LIVING BY THE WORD OF GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MAY 8, 2021.

SUBJECT: LIVING BY THE WORD OF GOD!

Memory verse: “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.’" (Matthew 4 vs 4.)

READ: Deuteronomy 8 vs 1 - 3:

8:1: “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers.

8:2: And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

8:3: So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

INTIMATION: 

Living by the word of God is living the good and real life. The word comes in form of “Logos” and “Rhema.” Logos is the written word of God; the saying or statement by God the Father, and God the Son—Jesus Christ. It is a message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power. 

Rhema denotes that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing. It’s the word of the Lord which is spoken in faith by the believer. The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6 vs 17). Here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need. The prerequisite is the regular storing of Scriptures in one’s mind.

The will of God is embedded in His word, and strict obedience and commitment to the word of God is key to living the good and real life. And your commitment and trust (believe and faith) in God is expressed by your bold declaration of His word. The  Bold declaration of His word in faith engenders a life of total triumph; a good and real life in Him.

Many people think that a good life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, have the pleasures of life, play in high style, acquire as much possessions as possible, they think they are living “the good life.” But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings—knowing your real purpose in life. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied. Real life comes from total commitment to God and living by every word that comes from Him. 

God, your Creator, created you for the purpose(s) known to Him alone. Just as a manufacturer manufactures a product with specific purpose(s) it should serve. The manufacturer attaches a manual for the use of the product. Any user of the product refers to the manual to ensure adequate and proper use. God has given us His manual—the Bible—for our proper and adequate service according to His purposes(s) for us. Anything outside His precepts, leads to a dead end in living “the good life” purposed for us:

“The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back” (Isaiah 14 vs 24 & 27).

Anything outside God’s purpose(s) is voided and cannot stand. Therefore, you cannot live a good and real life outside of His Will and purpose. Certainly not! In Ephesians 1 vs 11, the Scripture says, “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” God is sovereign and in control of all things. He works all things in us according the counsel of His will.

How can we live by His word? (1) Recognize our need for it. (2) Agree that God alone can truly satisfy us. (3) Pray for God’s presence, wisdom, and direction as we read the Scriptures. (4) Savor the relationship you have with Him through Christ. (5) Practice what He teaches you.

Living the real life requires our obedience to God’s commandments. We obey God with our heart; by loving Him more than any relationship, activity, achievement, or possession, with our will; by committing ourselves completely to Him, with our mind; by seeking to know Him and His word, so His principles and values form the foundation of all we think and do, with our body; by recognizing that our strengths, talents, and sexuality are given to us by God to be used for pleasure and fulfillment according to His rules, not ours, with our finances; by deciding that all of the resources we have ultimately come from God, and that we are to be managers of them and not owners, and with our future; by deciding to make service to God and man the main purpose of our life’s work.

The Scripture says, “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him” (Job 23 vs 13 - 14). God has in His books all that are appointed for each and everyone of us, and performs them accordingly. Anything outside of those appointments leads to a life of struggles, and outside His will and purpose for you. That certainly is not a good and real life!

Prayer: Abba Father, show me the path of life appointed for me, and lead me by Your Spirit to walk in them that I may live a good life pleasing to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!