Power of god's word*

P O W E R O F G O D ' S W O R DF R A N C I S M A D O J E M U W I T H N O T E S F R O M D E R E K P R I N C E

T H E I N D I S P E N S A B L E W O R D

• When you consult a physician, you want to have the assurance that she knows what she's talking about.

• We expect doctors to be able to tell us how to better prevent disease, remedy pain or sickness when necessary, and stay healthy and fit.

T H E I N D I S P E N S A B L E W O R D

• We want them to have plenty of experience in the field, but they also need to have taken the appropriate training.

• How many of us would see a doctor who had never been to medical school, never studied the books, and hadn't stayed abreast of advances in research?

H O W E Q U I P P E D W O U L D T H AT P E R S O N B E T O S U C C E S S F U L LY H E L P P E O P L E ?

• The same applies to us as Christians.

• We can have all the “field experience” imaginable, but if we haven't studied The Book—if we aren't relying on the authoritative manual—we will not be successful in living the abundant life.

T H E I N D I S P E N S A B L E W O R D

• You can espouse reasonable philosophy and noble thoughts about God all day long, but if you're not rooted in His Word, your words aren't reliable.

• There is no way around it: our Christian life must be built on the foundation of the Word of God

T H E I N D I S P E N S A B L E W O R D

• There are two applications in Scripture of the title “the Word of God.”

• One is to the Bible itself (God's written word), and the other is to Jesus Christ (God's personal word).

T H E I N D I S P E N S A B L E W O R D

• Each of them is called the Word of God.

• If we want to be rightly related to Jesus, we must be rightly related to the Bible.

• So let's discover the authority and the power of God's Word

M AT T H E W 1 1 : 2 8 - 3 0 ( K J V )

• 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you,

and LEARN OF ME; for I am

meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

L E A R N O F M E !

• “Take My yoke upon you

and learn OF Me,” King James says.

• “Learn FROM Me,” New King James says.

L E A R N = D I S C I P L E

• Now that word “learn” there, where He says “learn of Me” or “learn from Me”, that is the same root word as “disciple”.

• A disciple is one who learns.

C O M E T O M E A N D B E D I S C I P L E D B Y M E

• When He says, “learn of Me” He is saying, “Be discipled by Me. Learn Of Me. Be my pupil. Be my student.

• That is discipleship.

• “Come to Me and be discipled by Me.”

T H E G AT E , A N D T H E PAT H .

• We could say “Come to Me” is the Gate, and “Be discipled by Me” is the Path.

• We could say, “Come to Me (enter into the Gate) and learn of Me (walk the Narrow Path).”

D O Y O U S E E T H AT ? T H E G AT E , A N D T H E PAT H .

• It’s not just coming to Jesus, it is LEARNING of Jesus! Coming to Jesus, everyone [is] coming to Jesus – but how many are LEARNING of Him? “

• Come to Me and be discipled by Me. Come to Me and learn of Me.

B U T W H O I S T H I S M E ?

• John 1:1-2 (KJV)

• 1 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.

B U T W H O I S T H I S M E ?

• John 1:14 (KJV)

• 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

B U T W H O I S T H I S M E ?

• John 5:39 (NKJV)

• 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

Y O U C A N ' T S E PA R AT E J E S U S F R O M T H E W O R D

• Therefore the burden on us is to learn of THE WORD

T H E T E R M T R A N S L AT E D “ W O R D ” I S L O G O S , W H I C H B A S I C A L LY M E A N S “ T H E E X P R E S S I O N O F A T H O U G H T. ” L O G O S C A N B E T H O U G H T O F A S T H E T O TA L M E S S A G E O F G O D T O M A N

W O R D I S A T I T L E O F T H E L O R D J E S U S

G O D S T O TA L M E S S A G E T O M A N I S . . T H E W O R D O F G O D

• Acts 11:1 (KJV)

