3. The Function of the WORD
a. 2Timothy 3:16: "All SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
The function of the WORD, according to this verse, is to equip believers with ALL the wisdom and moral help they will need, in living a successful life for Him. If your life is successful for Him, ie, righteous, perfect, fruitful, then your life is worth living. And for this life, He has given you His WORD, His MIND,-- the MIND of God Almighty-- to think His thoughts, and to judge with His judgment.
b. Hebrews 4:12-13: "For The WORD of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is A Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do."
It would be a dreadful thing, indeed, to have an adversary that possessed the type of powers mentioned here! But to stand in opposition to God, is to have The WORD as exactly this ADVERSARY. Whether you are backslidden, that is, walking in known sin, or whether you have never been on God's side, if in such condition(s), the SWORD of God's WORD can powerfully split you open, and reveal all your innermost, hidden, and secretive "intents of the heart". You are "naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom" you must contend. And do not be deceived, He will win-- and even has already!
c. Proverbs 1:2-4: "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the WORDS of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."
Some of the functions of The WORD are to equip you "to know", "to perceive", "to receive", and "to give", "wisdom and instruction... understanding... justice, and judgment, and equity... subtlety... knowledge and discretion" to the "simple... young man", or woman.
d. Proverbs 20:18: "Every purpose is established by Counsel: and with Good Advice make war."
For every situation in life, with all it's faceted reflections, purposes, hardships, decisions, endeavours, and surprises-- with all of life's many lessons-- we should be seeking counsel from The Counsellor. We should ask, "'What saith the Scripture' concerning this-or-that?" If our desire is to not, "live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," (Matthew 4:4) then we should be consulting The WORD for advice. It's not just a "good idea" to read The WORD-- it's essential for survival! You cannot live or survive "the war", without The WORD
e. Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God."
To believe God, and thereby have faith in God, you must know what God said that you should believe. When you know what you should believe, then you can exercise faith to believe.
f. Ephesians 5:26: "That He might sanctify and cleanse it [the Church] with the washing of water by the WORD."
Christ Jesus, our LORD, washes clean His Church, His people, with The WORD, Himself. And then He keeps His people clean, sanctified, sinless, also by His WORD.
Hebrews 12:14: "Holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD."
Psalm 119:133: "Order my steps in Thy WORD: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me."
Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Romans 6:22: "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
John 17:17: "Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy WORD is Truth." John 15:3: "Now ye are clean through The WORD which I have spoken unto you."
Exodus 30:29: "And Thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy."
Psalm 119:9:"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy WORD." </span>
g. Hebrews 11:3: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
God spoke the creation into existence.
Genesis 1:14-15: "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so."
God said He did this, and as Christians, we know this is absolutely true. The WORD was in the beginning, therefore, He alone knows what really happened "in the beginning"!
John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. The SAME was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made."
This is the power of the Omnipotent WORD!
h. 1Peter 2:2: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby."
If you claim Christ, then you WILL desire The WORD. And if you study The WORD, then you WILL grow. These are facts. If you claim Christ, and don't desire The WORD, then you won't study The WORD; and if you don't study The WORD, then you won't grow. And if you don't grow- you're dead!
James 2:14-20: "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
i. Romans 15:4: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the SCRIPTURES might have hope."
Did you notice the function, or purpose, for the giving of His precious WORD was for us? Doesn't that show us how much He cares? Not that He needs to prove it above what He already did on the Cross for us! And notice, "Why?" "That we through patience and comfort of the SCRIPTURES might have hope." How many people do you know who care whether or not, you have hope? This world has nothing to offer us, when we talk about "hope", because this world is only temporal. It can give us no "hope" of anything eternal.
1John 2:16-17: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."
Now, that's what I call "hope"! And how did I find out about that "hope"? The WORD told me. The WORD gives me "hope".
Psalm 119:49: "Remember The WORD unto thy servant, upon Which Thou hast caused me to hope."
Psalm 119:81: "My soul fainteth for Thy salvation: but I hope in Thy WORD."
Psalm 119:116: "Uphold me according unto Thy WORD, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope."
j. Psalm 119:65: "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto Thy WORD."
When the LORD, The WORD, gives to you by sight, what He has caused you to hope for by faith, then you have been "dealt well with". And considering the wealth of The WORD, what He offers you to hope for, is nothing less than the riches of God!
Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Psalm 13:6: "I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me." Psalm 16:5-6: "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."
Psalm 119:17: "Deal bountifully with Thy servant, that I may live, and keep Thy WORD."
2Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
Psalm 18:35: "Thy gentleness hath made me great."
k. Isaiah 55:11: "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."
The same WORD that formed all creation, that discerns the intent of man's heart, that lives and abides forever, is the same WORD, that, once IT is sent forth-- IT does prosper! God Almighty does not speak thoughtlessly, as does man.
Isaiah 14:24: "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall IT come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall IT stand."
If God has said something, then that WORD, from His own mouth, mind, and heart, is eternally important. IT has eternal consequences.
Isaiah 46:10: "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My COUNSEL shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure."
If you want to trust something, or someone-- count on The WORD. You will never go wrong.
l. Psalm 119:25: "My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken Thou me according to Thy WORD."
The concept of your soul cleaving the dust imparts a sense of desperate futility and defeat. There's a feeling of doom, of dirt being thrown on your coffin, of death's strong grasp dragging you DOWN. Surely, to be "quicken" ed, is to be "resurrected, made alive, to rise up". If The WORD gave life to all of creation, just think what He can do for you!
Psalm 119:154: "Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to Thy WORD."
m. Psalm 119:28: "My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy WORD." If "the worlds were framed by the WORD of God"
(Hebrews 11:3), then wouldn't you like the strength of The WORD undergirding your life?
n. Psalm 119:130: "The entrance of Thy WORDS giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."
Psalm 119:169: "Let my cry come near before Thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to Thy WORD."
The WORD guides us through this world of confusion and deception. He teaches us. He shows us the path that He knows will work to our good.
Psalm 119:105: "Thy WORD is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path."
Psalm 16:11: "Thou wilt show me the Path of Life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Psalm 119:35: "Make me to go in the path of Thy COMMANDMENTS; for therein do I delight."
Proverbs 2:9: "Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path."
Isaiah 26:7: "The way of the just is uprightness: Thou, Most Upright, dost weigh the path of the just."
Did you ever wonder which path was right? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have that Understanding in a complex life like this? How can a person know all the right choices in life? How can a person have the assurance that they will do the right thing? How can a person feel the certainty that their values please God? No other book, none than God's own WORD, can have this wisdom, or the authority and ability to impart Life from within it's pages.
O. Psalm 33:11: "The COUNSEL of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations."
The WORD induces us to stand forever in His thoughts.
Next Part 4. The Indestructibility of the WORD