Do You Have Faith in the Word?

Let’s take a look at some scriptures that describe the nature of God’s word, because any proclamation about God’s word requires faith on the part of the hearer that His word will accomplish His will on earth and also in your life.

Rain & snow have a purpose/ God’s word has a purpose

Isaiah 55:8-11

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing  whereto I sent it.

**God’s word will accomplish its intended results. The word prosper means “success” in the Thessalonians verse, the word “effectual” means the same

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye  received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

**God’s word accomplishes its intended results in those that believe it for what it really is, which is the word of God.

A sinful lifestyle is not normal Christianity

1 John 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

When a true conversion takes place, the convert cannot continue to live a lifestyle of sin and the seed of God remain in him. The seed of God, which is Christ, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, convicts and contends with the believer to get his/ her heart right. Yes, the conscience can become seared and salvation can be lost, but that’s not what God wants. God wants people restored to Him. God wants you with Him. He’s not trying to get rid of you. He wants communion with you.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

One of the precious promises that He has given in His word is that: through conversion, believers become partakers of the divine nature of God. You don’t become God. You share in fellowship with His nature that now lives in you through the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is the new you.

Romans 6:3

-- Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

**The word gives us revelation that we do not have to be ignorant anymore

Ephesians 4:22-23

22 That ye put off ((“Put off” Middle voice)) concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

**Ephesians 4:22-24 NASB 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

The word of God is nourishment that helps us grow spiritually and transition from a baby to maturity in Christ.

1 Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Romans 6:5-7

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

God’s word says that conversion results in a miracle. The “old man” who was born in the natural in Adam dies in the new birth with Jesus, is buried with Jesus, and is resurrected with Him. Resurrection life through the Spirit, not just for a glorified body tomorrow but for victorious life today.  The old man is crucified with Jesus and the body of sin, or the power of the sinful nature is destroyed because it has no power over the new man. It had power over the old man, but that’s not who we are.

**Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 4:3

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

**So people that believe what God says are credited righteousness.

Romans 5:17

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Adam’s disobedience resulted in sin gaining power and death reigning as a king over the human race. Jesus’ act of obedience resulted in the gift of righteousness. There was an exchange that took place on the cross. He took your guilt and gave you His righteousness. The grace of God is given to the righteous. I didn’t say that. He did.

…they which receive abundance of grace

• who gets the grace?

• The righteous.

• How did they get it?

• It was a gift.

• Everybody gets it?

• No, it’s available to everyone, but only those that believe God at His word get it.

**NASB Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin…

Romans 6:11 KJV

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord expects us to believe what His word says. When we do, we are blessed by Him with its benefits. This message was believing God’s word as it relates to the truth that sin has no power over the life of believer’s based upon what the written word of God says.

Conclusion:

The word of God proclaims that the old man was born naturally in Adam, and in that first birth, the old man was born under the power of sin.

The word of God proclaims that when a person is truly converted a miracle takes place. He becomes a new creation. The Spirit of God now lives in Him. The Holy Spirit has power to raise the dead, heal diseased bodies, raise the dead, perform creative miracles and for tonight’s message…destroy the power of sin.

Believers believe. When believers believe, God blesses them. He gives them a gift. The gift is righteousness. Righteous people receive grace. Grace is related to the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin cannot stand in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Soldier

2 Timothy 2:1-6

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a  good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

stratologeō

“No soldier” in active service/KJV warreth

strato—1. encamped); camp-likeness, i.e. an army 2. an army, band of soldiers 3. the hosts of heaven/ troops of angels

logeō—ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

An active believer is one that engages the battle. He is like a soldier that is encamped and he speaks forth: speaking forth can entail both:

1. Proclaiming truth

2. Prayer/intercession

Farmer’s share

His share: whether money or food, the farmer’s share drives him to plow, to sow, to harvest…

The farmer’s driven to plow. The athlete’s desire for the prize drives him to compete according to the rules.

And the soldier that desires to please his commanding officer is one who engages the spiritual battle and does not get intertwined with common affairs.

2 Timothy 2:14-17

An Unashamed Workman

14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Katastrophe- (KJV subverting) demolition, overthrow, destruction-- as in cities.

A while back the Lord gave me a vision of buildings in a city that had been bombarded by the prayers of the saints. The area was war torn and had been stricken by demolition. The prayers of the saints caused the catastrophe to the kingdom of darkness. So if prayers bombard the kingdom of heaven and useless talk results in catastrophe, what are all the buildings and defenses of the kingdom of God looking like in the spirit when we speak curses instead of blessings on others?

There is something interesting happening in this text:

1. Paul warns against useless words. There is a whole category of conversation that we could include in this. We will just trust that as we move closer to the Lord through prayer and study of His word, that our renewed mind will be more sensitive towards useless talk will become more clear to you and that as you engage in it, you will be convicted and then from there you can be aware.

2. V15 Divide-- handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly

My job is to make a straight cut and present it that way to you. Your job is to rightly make the cut for yourself. You are not to imagine in your mind: Pastor Matt taught me right, I’m going to be okay. We’re talking about your eternal reward and your eternal soul. You will have to decide whether you’re going to be a soldier or a civilian. A soldier wars, they are in the battle, they divide the word, and they avoid useless, worldly talk and actions that will result in catastrophe.

3. V 16 avoid empty and worldly chatter it spreads like gangrene. I know that we all know what gangrene is, but let me say it out loud, so we can hear what it sounds like. Gangrene is death that has occurred to a particular body part. Gangrene must be stopped by amputation or else it will spread to the rest of the body and cause death to the whole.

2 Timothy 2:19-21

19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from

wickedness.”

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

The believer who desires to serve the Lord Biblically has some specific responsibilities according to this chapter.

1. Engage spiritual warfare

2. Avoid wrong words

3. A spiritual soldier engages w/ words: prayer and proclamation: he speaks life not death

4. He abstains from wickedness

5. He cleanses himself, making himself a vessel of honor (sanctified)

The main point surrounds the effectiveness of the warrior. If his vessel is sanctified, he is ready for the master’s use. If he is not sanctified and cleansed, then he is a vessel of dishonor.

Let’s be clear in that I do understand that there is both positional and progressive sanctification. But when do we start moving forward in the truth? How long should we wait until we stop addictions? How long should it take before we stop vain babbling or foolish talk? How long until we align our lives with his truth. He is gracious and merciful. How long do we take advantage of his grace and mercy pretending that he’s okay with disobedience when we know from his word that he’s not?

1 Peter 2:4-5

As Living Stones

4 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, 5 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.

Revelation 5:10

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.