WORD OF GOD II

By Cyril Rayan

Characteristics of the word of God:

1) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. (Psalm 19:7). The word of God has the power to convict us and to convert our soul (mind, will and emotion) so that by faith we will accept the Lord in our hearts and be saved.

2) The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. (Psalm 19:8) As we follow the statutes of the Lord our heart is filled with joy and peace.

3) The commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:8). The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. You shall keep them O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. (Psalm 12:6-7). The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. The word of God is pure and everlasting. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. The word of God will remain forever even if all of God’s creation is destroyed.

4) 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… (Heb 4:12). The word of God is the only offensive weapon, which Paul talks about in Ephesians in his discussion about the armor of God. It is called the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17. We should never forget that the Bible is the word of God and it is an offensive weapon we have against the evil one. The soul and spirit cannot be separated until death, but the word of God has the power to pierce to the division of the soul and spirit convicting and converting the soul.

5) The word of God will accomplish its purpose. So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11).

6) The word of God is like fire breaking hardened hearts and turning them back to God.

Is not my word like a fire? Says the LORD, And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. (Jer 23:29). 7) But he who received the seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matt 13:23). The word of God is seed and we should receive the word in a well-prepared heart (good ground), understand it and multiply and bear fruit many times over. The word should explode in us take root, grow and multiply.

What not to do:

1. Do not add to his words, Lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Pro 30:6) The word of God is the truth and hence if we add to it we become a lair. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19)

2. Do not use deception nor distort the word of God. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully… (2 Cor 4:2)

3. Do not preach with our own wisdom but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. These things we also speak, not in words which mans wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Cor 2:13).