I trust this will light a spark. A spark necessary to fan a fire that will grow in our hearts and in our spirits so that the Lord can do with us that which he has purposed to do with us in His kingdom. Our key text will be from the Gospel according to John. I will highlight just the beginning but we will be referring to a major part of the first chapter. All verses are from the English Standard Version.
John 1:1-18, 14 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 was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…
Salvation is an interesting thing. You notice that God redeemed/ saved the Israelites first before He gave them the law. A theme that repeats itself repeatedly through scripture. Meaning: God loves us so much that He gives us before he expects from us. Right from creation. He created man last… Today we look at some of the blessings of the word first before we dig deeper into the topic. The expectation is that as we go deeper, you refer to these and change them to questions. I.e. Am I being converted? Am I rejoicing in my heart? Will I leave here wiser?
Blessings of the Word:
Psalm 19:7-8, 11 ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.’
- Converting the Souls of those who return to God, as the sun returns in the heavens.
- Making the simple wise.
- Rejoicing the heart.
- Enlightening (Illuminating) the eyes, as the sun enlightens all living things on earth.
- Warning the servants.
- Rewarding the Obedient. Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.(ESV)
What is The Word?
You can look at it with respect to 3 things.
Speech
A single and distinct meaningful element of speech or writing. It is used with others to form a sentence. I.e. name, preaching,
A command, or a signal. “Just Say a word and I shall be healed” – the use od the Word “Word” here, means command or signal.
The Mind:
A force that is able to give reasoning Powers. Now we have entered the divine, of God, a higher level. The Mind of God. ON Sunday we come to hear the word, the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says ‘For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ‘
A Person – Jesus Christ:
This is the essential living Word of God. John 1:14‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.’
Proof of Life: 1 John 1:1‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ‘. If we are together, we know we are talking about Jesus.
Revelation 19:13 ‘He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. ‘
The themes surrounding the points above will be our focus today: The Living Word of God.
Mini Exposition of John 1.
V1. In the beginning, was. Genesis 1:1 – The word existed before creation. It existed before time as we know it. Who else would be in existence before creation except for the creator?
Up to this point of the verse, (in our minds) it is only God who exists… see this. The Word was God.
V2. He was at the beginning with God. We get introduced to another person. – He.
V3. All things were made through Him and without Him… Everything, Was made through Him. I hope you are asking yourself who is “him”? This means that through Him, we have everything, meaning, if you want anything, you go through Him. Healing, breakthrough, a house, ministry, career, visions… All things…
V4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. He is life, He is light.
Who is He/ Him?
V11. He came to His own, and his people did not receive him. = Rejection. From v10, he was in the world, and the world did not know him. The entire Old Testament is filled with appearances of Jesus in many ways physical and Spiritual. (Melchizedek, at the Trees of Mamre with Abraham, saving Lot in Sodom, Jacob in Bethel, Daniel in the furnace…)
V12. All who received him were given the right to become children of God. Co-heirs. Romans 8:15-17 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)
V14. The word became flesh. And dwelt among us! HE/ HIM = Jesus! So we see that Jesus Christ came as a man – with flesh.
With this background, we can be sure that everything we get from the Holy Scriptures is in itself the Word that brought Light into the world. Jesus brought light into this world and continues to illuminate the World.
Why Learn/ Hear about the Word?
- That we may learn to fear God all the days that we live on earth and that we may teach our children. Deuteronomy 4:10 how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.'(ESV)
Romans 10:17 also says “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” - Knowing the Word will help us know our identity & receive it.
Romans 8:15–17 adoption (as quoted above), Children of God, Heirs of God, Rulers with Christ. However, there is a condition to suffer with him…
Galatians 3:26-27 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV) -Sons of God through faith, We have put on Christ.
The word is who we are supposed to be. If we are born of the father just like Christ, who we have in us, we are supposed to take upon His characteristics – Being Christ-like in the meaning of it. - It will help us to know where we are positioned in this Kingdom. Again, sons of God. Not slaves. As Christ. Meaning we have power and authority. The same power and authority that Christ had in the kingdom. He delegated that authority to us as well.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (ESV)
Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV) - That you may be wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom (See Point 1 above). Then, the other level to it…
2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV) - The word is our source of life because we are dead in sin and our re-creation is executed and effected by the word.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)
Characteristics of the Word of God. Psalms 19:7-10
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)
Psalms 19: 7-10 is one of the sources of the characteristics of the Word of God. I use “one of” because the entire Bible is filled with these characteristics spread within the text from Genesis to Revelation referring to both the spoken and written word of God. Psalm 19:7-10 “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.“
The word is; Perfect, Sure, Right, Pure, Clean, Eternal – Living, True, Altogether Righteous, and Sweeter than Honey!
The Living and Active Nature of the Word.
This is the characteristic of the word of God that makes it applicable always. Even in different seasons of life. The same word that encouraged you while you were at a lower level than you are today. You arose and now you are shining – brighter every passing moment. That same word will encourage you and enlighten you and all the blessings we read in Psalms 19 and throughout scripture. That same word will encourage you in the levels to come till Jesus returns.
Ie. Words to Gideon in Judges 6:12-16: Mighty man of Valor, Do I not send you? I will be with you.
Joshua 1:9 ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”’
Jeremiah 29:11-14 ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.’
Joel 2:25 ‘I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. ‘ People restored at various levels: Abraham, Job, and the Israelites again and again, The Apostles. Even here and now, we are being restored, as we speak/ read God’s word, we are in the process of being saved and restored.
Isaiah 1:18-20‘“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This is why we say, you were saved, you are being saved now! And you will be saved! In the words of life like this, the Lord is constantly calling us to reason together, because similarly the sin nature is within us and constantly knocking at our doorstep.
Stay alive! Stay in the Word!
You can find the sermon on this link: The Living Word Sermon.