STUDY XVIII. THE WORD OF GOD

 

Jesus told him, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luk 9:62(TLB)

God has a work for you to do before you leave this earth. If you allow yourself to be distracted from God's purpose for your life, you are not fit for God's kingdom. The question is, how do I know Gods purpose for my life? 

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! Ps 139:16

God has a schedule for each day of our lives.

It's good to think first of all, "if I was given a chance to plan for my life, if I get to know in advance the events in the future that would happen that would affect my life, do you think I could make a better plan than that which God has for me? Of course not. God's plan for my life is the best plan concerning me. If this is true, then my passion in life should to find out what this plan is and fulfil it. 

In the wilderness, God knew every road that the Israelites would follow to reach Canaan's land but He never gave them a map. Instead, they were led by a cloud and pillar of fire.

The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. Ex 13:21.

This is a picture of a person who gets born again and comes out of Egypt, slavery of sin, but being born again is not the final destination. He has to be tested as He walks through life till He reaches rest that God has promised. 

Every morning, they must follow the cloud, in the same way, the cloud being a picture of the Holy Spirit, He must guide us all through life. We must be led by the promptings of the Holy Spirit in this life.

The most important thing in this Christian life is to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit and to keep our ears open to His voice day and night and to always obey His promptings. 

For this we must always be careful to always maintain a clear conscience and to always humble ourselves for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6, 1Tim 1:18-19

If you are willing to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and if you seek fellowship with Him, 2Cor 13:13-14

Keep in step with the Spirit. Gal 5:16,25. Don't be in a hurry and don't lag behind. You will find a truly satisfying Christian life and at the end you will say with satisfaction, that I have finished the race, I have done everything God wanted me to do. John 17:4

God has a work for you to do. Many good things will try to distract you but remember; the good is the enemy of the best. Don't let anything distract you from hearing the voice of God everyday.

Devour God's word with an expectant heart everyday. Spend time everyday in prayer. Love with a clear conscience everyday and humble yourself in every situation. Obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit all the time.

This is the way to find true joy and lasting peace and a satisfying Christian life.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XVII. THE WORD OF GOD

 

The word they heard did not profit them, because it was not mixed by faith in those who heard. Heb 4:2

The word of God demands response of faith. If God speaks to you in His word, you must be apt to believe it; even when what you have been believing is the opposite of what you see in the word of God, you have to change your belief into what the word says and not try to change the word to try to mean what you believe; this is the surest way of self-destruction and the other is the surest way of salvation. 

You must learn to believe what God says if you want Him to protect you.

If you want me to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say.” Is 7:9b(TLB)

Moses sent 12spies to investigate the land but only two believed Gods word. Others believed what they saw. Numbers 13:1-33

God had already told Moses to go in and possess the land but it was the Israelites who suggested that spies be sent first. After they came back, only two of them believed what God had said earlier but the rest believed what their eyes saw. See Deut 1:22-36

There is a great difference in believing what God says and believing what our eyes see.

for we walk by faith, not by sight— 2Cor 5:7. To walk by faith is to walk believing what God has said in His word. It's unfortunate that today many think that walking by faith or living by faith is for full time ministers, but that's not what the bible talks about. To walk by faith is to walk believing that God will fulfil what He has promised in His word. Many are claiming things that God has not promised in His word and when it doesn't happen, they begin to think that God has failed them. Others their faith is based on testimonies of others not God's word. Never let your faith be based on the testimonies of men but on the written word of God.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

True faith has its roots on God's word, not on the testimonies of men or our own selfish desires.

Elijah for example in the mount Carmel contest, says, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. 1King 18:36. It was not Elijahs bright idea but response to the word of God.

Heb 11 is the chapter of the heroes of faith and if we examine it carefully, we notice that these men were not having their own bright ideas about God but were responding to God's word in faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Heb 11:6

The following verses explain this verse,

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Vs 7

Noah responded to Gods warning by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Vs 8

Abraham responded to Gods word.

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Vs 11

Sarah responded to a promise of God.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Vs 13.

It's clear that the type of faith that God speaks of is in response to His word, His warnings, and His promises.

Are you responding to Gods word or are you skeptical about it? 

You can read the word of God but unless you respond in faith, you will thoroughly displease God.

Infact, unbelief is one of the greatest sins in God's eyes.

