“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture has been breathed out by God. It is in the inspired word of God, written by men who were moved along by the Spirit. There are 66 books that make up the canon of Holy Scripture. There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. The earliest of these books (which there is debate as to whether it was Genesis or Job that is the oldest book of Holy Scripture) dates as far back as sometime around 1400 BC, which puts it somewhere in the general area of around 3400 years ago. These men who wrote these books were many years apart, so the consistency in Scripture alone is a very telling sign that this is the word of God. For the word of God could not be consistent if men tried to do this by themselves, for we would have vast differences within the word, or we would have the Bible repeating itself word for word in many, many parts. However, being that the Spirit of God inspired these men, it is truly God’s breathed out word. But enough about the facts and reliability of the Scriptures as being the word of God. That is not the route I wish to go today, that may be another article for another time. I want to walk us through the importance of reading the word of God. As we’ve talked about before, it is the Spirit that works through the word of God. It is the Holy Spirit’s means of ministry, for His main ministry is to guide all believers into truth, convict of sin, and empower men to live a life according to God’s will.
“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’’” (Matthew 4:4) There is a call from the Lord Himself that man should not live by bread alone; we can therefore say that our life is not to be found seeking fulfillment in that which is temporal, vain, and passing away; rather, that we are made for God and that the word of God is the means through which we come to know Him, love Him, and learn how to properly live unto His glory. It is after all His special revelation to us. His special revelation He has given us is the word of God; whereas His general revelation that He has made known to us,speaks of that like nature and creation that points us to God as the Creator of all things. The word is the means He intends to use to draw men unto Himself, save them by His glorious gospel, and sanctify them. If we neglect the word of God we have no hope of ever knowing God personally; no hope of ever being graced with saving faith; no hope of ever being saved from our sins; we will be left without hope, estranged from God, and left dead in our trespasses and sins. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
The word is living and active. Why? Because it is the inspired, breathed out word of God. He has spoken, is speaking, and continues to speak from generation to generation. He is the God of life, who has given to all life and breath, and it is the word of God that the Spirit uses to bring spiritually dead sinners unto new life. It is also described as being sharper than any two-edged sword, meaning that it is powerful and penetrating, capable of cutting to the core of a person’s heart and soul, exposing to us both our good and bad qualities, revealing truth to us and convicting us of sin. This is the work of the Spirit; He works through the word in the ways that God has ordained it to be so. This is no mere book; it is unlike any and all books there ever has been or ever will be. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13) “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) It is the word of God that the Spirit illumines for us. He brings us to faith as the grace of God toward us, but all through the means of Holy Scripture, and more specifically through the hearing of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should be quick to turn to the word of God, to run to it, trusting that it is indeed inerrant, infallible, and all sufficient. Read it trusting that God is who He has revealed Himself to be; ask for and expect God to work through His word. If we come seeking Him in His word, we will not be put to shame; rather, we will find ourselves more than delighted and surprised to see the change God will issue forth through the means of His Holy Spirit in accord with His word.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will be prosperous.” (Joshua 1:8) “The end of the matter, all that has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) There is no way we can properly fear God if we aren’t in His word. Just as well, there is no way we can be sanctified apart from the word of God. The Holy Scriptures (as we quoted near the beginning of this article) are profitable for so much, if we forsake it, we neglect all that there is pertaining to God and godliness. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) “The law of Yahweh is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, even more than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your slave is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)
The word of God contains the gospel, by which God uses His glorious gospel to save us. The apostle Paul said he was not ashamed of it. Many during his day were confounded by the gospel, but we know that most of the religious rulers were self-righteous thinking they could earn salvation through good works and/or law keeping, not realizing the full magnitude of what the law of God entailed. For the apostle Paul before conversion, who had claimed to be the Pharisee of Pharisees, persecuted the true church thinking he was doing God’s work. But it wasn’t until God did a work in him that he realized the law for what it was and saw the sinfulness of his sin. He states that he did not know coveting until the law brought forth the knowledge of such sin, and that sin worked in him coveting of every kind. If we want to know God, we must come to the word, we must diligently read, study, and meditate on His word. In these disciplines we will grow to love the word by His grace. “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:24) If we have no love for the word then it is a sure sign we have not had our affections renewed, nor our hearts changed; it shows that we still must be born again. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Therefore, let us be like the Bereans, diligent to examine and affirm what we hear from others pertaining to the word of God. To get theology or doctrine wrong can be very detrimental to our spiritual standing, and in some cases will leave us abandoning and forsaking the very truths we once confessed to believe. “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26) Think of this, every day you wake up, what is the first thing you do? For most Americans, we can safely say that their phones are among the first thing they grab, or they grab a cup of coffee and turn on the television to the news. Either way, it is an engaging of social media or some news outlet for many people here in the States. You’re waking up to being fed lies, engaging in what is most likely antithetical to any biblical truth or biblical worldview for that matter. Not to mention the comparison that ends up taking place through those outlets; and further damaging, the sites and content that you have access to through your devices. It’s been said we now carry a mobile brothel in our pockets, handbags, and vehicles. Instead of grabbing for that phone, or heading to that television set, let me encourage you to place your phone further away from the bed, maybe in another room, if possible, to charge for the night, and instead replace that spot where the phone normally would be with God’s word. And when you wake, instead of reaching for a device, or turning on the television, get down on your knees and pray, thank God for allowing you to wake for yet another day, and diligently seek Him by getting in His word before anything else. Make this a discipline, for it will become a habit through discipline, and an enjoyable one at that when God works through His word by His Spirit within your heart.
