11 August 2018

WE CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT THE WORD

By John Ollis

My heart continues to be stirred by the Holy Spirit regarding the importance of the Word of God in a person’s life. It begins, prior to our conversion when the Word of God is shared with us, either through someone witnessing to us, or by the preaching of the Word, the Holy Spirit takes that Word and plants it as a seed (sperma) into the womb of our heart, conception takes place and we are born again through that Word that lives and abides for ever 1 Peter 1:23 NKJV  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 

THAT IS JUST THE START OF THE ROLE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE.

 With Biblical Discipleship, a new Believer is strongly encouraged to daily read and study and meditate on the Word of God, without discipleship some may read the Bible out of duty, and others simply suffer with spiritual anorexia nervosa and have no real appetite at all for the Word of God. God’s plan is that we learn to recognise the essential importance of the place of the Word of God in our spiritual life and development.
Three times in Psalm 119 (verses 25,107 & 154) the Psalmist/s declares QUICKEN (KJV)  REVIVE (NKJV) me according to your Word. Because of our sinful nature (the bias towards sin) we need to learn to live the LIFE OF REPENTANCE, and let the Word of God work in us. The words revive and quicken have the picture of bringing something back to full life and vigor. I saw in my mind’s eye a “defibulator” and the two paddles being placed on a person’s body, and the shock quickening and reviving the “unwell” person. I think it is significant that the Psalmist/s mention three times in one Psalm the importance of the Word of God to revive and quicken us.

TO ME THIS MUST BE THE BELIEVER’S LIFESTYLE.

We need a revelation not only that “This Book will keep me from sin, but sin will keep me  from this Book” but just as daily we need to have an good diet of food and drink, we must have a good balanced diet of the Word if God, to help us “have a change of mind” (repentant) and continually receive the repairing ministry of the Word of God to shape us into the image of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

MAY THE WORD OF GOD DOMINATE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, WITHOUT IT WE WILL NEVER BE THE PERSON GOD ORDAINED US TO BE