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. Heb 3:12

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Heb 3:18-19

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:11-12

Are you responding to Gods word in faith or have you listened to the lies of the enemy saying, that that word is not for you or is not for today or have you disregarded God's warning saying they are not serious. 

Learn to believe the word of God. 

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XVII

 THE WORD OF GOD 

The word they heard did not profit them, because it was not mixed by faith in those who heard. Heb 4:2

The word of God demands response of faith. If God speaks to you in His word, you must be apt to believe it; even when what you have been believing is the opposite of what you see in the word of God, you have to change your belief into what the word says and not try to change the word to try to mean what you believe; this is the surest way of self-destruction and the other is the surest way of salvation. 

You must learn to believe what God says if you want Him to protect you.

If you want me to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say.” Is 7:9b(TLB)

Moses sent 12spies to investigate the land but only two believed Gods word. Others believed what they saw. Numbers 13:1-33

God had already told Moses to go in and possess the land but it was the Israelites who suggested that spies be sent first. After they came back, only two of them believed what God had said earlier but the rest believed what their eyes saw. See Deut 1:22-36

There is a great difference in believing what God says and believing what our eyes see.

for we walk by faith, not by sight— 2Cor 5:7. To walk by faith is to walk believing what God has said in His word. It's unfortunate that today many think that walking by faith or living by faith is for full time ministers, but that's not what the bible talks about. To walk by faith is to walk believing that God will fulfil what He has promised in His word. Many are claiming things that God has not promised in His word and when it doesn't happen, they begin to think that God has failed them. Others their faith is based on testimonies of others not God's word. Never let your faith be based on the testimonies of men but on the written word of God.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

True faith has its roots on God's word, not on the testimonies of men or our own selfish desires.

Elijah for example in the mount Carmel contest, says, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. 1King 18:36. It was not Elijahs bright idea but response to the word of God.

Heb 11 is the chapter of the heroes of faith and if we examine it carefully, we notice that these men were not having their own bright ideas about God but were responding to God's word in faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Heb 11:6

The following verses explain this verse,

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Vs 7

Noah responded to Gods warning by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Vs 8

Abraham responded to Gods word.

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Vs 11

Sarah responded to a promise of God.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Vs 13.

It's clear that the type of faith that God speaks of is in response to His word, His warnings, and His promises.

Are you responding to Gods word or are you skeptical about it? 

You can read the word of God but unless you respond in faith, you will thoroughly displease God.

Infact, unbelief is one of the greatest sins in God's eyes.

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. Heb 3:12

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Heb 3:18-19

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:11-12

Are you responding to Gods word in faith or have you listened to the lies of the enemy saying, that that word is not for you or is not for today or have you disregarded God's warning saying they are not serious. 

Learn to believe the word of God. 

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XVI. THE WORD OF GOD

 

But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear and listen to them. Luke 16:29

Moses and the prophets was a phrase referring to the old testament bible. Since the new testament was not written then today we can say that the whole phrase refers to the whole bible from Genesis to revelation.

Abraham is saying to us that, we should listen to what the whole bible says. If you are deceived, you shouldn't blame anyone. There are many deceivers in the world and their main weapon is the ignorance of scriptures among the congregation. 

If you have the bible and don't read it for yourself, you are a prime candidate for deception. Listen to what Abraham says to you today, But Abraham said, They have the whole bible; let them hear and listen to it.

How much seriously do you take God's word? Do you listen to what the bible says? Are you conversant with what it says or what others says that it says. Don't get it second hand. Read it over and over and. 

The bible was not written for preachers but it was written for you.

 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” Heb 10:7.

The scriptures are written about the person called "me". It is written so that the person called me can do God's will. If you don't read the scriptures, you will all your life walk in blindness concerning what God's will is in your life. Your life will be in a shaky foundation. 

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.. 1John 2:17.

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Mat 7:26-27

Do you want to do God's will? Open your bible and study it diligently.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8

Never think that God is pleased with you if you keep your bible neatly. You must read it and highlight verses that blessed you. 

The more you read, the older it becomes, the better you become. 

Listen to a word from Abraham. Let them read their bibles and listen to it.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XV. THE WORD OF GOD

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

This is the way to start each day, with the word of God. We must hear it from God Himself not others. We must learn to go to Gods word and open our hearts to Him and hear a word from Him about every situation we face in life, and about every direction we need to take.