If we are going to be fed lies from the moment we wake up, seek to combat that with the truth of God’s word. He cannot lie, and His word is infallible, inerrant, and all sufficient as we’ve already mentioned. There is nothing better to equip you to handle the world, the flesh, and the devil than to already have embraced the word of God. As we quoted earlier, it is the Spirit that brings to remembrance the word of God for us. If we read, study, and meditate on God’s word throughout the day, we will be well equipped to preach to ourselves the word of God when we most need it; during those times of potential deception, during those times of temptation and sin, during those times we seek to be faithful to God’s command and witness to this lost and dying world, sharing the truth of His glorious gospel of grace to all whom we come across. The importance of finding ourselves in God’s word is profitable for so much, and I wouldn’t be able to hit on all the ways it is profitable, but I do encourage you to run to it, to embrace it, to humble yourself and listen to what God is speaking through His word. Pray that God would make your hearts receptive that you may receive the word with gladness, joy, faith, and humility. That the Spirit would give you ears to hear what He is speaking, eyes to behold God Almighty as He has revealed Himself, and a heart that yearns to please the Lord through obedience. After all, as we already mentioned, we need the word; the Lord has said that man should live based on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If we think we are safe without the word, or we are sparing with it, perhaps only reading or hearing it being preached on Sundays, then we are setting ourselves up for failure and quite possibly destruction. It is, after all, the devil who roams about seeking whom He may devour, and do not think beloved, that you are not included in the “whom He may devour”. “Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) He is not the only one at work seeking to deceive and devour. As we are warned in the synoptic gospel of Matthew, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
As we read and I quoted from 2 Timothy, the canon of Holy Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work. We are fallible creatures who battle against the flesh, we cannot think for a moment (or lean on feelings for that matter) that we are above the Scriptures, that we can handle ourselves and do what pleases God apart from His word. A Christian who is unequipped is in peril, this is why we are exhorted by the apostle Paul to put on the armor of God. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, as well as on my behalf, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel—for which I am an ambassador in chains—so that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:10-20)
We were made by God that we might come to know Him, love Him, enjoy Him and seek to glorify Him in all that we think, say, and do. If we are to neglect the Scriptures, we neglect the special revelation He has given us. We thereby neglect and forsake God Himself, and are left without hope, estranged from God; left with nothing but the wages that we have justly earned for our sinful rebellion toward our Maker, which is the temporal and eternal death we deserve. He has graciously given us His word that we would come seeking Him, that we would desire to know Him; trust that He would use that word to regenerate you, save you from your sins and the wrath of God that you deserve, and transform you into the likeness of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to the Apostle Peter, who calls us to yearn for the word of God. “Therefore, laying aside all malice and all deceit andhypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes upon Him will not be put to shame.’ This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,‘The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the chief corner stone,’ and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed. But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul, by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good works, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:1-12)
Let us take heed to the wisdom from Job. “I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.” (Job 23:12) Let us seek maturity through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, this through the continual finding ourselves coming to the word of God. “He, in the days of His flesh, offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and Hewas heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:7-14) Let us close with the word of our Lord. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.’” (John 14:23-31)