“THE WORD OF GOD”!!

 

We all know that the Word of God is right, it is true, it endures forever, it never changes, it is able to tear down and build up, and it sustains and keep us.  God’s Word is a “Rock” and you can depend on it.  It can change and soften the hardest of hearts.  It replenishes and refreshes!  It is wholesome and comforting, and it endures unto all generations!

Are you already excited with just what has been said about the Word of God?  Let’s go to our text:

·         St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

In the beginning, there never was a time when the WORD was NOT:  (1) Jesus is Eternal God:  (2) In the beginning was the WORD:  (3) The WORD was with God.  The WORD is a Person, not a philosophy or an impersonal idea; (4) The WORD was GOD. 

John is affirming that “JESUS IS GOD”!!  Meaning, the WORD is alive and active.  It is power!  It is powerful!  The Word of God is you and I in its fullness!  Someone may ask, “How is that possible”? Jesus was the Word made flesh (St. John 1:14). We are now His body, His flesh, and His bones in the earth (Ephesians 5:30).  As he is, so are we, in this world (1John 4:17).

What is the Word?  It is from the Greek word log’os, which means, reasonable speech or thought.  God in His capacity as creative power, did He not say “Let there be” (Genesis 1:3), and it was so?  Did He not speak everything into existence in the Beginning?  How did He do it?  He did it by His WORD!  God is even now rearing up or bringing forth “sons” who now know who they are in Him.  We have come into the knowledge that we contain within ourselves, the capability of being and speaking God’s Word by faith and can use the creative principle of Divine Mind (God’s mind) to create.

·         Proverbs 18:20: A man’s belly (the womb (reproductive part of a person; inwardly) shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.  Vs 21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue:  and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure (deposit; wealth) of his heart (thoughts; feelings (mind); the middle) brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure (deposit; wealth) of his heart (thoughts or feelings (mind); the middle) brings forth that which is evil:  for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).  So with that:

·         “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

Think in this verse is the Greek root word logi’zomai, meaning, to take an inventory; estimate; reckon. So we need to take an inventory of the words we’re going to speak and not be hasty with it.  But carefully premeditate on it and if we regard, count, or estimate what we’re going to say as being kind, then say it.  Other than that, we don’t need to speak it.

·         Matthew 12:36: I say unto you, “That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”.  Vs 37: For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The Day of Judgment is not a coming event or “that great getting up morning” as religion teaches, but the “Day of Judgment” is already occurring and it starts when those “idle” (inactive; unemployed; lazy; useless; barren; slow; negative) words come out of one’s mouth.  There are consequences to what we say, whether it is positive or negative.  Therefore we must speak only that which is positive and gives life!!

·         James 3:6: And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity (injustice; wrongfulness; wickedness; unrighteousness):  so is the tongue among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  Vs 7: For every kind of beasts and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind.  Vs 8: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (venom).  

The “tongue” is defined in the Greek as glossa’, meaning, language. 

·         James 3:11: Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Vs 12: Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?  Either a vine, figs?  So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Let us watch over our “words” and let that which is “positive” and “gives life” be that which comes out of our mouth, because what we say is what we get!!

People of God, we must “hear”, “believe”, and “accept or receive” God’s Word into us so that we can “live” thereby!  For it is not by bread alone that man lives, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the living God (Matthew 4:4).

·         St. John 5:24: He that hears my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.

We must get this Word of God on the inside of us.  Let our minds be consumed with the Word of God!  Let us meditate on the Word of God daily, and let us do what 2 Timothy 2:15 says:  

·         Study (use speed; make effort; endeavor; be diligent; eagerness) to show thyself approved (acceptable) unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed (disgraced), rightly (correctly; plainly) dividing (making a straight cut; dissecting [expounding] correctly) the Word of truth.

Someone might ask, “Why are you emphasizing on the Word of God so much”?

Because Jesus Himself said:

·         Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”.

The Word is our weapon of warfare, creativity, and productivity:

·         Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

·         Luke 21:15: I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

·         2 Corinthians 10:4: (The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds); casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

The Word of God stands firm in the heavens:

·         Psalm 119:89: “Forever O LORD, thy word is settled (stationed; upright; established; erected) in heaven”.

·         1 Peter 1:24-25: For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away:  but the word of the Lord endures forever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The Word of God is dynamic power and powerful, and accomplishes great things:

·         Isaiah 55:10-11: For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.  So shall my word be that goes 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. 

·         Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged 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.

·         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. 

And the WORD God used was Jesus the Christ Himself!  “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1).  That “Beginning” was Jesus Christ! 

·         Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church, who is “the beginning”! 

·         Revelation 3:14: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, “the beginning” of the creation of God!

What worlds were framed by the Word of God?  Worlds is the Greek word aion, meaning an age; era.  It signifies a period of indefinite duration, past, present or future, that God fulfills plans of divine purpose.

