Chapter 5

 

The Word of God

 

 

 

 

 

            At this time we’ll look at the Word of God. Jesus was called the Word in the Gospel of John. Here, though, we’re considering the written Word. Of course, we mean the Bible. It is the Bible that gives substance for the Holy Spirit to work on in our lives. He uses it to bring us into conformity with Jesus. Someone once said that without the Spirit you’ll dry up, and without the Word you’ll blow up. You need both working in your life. If you only study the Word absent the Spirit, you won’t have anything to help put force behind the Word. It will be relatively useless. And if you only go after the things of the Spirit without the Word to bring stability, you can get off into error or at the very least not have any productivity in becoming like the Son.

 

            Imperishable seed:

 

1 Peter 1:23

23     for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

     

James 1:21

21     Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

     

            When we were born of the Spirit of God, it came about as the result of our hearing the living Word of God concerning our need for salvation. When we responded favorably to that seed (Word) which we heard, we were born again. This seed is not like any other seeds which we may have planted in the ground. Those seeds could perish under many different conditions. The seed by which we were born from above will never perish. This means that its “fruit” that grows is also imperishable. This Word produces a “fruit” astonishing … the salvation of our souls. This salvation is not just a one shot get to Heaven salvation. It includes a lifetime work in our soul area to bring us closer to the image of Jesus Christ. In order for this imperishable, living Word to bring us closest to that image, we need to “help” it by putting aside all filthiness and what remains of wickedness from before our coming to Him. This prepares the “ground” of our heart for the seed to grow to its fullest.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "What I have given you is so precious. It is My life through My Word. My Word will never fail. It is imperishable. All else may fade away, but My Word will never fade away. It will always come to pass in due season. You can count on My Word to do in you what I said it would do. It will never fail. You can accept it or reject it, but it will do the work that I have chosen for it to do as you allow it to do in your life. Count it as precious, for it is so. Hold it fast, for it will never let you down.”

 

            60. I have been born again of an imperishable seed … the living Word of God. It began its work at rebirth and continually works to make my soul into what God has planned for me.