SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1371

“Living Word”

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

If you have ever planted a seed, what initially appears to be inert and lifeless, like the printed words in a book, once planted in good soil, nurtured, and watered, becomes alive and actively grows and bears fruit. The Word of God is like a seed as Jesus taught in the parable of the sower.

Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. – Matthew 13:8

We err when we neglect the Word of God. We err when we discount one Testament in favor of the other or ignore portions of Scripture, picking out only the verses that we want to hear. The entire Canon of Scripture, all 66 books provide the whole counsel of God to us.

For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. – Acts 20:27

The Holy Bible is the revealed Word of God to us. It is the inerrant sacred text recorded in the original manuscripts under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. – 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Faith is Not Blind – Critics of the Christianity call it ‘blind faith’. Nothing is further from the truth. God gives each of us a measure of faith, a seed if you will, that will grow once nurtured with the water of the Word of God.

Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – 1 Peter 1:23;

Ephesians 2:8-9

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – Hebrews 11:1; Romans 10:17

The Word of God is Alive – Our life in this world is temporary. Through faith in Jesus, we can be born again by the Spirit and have the assurance of eternal life with Him. The Word of God is alive and gives us life.

Because I live, you also will live. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. – John 14:19, 6:63

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. – Matthew 4:4

The Word of God is Active – Read the Word from a posture of prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Word. Ask Him to activate the Word, teaching you how to apply it in your life circumstances. The Word of God is a catalyst that activates our faith and gives us power for living in this fallen world. Read and meditate on the Word in expectation to hear from God.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11

The Word of God is Discerning – God knows usbetter than we know ourselves. Nothing is hidden from Him. We may compartmentalize sin, hurts, bitterness and anger, stuffing them down while wearing an ‘all things are good’ mask when facing the world. We can lie to ourselves and to others, but God knows the truth, and He still loves us. He wants to heal and free us from all that burdens us.

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust; But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 103:14; Romans 5:8 

When we read the Word of God expect the sharp, double-edged sword of His Word to convict us of sin that we have rationalized and to expose the truth concerning the lies we have told ourselves.

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:37,38

Expect the Sword of the Word to lance festering sores and past hurts so that they may be healed and to break the chains that have hindered us from having the abundant life of the abiding presence of Jesus in us.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. – John 10:10; Romans 8:2

May the Water of the Word of God save, cleanse, heal, and sanctify you to fulfill His perfect plan and purpose for your life in this world and for eternity with Him in Heaven.