TEXT:
‘I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word’ (Psalm 119:16).
Why do Christians risk their lives smuggling bibles into atheistic countries? Because they believe in the power of the written word of God. Why do countries ban the bible, if there is no threat from just a book? The authorities may not know what the Bible really is, but controlling demonic spirits do, and they will do their utmost to prevent people from being exposed to God’s Word as the Parable of the Sower makes clear (See Mark 4:13-20).
Herein lies a paradox. Countries where there is religious freedom have more bibles than they could wish for, but fail to read them, whereas those in bible-starved countries are desperate to get just a page because they believe it is God’s Word.
In Part 1 we considered three things to do: Believe the Word; Know the Word; Learn from the Word. In Part 2 there are two more things to do.
1. Continue in the Word – ‘But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them’ (2 Timothy 3:14)
Mastermind is a very popular TV Quiz programme. The quiz master often says, “I’ve started so I’ll finish!” This enables the contestant to answer the question even though time was up.
I want to challenge every Christian who read the Bible, to keep reading it to the end of their life. If you haven’t started reading it regularly yet, begin and keep going. I get concerned when Christians don’t continue reading and say, “I used to, but I don’t read it anymore”. We stop realising the importance of reading God’s Word when we listen to our carnal mind instead of our born-again spirit.
Paul challenged the Galatian Christians, ‘How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?’ (Galatians 3:3 NLT).
We change, the world changes, but God’s Word never changes. Paul urged Timothy, ‘You must continue in the things which you have learned… For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths’ (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).
God’s Word is there to direct us, ‘By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order’ (Psalm 119:105 MSG). The constant complaint God had against the Children of Israel was they forsook Him, turning instead to idols, witchcraft and immorality.
Jesus said, ‘If you love Mr, keep My commandments’ (John 14:15). John’s epistle adds, ‘For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us’ (1 John 5:3 GNT). Jesus’ commandments are not intended to be a millstone around our necks, for He said, ‘Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!’ (John 8:36). James’ epistle adds, ‘But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—you will be blessed by God in what you do’ (James 1:25 GNT).
2. Preach the Word – ‘Preach the Word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not. Correct and rebuke your people when they need it, encourage them to do right, and all the time be feeding them patiently with God’s Word’ (2 Timothy 4:2 TLB).
The first four things to do in this teaching are largely for our own benefit, but this fifth point is for the benefit of others. Do you know enough about the Bible, to be able to share its truths with other people? You don‘t need to be a scholar to do that, just a believer!
In the pulpit – preach the Word! In the pew – preach the Word! At work; at home; at play – preach the Word! We don’t have to raise our voice like a preacher. Over a cup of coffee we can simply say, “The Bible says” and let God’s Word do a work in their heart. We are urged to be ready to do this at any time. ‘But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honour him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you’ (1 Peter 3:15 GNT).
When persecution threatened the very existence of the Christians in Jerusalem, they didn’t keep quiet. Those who had to flee for their lives, ‘Went everywhere peaching the word’ (Acts 8:4). When we’re willing to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone we possibly can, then we will see God confirming His Word through the accompanying signs and wonders.
Many churches are dumbing down the preaching of God’s Word. A few years ago, a sermon lasted about one hour, but now people are fortunate to get ten minutes. Once it was bible exposition, but now it can be just stories of one’s experience or about the environment. It’s time to make the main thing, the main thing. The foolishness of preaching still works, because God said it would, and we neglect this at our peril. Jesus sent His disciples out to preach. Every church leader needs to ensure they are doing just that!
Finally, John in his epistle commended the young men. He wrote, ‘I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one’ (1 John 2:14).
Now that’s a commendation everyone would love to receive!
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