The Word of God changed my life. It’s more than ink on a page. It is supernatural! Some years ago while on vacation my wife and I visited a large Church. It was like walking into a mall. As we sat for service we were excited to see what service would be like. As we looked around in the sanctuary people were coming in. I noticed hardly anyone was carrying a Bible. Maybe some were using electronic devices, I don’t know. The service lasted about an hour so that the next crowd could come in for the next service. It was like, “That’s it?” It was a nice place, a good message but wasn’t what we were used to.
When I was in Bible college in the early eighties and attending Church everyone brought a Bible. Not only that but a notebook to take notes. We were hungry for the Word of God. We couldn’t get enough. There were always midweek services, conferences, and discipleship groups. You went to as many meetings as you could. It was awesome. One meeting I went to was incredible. After the teaching, there was ministry time. The presence of God was strong and the minister started to have Words of knowledge regarding healing. I saw many miracles that night. I’ll never forget it. I saw legs being stretched out, backs being healed and people being healed of various things. It just made me more hungry for God and His Word. ( Mk 16:17-20 )
I love to study God’s Word it has been a lifelong journey. I think we have lost something when it comes to not bringing our Bibles to Church. We’ve made it convenient for people by putting some scriptures up on a screen. I did that when I was pastoring. I’m not saying that’s wrong. But it’s different when you follow along in your own Bible and especially when you take notes. Obviously this really helps in remembering a sermon and it also is an opportunity to listen to the Holy Spirit impart something to you personally about what you’re hearing. This is part of Christian discipleship, hearing, learning, studying and applying the scriptures. ( Rom 10:17 )
In my opinion, there is a crisis across the board in some American churches when it comes to the lack of study of God’s Word and biblical discipleship. I think the less we study the scriptures the more we are open to lies and deceptions of Satan and theeworld. The more we will embrace the philosophy of the present culture around us. I think it will cause us to compromise in our walk with Christ. There will be a lack of transformation and unfortunately, we end up looking more like non-Christians than like Christ. Apostle Paul calls this carnal Christianity (flesh ruled)-(1 Cor 3:1-3 ). It’s more than just ink on a page.
“A recent LifeWay Research study found only 45 percent of those who regularly attend church read the Bible more than once a week. Over 40 percent of the people attending read their Bible occasionally, maybe once or twice a month. Almost 1 in 5 churchgoers say they never read the Bible.
This says a lot doesn’t it? If God’s Word has the answer for everything in our lives why aren’t we in it more? Is it just for the pastor, the missionary, the church leader, or the church worker? Is just hearing a message on Sunday morning enough? It’s no wonder we see very little change and transformation in Christian lives. I’m sure the devil likes that we aren’t in the Word of God like we should be. He loves more than anything to distract us from it. The devil wants to steal the Word of God from us. ( Matt 13:19, Mark 4:14-15 )
This is what Jesus said, “Matthew 4:4 (AMP) -4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Again the Apostle Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) -13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works (transformation) in you who believe.
The Amplified Bible puts it this way in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (AMP) –13 And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it]. It’s more than ink on a page. We need to fall in love with God’s Word again. To do so is to fall in love with God. For it is His heart, mind, and will written to us in God-breathed inspired words. Let’s welcome the Word of God like a close and beloved friend!
Some of my favorite scriptures are ( Acts 18:24 and Acts 17:10-11). These verses bring home this whole idea of discipleship and the study of God’s Word. Apollo was mighty in the scriptures and taught accurately the Word of God. Yet He was open to further teaching from the scriptures. The folks at Berea searched the scripture diligently and daily what they heard in service was true. That’s a good practice. In Acts 17:11 Passion translation, it reads: -11 That night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to the city of Berea, where they once again went into the synagogue. They found that the Jews of Berea were of more noble character and much more open-minded than those of Thessalonica. They were hungry to learn and eagerly received the word. Every day they opened the scrolls of Scripture to search and examine them, to verify that what Paul taught them was true. A large number of Jews became believers in Jesus, along with quite a few influential Greek women and men.
It’s more than ink on a page.
Let’s face it and realize that without a steady influx of God’s Word into our lives we cannot grow spiritually. There will be little or no transformation. By that I mean we will not be more like Christ in our character and behavior. There will be a lack of true holiness expressed in our daily lives through our souls and bodies. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we are a spirit, soul ( mind, will, and emotions ) and body. ( 1 Thess. 5:23 ) In our spirit we are complete in Christ. ( Col 2:10 ) In our born again spirit we are justified, made righteous, pure, holy and sanctified (set apart unto God )-( Rom 5:1-2, 2 Cor 5:17 )
The Christian life is about renewing our minds and walking out these truths. It is putting off the old carnal (fleshly) self and putting on the new man. Ephesians 4:22-24 (KJV) -22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18 (AMP) 18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. The Bible is God’s mirror reflecting to us who we are in Christ! It’s much easier to be holy when in your spirit you are holy in Christ. You’re not trying to be holy but allowing His holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit to come through your life!