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, Col 1:18-19

Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God must have first place in everything. He must be first above our parents, above our friends, above our pastors. It's unfortunate today that many take the words of their pastors and prophets more seriously than the words of Jesus Christ. 

On this Jesus said, You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 

He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

Mark 7:8-11

Thus we see these preachers in Jesus day, they majored on the commandments of men and set aside the commandments of God, and later cancelling the word of God altogether. 

For example, there are many who fear their pastors and prophets more than God and are taught to think that disobeying the man of God is equal to disobeying God. This is for control and manipulation.

There are many who don't like to be questioned and whatever they say must be obeyed without question. 

There is a place for honour and respect for God's shepherds for guidance and the feeding the flock, but they are to attach God's people to God and not to themselves 

On this Jesus said, so ignore them. Leave them alone; They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” Mathew 15:14

We must never follow anyone blindly and we must never allow anyone to have the place of God in our lives. 

Jesus Christ must have the first place in everything in our lives. 

Paul says we must test everything we hear; 1Thes 5:21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

John says we must never believe every preacher because there are many preachers working for the devil in order to deceive others, but we must test every preacher against the word of God. 1John 4:1, Isaiah 8:20

Remember in this dispensation, every child of God must have a direct connection to Christ. There are many who criticise catholics for teaching that before going to Jesus you must go through Mary, but on the other hand commit the same sin of making those under them to go to God through them. It's easy for one in position of authority to take advantage of those under Him and always make them dependent on them for everything. They make themselves God unto them. This is not God way.

Jesus taught the the purpose to which He was given authority over people was so that He can give them eternal life. He said that eternal life was to know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. John 17:2-3.

The purpose for authority is not so that you can take advantage of those under you, or use your gifts and abilities to control and manipulate them, but that through you, they might come to a deeper knowledge of God and intimate relationship with Christ.

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Heb 1:1-2,

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. Heb 8:11

The best spiritual leaders are those who lead you to get attached to Christ and not themselves.

Many today are deceivers, who Peter says In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; 2Pet 2:3,14

 

Not every preacher is from God, therefore let Jesus have the first place in your life and He will give you discernment to know those who are His and those who are not. 

There are many who start well but fall away along the way therefore we must never give our hearts to men but to Jesus Christ. My Son, give me your heart. Prov 23:26 

Does Jesus and His word have the first place in your life?

Decide that your life will be guided by Him and His word. Let Him be exalted in your life above your family, your desires, your reputation, above all, let Him be exalted above your will.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XIV. THE WORD OF GOD

 

If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. John 7:17

Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21

If we are to hear God's voice in His word or in our conscience; we must first of all be willing to do His will.

Our hearts and minds must be set to go in the direction that God has for us.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7

We must set our face to go in the direction that God has for us if we are to hear the word of God. 

It's easy in our mouths to say that we love God and wants to please Him, but God is not deceived, He looks at the heart to see where your will is set.

When He shows you something you should do, He looks at you. He speaks to us in private to test us. 

Can you imagine if God spoke to us from heaven with a voice where those around us are hearing? We would obey immediately otherwise we would lose our reputation. God speaks to us in private. You neighbor, and Even your closest friend does not know what God speaks to you. You can disobey God and still maintain your reputation but When sees that, He will no longer continue speaking to you. You will become deaf to His voice.

Have you obeyed that voice in your heart that tells you to forgive, to apologise to those you hurt, to repay that debt, to stop doing something, or to do something. No one knows but remember that God is testing you. Make sure you don't fail the test.

The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye( your conscience)is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.

If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

Luke 11:34-36

We learn here that keeping our conscience clear is important to hearing a word from God in our hearts which will illuminate our lives. 

When your conscience is bad, you invite darkness into your life thus you must always maintain a clear conscience.

If your conscience convicts you of something, maybe something you have to repay, or apology you are make, or a sin you must repent of, if you silence that voice of conscience, you will all your life live in darkness. 

Paul warns us that those who ignore the voice of conscience, their faith gets shipwrecked and they become backsliders. 1Tim 1:19

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

Paul says that He did his best to always maintain a clear conscience before God and men. Act 24:16 

This is why He was able to hear God and fulfil His purpose.

He also was determined to do God's will regardless of the cost.

