The Power of God's Word in Your Life
By Joe R Wheeler
Introduction- God's Word is the Bible. It is to be the foundation of everything we teach and believe. Paul continually emphasized the importance and power of God's Word to those he wrote to. We need to read these letters from Paul as if they are written directly to us, because in fact they are.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
These words to Timothy remind us that we have the privilege of holding in our hands the words of God. This is not a human book. This is not a book that was put together by men and then blessed by God. This is a book that comes to us directly from the mind of God. The fact that many do not read or study from His word is no fault of His, it was His intention that we know Him and His design for us, and so He gave us this book as our guide. Note that Paul refers to the fact that Timothy had been raised up in the Holy Scriptures. He had been raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ( Ephesians 6:4 ).
Many believe that the Bible is too hard to understand...it is only hard to understand when we do not approach it with a willing heart to understand and follow what it teaches us. In the church today, a lack of knowledge of God's Word has led many congregations to follow their human desires and opinions instead of scripture. We have a whole generation who were not raised in the Word, and now they use their sense of "what seems right" as their guide. The modern, or "New Age" Christian movement has crept into the church because of the failures of the church as a whole to study and follow God's divine Word. The Bible is the only authority we have in which to operate from. We need to truly "get back to the Bible" if we are to remain in God's favor.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
From 1 Timothy 3, we know that ALL of the Bible is considered scripture, that it's from God. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever...The Word is not subject to change, it doesn't need to be "brought up to date" or made relevant to today's generation.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints...Once delivered means that it is now complete, there are to be no more additions, no more prophesies, no more angels with new revelations. The Word of God stands as a perfect pattern for us to follow. By faith we know that...
I. The Bible is Inspired...
Old and New Testament are included. They are complete. There are no new revelations. The Bible tells us everything that God wants us to know. We are to go to the Word for guidance, not rely on our emotions or feelings. For example, television preachers who claim that God has spoken to or revealed something to them...the Inspiration of Scripture means that there is no need for additional guidance, those who claim otherwise are not speaking the truth.
II. The Bible is Inerrant...
Some people wrongly say that the Bible is full of errors. They say that it is full of contradictions. They say that it is the work of men, not God. Those who have faith in God's Word know that these beliefs are patently false. Satan has always led people away from God by getting them to question His Word(Genesis 3). We know that we must believe God rather then those men who question and oppose Him. For example, many refuse to take the Biblical account of creation as being an actual six-day period...this is to doubt that God did what He said He did.
III. The Bible is Infallible...
It always tells the truth...It even tells the truth about the falsehoods that were taught by people in the Bible...It tells both sides of the story (Jeremiah 14:14).
IV. The Bible is Authoritative...
This book is the final authority of how we are to live our lives. It is our guide to living in accord with God's will. It sets a standard or a pattern to measure ourselves by. The church is to be organized by the Word. For example, can we have women preachers, or elders (1 Corinthians 14:33-35, and 1 Timothy 2:11-15)? Can we make anyone we choose an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-12, and Titus 1:5-9)? God's Word authorizes who can serve in these capacities...we must follow God's commands.
V. The Bible is Profitable...
This means that it is good. It does what God intended it to do. There are many reasons why the Bible is profitable:
A. The Bible is profitable for evangelizing-
2 Timothy 3:15...the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. The Bible is how we know how to become a Christian. We learn what to do from reading this book...Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
B. The Bible is profitable for education-
2 Timothy 3:16...and is profitable for doctrine The Bible is profitable for doctrine, it is the gathered up truth about God. It is designed by God to be a teacher to us about Him. In a world that believes that no one can truly know what God really thinks about certain issues, this educational aspect of the Bible is eagerly explained away as being all up to private interpretation. You can believe what you want to believe! This verse shows that idea to be a false one. Those who are educated by the Word know how to apply it as a guide...Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
C. The Bible is profitable for exhortation-
2 Timothy 3:16...for reproof, The Bible is to reproof and exhort us in the right way . We can use the Bible to rebuke wrong belief and practice. It is how we can recognize false teachers and "wolves in sheep's clothing". We can exhort one another and help each other by using the Bible as a guide...1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
D. The Bible is profitable for encouraging-
2 Timothy 3:16...for correction, The Bible is useful for encouraging or correcting us. The Bible will warn us until we get back to where we belong. It is one of the ways that God uses to instruct us in right and wrong, to learn the proper way. Although sometimes we are disciplined by God we know through the Word the real profit of enduring it...the Word encourages us in times of trial. Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
E. The Bible is profitable for enabling-
2 Timothy 3:16... for instruction in righteousness: The Bible is useful for enabling us to be led to righteousness. This book holds all of the wisdom of the ages...from Genesis to Revelation it is a complete guide to man's relationship to his Father. By knowledge received through the Word, we are enabled to become mature and complete as Christians. 2Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
VI. The Result of the Bible in our Lives
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. When we let the Bible be our guide...
A. We become spiritually proficient-
The word "perfect" here means complete, perfectly joined together. Nothing is missing with God in our lives.
B.We become spiritually prepared-
The words "thoroughly furnished" means to be equipped and fully furnished for the journey we must take.
C. We become spiritually productive- The words "unto all good works" means that all of the preceding qualities are used to make us produce fruit as we were intended.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Paul says that we are to maintain good works. We are to live in the pattern we have been given by the Bible.
1. Our good works demonstrate our walk-
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
...some Christians are just “talking the talk”, not “walking the walk”.
2. Our good works defeat our enemies-
Titus 2: 7-8 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
...those who slander us wrongly will be shown to be false.
3.Our good works display our faith-
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
...we are to be fanatics about good works. We should be actively seeking out those who need us. We shouldn't be waiting for opportunities, we should be looking for them.
4. Our good works describe our citizenship-
Titus 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
...we should be subject to rulers and followers of the law. We shouldn't have reputations as difficult people. For a Christian to be known as "sue-happy", or a "slum lord", or someone who otherwise takes advantage of others misfortune is directly opposed to God's Word. Turning the other cheek does not include exceptions for those who are to weak to hit us in the first place. We need to truly endeavor to be meek...that often means we will be cheated or taken advantage of. We are to turn to God for our defense. When we right the wrongs ourself, He does nothing to aid us.
5. Our good works determine our effectiveness-
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
...we should be seen by all around to be doing good works, our example is our real message.
Conclusion: We are a peculiar people. We are led by the Word of God, and our faith in it. We are not looking for advantages over other people, we are meek and lowly. We share what we have and give when we are asked, even when there is no worldly profit in it. We learn all of these principles from the Word of God. These are not necessarily our natural inclinations...these are higher principles for living. We need to read the Word, but we must APPLY what we read in order to profit from it. To become a Christian is to accept the will of someone greater as the rule for our lives. Study and prayer are the two major ingredients for this growth from what we were, to what we will be. Remember...we are now sons of God through Christ Jesus.