7 Practices of a Spirit Empowered Disciple...The Word

In a world that is increasingly becoming more and more confusing, fiction is being sold as fact and fact is being sold as fiction. The Spirit Empowered disciple is anchored to the Word of God! For the disciple everything in life should be weighed out against the Word of God. In the Assemblies of God...

1. The Scriptures Inspired

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 NKJV

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The O.T. and N.T. are both considered to be God breathed and were accepted as such in their own culture. Theopneustoes is the combo of two Greek words…Theos - God, and Pneo - to breath.

This Word of God is true, trustworthy, and infallible! When it speaks to salvation, ethical values, and morality it can be trusted.

Jesus Himself taught the Word of God as infallible...

Matthew 5:17–20 NKJV

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 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. 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. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus satisfied the demands of the law. Jesus was the Word of God in flesh! To try and say that the Word of God is flawed or imperfect, you’d be implying that the saving work of Christ is imperfect. If the Word and His sinless life are somehow flawed then we are without hope of being saved.

The Spirit Empowered disciple must receive and believe the Word of God.

We are called to obey this Word as a final authority in all matters pertaining to life and godliness.

This Word is good for teaching, rebuke, correcting, and for training for righteous living. We cannot submit to the Lordship of Christ and turn around and dismiss His Word.

John 8:31–32 NKJV

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:37 NKJV

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

The Spirit Empowered believer must conquer sin with the Word.

The Word is life! In the same way that food and water sustain our physical bodies, this Word sustains our Spirit.

Matthew 4:4 NKJV

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

This war against sin isn’t fought and won in the flesh, it is a war fought in the Spirit. Everyday you’re fighting armies of darkness.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This Word is a sword that shuts the devil down!

Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

When a believer first believes

James 1:21 NKJV

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.