• 1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

T H E N AT U R E O F G O D ' S W O R D

• Hebrews 4:12

• For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

T H E N AT U R E O F G O D ' S W O R D

• The Word of God is: • i. Alive, not dead • ii. Energetic: Divine energy which

penetrates every area of human personality – soulish vs. spiritual

• iii. Discerning: You read the Bible; the Bible reads you

• iv. Effective

I F R E C E I V E D I N FA I T H , T H E W O R D W I L L D O W H AT I T I S I N T E N D E D T O D O

• 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV)

• 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

A M O S T R E M A R K A B L E S TAT E M E N T

• 2 Peter 1:2 (KJV)

• 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

A M O S T R E M A R K A B L E S TAT E M E N T

2 Peter 1:3 (KJV)

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

A M O S T R E M A R K A B L E S TAT E M E N T

• 2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)

• 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

T H E R E P R O V I S I O N I S I N T H E P R O M I S E S

• i. God has already given us...

• ii. Where? Through the knowledge of Jesus....

• iii. By what? Exceeding great and precious promises in the Word of God

• iv. Thus become partakers of God's own nature

• God's Word is like Jacob's ladder – as you appropriate each promise, you move up one rung - Don't neglect your bible it's the key!

E I G H T E F F E C T S O F G O D ' S W O R D - T H I N G S G O D ' S W O R D W O U L D D O F O R Y O U !

A . P R O D U C E S FA I T H

• Romans 10:17

• So faith COMES from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

W I T H O U T FA I T H !• Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

• 6 But without faith it is impossible to PLEASE him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

N O FA I T H ?• James 1:5-8 (KJV)

• 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be

given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

N O FA I T H ?• James 1:5-8 (KJV)

• For he that wavereth is like a wave of the

sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

B . S E E D O F N E W B I R T H

• James 1:18

• In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

I N C O R R U P T I B L E S E E D P R O D U C E S I N C O R R U P T I B L E L I F E

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

• Since you have in obedience to the truth purifed your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

C . S P I R I T U A L N O U R I S H M E N T: M I L K

• 1 Peter 2:2

• like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

C . S P I R I T U A L N O U R I S H M E N T: B R E A D

• Matthew 4:4

• But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THA T PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

C . S P I R I T U A L N O U R I S H M E N T S O L I D F O O D

• Hebrews 5:12-14

• For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

C . S P I R I T U A L N O U R I S H M E N T S O L I D F O O D

• Hebrews 5:12-14

• For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

D . M E N TA L I L L U M I N AT I O N

• Psalm 119:130

• The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

• i. Education is not light

• ii. Wisdom comes through the Word of God

E . P H Y S I C A L H E A L I N G

• Psalm 107:17-20

• Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.

E . P H Y S I C A L H E A L I N G

• Psalm 107:17-20

• Then they cried out to the LORD in their

trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

E . P H Y S I C A L H E A L I N G

• God's Word: • a) Saves • b) heals • c) Delivers

E . P H Y S I C A L H E A L I N G

• Proverbs 4:20-22

• My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.

E . P H Y S I C A L H E A L I N G

• Proverbs 4:20-22 (JUB)

• 20 ¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my words. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them and

MEDICINE to all their flesh.

L E A R N I T B Y H E A R T• Proverbs 4:20-22 (MSG)

• Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

F. V I C T O R Y O V E R S I N A N D S ATA N

• Psalm 119:9,11

• How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

F. V I C T O R Y O V E R S I N A N D S ATA N

• Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

• But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THA T PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

F. V I C T O R Y O V E R S I N A N D S ATA N

• Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

• Jesus said to him, " On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST .'"

F. V I C T O R Y O V E R S I N A N D S ATA N

• Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

• Then Jesus [said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONL Y .'"

G . C L E A N S I N G A N D H O L I N E S S

• Ephesians 5:25-27

• Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her,

having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

G . C L E A N S I N G A N D H O L I N E S S

• Ephesians 5:25-27

• ......that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

H . A S P I R I T U A L M I R R O R

• James 1:23-25

• 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

H . A S P I R I T U A L M I R R O R

• James 1:23-25

• ..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.

Y O U D O N O T L O V E G O D M O R E T H A N Y O U L O V E H I S W O R D