The Importance of God's Word

This is the verse my morning meditation was on.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

In its historical context, it is God speaking through Moses in respect to the king God will choose to rule over them. But certainly, we have a spiritual application that speaks to us today.

First, we would be much better off, if we elected men who put God’s Word up as the standard by which they would govern. Realistically though, this is not a Christian nation and that probably isn’t going to happen. Yet, when Christians vote, we must look to this principle when we elect leaders.

There is a second principle that is more personal for us. It is the principle of reading God’s word. Why do we need to read, study, and prioritize God’s word? Let Moses answer that.

“That [you] may learn to fear the LORD [your] God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that [your] heart may not be lifted up above [your] brothers, and that [you] may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that [your] may continue long in [your life], [you] and [your] children.”

God has given us the way to do life. We have a map. It is called the Bible. We cannot know God’s Will unless we listen to Him. And He speaks. He speaks through His Word. 

Colossians 3:16 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Trembling at God's Word

Thus says the LORD

"But this is the one to whom I will look:he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." - Isaiah 66:2

Came across this verse tonight and it struck me hard. When I read scripture do I ever tremble at it? Have I ever?

If the Bible is not God's Word, then those of us who call ourselves Christians are only fooling ourselves. 

It is God's Word. Every single commandment, every warning, and even the words of comfort, ought to drop me to me knees in worship and awe-struck praise, and cause me to tremble at the incomprehensible power and glory of the Almighty God. 

And if I truly fear the Lord, I will turn in repentance and obedience giving Him every ounce of my heart.

"But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."

Thus says the LORD.

The Christmas Story in One Verse

As one who sometimes struggles with assurance of his own salvation, I find great comfort in the fact that I love God’s Word and that love is one sign that salvation is true in your life. I take it literally, except when the nuances of language clearly delineate it as speaking in metaphors and symbols. I believe it is true in its entirety, rejecting any ideas of the world that the stories are myths and fables. I believe it speaks with the full authority of God Himself, having been written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. I believe it is sufficient in itself and that it provides all the knowledge and wisdom of how to live this life, that it does not need man’s help in instructing us about the human heart, soul, and spirit.  I also believe it is a treasure trove of truth that in this life we will never exhaust its fruit and that it must be mined like a mine of precious jewels. These are but a sampling of why I love God’s Word.

Yesterday, being Sunday, was yet another opportunity to gather with brothers and sisters in Christ to hear it preached. And it was one of those sermons I always love. It was sermon that our pastor preached on one passage, one specific verse, and I am always fascinated by these sermons because they always show the depth of the scriptures, that you can spend forty-five minutes expositing and drawing out so much with just one verse.

Being the Sunday before Christmas, it was a Christmas message. Pastor Micah went a different direction than others have in the past. He chose this one verse.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Not the typical scripture for preaching the Christmas story, yet it really does capture the essence of Christmas and why it’s important.

Is there a more accurate statement that describes what happened on the day Jesus was born? The first chapter of John is a vital one because in it we find the doctrine of the deity of Christ. Jesus is the Word. Because He is the Word, we know He is eternal. Because He is eternal, we can know that the truth of His deity is true. Because He is God, then the Gospel makes sense. Christmas is about God coming down to earth and doing so as a man so that He could do what we cannot; live a perfect and sinless life. This made Jesus the one and only possible sacrifice for sin. This is why He is called the lamb of God.

Jesus came down to us and when He came as a babe in a manger, it was so much more than just that part of the story. He came as this verse says, full of grace and full of truth. Both are equally important in our lives. The truth of His sinless nature and why He came must not be allowed to pass by us. We are not like Jesus. We are the opposite. He came as a sinless man; we are sin-filled. Because he came as truth we are revealed as lost sinners and as those who cannot save ourselves. But because He also came full of grace, we have hope. When we receive the Christmas story as it is in truth, we can receive His gift; the gift of salvation and rebirth into His kingdom.

The depths of theology that one can dig into out of this verse are vast and deep. They tell the real story of Christmas. I suggest each of you take that journey. Find out for yourselves the wonders of the Christmas story by committing to a life-long journey that looks deeply into the joy of salvation through the reading and the study of God’s Word. Find a church in which the leadership is committed to making disciples through the saving and transformative power of God’s Word.

There is a gift for you this Christmas. Receive that gift. The gift of Jesus. The Word, that became flesh. The Word that dwelt among us. See the glory of this Jesus. Hear the truth He brought. Receive the grace he offers. He is full of grace and of truth. We need both.

This is the story of Christmas. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Merry Christmas

Training Like A Navy SEAL For God

The Navy SEALS are arguably the world’s greatest fighting force. SEALS are often tasked with the most difficult and important missions. Yet, they are very small in number compared to the rest of the American military power. There are only eight SEAL teams and each team consists of sixteen men.

Why are the SEAL teams so effective and vital in our military operations? The answer is simple. They are the best trained. To receive the Trident badge that a SEAL must earn, he must pass five training courses that involve seventy-one weeks of training and testing. Upon graduating as a SEAL, there will still be another eighteen months of pre-deployment training before they ever deploy. They only do six-month deployments, so the other half of the year is more training, more practice, more experience with using their weapons. I read a book about the SEALs that said they expend more ammunition in training in a year, then the entire Marine Corps does. Put that in perspective; the 186,000 active Marines use less ammo practicing, then the 128 men in the SEALs do. The result? SEALs don’t miss their targets. They are deadly with their weapons.

The life of a Christian is the life of a warrior. The Bible is replete with analogies of war. In scripture God is called the “Lord of Hosts” some 242 times. The word in scripture used for hosts means army of war. The references to war and battles in our life are clear. Ephesians 6:10 – 19 tells us the battles are spiritual in nature and instructs us that we have been provided with everything we need to fight against the devil and his schemes. We are commanded to put on the full armor of God.

