[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning the 5th of May, 2019 at Pilgrim Reformed Church. Look for the video of our services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
The word of God… When we speak that phrase, we’re usually referring to our Holy Bible. We flip the pages and say something like, “These are the words of God.” Or before reading scripture, someone may say, “Hear the word of God.” And our Bible does indeed contain God’s word, recorded by men and women that He spoke to and breather inspiration into.
But there’s more to God’s word than words. For instance, in Genesis, and confirmed in the Psalms, we can read that God spoke all of creation into existence with His Word. The Apostle John gives us a little more clarity and better understanding into God’s Word, in the opening words of his Gospel account. Please listen and follow along as I read from John’s Gospel account, chapter 1 verses 1 through 5 and 10 through 14, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
But there’s more to God’s word than words. For instance, in Genesis, and confirmed in the Psalms, we can read that God spoke all of creation into existence with His Word. The Apostle John gives us a little more clarity and better understanding into God’s Word, in the opening words of his Gospel account. Please listen and follow along as I read from John’s Gospel account, chapter 1 verses 1 through 5 and 10 through 14, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
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 nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
--John 1:1-5, 10-14 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your Son Jesus into this world to be a beacon of hope, an unstoppable light showing the way to our salvation. You know how easy it is for us to fall into Satan’s traps, to trip over the stumbling blocks he puts in our way. Jesus lights our way so we can see and avoid those traps. Thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You want us not to get lost on our way to You. Please help us not only see and be guided by Your Light ourselves, but to also share Your Word with others. Speak to us this morning, Father, speak directly to our hearts, and etch Your message there that we need to understand and follow. This we pray in the blessed name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.
Would you believe that the average person spends one-fifth of their life talking? That's what the statistics say, according to an article in the June 15, 1992 issue of Today in the Word. If all of our words were put into print, then a single day's words would fill a 50-page book, while in a year's time the average person's words would fill 132 books of 200 pages each! Among all those words, how many are spoken in anger, carelessness, or haste?
Author Henry N. Ferguson once asked, "If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"
If we earned ten cents for every kind word spoken on behalf of or to another, but lost five cents for every unkind word, would we be rich or poor? How many of those words in the 50-page books we speak daily are spoken to praise God? How many are uttered to spread the Good News of salvation through Christ Jesus? How many are mentioned as witness and testimony to what Jesus has done, and continues to do, in our lives? How many dimes have we earned compared to the nickels we’ve lost?
The Word of God… John tells us that Jesus is God's Word, the Light that the darkness cannot overcome, the Word that became flesh to live among us, the Word that created the universe and everything that was made. Jesus came into that created world, in the flesh, but even His own people did not know Him, did not accept Him for who He is. If God’s chosen people did not recognize God’s Word in the flesh, how can the rest of us know Him?
The Apostle Paul answers that question, by asking a few of his own. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church in Rome, from chapter 10 of his letter to the Romans, verses 13 through 17…
Paul claims that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But how can people know hear God's Word, and learn about salvation through His Word, unless someone preaches it to them? You may remember me saying in the past that the Holy Spirit used this passage to prod me into finally deciding to enter into God’s ministry, to preach His word.
Of course, there are many ways to preach, and some even use words. We can preach with our love, with our caring, with our actions, with our helping those who need our help. We can preach with our prayers, and with not being fearful of what others may think when we pray in public, like giving thanks for our meal. We can preach the God’s Word in how we live our lives. And we can preach with words, sharing our testimony.
In that passage from his letter to the Romans, Paul quoted Isaiah, arguably the greatest Jewish prophet. Isaiah spoke for God, and also spoke of God’s Word. Listen to what God said in Isaiah’s book, chapter 55, verses 10 and 11…
God said that when He sent His word out for a purpose, it would not return empty, but would accomplish that purpose. Jesus fully accomplished God's purpose for Him on earth, and will someday return to complete God’s plan.
But until that day, He left us work to do. You know the Great Commission, and you’ve heard me quote it from the Apostle Matthew’s Gospel account many times. But listen to how the Apostle Mark recorded that command in his Gospel account, from chapter 16 verses 14 through 16…
We are to go into the world and “preach the Gospel to every creature”. You know, it wasn’t just mankind that fell because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve. All of creation is under the same curse. Could how we treat animals be considered as a form of preaching to them? Something to think about.
