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This study was prepared by:- COPYRIGHT
Pastor Ralph MORLEY (Ph 079 971478) ~~~~~~~~~
P.O. Box 158 You may COPY and DISTRIBUTE.
MOURA 4718 AUSTRALIA This Program is FREE.
It MUST be distributed ONLY in
Distributed by - Alphon Edugames COMPLETE FORM. It must NOT be
221 Ridley Road altered in any way. It may be
Bridgeman Downs 4035 AUSTRALIA packed in your choice of
format (Arc Pak Zip ? ? )
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE WORD OF GOD Lesson No.1
The Bible is not an ordinary book. We need to know beyond all doubt that "all
scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), and is the one and
only source of truth and knowledge of God. They are the very words of God
Himself. We can approach them with as much trust as we do their Author,
allowing them to work in our lives to change us into the image of the living
Word, Jesus Christ.
THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF GOD'S WORD
1. It is guaranteed by God.
"I am watching over my word to perform it." Jeremiah 1:12 (RSV) Read
Isaiah 55:11 Psalm 12:6.
God proves His faithfulness as we apply His promises to our lives. In Numbers
14:21 and Isaiah 43:1-3a, we see how God 'signs' His promises - every word in
the Bible is backed up by God Himself. His power and love are unlimited, and
so are His ability and desire to keep His word.
2. It is a creative word.
"By the word of the Lord were the heavens made ... For He spake and it
was done . . Psalm 33:6,9. Read John 1: 1-3; 2 Peter 3:5.
As this Word that created the universe is applied to our lives, God produces
new life where there was no human hope. The scriptures are so full of the
power of God that they can change our lives as we read God's words. Read 1
Peter 1:23; Ezekiel 37:10; Romans 1:16; Isaiah 55:11.
3. It is eternal and unchanging.
"Forever, 0 Lord, Thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens." Psalm 119:89
(RSV). Read Psalm 119:152; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35.
The principles of His Word never alter; His promises are always there to be
applied to our lives. God does not have favorites for whom His Word applies
in a special way. Rather God has revealed His eternal purposes for all
mankind: a salvation that is free and available to any who read of His grace
and mercy. Read Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; 1 Peter 1:25; Luke 16:17.
WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD DO?
The Bible uses everyday pictures to illustrate the various functions of
the Word in our lives:
1. Water - Just as water is used commonly to cleanse and purify, so the Word
cleanses our lives from sin. As we continue in God's Word day by day, it
keeps us from falling into further sin. The Word renews our minds into the
image of Christ by removing the old ways of thinking and reacting which we had
before we came to Christ and replacing them with God's ways and thoughts.
Ephesians 5:26; John 15:3; Psalm 119:9,11; Romans 12:2.
Rain sometimes speaks of refreshing through the Word. Deuteronomy 32:2;
Isaiah 55:10,11. The Word of God quenches the thirst of those who recognize
the dryness of their spiritual lives. Isaiah 41:17-20; 44:3,4; 55:1.
2. Food. The Word of God must not become only knowledge about God's
principles but just as food, once taken into the body becomes part of it, so
the Word must become part of our life. Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 3:1-3;
Deuteronomy 8:3.
The Word provides the nourishment that our spirit needs to grow to maturity.
A baby's main diet is milk but as he grows he progresses to solid foods. We
need to have the "milk" and the "meat" of the Word - the milk being the very
basic principles in the Word, and the meat is the understanding of deeper
truths such that we. can minister it to others. 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1 ; 1
Corinthians 3:2,3; Isaiah 55:2.
3. Seed. God plants His principles within our lives like seeds. A seed
contains life but without the right environment it cannot produce life.
1 Peter 1:23. If a real desire for God is there, then it produces in us a
growth to maturity. Without that desire, it is like a seed on stony ground.
Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 6:8; Isaiah 55:10,11.
The greatest purpose of the seed however is not just to remain alive, but to
reproduce itself. So God's Word causes growth in us so that we become
fruitful Christians. Psalm 126.6; Hosea 10:1-2; James 1:1-8.
4. Light. Light reveals what is in darkness. John 1 :1 -5;3:19-21.
The Word gives us an understanding of God's ways and discernment concerning
what is good and what is evil. Psalm 19:8; 119:130; Proverbs 6:23.
The Word also acts as a guide to us, showing us the right way to live just as
a light enables us to walk securely in its pathway. Psalm 119:105, 130, 133;
2 Peter 1:19.
5. Sword. The Word of God is like a sharp dagger which cuts through our
outward behaviour and reveals what we are really like deep inside. It reveals
our deepest thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12;13; John 12:48.
Of course God never leaves us wounded by such an uncovering - He does it so
that we can come into right relationship with Him, free from wrong motives and
desires. What He wounds, He heals. Hosea 6: 1.
In fighting against, and defending ourselves from, the powers of darkness that
are in this world, God gives us His Word as a strong and reliable sword. It
is the most important offensive piece of the Christian's armour.
Ephesians 6:17; Matthew 8:16; Luke 4:36. Notice how Jesus uses the written
Word against Satan in Luke 4:1-13.
6. Truth. We can have complete confidence in God's Word, for it is the
absolute truth. Proverbs 22:21; Psalm 119:142, 151, 160. It reflects the
goodness and unchangeableness of God Himself. There is always release in a
person's life when they know and face up to the truth about themselves or
their situation. Psalm 51:6; John 8:31,32,36. Truth is part of our
protective armour. Psalm 91:4; Ephesians 6:14.
In a world of changing values, God's truth is very precious and we need to
hold onto it carefully. Proverbs 23:23; Psalm 119:72,162.
God's truth provides our standard for living. Psalm 19:7-11.
OUR ATTITUDE TO THE WORD
1. Hunger and desire "I long for your instructions more than I can tell."
Psalm 119:20 (LB).
Desire for the Word is not expressed just in reading page after page, but in a
longing for the life of God that it contains to become a part of our lives.
Job 23:12; Psalm 119:40; Isaiah 34:16; Matthew 4:4; John 5:39; 1 Peter 2:2.
God will always answer us as we search His word for understanding of how to
act in the situations we face. Psalm 119:92; Proverbs 2:1-5.
2. Love and reverence "Oh how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the
day." Psalm 119:97.
As we understand more and more of what God's Word contains - opening up to us
God's endless promises, bringing release to our lives and, above all,
revealing His nature and ways then we come to value and love His Word in a
much greater way. It becomes an inexhaustible treasure.
Psalm 119:47,48,103,127,140,165,167.
As it is God Himself who speaks through His Word, we should never
treat the Bible as just another book. Psalm. 119:120,161; Isaiah 66:2,5.
3. Obedience "I will indeed bless you ... because you have obeyed My
voice", Genesis 22:17,18. (RSV).
Obedience follows naturally from love and respect. God gives us the will and
strength to obey,as His Word fills our heart and life. He promises great
blessing to those who obey His Word.
Deuteronomy 11:27,28; 30:14; 1 Samuel 15:22,23; Psalm 119:34,71,106,129,145;
James l:22.
4. Faith "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established;
believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper." 2 Chronicles 20:20.
Faith is believing that what God says is true. It is the doorway into
personally experiencing all the promises of His Word. We need to learn to
have faith in what God says above what we feel ourselves - for His Word has
power to change seemingly impossible situations. Read Romans 10:17;
Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 119:42.
THE END