“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” Isaiah 55:11
God communicates with mankind – the creatures He has made with personality and personhood. As many commentators state: ‘God is not only the God who exists; He is the God who speaks’. And it is mankind’s privilege to communicate with the God who speaks.
How does God speak to man? He speaks by revelation. He reveals Himself to man. Man would have no knowledge of God, if God had not made Himself known.
He reveals Himself to mankind in a general sense, through nature. But since we are a fallen race and need redemption, God reveals His plan of redemption for us through special revelation. Special revelation reveals to man the plan of salvation, the purpose of salvation and above all, the Person, Jesus Christ, who would be the Way of salvation to all who believe this special revelation of God.
This special revelation of God is in His written Word, the holy Bible. The Bible and the Bible only, is God’s special revelation to mankind that He is our Creator, Redeemer and Re-Creator. It reveals to us the goodness of God which leads us to repentance and conversion. It reveals to us the purpose of our salvation, that we may be transformed into the image of Christ. The revelation is of Christ and His salvation are communicated and revealed to us by the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.
When we receive the Word of salvation it fills us with joy and we are compelled to share the good news with others. We will proclaim the gospel in every place we live and work and have influence.
The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. Acts 10:36
Symbols of God’s Word: Light, Lamp, Fire, Hammer, Seed, Bread
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29
“The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11
‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4
The Word of God enlightens us, purifies us, humbles us and breaks our self-centredness and self-will so that we become fruitful. The Word is as necessary to us for spiritual nourishment and growth as food is for our physical well being.
Christ is the Word and the Light of the world that that lightens everyone who comes into the world. The Holy Spirit, symbolised by fire, moulds and purifies God’s people that they may become righteous.
It Is only as we are humbled and broken by the Spirit’s working in our lives that we become fruitful witnesses. As Christ died and by His death and resurrection is able to produce a redeemed race of men before His Father, so too, if we are willing to die to self, will be able to bring many to a knowledge of Christ.
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. John 12:24
Creative Power of God’s Word
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4
These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and believing, you may have life in his name. John 20:31
Jesus Christ is the living Word of God. He is the Power that creates and sustains the universe. It is His word conveyed to holy men by the Holy Spirit that is written down in the Old and New Testaments.
As men and women are convicted by the Spirit, they are spiritually born again and sustained by His power.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23
‘The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God’. Education. P 126
Benefits of Studying God’s Word
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. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17
God’s word strengthens our faith and gives us hope and freedom.
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” Romans 10:17
“Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” Romans 15:4
“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 8:31, 32
Applying God’s Word
God’s Word will not benefit us unless we apply its exhortations and promises to our hearts by faith.
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. Hebrews 1:6
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 1 Timothy 2:15
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Ephesians 5:8
if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:10, 11
Sharing the Word
‘Those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice, that others for whom He died may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sure outgrowth of a soul truly converted. No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of His indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good we shall have something to tell.’ Steps to Christ p. 78
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. Romans 1:14, 15
“I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God…So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:27, 32
“The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4
Woe is me if I preach not the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16
Conclusion:
To share the Word of God as good news, we ourselves must be convinced that the gospel is good news. We must know that we have been redeemed by God and we must have a daily experience with Him. We must have found out for ourselves that the Lord is good, that we are blessed because we trust in Him and our salvation is secure in His hands. We know from experience that the Bible has answers for every problem we face and so we can share our experience and knowledge with others who are experiencing the problems of life.
What a message we have to share with our friends:
- We can tell them that our God is a personal God who has loved them with an everlasting love and draws them to Himself.
- God has redeemed the whole world at Calvary through His Son Christ Jesus. He came to save the world, not to condemn it.
- Because of sin, this world is full of trouble and sorrow but God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us.
- God will put an end to sin, sickness and death and usher in a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
- He wants us to believe His Word and trust His love and work for us so that we can live with Him throughout eternity.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6