God is not a man, that He should lie,
nor a son of man, that He should change His Mind.
Does He speak and then not act?
Does He promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19
And it is so, in the name of Jesus.
When it comes to knowing the living God, it is His Word that introduces we the human race to the God that created us. As it is written: The Lord of Hosts has sworn this oath: As I have designed, so shall it happen; what I have planned, that shall come to pass. Isaiah 14:24
When Adam disobeyed God and separated himself from God, spiritually, to the point where God could no longer come down from heaven to earth to visit and to talk with Adam and Eve; God put His plan of "communication by words" into place. We do not see our God, but we have been designed to hear His Word.
The Word of our God keeps and sustains us. Just as food is nourishment and strength for our physical bodies to live; the living Word of our God is spiritual food that is nourishment and strength to our mind, soul, and body to live a life of holiness unto God.
As it is written:
Matthew 4:4
4 But He answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
It was our God's powerful Word that spoke we the human race into existence.
As it is written:
Genesis 2:7
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
As it is written:
Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Jesus, the Son of our God; He too is the Word of God.
As it is written:
John 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
As it is written:
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word of God
The Word of our God has been given to us, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. We are to live by the written Word of our God. God's Words are powerful living Words.
As it is written:
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 So is My Word that goes out from My mouth: it will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
The power of the spoken Word of God was put to the test when Jesus was led by Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Jesus knew what would take place when God's Word was spoken. Satan also knew what would take place when God's Word was spoken. That is why Satan used the Word of God in his failed attempt to use God's Word against Jesus, the Son of God.
As it is written:
Matthew 4:1-4
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards hungry.
3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, if you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But He [Jesus] answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Satan already knew that Jesus was the Son of God in the flesh. But he, Satan, wanted Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God by tangible means. But Jesus spoke the living Words of God that God had given to Moses.
As it is written:
Deuteronomy 8:3
3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
As born-again believers we are to live by God's living Word, which has been given to us. We read this in the Apostle Peter's first letter to the Christians living in Asia Minor.
As it is written:
1 Peter 1:23
23 Since you have been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.
As it is written:
1 Peter 1:25
25 But the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel [good news] is preached to you.
As it is written:
1 Peter 2:1-3
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking's,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
We are God's Word, spoken into existence by God. Therefore, we are to live our lives feasting on His Word, growing up in His Word and being all that God would have each one of us to be while living out our appointed time here on earth.
The Berean Jews were such a people that feasted on the Word of God. They received the words of the Apostle Paul and compared what Paul preached with the Words written in the scriptures.
As it is written:
Acts 17:10-12
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who coming there went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore, many of them believed: also, of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
The Apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy wrote the following:
As it is written:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
To live a life of holiness unto God, one must be taught the Word of God. Jesus, the Son of God, before He went back to heaven, put in place the order in which He wanted every human being to be taught.
He does this by calling men and women and empowering them with the Spirit of God, the precious Holy Spirit; to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors, and Teachers.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, wrote the order of teaching that Jesus had set in place.
As it is written:
Ephesians 4:7-8
7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 This is why it says: when He ascended on high, He took many captives and gave gifts to His people.
As it is written:
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 So, Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers.
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.
The Order of Teaching "The Word of God" Set in Place by Jesus
Apostle
The word apostle means "one who is sent." Apostles are men and women called by Jesus and empowered with God's Holy Spirit to do the work assigned to them. An Apostle proclaims and teaches the writings of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, which is the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. They do this as God's Holy Spirit leads and guides them.
Prophet
The word prophet means "one who is called to speak." Prophets are men (prophets), and women (prophetess), called by Jesus and empowered with Holy Spirit. They are sensitive to God's voice and speaks (prophesy) on what God has given to them. They also preach the Word of God.
Evangelist
Evangelists are "preachers" of the Gospel (good news) of Jesus, the Son of God. Evangelist are men and women called by Jesus and empowered with Holy Spirit and are sent out by Jesus to minister the message of Jesus to unbelievers: people who do not believe in the saving grace of God. To minister to sinners: all who have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). To minister to backsliders: people who were once converted and believed that have fallen back into their old habits of sin. To minister to born again believers.
The result being that unbelievers and sinners who hear the Word and believe the Word are saved (born again), water baptized and filled with God's Holy Spirit. The backslider, repents and recommit their lives to Jesus their Lord and Savior and to God the Father. The born-again believing Christians continue to grow; and all are edified. All have become the righteousness of God and because of this all will inherit eternal life.
Pastor
A Pastor is a minister "one who serves" and is put in charge of the house of God, a church where people come together to worship God. They are men and women called by Jesus and empowered with Holy Spirit to fill the role of listening to God and obeying the Word of God. A pastor's duty is to preach (deliver a message given to them by God) to men, women, young adults, and children. A pastor's duty is to also teach the Word of God. A pastor oversees administrative functions and perform rituals. These are just a few of the duties a pastor has been entrusted with.
Teacher
A Teacher is a person who teaches, "an educator," one who provides instructions. They are men and women who have been called by Jesus and empowered with Holy Spirit to teach His people. A teacher has divine knowledge of the Word of God. They are able to present principles that can be easily understood and applied.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy wrote:
As it is written:
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in His conversation with the Pharisees made it known to them that He too was taught by His Father.
As it is written:
John 8:28
28 Then said Jesus unto them, when you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these things.
The doctrines in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation are not the sayings of men, they are from God the Father, and His Son, Jesus. We are therefore taught by God's living Word here on earth, and our inheritance is eternal life with God the Father, His Son, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and the heavenly host.
You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Leviticus 19:2
And it is so, in the name of Jesus.
Note: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Jesus spoke to me through Holy Spirit and said: Tell my people that I love them and that I am coming soon. Tell my people that my Word will heal them, deliver them, comfort them, correct them, and teach them.