SUPREMACY OF JESUS WORD
We find in the book of Hebrews that those addressed (Jewish Christians) were persecuted, were in danger of being tempted to fall away and, in order to strengthen them, the superiority of Christianity to Judaism is demonstrated by showing the superlative excellence of Christ. He is (1) superior to the prophets; (2) superior to the angels; (3) superior to Moses. (4) His priesthood is superior to that of Aaron, being a priest after the order of Melchizedek. (5) Then the superiority of the New Covenant to the Old is shown, being a better covenant, based upon better promises. EVERYTHING ABOUT JESUS IS SUPREME!
Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Jesus Christ’s word sustains all things.
Sustains means: To keep from falling or sinking. Maintains, supplies.
How powerful is Jesus word?
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
(Mat 8:16 NIV) When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
(Mat 4:4 NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"
(John 8:51 NIV) I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
2 Pet 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Pet 3:5 NIV) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
(2 Pet 3:7 NIV) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The word of God is Eternal?
(John 1:1 NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(Rev 19:13 NIV) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
1 Pet 1:24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
(1 Pet 1:25 NIV) but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
The word of God is living and it’s active.
(Heb 4:12 NIV) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Jesus fought Satan with his word.
(Luke 4:4 NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone.’"
(Luke 4:8 NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’"
(Luke 4:10 NIV) For it is written: "’He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
Jesus raised the dead with his words.
John 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
Luke 7:14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"
Luke 8:54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"
The word of God is spirit.
(Luke 3:2 NIV) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
(John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
His word is truth.
(John 17:17 NIV) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
(Eph 1:13 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
(Col 1:5 NIV) the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel.
(James 1:18 NIV) He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Made clean because of the word.
(John 15:3 NIV) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
The word of Jesus cannot be chained. It will increase and spread.
(Acts 12:24 NIV) But the word of God continued to increase and spread.
(Acts 13:49 NIV) The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
(Acts 19:20 NIV) In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
(2 Tim 2:9 NIV) for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
(Acts 6:7 NIV) So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
We can see the power and supremacy of Jesus word therefore we must have a deep conviction to not neglect the word of God. We must study it and obey it. Look at the apostle’s convictions.
Ministers cannot neglect the word.
(Acts 6:2 NIV) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
(Acts 6:4 NIV) and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
In the face of persecution what do we find the disciples doing?
Preaching the word!
(Acts 8:4 NIV) Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
(Acts 14:25 NIV) and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
(Acts 15:35 NIV) But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
(Acts 17:13 NIV) When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.
(2 Tim 4:2 NIV) Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
(Acts 15:36 NIV) Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
We must testify and proclaim the word of Jesus.
(Acts 8:25 NIV) When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
(Acts 13:5 NIV) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
There are those that will accept and receive His word.
(Acts 8:14 NIV) When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
(Acts 11:1 NIV) The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
(Acts 13:44 NIV) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
(Acts 13:7 NIV) who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
(Acts 13:48 NIV) When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
(James 1:21 NIV) Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Although we pray, teach and preach there are those that will not listen. Look at how the apostles dealt with this.
Some will reject His word.
(Acts 13:46 NIV) Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
Don’t stop preaching! Just find another audience.
John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
There are those that have no room for Jesus words in their hearts. We must pray for them. But there are also those that will take him at his word. Praise God!
No room for Jesus word.
(John 8:37 NIV) I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
(John 5:38 NIV) nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Take him at his word.
(John 4:50 NIV) Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
(Mat 8:8 NIV) The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(John 5:24 NIV) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
How do you get faith to handle your circumstances?
Faith comes from hearing the word.
(Rom 10:17 NIV) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Are you going through difficult times in your life? What do you need to do?
Hold firmly to the word.
(1 Cor 15:2 NIV) By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
There are many blessings from obeying Gods word. Look at these encouraging scriptures!
Blessed from obeying it.
(Luke 11:28 NIV) He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
(John 17:6 NIV) "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
(1 John 2:5 NIV) But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
We become part of the family of God by obeying it.
(Luke 8:21 NIV) He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice."
In light of how powerful Jesus word is we need to:
DO WHAT IT SAYS!
(James 1:22 NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
(James 1:23 NIV) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
What can you practically do?
Buy your friends tapes where they can listen to the word.
Buy them books where they can read about Jesus.
Be creative in figuring out ways to inspire your loved ones to listen to the word of God.
Pray that they will desire to know Gods word and that they will obey it. Amen.
