The Word of God | Lesson 4

 

Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  ~Psalm 119:4-5

Lesson 4 | the Word of God    
(download your PDF copy and add to your study binder)

This word FEAR is sometimes to be taken for THE WORD,

 the written Word of God; for that also is, and ought to be, the rule and director of our fear. 

-John Bunyan 'A Treatise of the Fear of God', pg. 8 

As we have been discussing, the fear of God begins with knowing who God is and believing that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  It is now continued in giving place to what he has said because HE SAID IT.  

Here we should stop and consider the great battle to overcome those who would believe on God and cause them to doubt what he has said.  And not just doubt his words, but rebel against them. This ancient battle has raged throughout the centuries and is about to come to an end.  Until that time, we believers of God Almighty and followers of his dear Son, Jesus Christ; must contend for the faith.

We've read in our Bible the beginning of the lie:  Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 

From the beginning, the devil has sought to devour people by getting them not to believe God.  

Because we have set God as our God because He IS GOD, then we deliberately decide to believe what He has written down for us, ie.. the Holy Scriptures, the written Word of God.

There is a tremendous resource available:  In Awe of Thy Word by G.A. Riplinger. (PDF here or available for purchase here)  This intensive volume takes the reader line by line on the authenticity of the written Word of God: the King James Version.  The reader will find an exhaustive documentation exposing the message, men, and manuscripts moving mankind to the antichrist's one world religion.  

Yes, those last days are upon us.  It is for this very reason (the coming of both the antichrist and our LORD Jesus Christ) that I began this study of the fear of God; and I hope this study will encourage and equip the saints to stand in these end times.  You see, the devil wants to be God.  The devil, full of pride, wants to take as many people with him to hell as he can.  We are warned to take heed and to be cognizant of the devil's devices.     Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. II Corinthians 2:11

God is HOLY.  There is no sin in him. There is no darkness in him.  Is your Bible holy? 

Let's take a quick look at the 'New Age' Bible Versions.  Skeptics may say 'Oh,dear, here she goes..' 'that King James Version stuff...'  But I would implore you, that if you say that you fear God, then you would heed the warnings.  Be not overtaken by willing ignorance.  Remember, the devil is out to devour us.  What better way to grab unsuspecting, and non-watchful Christians than to poison, pervert and stupefy their Bible?  

Satan cometh immediately and
taketh away the word . . ."

Mark 4:15

  NIV, NASB, et al. Version Comparison Chart  (read full chart here)

God of the New Versions / New Age		God of the Bible & Christianity
Check NASB, NIV, et al.		KJV
the Lord	Ex. 6:3 et al.	JEHOVAH
Christ	2 Cor. 5:18	Jesus Christ
the Spirit	Acts 8:18 et al.	the Holy Ghost
divine being	Acts 17:29	The Godhead
OMIT	Rev. 1:11	I am Alpha and Omega
OMIT	John 4:42	Christ
only One	Matt. 19:17 et al.	God
The Mighty One	Josh. 22:22	The LORD God
the Lord	1 Cor. 16:22	Lord Jesus Christ
a son of the gods	Dan. 3:25	the Son of God

So.. Is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God? not according to those New Age Versions. The devil would have you fill in whichever god you choose...maybe even the self-help god of yourself.  

It matters what you read because it will shape what you believe.  Remember WATCH and PRAY

Because we are fearing God AND His Word, let's remind ourselves of WHO is the Word of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.   In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

--John 1:1-4

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.   --I John 5:7

 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

--Revelation 19:13

Now with clarity we can consider John Bunyan's statement:  Now this, as I said, is called the fear of the Lord because it is called the rule and director of our fear.  For we know not how to fear the Lord in a saving way without its guidance and direction.

And from page 10: Know that those that have no due regard to the Word of the Lord, and that make it not their dread and their fear, but the rule of their life is the lust of their flesh, the desire of their eyes, and the pride of life, are sorely rebuked by this doctrine, and are counted the fools of the world; for “lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them?” (Jer 8:9). 

We should conclude that it is best to have the fear of God in regard to his written word.  

LOOK UP:

• Deuteronomy 6:1-3,24
• Isaiah 66:1
• Exodus 9:20-25
• Matthew 24:35
• II Timothy 2:15
• I John 2:4-6
• Revelation 3:7-13

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

What are we to learn?  

To whom does the Lord look?

What are we to teach?
What are we to understand?
What is eternal?
What should we study?
Who is the Word of God?
What does it mean to abide in him?

Write 3 things about the Word Jesus said to the church of Philadelphia

JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER

Hebrews 13:8

DIG DEEPER: 

Look up Psalm 119 and write one statement from each section (group of 8 verses) that describes the Word of God.  There are 22 sections

until next time,

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace.  

~Cristina