THE BIBLE - THE WORD OF GOD

A. GOD’S SPECIAL BOOK

The Bible, the ancient scriptures, is given by the inspiration of God.

2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Holy men of God spoke God’s Word by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That proves that the Bible is the revelation and the Word of God.

2Pet. 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

THE BIBLE:

Written by about 40 people, who wrote with inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
The Bible exists out of 66 books, 39 books in the O.T and 27 books in the N.T.
The O.T. talks about God's relationship with the nation of Israel.
The N.T. talks about Jesus Christ who came forth from the nation Israel to make a New covenant for all nations through faith in Jesus Christ.

B. STUDY THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD

The most important relationship you can have in this life is with God. Through reading the Bible you will come to understand what God is like - His thoughts, His plans and His promises for you.- Spend time reading, studying and meditating on God's word. It will bless you!

Ps. 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Josh. 1:7-8 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

C. THE BIBLE CONTAINS WORLD’S GREATEST PROMISE!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

D. THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S WORD – GROWING IN CHRIST!

2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2Pet. 1:3-4 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pet. 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

E. THE WORD OF GOD PRODUCES LIFE

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

God's Word is a creative Word:

Ps. 33:6, 9 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 9 For He spoke, and it was done He commanded, and it stood fast.

Hebr. 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

F. THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE WATER

1. It cleanses

John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

2. It keeps clean

Ps. 119:9-11 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

G. THE WORD OF GOD IS A LIGHT FOR OUR LIVES

2Pet. 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

John 1:1-4 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Ps. 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path

Ps. 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

H. THE WORD OF GOD IS SPIRITUAL FOOD

Matt. 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

1Cor. 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

1Pet. 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The purpose of Spiritual growth:

Eph. 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

I. THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE A SEED

Luke 8:11-15 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

It makes us Born again:

James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

1Pet. 1:23-25 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever."

The Word of God makes fruitful:

Ps. 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

J. THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE A SWORD

Eph. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Hebr. 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

K. THE WORD OF GOD HELPS US TO PRAY ACCORDING GOD’S WILL

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

1John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Bible reading plan: Read the N.T., the N.T. has 244 Chapters Read four chapters a day in 61 days = 2 months Read two chapters a day in 122 days = 4 months