The Story Intro: The Word
Sep/25/11 02:52 Filed in: Sunday Series
I want to quote a portion of a verse that shows up 125 times in the NIV version of the Old Testament. “...the word of the Lord came to...” It is a common phrase. What does this mean?
I want to quote a portion of a verse that shows up 125 times in the NIV version of the Old Testament. “...the word of the Lord came to...” It is a common phrase.
The word of the Lord came to:
Abram,
Samuel,
Nathan,
Solomon,
a man of God from Bethel, Jehu,
Elijah
Shemiah the man of God, Isaiah,
Jeremiah,
Ezekiel,
Hosea,
Joel,
Jonah,
Micah,
Zephenia,
Haggai,
Zecharaiah
What does this mean?
(1) God speaks. God is not silent. He is not detached. He is engaged with His people and He speaks to them.
- (2) When He speaks men and women understand. God knows how to speak your
language. Throughout the Bible no one ever questions this phenomena. It is
assumed that God can and does speak to his people. - (3) When God speaks a response is mandated. God doesn’t speak just to hear His own
voice. There is a response of faith/obedience that is required.
Luke 1:38 (ESV) 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
That is the such a key to life, living according to the word of God. Psalm 119:9 (NIV84) 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:25 (NIV84) 25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:28 (NIV84) 28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Psalm 119:37 (NIV84) 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:65 (NIV84) 65 Do good to your servant according to your word, O Lord.
Psalm 119:107 (NIV84) 107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
Psalm 119:133 (NIV84) 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Psalm 119:169 (NIV84) 169 May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word.
I think the psalmist is making a point.... we should live according to the Word of God. The Living Word of God
Look at how these writers characterized the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) [12] For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
1 Peter 1:23-25 (NIV) [23] For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. [24] For,
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, [25] but the word of the Lord stands forever.”* And this is the word that was preached to you.
They say the word of God is alive. When the Word of God is alive it has incredible power for your life.
Isaiah 55:1-13 (NIV)
Invitation to the Thirsty [55:1] “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. [2] Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. [3] Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. [4] See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. [5] Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” [6] Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. [8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [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. [12] You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. [13] Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.”
I want you to consider a question with me for a moment. Before I do I need you to promise me you will not label me a heretic. How many of you after four plus years of being your pastor are ready to hear me out? OK here it goes, what is The Word of God? The quick answer is The Bible. This is partially true, but in most of the scriptures I have shared with you thus far The Word of God is not referring to Scripture. When the Word of the Lord came to the men and women in the Old Testament, they are referring to more of a prophetic word. Peter was referring to the word of God that was preached. Please stick with me for a moment. There is a great truth here. I am not just messing with you for fun. Now look at John 1
John 1:1–18 (NIV84) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Now in this passage what or who is John referring to as the Word? Jesus, right? In the Greek the word is logos. The same word that logic is derived from. Now here is what was going on. God had an incredible plan and heart for His people. And for that plan that purpose to be fulfilled in men and women they had to know and participate in that plan. But in so many ways men and women were not able to understand or comprehend
what God was all about. So God made His Word His plan flesh in Jesus. He is the living expression of God's heart, plans and purposes for this world. And. For everyone who receives The Word and believes The Word, they are given the power to live as God's children.
I probably got most of you back with me now. Right? Well hang on a little further cause the ride isn't over yet!
For you and me today is the Word of God a what or a who? Many of us read and study the Bible or at least we feel like we should, because it is God's Word. But is the Word of God alive to you?
I heard it said that Jesus came to make the Word flesh, and theologians or people came and made it just Words again.
My prayer is that we will allow God's Word to be living and active amongst us. I pray that we will let His Word flesh out in our lives. That is the approach we will be taking over the next 33 weeks as we read The Story together. We will be reading and talking about God's eternal story in every way that we can. We will be helping you find your story and your family's story centered in HisStory.