“The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
{Psalm 19:7}
What a blessing to be able to read, hear and have in our hands or on tape, CD’s, etc., the Word of the Living God… Indeed it should cause us to greatly rejoice and Give thanks to God as we consider … the Blessings of Gods Word…
GOD’S WORD IS…
· EXALTED – ” I will give Thee thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to Thee before the gods. I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, and give thanks to Thy Name for Thy Loving-kindness and Thy TRUTH; For Thou hast EXALTED/MAGNIFIED Thy Word according to ALL THY NAME.” Ps 138:1-2
· ETERNAL – Ps 119:89 “FOREVER, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven.”
· EFFICIENT – ” All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, that the MAN OF GOD may be thoroughly Equipped for every good work”.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
· EMANCIPATING – 2 Peter 2:4 “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
· ENCOURAGING -Romans 15:4 “…For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
· ENLIGHTENING – Psalm 19:8 “..the commandments of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.”
· EFFECTIVE – Isaiah 54:11 “So shall My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty without Accomplishing what I desire, and without Succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” …”..the Word of truth, the Gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world, also it is CONSTANTLY bearing fruit and INCREASING, even as it has been doing IN YOU also since the day you heard of it and Understood the Grace of God in truth..” -Col 1:5-6
· EXPOSES – Heb 4:12 – “For the Word of God IS LIVING and Active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ABLE TO JUDGE the thoughts and Intentions of the heart.”
· EMPOWERING – Rom 1:18 “…The Gospel is the POWER of God unto salvation….”
· EVANGELIZES – 2 Tim 3:15 – “And from childhood you have known the Sacred writings which are ABLE to give you the wisdom that leads to SALVATION through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
· EDIFIES – 2 Tim 3:16 – ” ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for TRAINING in RIGHTEOUSNESS
– EQUIPS- 2 Tim 3:17 – ” …so the man of God may be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for Every good work.” It is the Word of God which the Spirit of God uses to equip us for ministry.
– ENJOYABLE – Psalm 19:8 – “…rejoicing the heart”
If all of the above are true, and they are…why then do people turn to psychology and their own reasoning as a means {False} of “attempting” to conduct Gods business. Some of our congregations are weak, sometimes due to leaders who are not convinced in their own life of the Sufficiency of Gods Word or also that people in the pew are not convinced, and so what we often and up with are immature believers … who are Deficient in their walk’s and in trying to deal with problems of the soul…IS IT BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD S DEFICIENT? No! The DEFICIENCY is not in that which is Perfect [Psalm 19:7] -namely HIS WORD but the DEFICIENCY is in the RESPONSE TO and….the APPLICATION OF His Word…
To those who hold that Gods Word is inspired, flawless, perfect and alone reveals the Absolute standard of Revealed truth from God…why is there so little change in lives? Is God’s Word Deficient or is it really Sufficient?… Confusion abounds consider some reasons for such …
REASONS FOR DEFICIENCY;
1. Equating Hearing Gods Word as Sufficient- James 1:22-23 “merely a hearer who deludes himself.”
2. Equating Enjoyment of Gods Word as sufficient – Ez 33:30-32
3. Equating Knowledge Of God’s Word as sufficient- John 8:37
4. Equating Teaching of God’s Word as sufficient – Matt 722
5. Equating Ministry, right Doctrine as Sufficient. Matt 7:21-22
Hearing, enjoying, knowing, teaching, ministering, right doctrine is not enough!!! Without APPLICATION- the Doing of God’s Word.- James 1:22..there is Deficiency. The confusion abounds when we mistakenly believe if we hear Gods Word, teach it, minister and are busy in “Christian” things that surely proves we are committed. But it is possible to do all that and more and without the Application of Gods Word be lost-Consider Matthew 7:21… or as a believer to be immature and failing to grow and honor Him. People want Education…information… but True Salvation brings about TRANSFORMATION; Titus 1:1 that ultimately will result in the Exaltation of the Blessed Lord Jesus.
AS A result of PERSONAL APPLICATION to the Word of God…the Holy Spirit begins to change lives and make us more like Jesus Christ in our Thinking, Words, Deeds and Motivation…and matures His people….because they have a firm Foundation. If you are not seeing change, one reason is a DEFICIENT RESPONSE to the Word of God…
LET US BE A PEOPLE WHO…
1. Commit to Gods Word – As the Absolute Authority for life and Godly living
2. Submit to Gods Word- To Obey
3. Transmit Gods Word- Live it out –
Motivated as an Expression of Love for Him “He who has My commandments and Keeps them, HE it is who LOVES ME…”- John 14:21
Let us Love Him…let us obey Him …
let us be DOER’S of Gods Word- James 1:21;
DELIGHTING in it-Psalm 1:2 because of Who’s Word it is- THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD-John 17:3,17is….
Jesus MADE THE COMPARISON BETWEEN A a “Wise Man” to a “Foolish man.” in MATTHEW 7 -The difference was the Foundation they CHOSE to build their lives on. The Wise man built on His Word… all other foundations are Foolish…Be careful how and where you are building.
Gods Word is Sufficient, failure to Experience it’s wisdom, and blessings which God desires for you and me, is often due to a DEFICIENT RESPONSE…equating anything but obedience as an alternative or substitute…