The Word of God has the power to impart new life:

·         John 3:15: Whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  Vs 16: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

·         Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened (made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins:  vs 6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

 And after being washed in the blood of the Lamb by faith through the Word of God, we were made alive and became new creatures, or new creations in Christ Jesus. 

·         2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new (fresh) creature (creation):  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (fresh; restored; recovered).

·         Hebrews 9b: Without shedding of blood is no remission.

·         Hebrew 10:4: It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  Vs 9: Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.  He takes away the first that he may establish the second.  Vs 10: By which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The Word of God can surely change our circumstances:  [A circumstance is a fact or event accompanying another; or involvement in a situation]. 

Now I can go all the way back into the Old Testament:

·         How God parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31).

·         How He fought the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6). 

·         How He changed things for David at Ziglag (1 Samuel 30).

Next, even in the New Testament:

·         What about blind Bartimeus in Mark 10:46-52.  He’s the one that was sitting by the highway side begging.  And when he heard that Jesus was passing through, began to cry out for Him and the people wanted him to shut up, but he cried out the more, “Son of David have mercy on me” (vs 47-48).  Vs 49: And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.  And they call the blind man, saying unto him, “Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee”.  And when blind Bartimeus got to Jesus, Jesus asked him, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee”?  Bartimeus was specific, and he said unto him, “Lord, that I might receive my sight”.  Vs 52: And Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole”!  

·         Look at how God’s Word turned circumstances around with the woman with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years that was bowed together and could in no wise lift herself up (Luke 13:10-17).  Vs 12: When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said unto her, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity”.  Vs 13: And he laid his hands on her:  and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. 

·         He changed circumstances for the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), and all He said was:  vs 7: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”.  What powerful words that caused the accusers to go about their business.  This all happened, at Jesus’ word!!  Hallelujah!!!

Right now, I have no doubt that we know that God is not just the God of yesterday or tomorrow, but He is the God of “today”, the “right now God”!!  We can all testify to the effects of His Word through His saving grace!  The “right now” God through His healing power!  The “right now” God through His tender mercies!  The “right now” God through His protection from the “almosts”:  I “almost” gave them a piece of my mind; I “almost” hit a pedestrian; I “almost” lost control of that situation; I “almost” waited too late; I “almost” got hit; I “almost” hit another vehicle; I “almost” gave up; I “almost” gave in.  The “almosts” that God delivered us from, known and unknown!  All through and by the effects of His Word!!

Then here comes Satan, trying to make us doubt God’s Word and the power of it.  He uses circumstances to bring fear, worry, stress or anxiousness, to try and control us and get us off track.  He uses circumstances to steal your joy, depress your spirit, and even kill your influence in an attempt to make you think you won’t or can’t make it.  And while he has us dwelling on those circumstances we lose sight on God, on the Word of God and it seems as though He has left us alone.  But then we begin to rethink, we begin to remember what God’s Word says.  We begin to cast down those negative thoughts and doubts, and imaginations and begin to say exactly what the Word says in all these situations and we then experience the joy.  We can feel our strength being restored, our faith being renewed, because we stood on the Word of God!

·         Exodus 14:13: And Moses said unto the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD which he will show to you today:  for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever”.

·         Isaiah 54:17: No weapon formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Finally, what is our reaction to the Word of God?  Are you excited?  Do you want more?  Are you a believer of what you hear?  Do you put the Word into practice or do you hear it and continue on with business as usual?

We must eagerly hear God’s Word and seek to understand it!

·         Proverbs 5:5: Get wisdom, get understanding:  forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  Vs 7: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:  and with all thy getting get understanding.

Understanding is from the root word biynah’ meaning to perfectly, understand.  Then it goes to biyn (bene), meaning to separate mentally (or distinguish), consider, perceive, discern, instruct.  We must be able to consider, discern and instruct wisely, through and by the Word of God and the only way that can be done is by the Holy Ghost, or briefly said, we must “judge righteously”!  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come (He is present now), he will guide you into all truth:  for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:  and he will show you things to come (John 16:13).

Then we must not just be “hearers” but “doers” of God’s Word (James 1:22).

·         Vs 23: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  vs 24: For he beholds himself and goes his way, and straightway forget what manner of man he was.  Vs 25: But whosoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We must praise and love the Word of God!

·         Psalm 34:8: O taste (experience) and see that the LORD is good:  blessed is the man that trusts in him.

·         Psalm 100:1: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Vs 2: Serve the LORD with gladness:  come before his presence with singing.  Vs 4: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise:  be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

We must accept all and what God’s Word is saying to us.  We must hide the Word deep in our hearts that it be our joy and delight.

·         Psalm 119:11: Thy word, have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

And above all, let us “obey” all that the Word says to us and live accordingly!

·         Joshua 1:8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

·         1 John 2:3: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  Vs 4: He that says, I know him, and keep not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  Vs 5: But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:  hereby know we that we are in him.

STAND PEOPLE OF GOD!!  STAND IN AND ON THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD!!

Evangelist Mary Perry