The Word of God
This week, Harrison Briner lead us - talking about the Word of God. Given the climate of this nation and world, it is more important now (than ever) to cling to and emulate God’s Word.
1) The Word of God IS God.
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word of God was written before He breathed this earth into existence. The Word of God, like God himself, is eternal.
Matthew 24:35: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Isaiah 40:8: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.
His Word is eternal word. It is what we need to stand on.
It is eternal and it is our map home to the Father.
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2) The Word of God is ALIVE!
The Word of God is living and active. It is not just words on a page. It is alive and active through His Holy Spirit.
3) The Word of God is a WEAPON!
It is a powerful weapon given to defend against evil. It penetrates the listener, or reader to their very core – separating soul from spirit.
It instructs us in how to put on our full armor and defend against attacks from the enemy.
It is described as the sword of the Spirit - to be on our hearts and lips in ready defense for any strike or blow thrown by this world.
It is also an offensive weapon to attack evil, sin, apathy, lies, blasphemy, etc.
Exodus 15:3: The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.
4) The Word of God is our most effective training manual!
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
It teaches us not only how we should live, but treat others.
It is the truth.
John 17:17: Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.
5) The Word of God is PERFECT!
2 Samuel 22:31: As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.
David describes it as flawless, without blemish.
It was made from God (so it has to be perfect) - for us.
It is really the ultimate litmus test in every situation.
Whether you are reading, listening to, or watching something, if it does not align with the Holy Scriptures, you know to stay away. We are living in a time where people often distort or twist the Word of God. But we, who are in the Word, know better.
2 Peter 3:16: He writes the same way in all His letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
We are in the last days. We must cling to the Word of God with all of our strength. We must equip ourselves every day and acknowledge it is the power of God for everyone’s Salvation.
6) The Word of God is SUSTENANCE!
Deuteronomy 8:3: He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
It is first, humbling, knowing we cannot be self-sustaining or self-sufficient, to our soul and spirit. Only His Word can sustain us.
We must take Him at His Word so we can live. It is the portion we should seek.
7) The Word of God is RESTORATION!
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Word reminds us that while we are still sinners, Christ died for us, and through that love. Christ’s love, we can never be separated from the Father.
Romans 8:37-39: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus provided many examples of restoration throughout His teaching to include:
Luke 15:1-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Luke 15:8-10 - The Parable of the Lost Coin
Luke 15:11-31 - The Parable of the Lost Son
Through Jesus’ Words, we are shown God’s unwavering desire for the restoration of all of His children.
Let us remember that…
The Word of God IS God, and He is alive.
The Word of God is ALIVE; not just words on a page, but moving among us.
The Word of God is a WEAPON used to defend against and strike down the enemy.
The Word of God is our most effective training manual – equipping us for every situation.
The Word of God is PERFECTION, and though we are not perfect, we should strive to be, as Jesus was.
The Word of God is SUSTENANCE, and we know, through many scriptures, if we fill ourselves with His word, we will never hunger or thirst.
The Word of God is RESTORATION, and though we are not perfect, Jesus’ blood cleanses our sin and God’s Word restores out hope.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Let us carry Romans 1:16 into every conversation and relationship that we have.
Other Bible verses we read/referenced today included:
Luke 19:40
Proverbs 9:10
Matthew 10:22-24
Proverbs 12:1
1 Peter 3:15
John 4:1-24
Matthew 7:24-27
