GOD IS IN CONTROL (3)

CHARACTER IN HIS WORD

John 1:1–5 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

When we talk to people we need to be sure that our words are very well thought through and said in a manner that conveys our character. Our Character should be the character of the one who we devote our lives to God. When our words show the character of who God really is then our words will be impactful. Not because of the words we choose to use but because they reflect the Character of God, and His Words.

Our words are powerful in every facet of our life. When we speak, our words can change the moment for better or worse depending on what we say and how we say it. There are a few key characteristics of God’s word, they are Truth, Purity, Powerful and Living.

Truth of His word

God’s word is found in both the Old and New Testaments, and is considered truth by believers. It offers guidance, comfort, and is the frame work for understanding life and faith. The Word of God is believed to be devinely inspired, meaning that it originates from God and is therefor inherently trustworthy and authoritative. The word of God is revelant for all generations, providing a foundation for belief and a path for living for and pleasing God.

2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

All doctrine must come from the Word of God. Any other doctrine is not of God, it is the doctrine of man. Just like the things that the Pharasies were doing to the Commandments, they added their own twist to the Law. they were simply adding to or taking something away from the truth of the Law. Deuteronomy 4:2 and also Revelation 22:18:19 are some verses that speak to this topic.

Deuteronomy 4:2 “2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”

Revelation 22:18–19 “18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Matthew 5:18-19 is another passage of scripture that speaks to this very essence as well.

Matthew 5:18–19 “18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

“If you are indifferent to truth, Jesus won’t have anything to do with you. He won’t come alongside you because he does not like people like that.”

Matthew 21:23–27 “23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Psalm 119:160 “160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

“Truth is a statement that corresponds to the real-God’s mind, thoughts, or word about anything.”

There are more examples of this very thing of truth if we will just search for it. in John:14:6 we find a statement that further solidifies that God is the word, and His word is true. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Purity of the Word

When we think of the purity of his word we should say that his pure word is, flawless, truthful, and reliable.

Here is a statement for you.

we know and have already looked in the book of 2 Timothy but there is another thought that I have had.

If the Word is divinely inspired by God, then God is the author of the Bible and the men who penned the scriptures are truly prophets.

Because a prohet is someone who is beleived to be in contact with the divine being of God and these men have spoken on His behalf, delivering messages, or teachings to humanity.

God breathed the words into them.

Here are a few examples of the purity of His word.

1 Peter 1:15–16 “15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

Purity and Holiness are so very simular and I will say thing about this subject you can not be Holy unless you are pure in your heart your actions, and show pure love to all.

Matthew 5:8 “8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

this passage is taken from the be attitudes which Jesus spoke to the multitude that was assembled near the sea of Galilee. Along with the pureness this passage from Matthew also gives us several other things. Many of these for the structure of our life. We need to structure our life around God, and his principles for living. We must live the be attitudes and purity is one of those be attitudes.

1 Timothy 4 tells us that we are to be an example to other believers. But look at it closely, it says in our word, our conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity. This same passage goes on to to tell us to not neglect our gift which was spoken over us by the elders. It gives us some things to meditate on and then tells us if we do those things we will save ourselves and those around us.

John 3:3 “3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

These two verses and the passages that go along with these verses show the connection between purity, and holiness, and without purity there is no growth and no joy in the Kingdom.

Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

We see here that in Philippians we are told again to meditate on the things that are of good report, and one of those things again is the pure things. We must desire to be cleansed not just at salvation but continually through our walk with the Lord.

Revelation 21:27 “27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

James 4:8 “8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Psalm 24:3–4 “3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.”

All of these verses have something in common, it is speaking of the word of God being the tool that purifies mankind. So we meditate on the word of God, the word of God purifies our heart and cleanses our hands. If you are going to be holy similiar to the Holyness of God you must know him and have a personal relationship with him.

Power in the Word of God

First the word of God provides revelation, inspiration, and illumination. We see this in Genesis Chapters 1&2.

Power to refute. God’s word is a standard against which all things are measured, all philosopies, ideas, and solutions. If it is approved by God’s word then you can carry it forward, if not it must be left behind it will only weight you down and hold you back. Nothing you or I can do to make it work if it does not meet God’s standard.

Power to Reproduce Luke 8:11 “11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”

God says to be fruitful and multiply, he is not simply saying this in the sense of replenishing the earth, but look again at 1 Timothy 4:

Power to Re-Direct 1 Peter 2:25 “25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Power to Revive Psalm 138:7 “7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.”

Power to Reward Hebrews 11:6 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Power for Preperation Luke 12:40 “40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.””

These are some things the word of God is able to do.

The word is Living

Hebrews 4:11–13 “11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

The living word of God produces Character and Good Character is what makes the word of God active not passive.

Romans 12:1–2 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The word of God works in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, It sustains men, it brings about faith, It accomplishes God’s will, it give spiritual birth, and it abides within believers of Christ.

Faith come by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The word of God changes who we were, we are, and who we will be because it is living within us and if we are cultivating the word in reading and study, then it will grow within us changing us little by little to be like HIM.

The spirit does not create new meaning or provide new information, The Biblical Cannon is closed not open. However the Spirit does illuminate scripture .

When Paul became a Christian, the experience of God in Christ became the determining factor, not just of his view of God but in everything. Because Paul being a Jew, knew his attitude affected and determined all his thoughts. In Christian experience, psyche, the term for purely human vitality became unimportant to Paul. Pauls sole focus became on what the Sprit of God would provide and those things became his destination.