The word of God

God speaks to us in so many ways. The word of God is certainly one of those ways. The word of God is the truth, the truth of God. The word of God was written by people under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we need to call on the Holy Spirit every time we read it so the Spirit of God can speak to our spirit.

Largely, the devil will attack us through his lies. An attack on our identity, for example, will tend to distort who we are and influence what we do or how we act. In Matthew 4:3, when Jesus was in the wilderness, the devil attacked his identity by saying, “…if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into bread.” At the moment, he could have because he had the power, the means, and he was hungry. However, knowing who he was and what the word of God says, he “fired” back at the devil and said the words that had been written in Deuteronomy 8:3, saying, “…man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus did not satisfy the devil’s intention for attacking his identity but rather affirmed his identity through the word of God.

Similarly, when we are met with life’s greatest challenges, knowing the word of God makes the biggest difference. When the devil says you are poor, tell him the Lord is your shepherd; you shall not lack (Psalm 23). When the devil says you are barren, remind him of the promises God made to Sarah. When you are accused falsely and judgment is placed on your head, say the words of Daniel: “My God will send his angels to shut the mouths of the lions so they cannot hurt me because I have been found innocent in his sight” (Daniel 6:22). And when your situation or family or work forces you to conform to the standards of this world, remember those three Hebrew boys in the fire. Daniel 3:17-18 “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us. But even if He does not… we will not serve your gods.” The word of God gives us great affirmation.

He is the same God today, yesterday, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). And so is his word! When we read what the Lord did with Moses and how he saved the Israelites, how he saved Esther and the other Jews from being killed, what he did with Joseph, etc., we are usually tempted to think that’s all in the past. But if he is the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he truly still has the power and can do similar and greater things with/in us. He can do so much more than we are reading in the scriptures. We remember that every testimony is a new revelation to another person. Therefore, when we read the testimony of Esther or the testimony of Ruth, that becomes our prophecy. We quite literally can tap into that anointing, only if we believe.

The word of God is warfare in several ways. When the devil makes an attack on our life, we don’t go silent. We attack back because we know whose authority and power we fight by. Revelations 19:11-21 says, “The word of God is a double-edged sword capable of destroying anything, including the devil and his descendants like the false prophets.” First of all, we have been given authority to fight and win these battles; Luke 10:19: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Jeremiah 1:10: “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Authority!

The word of God also tells us what to say when our lives are under attack, and Psalm 91 is all about that. The word of God then gives us the evidence for which we fight from a place of victory. Deuteronomy 28:9 “The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” Exodus 14:13: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians (enemy) you see today you will never see again.” Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you…” I could go on and on with these verses.

The word of God gives us directions on how to go about the journey of life. It literally has answers to all the questions we struggle to answer. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” In a world of so many voices and popular opinions, many times it is confusing to know what direction to take. Biblical principles and scripture will always be there to shape our decision-making and take us out of confusion. The word of God has answers on education, business, investment, marriage, health, etc.

The word of God is alive. Isaiah 55:11 says, “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.” This is why we have to believe it and declare it upon ourselves. When we say, “I will lend to nations and never borrow (Deu 15:6),” it is true because the word of God gives us a clear gateway to financial freedom.

The word of God blesses us. It shows us that all the many promises God made to Moses are alive and available for us as believers through FAITH. Galatians 3:29 says that as long as we belong to Christ, we are descendants of Christ and will receive/inherit what God has promised. Therefore, we have every right to pick up those bibles and proclaim those blessings upon our lives, upon our children, and upon our spouses, just like God did over Moses. Because we have the legal right to them.

The word of God helps us to judge what is being preached to us. It helps us to sieve out false prophets and false teachings. When we read the word of God and understand it for ourselves, then we have the courage to ask and say, “By whose authority do you come to us today?” All you have said is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. 

Reading the word of God helps us to know God for ourselves

In case you haven’t read the Bible before and are wondering where to start, pick a book and read it from start to end. Then pick another. You will eventually get into rhythm. If at the start it feels like nothing is making sense, just continue reading every day. It finally will make sense. Because Jeremiah 29:13 and James 4:8 clearly tell us that when we seek the Lord (like through reading his word daily), we will find him. He will draw closer to us with the same intensity and attitude with which we seek him.