I want to talk a little about how God sees His Word. We’re going to look at a lot of scripture that show us how God views His Word. And as we do this, I want you to ask yourself the question: “Do I see God’s Word the same way He sees it?”
To the degree that we see things the way God sees them will determine how much of His blessings that we walk in. So as we read the Word tonight the question to always keep on your mind is “Do I see this the way God sees this?”
We’re going to begin in Isaiah 1 and we’re going to read verse 2: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken.” Now remember this: the Lord has spoken.
Go to Hebrews 10. We’ll start with verse 19.
(19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
(21) And having an high priest over the house of God;
(22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
(23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
All of God’s promises, everything He has given to us, hinges on whether or not we believe that One who made the promise is faithful. If we don’t believe that, then we’re not going to see the blessings.
We have to believe that the One who made the promise is faithful. And I know sometimes that’s hard for us to do because some of us, Barry included, don’t keep our promises. We often read how we are into how we believe God is. So, Barry has to get to the point that he is keeping all of his promises so that he can understand and trust God that He is faithful with His promises.
Now look at verse 35.
(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
(36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
When do we receive the promise? We receive it after we have done the will of God. I want to make sure you see this ladies and gentlemen. You have to do what God says if you want God’s promises. If what you are doing is not in line with what God’s Word says, now listen to me, you will not receive the promises that God has available for you.
(37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
(38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
If any man draw back from what? From having faith.
Hold your finger here and go to Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to [do what?] please him.” So do you see how if we draw back from God, from our faith, He has no pleasure in us?
Back to verse 39: “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Now chapter 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Our faith, our trust, our believing depends on who we believe. Now, we’re supposed to put our faith in the One who is faithful, in the One who has promised. If our faith is not in the One who is faithful – in the One who has promised – then our faith is misplaced.
We started from the vantage point that God has spoken. We have seen that He faithful. Then we read how the just shall live by faith. And finally, we read how faith pleases God.
Now turn to Romans 10. It’s a very familiar passage. But we’re looking at it in the context of God has spoken and this is how God sees His Word.
(14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
(15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. [They have not obeyed what God has spoken.] For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
(17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We see here that God says “It’s because of My Word you have faith.” Faith comes by hearing. Hearing what? Hearing God’s Word. When hear God’s Word and produces faith in our lives, Hebrews 11:6 says we are pleasing unto God! Isn’t that neat?
The thing that boggles my mind is this: God gives us the way to have faith so that we can be pleasing to Him! He gives us the way by giving us His Word. It boggles my mind to see the length that God goes through to get us where He wants us to be.
Now remember the question I asked at the beginning of the message:
Look in John 5:24. This is Jesus talking to the disciples. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
We know that Jesus said what God wanted him to say. He is telling us that it is the Word that gives us life. Look at chapter 6 and verse 63. We’re going to see this said in a slightly different way. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
This is life (holding up the Bible). God says this is life. How do you see this? God sees this as life.
Turn to John 14.
(22) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
(23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
If we keep His Word, if we guard it in our hearts, He will come and abode or dwell with us. And He dwells with us because we have this (holding up the Bible) in our hearts.
Again, looking at how God views His Word. John 15:7 – “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Now what is the condition? I must abide in Him, in His presence, and His Word must also abide or take up residence in us. We can then go to God and receive whatever it is that we need.
Look at verse 10. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” Notice that keeping the commandments is one of the indicators that we are abiding in His love. That’s how God sees it.
Look at verse 11. “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” The word “remain” is the word “abide”.
Based on what we’ve read so far, if we’re going to have the joy that Jesus had and we’re going to keep that joy, what do we have to have? The Word abiding in us. God puts a great premium on His Word.
John 17. We’ll eventually get out of John but there’s a lot of good things in this gospel. Look at verse 8. “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” Notice that Jesus says “Not only did I give them the Word but they received what I gave to them.”
Hold your finger here and go to Mark 4. This is the passage about the sower who sows the seed. Look at verse 20 – “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”
Remember Jesus is talking about things related to the kingdom of God. What is the fruit that He’s talking about? Go to Galatians 5.
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Back to John 17 and look at verse 17. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Jesus says the Word is truth. We have a decision to make. If Jesus says the Word is truth and speaks what the Father gave Him to speak and the Father is the One who is faithful and the One who gave the promise – we have to decide whether or not we believe the Word is true. And if we believe that the Word is truth then what we believe and what we say is going to agree with the Word.
Whatever this Word says (holding up the Bible) it is truth. Period. It doesn’t matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what you think. The Word is truth.
Look at 2 Timothy 3:16. I think this is one of the most information packed verses in the Bible.
(16) All scripture [say it ‘All scripture’] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That phrase “inspiration of God” is the Greek word theopneustos and it means “God-breathed”. What happened the first time the Bible says God breathed? When He breathed life into Adam, Genesis 2:7 says “man became a living soul.” Do you know what that tells me? Man can be dead and still have a soul. The soul and the spirit are different.
The Bible is profitable for doctrine. The Bible teaches us what we are to believe, not our denominations. The Bible.
The Bible is profitable for reproof. When what we believe disagrees with what the Bible teaches, it convicts us because we see where we are not believing what the Bible says.
The Bible is profitable for correction. When we stray from right doctrine the Bible shows us how to “straighten up again”. Isn’t that neat.
The Bible is profitable for instruction in righteousness. The word “instruction” is means “to tutor or train in something.” The Bible is profitable for our training in the ways of righteousness. God is telling us that we’re not going to learn everything we need to learn the first time. We must continue to come back to the Word and as we do God will unveil more and more of it to us.
