God’s Word Pt. 2

This is a continuation of the study in my last post.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BELIEVING THE WORD OF GOD

Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in Your Precepts; I will not forget Your Word.
Psa 119:81 KAPH: My soul faints for Your salvation; I hope in Your Word

We cannot separate God from His Word; they are one and the same:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

God had an important reason and purpose for having His Word, which is His expressed will, recorded in written form. God’s Word, as expressed in the Scriptures, is the standard to be used when teaching doctrine (correct teaching), for reproof (the pointing out of incorrect believing), correction (how to get back to right believing), and for teaching righteousness (living out the right believing). The written word is to help the believer to become more complete and equipped in his/her spiritual growth and life:

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

God speaking forth His Word, brought all creation into being:

Genesis chapter 1: And God said…

Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the ages were framed by a word of God, so that the things being seen not to have come into being out of the things that appear.

God’s words are living and powerful:

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

God’s Word accomplishes His purposes:

Isa 55:10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring out and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
Isa 55:11 so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do.

BENEFITS OF BELIEVING GOD’S WORD

God’s Word can be depended upon because it is stable, sure, and unchanging:

Psa 119:89 LAMED: Forever, O Jehovah, Your Word is settled in the heavens.

1Ti 4:9 Faithful is the Word, and worthy of all acceptance.

The Word of God is health and life to our bodies:

Pro 4:20 My son, listen to my words; bow down your ear to my sayings.
Pro 4:21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
Pro 4:22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all his flesh.

Joh 6:63 It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life

Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

God’s Word brings healing and deliverance:

Psa 107:20 He sent His Word and heals them, and delivers them from their pitfalls.

Paying attention to and following God’s Word clears our path in life:

Psa 119:9 BETH: With what shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.

God’s Word gives us direction:

Psa 119:105 NUN: Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Luk 6:47 Whoever comes to Me and hears My Words, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like.
Luk 6:48 He is like a man who built a house and dug deep and laid the foundation on a rock; and a flood occurring, the stream burst against that house and could not shake it; for it was founded on a rock.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT BELIEVING THE WORD OF GOD

There is a growing movement among some churches and Christians, to discount, either in part or in whole, the written Word of God. It is taught that the Bible is a figurative work of literature and not to be taken literally; or a nice collection of stories that teach morals and/or values; or valuable for teaching at one time but not necessary now since “we have the Holy Spirit to guide us”; or worse, not from God at all and to be totally discounted.

We not only worship in vain if we accept the words of man over the Word of God:

Mar 7:7 However, they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

we effectively remove ourselves from the power of God that is contained in His Word:

Mar 7:13 making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered

God tells us that in the end times, people will ignore the truth in His Word and follow the teachings of evil spirits and demons:

1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons.

So:

Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ

God says that if you do not hear and acknowledge His Word, you are not of God:

Joh 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s Words. Therefore you do not hear them because you are not of God.

The lack of knowledge of God’s Word leads to destruction:

Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

God places a high value on His Word and He clearly states how He regards those who would do away with His Word.
If we reject God by rejecting His Word, then He will reject us:

Hos 4:6…Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest to Me. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I will also forget your sons, even I.

Pro 13:13 Whoever despises the Word shall be destroyed, …  

This is a very clear warning: REJECT & DESPISE THE WORD OF GOD – YOU WILL BE REJECTED AND DESTROYED!

HOWEVER:

Joh 8:31 … If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed.

Pro 13:3   … he who fears the commandment shall be rewarded.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.

Jas 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and overflowing of evil, receive in meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Amen

The Word of God

As I was doing some research today, I came across this study that I had prepared a few years ago. I tried to post it earlier today under the title “The Bible” but I had some technical difficulties.

My heart’s desire is to teach others how to “rightly divide” the Word of God so that they will have a deeper understanding of whom God is and then be able to develop a closer relationship with Him.

