Do I Know What I'm Saying?

Matthew 15:3-9 "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? [4]  For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. [5]  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; [6]  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. [7]  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8]  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9]  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
 
 

If I had to point out one thing that has hindered the cause of Christ in the world today, one thing that has caused the Church to lose its effectiveness in America, that thing would be the de-emphasis of God's Word and the emphasis of humanitarian doctrine. Christians from every denomination (yes, even Baptists) have allowed the world view of living to influence how they regard God's Word. Some Churches have went so far as to say that the Bible, God's Inspired Word, is no longer God's Word, just a collection of writings from various human authors. Brothers and Sisters, this thing must not be believed among us!

When we allow the commandments of men to supersede the Word of God in our lives, we destroy our very Power for abundant living. As mom used to say, we "cut off our noses to spite our faces". God has made it plain that there are two ways of life open to each of us, one way empty and void, the other Way dynamic and full of life. The Word of the World is empty, but God's Word is Living, the Way to peace and happiness, the Way to eternal Life. If we choose the World's Word over God's Word, our worship is empty, our faith is useless. As Jesus said:

Matthew 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

The Word of God was the first thing Creation experienced. The Word of God brought life from death, divided the darkness from the light, and created life out of darkness. We read in Genesis the first words ever spoken over Creation:

Genesis 1:3  "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

Years ago, I and my family were stationed overseas in England. It was a beautiful tour, and we often got away on the weekend to visit the many castles and caves all around us. I remember one Cavern that we went to, we walked deep underground and actually got on boats to follow an underground stream to a sealed cavern. Once we were there the guide told us to hold onto the handrail while he showed us something - then he turned off the lights!

I had never been in absolute darkness, but suddenly we were all plunged into the total absence of light. I stood there, holding my wife's hand, and quickly put my hand up to my face. Even with my hand right before my eyes I couldn't see it, I couldn't see anything. God looked out over a universe just as dark, just as visionless, and spoke "Let there be light", and suddenly light came into being. And with light came Life.

Who was this God who brought Life and Light to creation? The Apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, starts his epistle with the same three words that Moses used in Genesis, and explains that this Creator God is the Living Word, Jesus Christ:

John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2]  The same was in the beginning with God. [3]  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

Jesus Christ, the Living Word, brought Light to Creation. He made all things that were made, and only by Him do we have both physical and spiritual life. How does  our Creator God regard this written Word that we speak on every Sunday?

When Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil, He did not rely on His own Divine Power, nor on His own cunning, but on the very Word of God in His heart. Notice the Devil's attack, and Christ's retaliation:

Matthew 4:3-4 "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. [4]  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Jesus had this Word hid in His heart, and used God's written Word to defeat the Devil's first attack: the attack of Who He really was. Satan attacks Christians in the same way today. "If you were really saved, if you are really a Christian, you would not have stumbled and sinned. You're actually quite worthless, aren't you? A real Christian would ____". If you do not have the Word of God hid in your heart you'll find Satan's attacks to be quite effective. But if you have the Word in your heart, you'll respond: 'It is written "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3.16-17)".

Satan's attack against Jesus' person failed when Jesus responded with the written Word, so now Satan moved to a second attack:

Matthew 4:6-7 "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. [7]  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

The second attack focused on trying to make Jesus doubt the Father, to try the Lord in His life. Since I'm a Christian under God's protecting hand, I can handle snakes without fear. I can jump off of a cliff, or do all manner of foolish things and expect Him to protect me. Some believers have even went so far as to bring snakes into the Church to prove that, by faith, the poisonous adder will not hurt them. Jesus' response was, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God". God did not save us so we can put Him to the test, but saved us to be a Light unto the world. When you hide the Word in your heart, just as Jesus did, you chase out the foolishness that Satan puts in your head.

Matthew 4:8-10 "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9]  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. [10]  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

In Satan's third attack he offered Jesus unimagined wealth and power. How many believers have left their first Love to chase the gold at the end of the rainbow? How many have been lured away from Christ in order to have the luxuries of this world? Jesus again responded with it is written, and chased Satan away with God's written Word.

The Lord of Life believed in the power of God's written Word. What do you believe?

Spiritual growth in the Christian's life does not come by "time in service". Over the years I have met believers that have been Christians for a long time, yet never studied the written Word of God. You can be a believer for 50 years but, if you have not stored God's Word in your heart, you are still a "babe in Christ". If you have no sure knowledge of the Scripture, you are going into battle without a weapon. You may have on a good suit of armor, but if you're weaponless you will eventually be defeated!

Ephesians 6:13-17 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14]  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15]  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16]  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17]  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"

The Bible is our sword, the weapon that we must use to defeat Satan in our lives. The Scripture is called a sword, the Greek word MACHAIRA. In ancient times the Sword was the most used, most fierce weapon in the calvary's arsenal. Up until the Roman empire nations relied on long, bulky swords to fight their battles. These weapons easily cut through armor but, because they were so heavy, they quickly wore out the user. Rome invented the MACHAIRA, a short, well balanced, two edged sword, and with this weapon its soldiers were able to quickly dart in, stab their enemies, and win battles.

Our Bible, the Word of God, is a MACHAIRA, a well balanced weapon that we can use against Satan and his minions. We need to be familiar with our weapon. We must study and learn its capabilities, or else we leave ourselves open to attack and defeat.
 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 "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, throughly furnished unto all good works."

Listen up! The Scripture is the only means given to you, as believers, that allows you to grow in your walk with God. You cannot do good works for God apart from His Word. You cannot mature as a believer apart from His Word. Listen to these words again: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Did you notice that the Bible doesn't tell us that the latest work by a well known author brings maturity? Did you notice that television isn't mentioned, or some form of entertainment?

A Christian who spends no time alone in the Word of God is like a ship without a rudder. God cannot steer a rudderless ship, but we only drift from one point to another, carried about by every wind of falsehood that comes into our lives. Do you believe that this Book contains the Word of God? Then act on it, study it, apply it to your lives. God calls you to be growing people, to hunger for His Word.

1 Peter 2:1-3 "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2]  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3]  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

The reason that so many Christians get into so much foolishness is because they neglect the sincere milk of the word in favor of the World and worldly living. Years ago there was no television nor radio, and entertainment was limited by the number of miles you had to travel to a town or a friend's house. Years ago it was common for families to gather around the Bible and read it, to savor that Holy Word, to store it in their hearts.

Today we have, it seems, so little time to study the Word. The Word that called the light out of darkness is often pushed to the back burner in favor of television, the movies, a good radio show. This same Word warns us, you do, indeed, reap what you sow.

God calls His believers today to put aside a little time, everyday, to study the Word of Life. Hide it in your hearts, teach it to your children. Unless you are armed with the Word of God, unless you are living its precepts, you are no more than the walking wounded in God's army.
 

Your faith in God is only as strong as your love for His Word. Hide His Word in your heart, starting today. Be a dynamic Christian, fulfilling God's Plan for your life.

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