But the point is, Jesus commands us all to preach the Gospel, and to everyone in the world. We are to go out to them, where they are, and tell them the Good News. A little earlier in Mark’s account, Jesus cautions us about being hesitant to do so. In chapter 8 verse 39 of Mark’s Book, Jesus says…
Don’t be ashamed to preach the Gospel. Don’t be afraid to stand up for Jesus and tell others just what He means to you, what He has done for you. Don’t be timid or fearful or hesitant to share His word, His message.
The Gideon’s are doing their part in this. Now let’s do ours. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your Word spoke creation into existence, and then came to save us from ourselves. Thank You, Father, for send Your Light into this dark world, that those who believe in Him will be saved. Please forgive us when we fail to follow through with sharing the Good News Your Word brings. Father, we repent of our timidity, of our hesitation, of our fear. Forgive us for not always obeying You. Please help us be strong and courageous in service to You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…
Lord Jesus, You came into Your own, but Your people did not accept You as sent from God. You shine God’s light into the darkness to show us the way to salvation. Please help us do as You would have us do, Lord. Give us the courage to go out into the world sharing the Gospel. Help us preach the Good News of salvation to others, by our words and deeds and action. Help us lead others into Your light and show them the way.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord, our Master, our Savior. Amen.
Would you believe that the average person spends one-fifth of their life talking? That's what the statistics say, according to an article in the June 15, 1992 issue of Today in the Word. If all of our words were put into print, then a single day's words would fill a 50-page book, while in a year's time the average person's words would fill 132 books of 200 pages each! Among all those words, how many are spoken in anger, carelessness, or haste?
Author Henry N. Ferguson once asked, "If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"
If we earned ten cents for every kind word spoken on behalf of or to another, but lost five cents for every unkind word, would we be rich or poor? How many of those words in the 50-page books we speak daily are spoken to praise God? How many are uttered to spread the Good News of salvation through Christ Jesus? How many are mentioned as witness and testimony to what Jesus has done, and continues to do, in our lives? How many dimes have we earned compared to the nickels we’ve lost?
The Word of God… John tells us that Jesus is God's Word, the Light that the darkness cannot overcome, the Word that became flesh to live among us, the Word that created the universe and everything that was made. Jesus came into that created world, in the flesh, but even His own people did not know Him, did not accept Him for who He is. If God’s chosen people did not recognize God’s Word in the flesh, how can the rest of us know Him?
The Apostle Paul answers that question, by asking a few of his own. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church in Rome, from chapter 10 of his letter to the Romans, verses 13 through 17…
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
--Romans 10:13-17 (NKJV)
Of course, there are many ways to preach, and some even use words. We can preach with our love, with our caring, with our actions, with our helping those who need our help. We can preach with our prayers, and with not being fearful of what others may think when we pray in public, like giving thanks for our meal. We can preach the God’s Word in how we live our lives. And we can preach with words, sharing our testimony.
In that passage from his letter to the Romans, Paul quoted Isaiah, arguably the greatest Jewish prophet. Isaiah spoke for God, and also spoke of God’s Word. Listen to what God said in Isaiah’s book, chapter 55, verses 10 and 11…
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me empty,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
--Isaiah 55:10-11 (NKJV)
But until that day, He left us work to do. You know the Great Commission, and you’ve heard me quote it from the Apostle Matthew’s Gospel account many times. But listen to how the Apostle Mark recorded that command in his Gospel account, from chapter 16 verses 14 through 16…
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
--Mark 16:14-16 (NKJV)
But the point is, Jesus commands us all to preach the Gospel, and to everyone in the world. We are to go out to them, where they are, and tell them the Good News. A little earlier in Mark’s account, Jesus cautions us about being hesitant to do so. In chapter 8 verse 39 of Mark’s Book, Jesus says…
38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
--Mark 8:38 (NKJV)
The Gideon’s are doing their part in this. Now let’s do ours. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your Word spoke creation into existence, and then came to save us from ourselves. Thank You, Father, for send Your Light into this dark world, that those who believe in Him will be saved. Please forgive us when we fail to follow through with sharing the Good News Your Word brings. Father, we repent of our timidity, of our hesitation, of our fear. Forgive us for not always obeying You. Please help us be strong and courageous in service to You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…
Lord Jesus, You came into Your own, but Your people did not accept You as sent from God. You shine God’s light into the darkness to show us the way to salvation. Please help us do as You would have us do, Lord. Give us the courage to go out into the world sharing the Gospel. Help us preach the Good News of salvation to others, by our words and deeds and action. Help us lead others into Your light and show them the way.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord, our Master, our Savior. Amen.
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