Sunday, January 27, 2013

Death and Life Rest In. . . (Part 3)


Wow!  You still need more evidence that there be a system that hinges on what you say, be it saying something good or be it saying something bad.  You still need more evidence that there be a system that you have been given the power to control and the authority to command.  You still need more evidence that there be a system that has been ordered not to do anything until something is said, an announcement is made, or some type of command is given.  You still need more evidence that everything in this life hinges on the words that you speak, be they positive or be they negative.

Well, we know that God spoke everything into existence.  He said, Let there be and it was so.  All of creation was done or created in like fashion.  It appears that the word of God has power.  God speaks and things happen.  God verifies this in the fifty-fifth chapter of Isaiah.  He compares his word to that of the rain and snow that come down from heaven.  Just as the rain and snow stay upon the ground to water the earth, so it is with God’s word.  It stays in the earth realm so that it can accomplish all that he wants it too and so that it can prosper everywhere he sends it.

As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my Word.  I send it out and it always produces fruit.  It shall accomplish all I want it to, and prosper everywhere I send it (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Here is part one of the two-part revelation pertaining to God’s word.  God has done his part, he has sent his word; it is us who have failed to do our part because most of us are unaware that he has sent his word.  For example, his word is in most homes and most of the homeowners that have it, including those who rent, have no idea that his word is there with them.  Most homeowners have at least one Bible in their homes but they do not recognize that the Bible contains the word of God, spoken and recorded.  Bibles are distributed throughout the world by many different organizations, wherever it is permissible by law.  There are missionaries that have covered the entire earth, spreading the message and handing out the word of God.  Therefore, you see, God has truly sent his word.  But you say it has not prospered or done that for which he has sent it.  All that you say is true; it has not accomplished all that it was sent to do.  So what is the problem?  God said that his word will not return to him void, but how do you suppose God’s word returns to him?  Now there is something to ponder.

Now how do you suppose God’s word is returned to him?  Did you ponder this thought for only a short time, giving up because you could not find an answer?  Or did you ponder this thought and come up with a plausible answer?  Well, the answer can be found in the second part of the revelation.  We are the ones that have to return God’s word to him.  He has sent it out, put it in writing, and he is waiting for it to return to him.  This is why we remind God of his word and promises all the time so that we can return his word to him.  Part of the reason we do this is for selfish reason but maybe not the selfish reason that you might think.  We do it so that we do not forget and we do it because he told us to do it.  God has commanded us to listen carefully to his words, to pay attention to his words, to keep them forever before our eyes, to keep them forever in our mind, and to let them penetrate deep into our heart.  He has told us to get his word inside of us (Proverbs 4:20-21).  So why does he want us to get his word inside of us and let his words penetrate deep into our heart?  Because that which is abundantly in our heart will eventually come out of our mouth.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45).

Whatever we have an abundance of in our heart is what we will have an abundance of in our life.  The scriptures say that out of the treasures that are in our heart will be the treasures that we bring forth in our life, be they good or be they bad.  If we do all that he has commanded us to do with his words by getting his words inside of us and getting his words deep into our heart then we will have an abundance of his words in our heart.  And guess what we will speak when we do speak if our heart is abundantly filled with his words?  That’s right, his words.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:37).

And it is by these words that we be either justified or we be condemned.  The other part of the equation is to return God’s word to him so that it will accomplish all that he wants it to and so that it will prosper and do that for which he sent it.  Now, if the word that is returned to him is not his word, do you think it will accomplish all that he wants it to and that it will prosper and do that for which he sent it?  The answer to that question is, absolutely not.  One change will nullify his word, one change will alter his word, making it void and unable to accomplish all that he wants it to and that it will prosper and do that for which he sent it.

Actually, that word then becomes a counterfeit.  Counterfeit, to the average person, appears to be the real thing but the intent of a counterfeit is to make or forge a copy of the original usually with the intent to deceive.  Please understand that a counterfeit exists for the sole purpose of defrauding or deceiving someone.  God warns us that Satan can transform himself into a counterfeit of the real deal (II Corinthians 11:14).  He also tells us to be on the lookout for the wolves in sheep’s clothing that appear to be prophets, for they are not kind (Matthew 7:15).  Many have been and continue to be deceived by their inability to recognize the real from the counterfeit.  Unrecognized inaccuracies in one’s Bible knowledge, overestimated evaluations of one’s spiritual status, and the unwillingness to seek the truth have contributed to the effectiveness of the deception.  A small change in the wording can alter what once was the truth and make it a lie.  Something that is close to the truth cannot be the same as the truth.

This is why the words that you speak are so important.  This is why the words that you speak really do control the things that happen to you.  This is why this is not something that you can just be close with; you have to be exact.  This is why you have to carefully examine every word, why you have to carefully read every word, and why you have to carefully listen to every word.  This knowledge will allow you to recognize the counterfeits, which appear to be the real thing but only exist for the sole purpose of defrauding or deceiving you.  This knowledge will allow you to recognize those small changes that have altered the word of God, making what once was his word into some alternate word that sounds as if it may have come from him or something that God may have said.  Being exact is better than being close. 

Everything is important as it pertains to the Bible, no matter how trivial it may appear to be.  You have to understand how one misspoken or misprinted word can alter the truth, turning what once was truth into an untruth, into a deception, into a lie, or into a counterfeit.  We need to pay close attention to the word of God, analyzing each and every word.  We know that it is easy to go with the status quo and follow the traditional teachings of the theological religious institutions but this is not all that there is to the word of God.  We need to understand that one change in the word of God will nullify or alter his word, making it void and unable to accomplish all that he wants it to accomplish. 

The one thing that we have learned in our studies of God’s word is that not everything is as it appears to be when it comes to the things of God.  This is one of the main reason he tells us to study, not only to show ourselves approved, but so that we may also rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).  This is not something that anyone else can do for us.  This is something that we have to do for ourselves.  This is something that is our responsibility and something that we are responsible for.  We are fully convinced that there must be more to knowing God then just opening the book, reading a verse or two, and coming out with an opinion about the entire plan of God.  We must immerse ourselves in his word; we must hunt for, look for, and seek the answers that he has provided us through his instruction manual.  We must be able to divide rightly the word of truth.  If we can divide rightly, then the possibility to divide wrongly is a reality.  We must avoid dividing the word of truth wrongly.  Yes, studying the scriptures can be a little tricky but God warned us to be careful.  In his word, there are hidden wisdoms that only the true seeker can obtain.  You will only get out that which you put in.  As always when it comes to the things of God, everything rest in your hands.  (to be continued).

Enjoy your blessings - KW


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