WHAT THE WORD OF GOD CAN PRODUCE IN YOUR LIFE

In a world that is many times casual and uninterested in the things of God, the Word of God can produce conviction of sin (Romans 7:7). The Holy Spirit works through the knowledge of the law to show us how unrighteous we are and how we deserve condemnation.

But praise God, the Word of God does more than that. By the Word of God also comes salvation (Romans 1:16). We receive wisdom for salvation through the Word (2 Tim. 3:15). "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17). If you don't have enough faith, you can get it by paying attention to the preached Word.

"Your Word has given me life" (Ps. 119:50). The Word gives a new spiritual life when received. It produces the new birth of the human spirit (1 Peter 1:23). The Word gives us hope (Romans 15:4; Ps. 119:49) both for this life and for the life to come.

The Word acts to wash and cleanse us (Eph. 5:25). Jesus said, "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17). So the Word can produce in us true holiness. It gives us truth. And that truth, if we really know it, will make us free (John 8:31-32). Through the Word we can cleanse our way and keep sin out of our lives (Ps. 119:9,11). We can have victory over Satan through the Word, as Jesus did (Matthew 4:4,7,10,11; 1 John 2:14).

We can find wisdom in the Word when we don't know what to do. "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Ps. 19:7). To God we can truly say, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Ps. 119:105). So in this way the Word gives guidance.

God can "strengthen us according to His Word" (Ps. 119:28). His Word gives us comfort (Romans 15:4)

The Word of God can work in our spiritual and emotional lives to produce joy and rejoicing (Neh. 8:12; Ps. 119:14; 1 Cor. 13:6). Its purpose is to produce in us a true love, that we will live by (1 Tim. 1:5; Eph. 5:2).

Paul commended the Ephesian believers to the word of God's grace, "which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). So the Word produces spiritual growth.

If we need physical healing, we should apply God's Words and promises. "For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Prov 4:22). Note that it is for the flesh, not just for the soul. Many times God will send his Word and heal us (Ps. 107:20) if we need healing.

True prosperity and success will come to you if you consistently "meditate on the Word night and day, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8; Ps. 1:1-3).

If our souls prosper through obedience to the Word (3 John 2), then God wants our bodies to be in health too and for us to prosper. Concerning the works of men, by the Word of God's lips, we can keep ourselves from the paths of the destroyer (Ps. 17:4). This means protection. It comes to those who obey the Word and abide in the presence of God (Ps. 91; John 15:10).

Everything that is really important for the man of God in his ministry can be obtained through the Word. The Word is given, "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:17).

When the Word of God is spread to enough hearts, and put thoroughly into practise in at least a few, the Word will bring revival or spiritual awakening (Acts 19:20; Ps 119:25; Neh 9:3). The value of a true spiritual revival of God is beyond human calculation. This is because the salvation of even one soul is worth more to God than all the material things which are. 

WHAT WE MUST DO WITH THE BIBLE - GOD'S WORD

The most important thing we can do with the Word is to give it our whole hearted attention. "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart." (Prov. 4:20,21). Only in this way will we experience personally the full benefits described above. If we keep our eyes on the Word it will crowd doubt out of our minds.

We should keep God's Words, and treasure them within us. "My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you." (Prov. 7:1). Treasuring God's Word means meditating on it with pleasure (Ps. 1:1- 3), knowing that God's Word in your heart will produce enormous spiritual riches.

The Word of God must be mixed with faith (Hebrews 4:2) or it will not really do us very much good. "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God" (Romans 10:17), not by "having heard it". Therefore to build our faith we should speak the Word with our mouth much (Joshua 1:8), so we ourselves hear it and it gets into us. Hearing preaching of the Word in church or on tape can build our faith very much, especially when the preacher is himself full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

However, if we can read, we ought to read and study the Scriptures also for ourselves. "Study or be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15). The Scripture should be read and taught in church. Paul said, "Til I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (1 Tim. 4:13)

It helps greatly to memorize God's Word, both for our own personal meditation and for the future when we will communicate it to others. We should let it consume us (1 John 2:14) like a fire (Jer. 23:29).

Most importantly, we should obey it. True faith leads to obedience (Romans 1:5). "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" said Jesus (Luke 11:28). "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22). We deceive ourselves if we think that hearing the Word is enough. We must put it into practise. Otherwise our faith is dead.

Once we have begun to obey the Word as disciples of Christ, we should preach it to others (2 Tim. 4:2) so that they can be saved, and teach it to others in a practical way. Jesus said, "Teach them to obey all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:20). 

A FINAL NOTE

These instructions apply to those who are born again by the Spirit of God. The following lessons explain some basic things regarding what the Word of God teaches about God and salvation. If you would like to be born again, read the prayer in "The Good News" and pray it. Then the Word of God will come more alive to you, and you will get new power and desire to apply these things in your life. 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16,17)

This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8).

Copyright (C) 1996, Michael Fackerell.

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The Bible
The Nature of God
The Plan of God
The Law of God
The Good News
Repentance
Faith
Prayer
Baptism in Water
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Fellowship and Church
Our Mission as Christians
Deliverance from Evil
Handling Resources
Sanctification
Grace

How to Grow
a Home Group

Bible Questions
Answered! NEW!

Spirit, Soul and Body
Power in your Words
God's will on Prosperity
Secret Pre-trib Rapture?
Fasting
Divine Healing
Spiritual Warfare
The Tree of Life
Tree of Knowledge
Eternal Security

The Lord's Supper
Evangelism
Prayers based on the Word

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