This week, Michael wrote that these are challenging times where the world is in manmade crisis. The late Oswald Chambers said, When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men and women to have such confidence in Him that they will be the reliable ones. We have been separated from the darkness (sin and unbelief) of this world for such a time as this. Jesus is Lord; the Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice; we are people of prayer; we link together with like-minded Believers; and we give the Gospel away.
Navigators ministry teaches that following the Lord is like a wheel consisting of six elements: a hub, the rim, and four spokes. The hub at the center of the wheel represents Jesus Christ the center of our lives. The hub transfers God’s power to the rim which represents obedience to the Lord. The power of Christ is transferred to the rim through the spokes. The two vertical spokes represent the word of God and prayer. These two spokes align our hearts with God’s heart. The two horizontal spokes are witnessing and fellowship. These spokes define our relationships with believers and non-believers.
The first question is, Is Jesus Christ Lord of your life? If He is then He is the Word of God made manifest. The Bible was written on three continents by forty different writers. Among them were scribes, a doctor, pastors, kings and even a tax collector. Today, most bibles are published in China, where most Chinese Christians lack one. There are over 6,000 prophesies in the Bible of which over 3000 have already been fulfilled. Yet, in our day, the Christian church have given people permission to live according to the world’s standards instead of God’s righteous standard according to the Word of God. Those who are mature by reason of the (spiritual) maturity have their (spiritual) senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
According to John 1:1-2, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The definition of “Word” here is the Divine expression and essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.
To know Jesus Christ is to know the Word of God. He is the meaning of “the Word”. He is the Word of God manifest in the flesh. Therefore, blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree that is planted but he rivers of [living] waters. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
How do you get the Word of God into your life? The first way is to hear the Word. People only remember about 6% of what they hear. The next step is to read the Word. Then it’s important to study the Word. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needed not to be ashamed (of his workmanship) rightly dividing the Word of truth. The next step is to memorize the Word. Then in times of need God will bring the Word we’ve memorized back into remembrance. The final step is to meditate upon the Word. Therefore, meditate upon these things, commit thyself wholly and holy unto them that thy profiting may appear unto all.
The Word of God is an acquired taste. Jesus said, blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. An intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ is built through meditating on the Word of God. Time in His presence, turning the Word over in our minds develops intimacy with our Lord. The prophet Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”
Let's continue Michael message on the Word of God in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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