Philemon 1:6 (AMP) -6 [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory]. Did you get that? Acknowledging every good thing that is ours in Christ. Yes, we sin at times; miss the mark, and our feelings and emotions can get the best of us. But we don’t focus on our sins and shortcomings. We focus on Christ. We agree with God that we missed it and have fallen short of what He desires. Again in Ephesians 4:12-14 Apostle Paul encourages the Saints, not sinners to go onto maturity. (AMP) –12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), 13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
I used to love psychology and I was always interested in why people did the things they do as well as myself. What was the source and the motivation that caused them to get on the wrong track? Of course, For me, I was only dealing on a soulish and physical level. I soon realized after being Born Again that we aren’t just a soul and body. I needed a new heart (Ephesians 2:1-5 ). Look at this verse: Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV) –26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Also in Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) –1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, ( Not renewing your feelings and emotions) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Before I came to Christ, as a young person I played around with the Ouija Board, levitation. When I was in my early twenties for a time I got into Zen meditation and Eastern religion. If you don’t know what this is? “It is a meditation technique rooted in Buddhist psychology. The goal of Zen meditation is to regulate attention. It’s sometimes referred to as a practice that involves “thinking about not thinking.” I was depressed a lot, frustrated with my life, lonely, and addicted to pornography. I thought this was an answer to my struggles. I also read a lot from the self-help and motivational author Wayne Dyer. He advocated a progressive, dharmic (Hinduism, Buddhism), and eco-friendly lifestyle that rests on the ancient text and biblical references. Here we see a mixture of teachings. Mixing half-truths or lies with Biblical truth is dangerous! It leads to a faulty and deceptive foundation.
Then someone I worked with introduced me to Christ and Church. This changed everything. The pastor was an excellent Bible teacher and the home groups were the best. I made so many genuine friends. It was one of the best years of my life. I experienced the love of God for the first time. The Word of God made a difference.
It’s more than ink on a page.
I finally found my answer. I still struggled with things even after being saved. We are all still in the process of maturing in Christ. However, I learned not to beat myself up anymore or see myself as a failure. I kept my eyes on Jesus, trusting in the Word of God to make a difference.
Did you know the goal of a Christian life is not to make our flesh, carnal nature better? It’s learning to obey God and be led by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. It is to walk in the Spirit ( The love of God) and not after the flesh. To be Christ-like and exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit.of God. Look at this verse from the mouth of Jesus: John 8:31-32 (KJV) -31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Only the Biblical truth you know can set you free in every area of your life. I tried so many things to overcome bad behavior, negative emotions, and sinful thoughts. Yet it wasn’t until I started to read and study and obey the Word of God that I saw a difference. We need to remind ourselves that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works. We continue by grace through faith, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ) We don’t rely on culture, man’s ideas, different philosophies, or self-imposed harsh disciplines to reach spiritual maturity. The right discipline is the study and obedience to the scriptures in our lives. ( 2 Tim 2:15 )
Apostle Paul makes reference to a works/performance mentality in Colossians 2:20-23 (AMP) –20 If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?—such as] 21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], 22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. 23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]
He expresses the same tone in Galatians 3:2-3 (NKJV) –2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
It’s my opinion that when we get away from Biblical truth, the absolute truth of God’s Word as a means of transformation we fall prey to deceptive unbiblical practices. Our culture today is more about feelings, emotions, and subjective truth rather than absolute truth. We live in a post-modern culture where your truth is not my truth. I’m not against feelings and emotions. God gave them to us. Yet they are never to dominate our lives. We need to live by the truth of God’s Word, not feelings. Remember God is Spirit (John 4:24). We relate to God on a spiritual level, not just on a soulish, or emotional level. Of course, our soul is involved but it doesn’t supersede the spirit. It goes on to say that we worship Him in spirit and in truth. It is with our Born-Again spirit that we relate and connect to God. If we want to see real change in our lives, it’s the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. They are the real game changers. It’s more than ink on a page!
The Bible is a supernatural God-inspired book that is received by faith, obeyed, and acted upon. (2Timothy 3:16-17 )Take a look at this verse from Apostle Paul addressing the deception brought by Satan. 2 Thessalonians 2:10– and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. He said they received not the love of the truth, not the love of feelings or experiences. There is a big difference. The Bible is truth ( John 17:17 ) . Only truth not feelings or experiences can change your life. Thank God for feelings and godly experiences but we don’t live by them or seek them.
In conclusion, this was a long blog but I hope this was a blessing to you and helpful. Take time to be in God’s Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you its life-changing truths. It’s more than ink on a page. Get into the Word of God and the Word of God will get into you!
( Col 3:16 ) Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) –6 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
God bless!
Brent and Linda
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