I believe that in order to understand God, we must understand His Word and that in order to understand His word, we must believe in the authenticity, authority, power and truth of God’s word. We must believe that God’s word is the ultimate truth and authority for our lives.

In sharing teachings and studies, I will use God’s written Word, the Bible, as my ultimate authority. The teachings and studies are not based on my or anyone else’s opinion, but the truth, as I understand it, that is found and revealed in God’s written word. I challenge and encourage anyone doing these studies, to prayerfully search, study and meditate the scriptures for themselves.

2Ti 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

STUDY ON THE WORD OF GOD

The Bible reveals to us God’s character and will: 
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

All of scripture is inspired by (comes from the mind of) God:
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

Paul stated that the gospel he preached did not come from man, but from revelation of Jesus Christ:

Gal 1:11 And, brothers, I make known to you the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
Gal 1:12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it except by a revelation of Jesus Christ

Holy men of God spoke (and later wrote) as they were moved by God, the Holy Spirit:
2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For prophecy was not borne at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit.

God’s word is pure and absolutely trustworthy:
Psa 12:6 The Words of Jehovah are pure Words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

God cannot lie, so His Word is truth:
Num 23:19 God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

God not only revealed His character and will through the form of His written word, He revealed them through the human form of the person of Jesus Christ, who was the human
manifestation (representation) of the Word of God:

Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

Jesus lived by the written word of God and he used it to teach others:
Luk 4:16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And, as His custom was, He went in to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.(the scriptures)
Luk 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And unrolling the book, He found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed,
Luk 4:19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Luk 4:21 And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears.

THE WORD OF GOD IS THE REVEALED WILL OF GOD.
GOD=WORD=BIBLE=JESUS

Thank you

Almost 2 months have passed since I began this adventure with my blog. It has been an interesting experience thus far. Sometimes, the ideas and words have come easily, and at other times, it has been a definite challenge.

I think that my biggest challenge is to present God’s Truth, as is made known in His Word, as “rightly divided” as my understanding allows.

You may or may not agree with the views that I present, but please know that it is always my aim to honour God, not myself. My hope is that my postings will lead you to do the following:

2Ti 2:15  Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

“Act 17:11  … receive the Word with all readiness of mind and search the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so.” 

I would like to encourage all my readers to be “interactive” with my posts – please feel free to comment. I want to know how my posts make you think and feel.

I would like to thank all my friends who follow my blog, but I would also like to extend a special welcome to all the new readers and extend a special thank you for choosing to follow my blog.

Blessings 🙂

 

Why I Believe

1Pe 3:15  but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;

Let me start by asking a few questions: What do you see when you look at the state of the world? What do you think when you watch the news on tv, hear it on the radio or read it in a newspaper or on the internet? How do you feel when you or a loved one is suffering from illness, relationship problems, poverty, fear, or loneliness? What are your solutions for hatred, crime, war, pollution, poverty, sickness and death?

When I look at world history, I see a recurring pattern of ignorance, hatred, anger,  greed, power struggle, war, suffering and death. While it is true that mankind has made advances in such things as science, technology, and medicine, the majority of the population of the world continues to struggle with the same life-destroying problems it always has done. “There is nothing new under the sun”.

What kind of world will it be for our children and their descendants? What kind of hope can mankind give them? It seems that many of our young people don’t have much hope for their future.

What can give people a real reason to hold on through the difficult times of today and a real hope for a better tomorrow? Can the theory of evolution based on the survival of the fittest, dog-eat dog way of thinking offer real hope? Can non-living idols made of stone and wood by man’s hand  offer real hope? Does the belief in witches, wizards, and vampires offer hope? Does the use of alcohol and drugs really make the problems go away? Has mankind, at any time in history, been able to totally eradicate the evil in this world by his own efforts? Do we have the ability to fix ourselves? I would say that the overwhelming evidence of the wickedness of mankind throughout history would say – No – we can’t do it!