(17) That the man of God [children of God] may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The word “perfect” and the phrase “thoroughly furnished” are part of the same Greek word. The first is artios and second is exartizo. Artios means you are “outfitted, equipped, or competent”. Exartizo paints the image of a ship that is fully equipped with everything it needs before its voyage.
God is telling us that He has given us everything we need to do what I’ve called you to do. You’re not lacking anything. Look at Colossians 2:10. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
Ephesians 4:16 – “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” You are a joint and you’re perfectly fitted in the Body of Christ to accomplish what God has called you to do.
Once again, we’re looking at how God views His Word. Let’s begin with Hebrews 13:17.
(17) But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
(18) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
(19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
What was it that stopped the children of Israel from entering the Promised Land? Unbelief. A lack of faith. Not enough trust in God and what He said. Do you see the picture?
Now go to Hebrews 4. We’re going to start with verse 1.
(1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” God says look at what happened to the children of Israel and don’t make the same mistake they made so that you won’t leave any of the promises on the table.
(2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. [In order for us toe to get the “profitableness” of the Word, we have to mix it with faith.]
Look at First Peter 1. As you read the Word of God one of the things you will see is God has obligated Himself to bless His Word. And when we do what the Word says we get what the Word says.
(23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, [How?] by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
(24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
(25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. This is how God sees His Word – living forever! We have a choice. It’s either going to live forever in us or it’s not going to live forever in us. The Word of God is true.
Look at 2 Peter 1.
(15) Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
He’s referring to the things he talked about in the previous verses.
(16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Peter says “I was there. I saw what Jesus did. You are not receiving a second hand account.”
(17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Remember the Mount of Transfiguration? Peter says “I was there. I heard the whole thing myself! I am an eyewitness!
(19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
What is the more sure word of prophecy?
(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Peter is saying (1) the men of God who wrote the scripture didn’t make it up and (2) we can’t decide how the Word of God is to be interpreted. The phrase “any private interpretation” in the Greek means “one’s own interpretation”. The Bible interprets itself.
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Peter says the more sure word – surer than the eyewitness – is the Word of God. Again, do you see how God views His Word? Does your view of His Word agree with God’s view of His Word?
Psalm 138:1 & 2 – I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
How much does God value His Word? He’s put it above His name! One writer put it this way: “For your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” God has magnified His Word above His name. God is the One who is faithful. The Bible, ladies and gentlemen, is the most important thing God could give us outside of His Son. Do you see this? Do you believe that God stands behind His Word 100%?
In Psalm 119 there are 196 references to God’s Word in 176 verses. Let that sink in. One chapter. If you don’t think God believes His Word is important then read this chapter. We’re going to read a few verses.
(11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
(24) Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. [Is God’s Word your delight and your counselor?]
(47) And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
(48) My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Notice how many times David talks about delighting and loving God’s Word.
(50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
The word “quickened” means “gave me life”. “This is my comfort,” David says, “your Word which gives me life. Your Word refreshes me. Your Word makes me whole.”
(92) Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
(128) Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
This may be a challenge for some people. It doesn’t say you have to believe them. It doesn’t say you have to agree with them. It says that whatever God says about any subject – He is right. “I may not understand it. I may not get it. But God you’re right.”
This is the foundation we start from – God’s Word is right. Everything else is judged by God’s Word. If you don’t have a foundation on which to judge things you are not going to judge rightly. But if God’s Word is the standard by which you measure everything then you’re going to get the blessings of God’s Word. Everything you hear, everything you read either stands or falls on God’s Word.
(162) I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil (treasure).
If someone would come to my house and knock on my door and say “Mr. Johnson you just won $119 million in Publisher’s Clearing House.” I’d be skipping and running for joy. Now, Barry, knock, knock, knock. It’s Publisher’s Clearing House again. “God wanted me to give you this gift – the Bible.” Am I going to be jumping and skipping as if I won $119 million? That’s question for Barry. It’s also a question for you. It’s an indicator of your heart.
Jeremiah 15:16 – “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.” This is how God sees His Word. He sees it as something to be devoured that will produce joy and rejoicing in your life. How do you see God’s Word? Do you see it the same way?
In Jeremiah 20, the prophet has been preaching God’s Word and the people have been complaining and throwing tomatoes at him and booing him off the stage. Look what Jeremiah says.
(7) O LORD, thou hast deceived me [persuaded me that what you say is truth], and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
(8) For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
(9) Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.
[Jeremiah says “God, speaking your word is not worth it anymore. All I get is complaints. All I get is people hassling me. I’ve even been put into jail because I speak your word. I’m done.”]
But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Jeremiah says “Even though my emotions were telling me to stop, I just couldn’t help it. I had to speak your word God. I know they didn’t want to hear. I know I didn’t want to say it. But your word was burning in me. I just had to speak it.”
Turn to First Thessalonians 2. We’re almost done.
(11) As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
(12) That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
(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.
The Word of God works in those who believe. God’s Word was not written to unbelievers ladies and gentlemen. It was written to God’s sons and daughters because have the spiritual capacity to believe it and run with it.
Turn to Hebrews 1. Remember how we began this message in Isaiah with “Hear O heavens and hear O earth the Lord has spoken?
(1) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit]
(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
He upholds everything by the “word of His power”. The same thing applies to us when we speak His Word, which is being upheld by the One who is faithful, by the One who promised.
We’re going to close in Isaiah 55. But let’s read the first part of verse 2 of chapter 1 again: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken.” Now to chapter 55.
(11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The Lord has spoken and this is what He has spoken. When we speak His Word, it will accomplish what the Lord has declared that it will accomplish. This is what God says. This is what God believes. Do you believe this? Are you saying this? Ladies and gentlemen, let God’s Word fill your speech. Today. Tomorrow. Always.
