Passion For Jesus Ministries

The Word of God is more than just a conglomeration of true statements or important concepts. It offers us much more than just good ideas. It even offers us more than God ideas. The Word of God is alive and has supernatural power (Divine might) to transform the human spirit. Sadly, it is one of the most underrated and under utilized tools in the universe. Why? Because the Word of God has the power to stoke the fire of love in our hearts like nothing else.

THE LIVING WORD

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Let’s look at how the Word became so impassioned and alive within Jeremiah that it was like a burning fire.

8 …For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. 9 If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:8-9)

…But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. (Jeremiah 20:9 NKJ)

Jesus used the Scriptures to reveal Himself to two disciples in the book of Luke. The result was again likened to a burning fire.

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:27, 32)

In Acts 20:32, Paul is speaking to the elders of the church of Ephesus. He had taken part in a great revival there and had been there for three years. As he was about to leave Ephesus, he committed the Ephesian believers to God’s care and to the word of His grace. Why, Paul? Paul understood the ability of the word of God to release (impart) grace (Divine power) into the human heart.

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

Now may I shock you? When Paul said that he commended the Ephesian believers to the Word of God which is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified, he was not suggesting that they start a Bible study. Here is a serendipity, studying the Word is not enough to give us life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Studying the Bible is immensely important, absolutely necessary. But I have news for you; Bible study isn’t the main ingredient in the Christian walk. What? God’s strongest desire is not that you would study the Bible like you would any other book. God’s desire is that we would bring His written words and use them to enter into dialogue with the living Word, Jesus. The Bible then becomes the fuel to enrich our conversation with Him.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)

The Pharisees in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry thought that they could have life in God through studying the Scriptures. And study them they did! They knew the Scriptures. They knew the Scriptures but they had no life. They could not find life because they were not willing to come to the One the Scriptures testified of, the One who is life. They approached the study of the Scriptures with their minds, but Jesus says of them that love for God was not in their hearts.

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. (John 5:39-40, 42)

If we abide, or live in the truths of His Word we are truly followers of Jesus. We come to know the One who is Truth. This ongoing encounter with the living Word is able to liberate our heart from any amount of darkness that is in our souls.

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

If we desire to abide in His Word, we must turn away from all filthiness. This is not just immorality. Filthiness includes having a wrong spirit that motivates our activity, whether in thought, word or deed. It is anything that is not in agreement with the heart of God.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

We must approach the Word with a spirit of obedience - a commitment to obey His commands and submit to the Holy Spirit’s leadership in every area of our life. God imparts the Word to our spirit to the degree we seek Him in humility. The word is implanted as an incorruptible seed in our heart which can take root and grow if properly cared for. Nothing can overpower the life of God that is inherent in this seed. It is able to deliver our soul from the filthiness and wickedness that would otherwise thrive in our heart. (See Matthew 13:3-23 for the parable of the sower.)

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever…” (1 Peter 1:23-25)

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)

THE DEVOTIONAL DIALOGUE: COMING TO JESUS TO FIND LIFE

Let me share with you some practical ways you can connect with the heart of God as you interact with God through His Word.

To begin with, we must approach all of our interaction with God’s Word with a spirit of love or devotion towards God. This is simply carrying an “I love You” in your heart as you read His word and speak to Him as you read it. Obedience is mandatory, love is voluntary. Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. No question. So God is not looking for obedience. God is after the voluntary response of love from each individual heart. By approaching Him in this way, our Bible study becomes affection-based instead of solely an intellectual pursuit.

Do not attempt to cover too much material at once. Many devise Bible reading plans or Bible study programs to cover x-amount of Scriptures or chapters a day. Stop it! It doesn’t work. It will never work. The reason why it will never work is the goal is not quantity, but quality. Our devotional dialogue with God is conversational in nature. Just as a human-to-human conversation would be, it is helpful to pause every few moments or phrases throughout your study to both speak and listen to God.

Another thing that can be helpful to this dialogue is journaling. As you read the Word, and discuss what you are reading with the Author of what you are reading, take the time to write down your prayers, questions, or insights. These can be added to in the future as God changes your circumstances, answers your questions, and gives you deeper revelation.

Responding to God through His Word can be as simple as taking time to thank Him for the truths in the verse you are reading, or asking Him for further understanding. This is an excellent way to respond to His promises.

When reading a command, an admonition to do something, or to refrain from doing something, we must respond by taking the time to speak to Jesus and committing to obey what He asks of us. We have to take the time to ask God for the strength to follow His Word. When a passage is difficult, ask God to give you understanding; to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…(Ephesians 1:17-18)

Even if you feel you understand the passage you’re studying, ask God for more understanding. Especially when you think that you understand the passage you are studying, ask for further understanding. The Holy Spirit desires to lead us into all truth, and will do so as we continue in the Word. Not as we study the Word, but as we encounter the Living Word through the written Word. Eternal life is found in an intimate knowing of God Himself, not just in an intellectual grasping of the Scriptures.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

When we approach our daily interaction with God’s Word in a way that brings us into communion with Him, it will drastically transform our lives. We will reap from whatever we have sown. If you have been planting bad seed, pray for crop failure! And then, for goodness’ sake, change the seed that you are planting!

If we live in the Word not just to study it, but to turn it into God-centered, loving, devotional dialogue with the commitment to obey it, we are guaranteed to reap the blessed fruit of righteousness. The impact may not be felt immediately or even overnight. Not all growth will be evident in our own estimation, but we will be changed over the months and years.

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:7-9)

Our enemy understands the principle of sowing and reaping, and he desires to use it against us. Paul warns us of the devil’s desire to lead us astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus. Simplicity in this instance refers to having a singular focus as opposed to divided affections.

2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2-3)

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy… But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity {of devotion} to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB)

We have God’s Word on the results if we follow this Divine prescription:

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you… (James 4:8)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)

If you decide, as an act of your will, to draw near to God, you have His Word that He rewards those who seek Him, with the object of their seeking - Himself!