So what is the answer then? For me, the answer is not to be found within myself or within the efforts of humankind. The answer, and my hope, is in the belief that there has to be something, someone, bigger and better out there than ourselves:

Rev 1:8  I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

There has to be someone who loves us more than we love ourselves:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

There has to be someone with a plan to save us from ourselves:

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He (Jesus)will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

Jer 23:5  Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and act wisely, and shall do judgment and justice in the earth.

1Jn 4:9  And the love of God was made clear to us when he sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
1Jn 4:10  And this is love, not that we had love for God, but that he had love for us, and sent his Son to be an offering (atonement) for our sins. (BBE)

There has to be someone who is willing to lay aside all ideas of selfishness; someone who is willing to risk it all, sacrifice it all, give everything they’ve got for the betterment of others:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.

Isa 53:5  But it was for our sins he (Jesus) was wounded, and for our evil doings he was crushed: he took the punishment by which we have peace, and by his wounds we are made well.
Isa 53:6  We all went wandering like sheep; going every one of us after his desire; and the Lord put on him the punishment of us all.
Isa 53:7  Men were cruel to him, but he was gentle and quiet; as a lamb taken to its death, and as a sheep before those who take her wool makes no sound, so he said not a word.

There has to be something to give us hope for the future:

Joh 14:2  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.

Rev 21:3  And there came to my ears a great voice out of the high seat, saying, See, the Tent of God is with men, and he will make his living-place with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4  And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end.
Rev 21:5  And he who is seated on the high seat said, See, I make all things new. (BBE)

This is why I have hope. This is why I believe.

Joh 20:31  But these are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name.

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.

Blessings

Spring Fever

Rev 4:11  O Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and for Your will they are and were created.

The sun is shining: the air is fresh, warm and sweet; flowers are blooming; trees are “leafing”; and there are no biting bugs! What’s not to love about May?!

Yes, after a grey and damp winter, I am suffering from a HUGE case of spring fever. Some people get spring cleaning fever, but I say, “Never mind the laundry, dishes and house-cleaning – I want to be outside!” (without having to wear a snowsuit!) So for the past few days, I and my trusty side-kick, my digital camera, have been puttering along country roads, exploring nature trails and strolling along town streets, happily “snapping” away at all the various glories of spring.

I love being outdoors enjoying nature, and I love capturing the beautiful things I see with my camera. I love “framing” the artwork that God has created. For me, the outdoors has always been a very spiritual place. It is my church – the place where I feel closest to God. Give me a cathedral of soaring trees over a man-made building any day.

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I honestly don’t understand how people can admire nature and yet not believe in an amazing Creator. Nature is filled with such an incredible variety of shape, colour, and function. The incredible beauty of nature can only come from a being of incredible imagination and creativity. Each organism, with it’s individual characteristics and specialized functions within the whole of creation, can only have been designed by a superior intelligence.

Psa 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork.

While I observe and enjoy the beauty, I don’t just have a brain filled with “fluff and fairy tales”, I also have a very analytical and scientific mind. I have loved sciences such as geology, biology, physiology, and chemistry since I was young. I have a very curious mind, I love to learn and I actively and continually seek knowledge. The more that I learn about the earth and it’s living organisms, the more I am convicted that true science does not disprove God, but rather, true science must lead one to acknowledge the existence of a superior, intelligent, powerful Creator.

Rom 1:20  For from the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made, so that men have no reason for wrongdoing:
Rom 1:21  Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark

For me, there can be no other explanation for the incredible diversity, complexity, design, function and inestimable beauty that abounds in creation.

Psa 148:1  Praise Jehovah! Praise Jehovah from the heavens; praise Him in the heights.
Psa 148:2  Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts.
Psa 148:3  Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light.
Psa 148:4  Praise Him, heavens of heavens, and waters that are above the heavens.
Psa 148:5  Let them praise the name of Jehovah; for He commanded, and they were created.

Amen!