations 3:10b). "Because thou hast kept the WORD of My patience, I
also will keep thee from the hour of temptation" (Revelations 3:10a). Why wouldn't we accept a PROMISE like
this for all that we could receive?... "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the
Son of man" (Luke
21:36).
o.
2Peter 3:13: "Nevertheless we, according
to His PROMISE, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." If we believe Him,
then we will "look". Then we will "hope". Then we will "patiently
endure".
p.
Hebrews 3:14: "For
we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast
unto the end." If
we believe Him, then we will have confidence in Him. Hebrews 10:35: "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath
great recompense of reward." 1John 5:14-15: "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that,
if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He
hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of
Him." 1John
2:28: "And
now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence,
and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."
This is His PROMISE. This is His WORD.
Whose camp are you in?
"Because that, when they knew
God,
they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened."
Romans 1:21
"He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not
My WORDS,
hath One that judgeth him:
the WORD that I have spoken,
The Same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of Myself;
but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that His commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me,
so I speak."
John 12:48-50
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