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

Thus for us to hear God, we must be determined to do God will in everything and keep our conscience clear all the time.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XIII. THE WORD OF GOD

 

My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. John 10:27

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Mathew 4:4

The sheep know the voice of Jesus but the little lambs have to learn it.

Once a person gets converted, they come into the fold as a little lamb. The lambs familiarises with the voice of the shepherd by listening to that voice numerous times. 

The voice of God is revealed in His word and therefore, if we are to know His voice, we must first of all study the scriptures diligently. The devils has occupied the minds of many believers with unnecessary information and made them too busy to study God's word. They are always having excuses for not studying God's word for themselves. Are you one of them?

Jesus longs for intimacy with each of the disciples that we may know Him, not theoretically but in reality of life. Both the little lambs and the mature sheep can have intimacy with the shepherd. 

1John 2:13. I am writing to you, FATHERS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW HIM who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, CHILDREN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE FATHER.

Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for THEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST.

The voice of God and the knowledge of God and intimacy with Christ is not reserved for the mature believers but is for everyone, even the one who gets born again today can learn God's voice and fellowship with Him. 

Hearing the voice of the shepherd leads fellowship with Him and following Him in our daily life. You can only follow when you see Him first of all then follow Him in the direction that He is walking. 

God can be speaking to you everyday if you open your heart complete to Him and study His word daily. Will you begin today?

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY XII. THE WORD OF GOD

 

Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Beloved Son, My Chosen One; LISTEN TO HIM!” Lk 9:35

The voice coming from heaven tells us to listen to Jesus. 

God is always speaking to those who have ears to listen. Mark 7:16. Many people have mouths to pray to God but don't have ears to hear Him.

Many complain that God does not speak to them instead of taking the blame for not having time to listen to God.

Many even seek to hear God second-hand from others instead of going to God themselves to hear Him. You don't need any prophet or pastor for you to hear God. They cannot tell you what God's will for your life is. We are in a dispensation where God is our Father, and we are His children and He wants each of us, even the newest believer to have a direct connection to Christ not through others. Gal 4:6, Rom 8:15The work of the five fold ministry is to equip believers and feeding them with the word of God. Jer 3:15, Ezek 34:23. Eph 4:11-12

God in numerous times says to His children, listen to me. Listen to me. Isaiah 46:3, 48:1, 51:1, 55:2, 66:5.

Listening to the word of God is primary in our walk with God. It's more important than all the services and sacrifices we can do for Him. 1Sam 15:22, Luke 10:41-43. 

God wants to speak to you first hand as a Father speaks to His child and as a child listens to the Father, so the Lord wants you to learn to listen to Him always. Not once in a week but everyday and every moment even in your busyness; Your ear must always be open to hear His voice.

It's possible to read the bible and not hear God. 2Cor 3:6. Your heart and mind must be open to the Spirit of God as you read the scriptures to make it real to you.

As we walk, when we there are dangers ahead, God always warns us if we are willing to hear Him. When we are at crossroads, He tells us which direction to take. Isaiah 30:20-21. 

If God speaks to you and you don't listen, you can become dull of hearing and cease to hear His voice. _Heb 5:11_ . 

If God tells you to do something and you fail to obey, your spiritual ears becomes a little bit deaf, if you disobey some other time, deafness increases and you can be completely deaf and blind to the voice of God.

Never rely on your past experiences. God may have been using you and speaking to you sometimes back but today you may have departed from His. It's not God who leaves us but it's us who leave Him and follow our own way. _2Chron 29:6, Jer 2:17_ 

If you are sincere and honest, even if you are failing, God will never leave you, but if you are a hypocrite and proud, God will hide His face from you.

Learn to listen to God's voice. 

Value fellowship with God more that any service or offering or sacrifices you can give to Him.

Let your inner ears always to hear a word from God in everything circumstance or situation that we face. 

Don't walk blindly along life's narrow way. Learn to listen to God all the time. Never be too busy to listen to God's voice 

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@ _Blessed Mshindi Mambo_

STUDY XI. THE WORD OF GOD

 

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:2

The word of God cleanses us.

There are three types of cleansing in Gods word.

Cleansing by the blood of Jesus from our guilt and sins and conscience. Rev 1;5, Heb 9:14.

Cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of flesh and spirit so be pure just as Christ is pure in our thoughts and motives and attitudes and deeds and speech. 2Cor 7:1, 1John 3:3.

Cleansing by the word of God. John 15:3.

Paul says that Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:25-27.

Our lives are full of blemishes and wrinkles and Jesus uses His word to cleanse us, and straighten us. 

When we give ourselves wholy to Gods us, our lives will become purer. Our thoughts will become purer. Our attitudes and motives will be cleansed.

Jesus prays that "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17. 

Gods word purifies us. He starts with our thoughts and attitudes because most of the things we do are as a result of our thoughts and attitudes.

Paul's says that we should not be conformed to this world in our minds but allow our minds to be renewed by God's word so that we can be able to discern the will of God, which is good, complete and perfect. Rom 12:2

Paul warns that the first place the devil attacks us in order to lead us astray is in our minds. 2Cor 11:3, 10:4-5. 

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, Instead, be renewed in your thoughts and attitudes. and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Eph 4:22-24

We see here that the corruption starts in the mind and renewal also starts in the mind.

Peace of God is in our hearts and minds. Phil 4:7

Separation from God starts in the mind. Col 1:21

Giving up and becoming weary in our Christian walk starts in the mind. Rom 12:3

Our minds and attitudes determine whether we continue in sin or not. 1Pet 4:1.

We can conclude that if the devil captures your thought life,he has won a mighty victory over you. We must therefore soak ourselves in God's word and allow it to renew our minds. 

We must never go to Gods word in a fixed mind but an open mind and heart that is ready when you see something different from God's word that what we are used to think is right, we throw away what we have thought or practiced even if we have done it for years or we have found it in our church traditions, if it's wrong, we change our minds about it and Allow God's word to cleanse us; in our thoughts and attitudes. In our motives and action s and speech.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY X. THE WORD OF GOD

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Heb 1:1-2

It's a privilege that the way God speaks to us today is not as He spoke in the old covenant times. Those times He spoke to the people through the prophets, but now in this dispensation, God speaks to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This is to mean that you don't need any prophet to tell you what God says about you. There are many people who get deceived by thinking that "God only speaks through the man of God" and whatever they say is the word of God. Not necessarily. It maybe or not be. God wants to speak to directly. He doesn't want a mediator between you and Him. In this dispensation, He has become our Father. Jesus taught to pray in Mathew 6:9, saying "Our Father who art in Heaven".

When the Holy Spirit comes in our hearts, He cries out in our hearts to God, abba, Father, that is, We call God Dad. Gal 4:6, Rom 8:15.

God wants to speak to us freely and directly as a Father speaks to his son or daughter. No matter how many children there are in a family, each child has equal access to their Father and none needs the consent of the other before going to the Father, and the Father directly speaks to each child. When the child is far away from home, the Father may send a message through other of His children. 

That is to say, that if the only time you hear God speaking to you is through other people, then you must be very far from Him. Come back Home.

It's God who appoints apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists and teachers, but their work is to build God's children so that they can do the work of ministry. Eph 4:11. 

Each child has a specific purpose and function in the body of Christ, but God wants to communicate the purpose of each person to each individual.

God Himself wants to tell you what to do if you have ears to hear, but because many don't have ears to hear, God uses others to cause the message to reach you. 

Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

The youngest believers and the most mature believer can individually know God. 

John writes about spiritual children and mature believers the same thing saying, they know the Father. 1John 2:13.

You don't need any prophet to tell you what God's will is for your life.

Jesus said to them, “The reason you are wrong, is because you don't know the Scriptures nor the power of God? Mark 12:24.

How much of the scriptures do you know? God always speaks to us but through His word. If we don't fill our hearts with scriptures, and fill it with other things, it will be very difficult for Him to speak to us. He speaks to us through Jesus. He shows us the life of Jesus and helps us apply it in our daily lives. 

The Holy Spirit reminds us what Jesus has already spoken to us in the scriptures. John 14:26. The Holy Spirit shows us the glory of Jesus and transforms us into the same image from one degree of glory to a higher level progressively as we look unto Jesus. 2Cor 3:18, Heb 12:2.

God speaks to us today not through the prophets but through Jesus Christ. 

He has become our Father and we have become His children.

Every child have equal access to the Father and each can hear the Father themselves without the consent of the elder children. 

