II. The Word of God
John 1:1-14
1:1 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.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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.
This passage declares that Jesus is the Word.
Jesus was with the Father before the foundation of the world. He was their from the beginning.
Satan has been trying for the last 2000 yrs to discredit Jesus and the Word of God.
In the last 100 yrs the Devil has became the master Counterfeiter of the Word of God.
One reason is, that he knows his time is shorter now then ever before.
Two, he has stopped telling people not to read the Bible,.. But go ahead read it,….. Why,… Because he has changed it so much that subjects like Hell, and Heaven, and many others are no longer present.
When you take a look at the Word of God or Bible today that most churches are using, its hard to recognize that it’s a copy of the Word, and not the latest readers digest.
Example:
1 Sam 20:30
30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
KJV
In I Samuel 20:30 we read, "Saul boiled with rage. 'You son of a bitch!' he yelled at him." The wording of John 9:34 is in a similar vein: "'You illegitimate bastard, you!' they shouted."
The Living Bible, ( Not new living) says, “ Son of a Bitch”.
The Reason I like the King James is the only errors that have been found are the difference in words such as Ghost and Spirit, or Easter or Passover. The word “the” was added also in a half dozen places.
One of the biggest things the Devil has done to destroy the church, is the dumbing down of the Bible.
Thru out our society we have seen were things have been dumb down to the lowest point.
1. Education
2. Job skills
3. Media
4. Even our Laws. ( They no longer say thou shalt not Kill,… but they tell
you if you do plead insanity and get off. )
Satan has dumb down the Bible to the point so that a preacher can NOT preach on the following subjects:
1. The Virgin Birth
2. Hell
3. The Deity of God
4. The Sovernty of God.
5. The Blood of Jesus
6. The Judgment
Satan has made the Bible a dull weapon.
Double Edged Sword
Heb 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Satan has taken the teeth out of the Word of God
Comparison #1
Jesus Said,…
Luke 10:19
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
KJV
Comments: To tread or trample means to destroy, this includes all the power of the enemy.
Luke 10:19 – Jesus states, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” NIV
Comments: To overcome means to make helpless or exhaust all the power of the enemy. An exhausted power will get strong again and be back to harm you.
Comparison #2
Isa 54:17
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
KJV
Comments: “Weapon formed” could be physical, chemical, biological, witchcraft, etc. To condemn means to declare or state emphatically to be wrong.
Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Comments: “Weapon forged” is limited to only physical. To refute means to prove to be false by argument.
Comparison #3
Ps 91:9-10
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
KJV
Comments: The conjunction “because” gives a strong reason and connection to the promise that no evil shall befall you. The word “evil” covers a broad scope of suffering, misfortune, wrongdoing, sorrow, distress, and/or calamity. The word “plague” means a disastrous evil and/or pestilence (destructive infectious disease).
Psalm 91:9-10 – If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
Comments: The conjunction “if/then” is a weak connection to the promise that no harm will befall you. The word “harm” is limited to physical or mental damage or injury. The word “disaster” is limited to a sudden or great misfortune.
Comparison #4
Ps 91:14
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
KJV
Comments: To set on high means to lift safely above what I am being delivered from. To know God’s name is to have a close personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 91:14 – Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
Comments: To protect is limited to being shielded from injury or to be guarded. To acknowledge God’s name is only to recognize and admit you know God. There is no relationship.
Comparison #5
Matt 17:21
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
KJV
Mark 9:29
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
KJV
Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29 – Jesus’ statement about casting out a particular demon: “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Comment: Fasting is a requirement to casting out certain demons.
Matthew 17:21 was removed from the NIV Bible.
Mark 9:29 – Jesus says, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Comments: Fasting was eliminated as a requirement to cast out demons.
One of the main reason Satan has done this is to Blind the eyes of Christians and to confuses the church.
Tell Story of Gen Normal Schwarzkopf,
This great General gave a interview where he was asked what his objections were in the first gulf war . He said first to take out their radar so they cannot see us, and second to cut or jam their communications back to their command center.
The Devil has used the same strategy on the church.
We have 80% of the church today that don’t read the Bible.
And 50% of the church don’t pray.
I could prove this today with just one question.
How many here can quote John 3:16 without looking it up and reading it first?
You say preacher that’s not fair,…
I can prove it to you again another way.
How many here can name 10 Bible stories?
Here is what im saying!
In the 1960 and 1970’s in Sunday school we use to memorize Bible verses.
But Satan confused that now with so many different translation that now no verses are being memorized in Sunday school, because no one knows what version to memorize.
When I first went to Bethel, we had about 8-10 high school age teenagers, so one Sunday I went up and visited the class.
I stood out side the door for about 10 minutes listening before going in. While listening outside the door the teacher and class was talking about the latest movie that had just came out.
When opening the door I ask the teacher if I could ask a question. He said sure preacher go ahead.
I reached in my pocket and pulled out a 10 dollar bill and ask the teens to name me 10 Bible stories and tell me something about each, and that I would give them the bill.
They all looked around and a couple of them named 2 or 3 stories and that was it.
I looked at the teacher and said you have a lot of work to do here. They don’t know anything about the Bible.
The teacher came to me after church and said that he did not think it was important to know the stories of the Bible.
Needless to say we had a new teacher the next week.
Yes church it is important to know the Word of God.
You may ask, “ What is the importance of the Word of God?
1. It show you the way to Eternal Life.
2. Its our Instruction manual for our life.
3. The Bible imparts wisdom and knowledge to each of us.
