(Luk 6:47-48 ) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: (47) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (48 )
What sayings are being spoken of by Jesus? The sayings that He, Jesus, spoke! These same sayings were Holy Spirit breathed and recorded for our benefit. (2 Pet 1:16-21) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (16) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (17) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (18 ) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (19) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (20 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (21)
Jesus Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1). The Gospel is written in His Word and is the very foundation for the believer. (Joh 6:68-69) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (68 ) And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (69) The same words of eternal life that Jesus had for His apostles are found in the Bible. Jesus was laying a foundation for us.
(1 Cor 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. That very foundation was the Rock of Ages! (1 Cor 10:4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. When we build our faith on Jesus Christ and His Word, we will be grounded in our faith. (Luk 6:48 ) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has given us His Word throughout the ages for us to come to know Him. He can be found within the pages of our Bible – whether the Jew is searching in the Old Testament or the unbeliever is searching in the New Testament. Jesus can be found there. Why is the Word so important? It is the path to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, my friend.
David, the apple of God’s eye, knew this. He cherished God’s Word. He communicated this quite beautifully in Psalm 119. This beautiful Psalm has 176 verses and each are divided into 22 stanzas and each stanza has eight lines. Each stanza represents a letter of the Hebrew alphabet and each line within the stanza begins with the corresponding letter of the alphabet. This is known as an acrostic poem. For example, in Ps. 119:1-8, each verse begins with the Hebrew letter Aleph. Verses 9-16 begin with the Hebrew letter Beth, etc. The beauty of this Psalm is not thoroughly appreciated in English but David’s words are still very poignant.
Just in Psalm 119 alone, David refers to “Thy word” 38 times! David loved God’s word and he realized just what kind of an impact God’s word had upon him. So much so, he penned it so we would be able to know what God’s word can do for us:
1. It can keep us from sin:
(Psa 119:11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
(Psa 119:101) I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
2. It reveals sin to us:
(Psa 119:158 ) I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
3. It convicts us:
(Psa 119:9) BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
(Psa 119:65) TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
(Psa 119:67) Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
4. It is a guide to us:
(Psa 119:105) NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
(Psa 119:133) Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
5. It teaches us to remember it:
(Psa 119:16) I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
(Psa 119:38 ) Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
6. It must be kept:
(Psa 119:17) GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
7. It should be read and mediated upon:
(Psa 119:148 ) Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
8. It is to be feared (reverential):
(Psa 119:161) SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
9. It rejuvenates us:
(Psa 119:25) DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
(Psa 119:50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
(Psa 119:107) I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
(Psa 119:154) Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
10. It strengthens us:
(Psa 119:28 ) My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
11. It brings mercy:
(Psa 119:41) VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
(Psa 119:58 ) I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
(Psa 119:170) Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
12. It brings hope:
(Psa 119:49) ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
(Psa 119:81) CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
(Psa 119:116) Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
(Psa 119:147) I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
13. It brings comfort:
(Psa 119:76) Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
(Psa 119:82) Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
(Psa 119:114) Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
14. It brings joy:
(Psa 119:162) I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
15. It brings understanding:
(Psa 119:169) TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
16. It brings judgment:
(Psa 119:43) And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
16. It is to be trusted:
(Psa 119:42) So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
(Psa 119:89) LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
(Psa 119:140) Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
(Psa 119:160) Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
17. It is to be shared:
(Psa 119:74) They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
(Psa 119:172) My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
18. It is to be magnified:
(Psa 138:2) I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Surely God’s Word is considered so important that David repeatedly stressed it in this particular Psalm! David is emphasizing that God’s Word was important to him and that God’s Word – the Bible – is to be an important part of our lives. Don’t take God’s Word lightly, my friend. If God Himself magnifies His Word above all, what do you think He expects of us?
His very Words bring life. (Joh 6:33) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Jesus is our bread of life. Christ, Himself, told us that it is God’s Word that we should live by – not man’s words – not man’s traditions. We are to live by EVERY word of God. Jesus was quoting, (Deu 8:3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. when He said, (Luk 4:4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
I tremble thinking of what awaits the lost. I tremble thinking what awaits the misguided who have been led astray by church traditions, dogmas and doctrines. I tremble thinking what awaits the leaders of any church who has added to God’s words or has taken away from God’s words. Christ emphasized that we are to live by every word of God! If Christ gave us such an important commandment, then how can man live by every word of God if man does not know the word of God? It’s not rocket science, my friend. God would not command us to live by His every word and yet not provide us with His words to live by. I love this analogy:
A man spit on the street and a policeman saw him do it. The policeman came to him and began to write him a ticket. The man was stunned. “What have I done to deserve this?” he said. The policeman told him it was against the law in this state and he would have to receive a ticket for breaking the law. The man claimed that he did not know that this was a law. The policeman’s response was, “Not knowing the law does not exempt you from the law. It is your responsibility to know the laws so you can keep them. The laws are all kept in the books and I must enforce them.”
Do not be deceived. Do not let the devil penetrate your heart so that you also say, (Gen 3:1b) … Yea, hath God said…?” God has given us His Word to follow – it is in written form and has been preserved for us throughout the years. To say that we do not have the true Word of God is to put God in a box and say that He is not able to keep His Word preserved.
(Psa 111:7-9) The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. (7) They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. (8 ) He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (9)