The armor of God allows us to stand in the battle and protects us. Most of it is defensive in nature. But there is mention also of a sword and that sword is the Word of God. It is the Bible, God’s Holy Scriptures. It is always to be used in conjunction with prayer, making it the only weapon provided in the equipment God gives us to fight with. It is called the Sword of the Spirit.

Jesus has won the war. It was fought at Calvary where He gained complete victory over Satan and the forces of evil. But there are still many battles to fight until the day Jesus returns and completes the destruction of the devil. Until then, we must fight.

How proficient are you with your weapon, your sword? Have you trained like a Navy SEAL with your sword? Can you accurately wield the Sword of the Spirit? Can you use it to defend against the attacks you come under in your daily Christian life? Do you constantly train and retrain with it between your battles? Do you understand that your sword is like a rifle that also needs the power of the ammunition as a rifle or pistol does? That power is prayer. Sprit led prayer. It is the gunpowder that provides the power behind the weapon. Or have you allowed your sword to get rusty? Or have you never even gotten to know your sword and learned of its power and its effectiveness?

We need to be Navy SEALs for God. We need to live as they do, with a complete commitment to training ourselves to be masters of our swords. We must wield it with the power and authority God has given us, when and wherever. We must use it to fight and when we are not fighting, we must be ever training with it until it becomes an extension of our bodies.

We must become master swordsmen.

I close with two scriptures that instruct us on the importance of training ourselves.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 Timothy 4:6-10
 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Godliness and Righteousness. We must be God’s Navy SEALs, trained in godliness and righteousness.

God's Word Cannot Be Imprisoned

2 Timothy 2:8-9
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

The Word of God is not imprisoned. Our work as disciples of Jesus is to go where He sends us. Here in America, we aren't yet often imprisoned for speaking God's Word, though that day is probably coming. But we are often shut down by co-workers, neighbors, and many other sources of scoffers. They try to silence those who speak God's Word.

Take note this morning; God's Word is not imprisoned. Our job is to endure whatever comes in response to us speaking out His Word. God's Word is the truth. The world needs to hear the truth, even when they don't like the message.

Hebrews 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.

People do not want to hear God's Word, for it cuts and it pierces our very soul and our spirit. It judges the thoughts and it judges the intent of our hearts. People do not want to hear that. So, why must we share it?

Hebrews 4:13
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Because even though they deny His very existence, or they twist His Word to allow them to continue in wanton debauchery, God sees them, and He will pass judgment on them. Go has told us to go into the world with His Word and share the truth so that they shall not perish but might have eternal life.

They will try and lock up God's Word. They can lock us up for speaking it; But they can never imprison His Word.

Paul went on to say this and to be our example.

2 Timothy 2:10-13
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

We must endure all things and continue to stand for God's Word.

God's Word cannot be imprisoned.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 119

How To Find Happiness

The world seeks happiness. It turns to sex, drugs, alcohol, and a wealth of other things, in an attempt to find that missing element that will finally bring them true happiness. Even religion is man’s attempt at finding a happy state through his own efforts. So, man makes up his own standards for life and for eternity. Psalm 119 provides the answer to this quest. The answer is God and the way to real happiness is through knowing Him. The way to know God is through His Holy Word. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. If we read it, if we pray through it, and if we apply it to our lives, we will be blessed. We will know happiness.

Psalm 119:1-5

How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.  How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.  They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.  You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently.  Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!

Think about this; the early church did not have the New Testament writings, they only had the Old Testament. They led people to Christ through the Old Testament. They used the law. You see God hasn’t changed, that’s not even possible. His precepts did not become obsolete. They are still the right way to live. They are still the mirror by we can see how little we resemble the Holiness of Christ. If we cannot preach the Gospel using only the Old Testament, then we have not studied it in the right way.

No, we are not saved by the law. But we are saved unto it. Jesus did not abolish the law. He actually raised it up to a new level, the level of it now being a spiritual law. Jesus told us that even if we don’t stoop to a place of literal debauchery, if we even entertain sin in our hearts, then we have committed that sin. God’s Word is God’s law. Psalm 119 finds the psalmist in love with God’s Word, with His precepts, and His commandments. Psalm 119 is for each and every Christian.

Psalm 119:6-8
Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments.  I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.  I shall keep Your statutes; Do not forsake me utterly!

We should be thankful God loves us so much that He wants us to be safe. The only safe way to live is by following God’s statutes.

How can we live a pure life in the midst of this evil and perverted world?

Psalm 119:9

 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

Listen to how we must live.

Psalm 119:10-11
 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.  Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Can we say this? With ALL our heart do we treasure His Word? Or do we just like those nice Psalms and the other scriptures that comfort us? We are supposed to treasure His Word and that is so we will not wander from His commandments and so we will not sin against Him. How can we know what is sin and what’s not, unless we read His law that tells us?

Psalm 119 is long. But so is eternity. Is God not worth the time to read, study, and pray through this psalm? Read the whole psalm. It is full of treasure. It explains what the Word of God is to us. If you struggle to read your Bible, you need this reminder. If you are faithful to God’s Word, you will be encouraged in seeing the blessings you are receiving and it will make you more thankful.

God’s Word is the most important thing we have in our lives and we need to give it more attention than we give our TVs, our phones, our books, and anything else that we give our time to.

I leave you with the final eight verses. I hope they wake up a desire in you to read the rest of this psalm today. I pray they awaken in your very soul, a desire and a love for God’s Word that changes your life.

Psalm 119:169-176

 Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.  Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.  Let my lips utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes.  Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.  Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts.  I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight.  Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

I’m with the psalmist on this one. How about you?