God wants to tell you your specific purpose to which He created you for directly to you not through others.

Seek to know Him even if you are a one day old believer, you can know God yourself.

God appoints apostles prophets pastors evangelists and teachers to build you up not to control your life. 

Know God for yourself. Seek Him. He will be found if you seek Him wholeheartedly

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY IX. THE WORD OF GOD

 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away. Mark 13:31

so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil. Heb 6:18-19

Gods word is reliable. We can hold it firmly without fear. It's sure and steadfast. It's immovable and reliable. There is nothing in this world as sure as God's word. 

The wisest thing to do is therefore to set our hope on it. On what is written. It's impossible for God to lie. What is written shall surely come to pass.

The word of God is food to the spitual man also. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 1Pet 2:2. There are many things that God has kept for us, but just like a little child does not receive all his father's wealth until he grows up and matures, in the same way we cannot receive all that God has for us until we grow in maturity. Gal 4:1-2. Without food, it's impossible to grow. Without soaking yourself the word of God, it's impossible for you to grow spiritually. 

One has to exercise muscles so that they may become strong.

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Heb 5:12-14

We must learn to exercise the word of God for us to grow to maturity. Our senses must be used to discern what is good and what is wrong.

The purpose with which God allows temptations to come to us is so that in resisting them we may grow stronger spiritual muscles. For every temptation you overcome, there is an increase in the spiritual strength. Remember that it's because we eat that we are able to work physically. In the same way, when we feed ourselves in the word of God, we will have the inner strength to face temptations that come in our daily lives.

How much spiritual food do you eat from your bible every day? Remember that that the food you ate 3days ago is not enough to sustain you today. You have to eat today. You may have been well fed spiritually days ago, but today also you must eat if you are to continue to grow.

Soak yourself in the word of God. Let it penetrate every fibre of your being 

Soak yourself in the word of God. Let it penetrate every fibre of your being 

Soak yourself in the word of God. Let it penetrate every fibre of your being 

Soak yourself in the word of God. Let it penetrate every fibre of your being 

Soak yourself in the word of God. Let it penetrate every fibre of your being 

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY VIII. THE WORD OF GOD

 

There are many chapters in the bible but the longest of all is Psalm 119. Interestingly, the only subject is on the word of God. God in His wisdom decided to show us how much He values His word. In fact, Psalm 138:2 says that "I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and YOU HAVE MAGNIFIED YOUR WORD ABOVE ALL YOUR NAME!"

 If God has magnified His word, what would be the wisest position we can take? Only the only God has taken, and that is to magnify His word above everything else. The biggest thing in your eyes must be the word of God. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. 

Psalm 119:1-18

Those who obey God's word are blessed and blameless. Those who seek Him wholeheartedly obeying Him are blessed. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

God has commanded that we keep His commands diligently.

The psalms desires to orient His mind in the direction of keeping God's commands and He would never be ashamed looking at God's word.

If our minds are not set towards obedience to God, shame will accompany us looking at God's word because it will bring light to the dark areas in our lives. 

John says that light shines in the darkness. John 1:5. The word of God will confront the hidden sins in your life and if you're not willing to repent, you will be hardened.

When our hearts are set to obey God, it will lead to thanksgiving in our hearts because our eyes will be opened to see God's righteousness, but when we are not set to obey God, we will be full of complaints and murmuring saying that the commands of God are to bind us and not give us freedom.

God will never forsake those who have made up their minds to obey God.

The only way a young person who is surrounded by evil can live a pure godly life is by living according to God's word.

When we are determined to obey God wholeheartedly, God will not allow us fall into deception.

If we hide God's word in our hearts as a treasure, it will keep us from sinning against God.

We must have a desire that God will teach us His word. We cannot understand it without His help. And our mouths must be filled with Gods word. Our hearts must greatly rejoice in God's word , meditate and reflect on His ways.

It's God's goodness that helps us to keep His word. We cannot keep it in our own strength but we must receive the help of God.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY VII. THE WORD OF GOD

 

JESUS AS THE WORD OF GOD 

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Rev 19:13

Jesus Christ is known as the word of God. He says that the scriptures testify of Him. John 5:39

The whole bible, has only one subject. It talks about Jesus Christ. We must therefore study it knowing that is to help us see Jesus.

