The Word of God

DISCIPLESHIP 05-11-2012

Stage 1: Living with God

Lesson 1: Word of God

Matthew 7:24-25

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Just like a house, our lives need a strong foundation. The world around us changes, but God’s word – the Bible never changes. It is the absolute foundation for our lives.

Most people rely on other things as their foundation such as power, wealth, business, even their spouse and other things – these things aren’t permanent and can all be lost, but not the word of God and the Bible.

Ephesians 4:14-15

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

By the word of God, we can never be fooled by false teaching, and by any other authorities, no other greater authority there can be other than the word of God – The Bible.

THE CREATIVE WORD

When God created the world, what He only does is to utter words and the world came to life.

The word of God has great creative power. God created the universe by His word (Hebrew 11:3) and sustains the universe by His word (Hebrew 1:3) It has the same kind of creative power in our lives.

Hebrew 11:3

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrew 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Why all the planets aren’t bumping to one another can somehow be explained by science but not fully. Only by God’s word then that all these was being sustained on its position.

The Word of God is like water (Eph. 5:25-27; John 15:3; John 17:17)

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

John 15:3

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Just how we bathe every day to be cleaned, is also the way we should be cleansed by the Word of God.

The Word of God is like light (Ps 119:105)

Psalms 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Light can be used to lighten and focus an area to see things for clear vision. When we have to decide on something we need the word of God to clear everything else. Most of the world’s geniuses don’t know much about God, they tend to have spiritual darkness, that’s why we need the word of God to lighten up our life.

The Word of God is like a seed (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:21-22)

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

James 1:21-22

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

(See the parable of the sower), seeds when planted sprouts and grows. The same happens to the word of God into us, depending on the condition of the heart.

The Word of God is like a food (Matt. 4:4; 1 Pet 3, 23)

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Without food for our soul, we’re helpless against temptation.

The Word of God is like a sword (Eph. 6:17; Luke 4:1-14)

Ephesians 6:17

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The word of God can be used for offensive attack against the devils schemes.

A LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD

Does the Bible is one thing that you’re not going without? (As the same way we usually treat things like cellphone?) How valuable does a Bible to us?

1 Pet. 2:2-3

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good

Many Christians have been just contended after salvation in the Lord, and don’t grow up into the knowledge of Him.

It is important to receive God’s word regularly so that we can grow in the Lord. We do this in 3 ways:

1. We sit under regular teaching (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 3:16)

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

2. We read God’s word each day (Ps. 119:9, 11)

Psalms 119:9

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

3. We share God’s word with each other (Col. 3:16)

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

1. As we absorb God’s word, we became familiar with God’s will and God’s ways. This gives us special authority in prayer (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15)

John 15:7

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

We can only ask whatever we desire, only if we remain in Him and His words to us.

2. Through the word of God, we discover God’s nature, and the Holy Spirit works in our lives to change us into the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29)

Romans 8:29

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Christlikeness we should attain

3. God does this by changing the attitude of our mind, so that we see things the way God sees them (Romans 12:2)

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

People’s mind aren’t changed yet, the reason why some struggles into changing themselves. The way we see things depends on how we think, and the way our belief is change.

4. As we respond in faith, the HS changes us into the image of Christ. This is the power of God’s word in our lives (John 8:32)

John 8:32

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. Jesus Is called “the word of God”.

Jesus before was called “the Word”. Jesus was His earthly name.

2. When he “became flesh”, God’s message took on human form in the life of Jesus.

3. Then people will not just hear God’s word in word form. Like Jesus, they will see the word of God as a daily reality in your life.

Jesus’ life is a demonstration of God’s word, just how He loved us by giving Jesus, His son.

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

MEMORY VERSE: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.