After His resurrection, Jesus exposed to His disciples from Genesis to Malachi things concerning Himself. Luke 24:27

We are supposed to See Jesus in the bible, not a doctrine but the person of Christ. The disciples exclamed; "We desire to see Jesus" John 12:21

We must have a desire in our hearts to see Jesus in the scriptures not a doctrine. 

The secret of living a godly, holy, pure life is in see the person of Jesus who lived as a man, who kept His spirit pure. 1Tim 3:16.

God is called the God of all encouragement. 2Cor 1:3.

Heb 12:2-3 tells us that the reason we get discouraged in our Christian race is because our eyes don't see Jesus, but when our eyes are fixed on the person of Jesus, we will never get discouraged or give up.

Thus we can see that the way God is always encouraging us is by opening our eyes to see Jesus. The more of Christ we see, the more encouraged we become, and the more we become a source of encouragement to others.

James that when we look at the perfect law of liberty. James 1:25

The law , or God word is meant to set us free not bring us into bondage. It's the perfect law that sets us free.

Does the word of God set you free or does it make you feel bound by rules and regulations?

2Cor 3:17-18.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

James 1:23

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

We see that the word of is also seen as a mirror. Now, The Holy Spirit is the Spirit that gives freedom. The freedom comes as we see the glory of Jesus in the scriptures.

As the Holy Spirit shows us the nature of Christ, He consequently transforms us into the same image from one degree of glory to another.

This is the secret of living a holy life. The secret of living a godly life is seeing the glory of Christ; but this we are shown by the Holy Spirit.

We must therefore constantly seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that He can show us the glory of Christ in the scriptures. Otherwise, without the Holy Spirit we will see a doctrine or verses and your life will not get transformed. 

If your life is to transformed, we must see Jesus in the bible.

As you study God's word, seek to God to fill your heart with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to open your inner eyes that you may see Jesus.

Let your constant cry be, "Lord, I want to see you. I want to see your glory."

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY VI. THE WORD OF GOD

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?

Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other. Jer 23:29-30

We see that God's word is like fire that burns the chaff. Like a hammer that breaks the rocks.

He is talking about a servant of God speaking His word. It becomes a fire to those listening and burns all falsehood. It also breaks the hard hearts in pieces. It humbles the proud. 

But the same m ofessage will not have the same impact if stolen from someone else. For example, you may listen to an anointed message and decide to preach it to others. It will not have the same anointing. In fact God says He is against those who copy messages from others and preach it pretending to be from God. 

God does not anoint a message. He anoints the messager. Every messager must be. 

If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. Jer 23:22.

The messager must stand at the counsel of God and listen to the word of God from God himself and then speak that word to the ones he is sent to. The word from God will always cause God's people to turn from their sins and live for God.

We can therefore conclude that as Amos said in Amos 8:11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD.

Hearing is those listening. The words of the Lord, is the prophetic message from God.

Even if there are thousands of sermons being preached, thousands of devotionals being written; it's rare to hear the prophetic words of the Lord. What many hear, or read is what their itching ears wants to hear. There are very few of God's servants who stands in the Lord counsel and listen to God. Many get their messages through books and sermons and their own intellect. The prove is that the listeners are not changed by the messages and they don't turn from the evil of their doing.

Not everyone who preaches is sent by God. A message from God will always lead you to God and not get you attached to the messager.

Isaiah 8:20

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. 

The listener also must study God's word for themselves and not just believe anything anyone says. Paul's tells us not to despise prophesing but to test everything and take what is good and leave the rest. 1Thes 5:20-21

John warns us not to believe every spirit because not every spirit comes from God. But we must test the spirits to see whether they are from God. 1John 4:1

Learn to stand in the counsel of God. Don't wait for anyone to tell you what God's word says. Read the bible for yourself. Know God for yourself otherwise you are a prime candidate for deception. Wake up before it's too late. 

Every child of God has a circle around them who they are the only person who can reach them. A word of God does not mean a one hour sermon, but it can be just one sentence, it can be a word of encouragement, an exhortation, a rebuke, a teaching, a correction, .... But every child of God must learn to stand in the presence of God and listen to what the Lord wants to say to them. 

The first interest God has is in making the messager before giving the messager a message to others. 

Transforming power works in us before God using us to transform others. Before getting a message for others, get for your own life and application and let it change you first.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo