Post by Cindy on Jul 23, 2015 12:01:12 GMT -5
God's Word is truly a miracle in many ways, and affects our personal lives with miracle after miracle when we study it with Him daily. I know many hear have heard me preach about how important it is for us to be in His Word daily and are probably quite tired of hearing about it. But I want to talk about the miracles that happen within us and to us when we do obey Him and are in His Word daily.
When we're born into this life, we're born into a broken world. A world that's been corrupted by sin. Everything around us, animate and inanimate has been corrupted by sin, even our own new born bodies are corrupted by it. It's the cause of birth defects and disease of the body and the mind, and all other evil things. One of the main things and the original thing corrupted by sin, was man's mind. Specifically, Adam and Eve's minds. They went from having the knowledge of good, the knowledge of God, to also having the knowledge of evil, and that knowledge corrupted everything. It couldn't be erased, it could only continue to pervert and corrupt everything they thought, everything they taught their children, and of course all their children taught theirs and so on through the generations. When we're born, we're born with that corrupted mind, with the knowledge of good and evil. We won't be rid of the evil until we're first saved, and then finally, given our new body and mind to go with our new nature, at the rapture. BUT, there's good news!
When we're saved, the Lord makes it so that we can once again truly understand the knowledge of good, the knowledge of God. He gives us a new nature that allows us to do this. Without that new nature, and His Spirit, which He also gives us at Salvation,we could not learn this knowledge of God which leads to the knowledge of good. This transformation happens at the moment of our salvation. We can't see any difference and some don't feel any difference, but it happens, just as surely as the sun rises every new day. I love how the OT puts it: “The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” (1 Samuel 10:6) Although this was spoken to Saul, this is what's true for us at salvation, except for the prophesy part. And of course the NT: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
There's still more though. God also gives us His Word, and it's through His Word that we are cleansed daily from the corruption of this world. It's through His Word that are very minds themselves are renewed, changed and made able to have that knowledge of God and good, and through His Word that knowledge is grown. That's why we're told in Ephesians 4:22–24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” If we do not stay in His Word every day, the corruption of our old self and our minds, simply continues to grow. But when we stay in His Word daily, it cleanses us of the corruption of the previous day and adds yet more knowledge of God and good to reprogram our minds with and grow us in true righteousness and holiness, the way we were meant to be. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) See also Ephesians 4:22–24. Before we were saved, we were enemies because of the corruption of our minds. (Colossians 1:21) Col 3:10 and other scriptures show us that it's through the knowledge of His Word that our minds are renewed; changed so we can think and see things the way God does.
Becoming saved is just the first step in a process. We are changed so we can begin to see and understand what's really happening in our life and in the world around us. The miracle, or rather another miracle of God's Word is that the more often we're in it, the more time we spend studying it with Him, the more and better we can see things as they really are. Eventually, this process is completed when we receive our new bodies and minds at the rapture. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:11–12) When someone is saved, God gives them a hunger for His Word so they will get into it and grow. He doesn't want us fooled by the illusion our corrupted minds show us of this world and our life.
The more we're in His Word, the more the veil of illusion that covers everything and everyone, that everyone sees everything through, gets thinner and thinner for us. It's why Elisha was able to see God's army and the rest of the people, including his servant, couldn't. All they could see was the enemies army.(2 Kings 6:15–17) That's how God wants all of us to be able to see, not just a few "special" people. That's why we have His Spirit within us, to teach us His Word and it's meaning. This thinning of the veil as I see it, is really incredible; it's amazing! It allows us to have peace and joy in our hearts even when to everyone else it looks like we're surrounded by an enemy army and about to be tortured, killed or captured. It allows us to make decisions in our life, based on what's really happening and going to happen, instead of what the world thinks is happening or going to happen. His Word feeds our spirit and gives us confidence to face the day ahead and not just muddle through it. Not only can we begin to see more clearly the truth of what's really happening in and to this world and our life, we also begin to see beyond that and into eternity. We begin to see God's plan for us and how He's working that plan out, and how it will all ultimately end. I don't mean that we just get that information to hold in our minds, I mean that we can actually begin to see it! I guess you could say it's kind of like the difference between people that have 20/20 vision and people who have very bad vision or are physically blind. Through God's Word, although we all start out totally blind, we learn to see the Truth, to see God at work in our life and the world.
There's nothing more powerful then God's Word. By it God created the universe, and through it, He sustains the universe...every planet, every star, every person. Through it He created the first man and gave them life, and through it, He creates each one of us and gives us life. It's up to us what kind of life we want that to be - the kind He created us to have or the illusion this world tricks us to believing is what is ours. “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.” (Deuteronomy 32:47) “Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13)
The truly amazing thing is that God hasn't given His Word to everyone in this world. Some who have come to believe and be saved don't have His Word and never will. They live and learn solely based on their communication with Him through prayer and His Spirit. Another amazing thing about this is that some of them far surpass some people here who've had His Word all their lives! But God saw fit, for some merciful reason to bless those of us in what the world calls the "civilized" countries, with His Word. You certainly wouldn't know it today though, since so very few know it, even though it's available to everyone. Sadly for many in our land, the Lord holds each person accountable for knowing His Word, because it IS available to us. He tells us: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) You would think that knowing that alone would spur people on to at least read it. But when we've been told the miracle that happens to us when we do read it with Him, you'd think that everyone would always have their nose buried in His Word!
I'll never forget a video that Marianne posted many, many years ago. It was about a tribe that had been saved through missionaries, and were being discipled through them. The only contact they had with God's Word was what those missionaries were able to translate for them as they taught them day by day. But they grew! They had a hearts desire though, that went far beyond standard things like decent food and shelter, though they needed those things desperately as well. Their hearts desire was for more of God's Word that they could read in their own language. Those missionaries finally were able to translate the bible for them and the video showed crates of bibles being brought into them by plane. I've never seen such joy on the faces of any human being on this planet as I did on theirs that day. When they reverently held their very own bible for the very first time. I found a video that I think is the same as the one Marianne posted so long ago. Please watch the whole thing and feel God's Word come alive for you.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12–13)
When we're born into this life, we're born into a broken world. A world that's been corrupted by sin. Everything around us, animate and inanimate has been corrupted by sin, even our own new born bodies are corrupted by it. It's the cause of birth defects and disease of the body and the mind, and all other evil things. One of the main things and the original thing corrupted by sin, was man's mind. Specifically, Adam and Eve's minds. They went from having the knowledge of good, the knowledge of God, to also having the knowledge of evil, and that knowledge corrupted everything. It couldn't be erased, it could only continue to pervert and corrupt everything they thought, everything they taught their children, and of course all their children taught theirs and so on through the generations. When we're born, we're born with that corrupted mind, with the knowledge of good and evil. We won't be rid of the evil until we're first saved, and then finally, given our new body and mind to go with our new nature, at the rapture. BUT, there's good news!
When we're saved, the Lord makes it so that we can once again truly understand the knowledge of good, the knowledge of God. He gives us a new nature that allows us to do this. Without that new nature, and His Spirit, which He also gives us at Salvation,we could not learn this knowledge of God which leads to the knowledge of good. This transformation happens at the moment of our salvation. We can't see any difference and some don't feel any difference, but it happens, just as surely as the sun rises every new day. I love how the OT puts it: “The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” (1 Samuel 10:6) Although this was spoken to Saul, this is what's true for us at salvation, except for the prophesy part. And of course the NT: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
There's still more though. God also gives us His Word, and it's through His Word that we are cleansed daily from the corruption of this world. It's through His Word that are very minds themselves are renewed, changed and made able to have that knowledge of God and good, and through His Word that knowledge is grown. That's why we're told in Ephesians 4:22–24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” If we do not stay in His Word every day, the corruption of our old self and our minds, simply continues to grow. But when we stay in His Word daily, it cleanses us of the corruption of the previous day and adds yet more knowledge of God and good to reprogram our minds with and grow us in true righteousness and holiness, the way we were meant to be. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) See also Ephesians 4:22–24. Before we were saved, we were enemies because of the corruption of our minds. (Colossians 1:21) Col 3:10 and other scriptures show us that it's through the knowledge of His Word that our minds are renewed; changed so we can think and see things the way God does.
Becoming saved is just the first step in a process. We are changed so we can begin to see and understand what's really happening in our life and in the world around us. The miracle, or rather another miracle of God's Word is that the more often we're in it, the more time we spend studying it with Him, the more and better we can see things as they really are. Eventually, this process is completed when we receive our new bodies and minds at the rapture. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:11–12) When someone is saved, God gives them a hunger for His Word so they will get into it and grow. He doesn't want us fooled by the illusion our corrupted minds show us of this world and our life.
The more we're in His Word, the more the veil of illusion that covers everything and everyone, that everyone sees everything through, gets thinner and thinner for us. It's why Elisha was able to see God's army and the rest of the people, including his servant, couldn't. All they could see was the enemies army.(2 Kings 6:15–17) That's how God wants all of us to be able to see, not just a few "special" people. That's why we have His Spirit within us, to teach us His Word and it's meaning. This thinning of the veil as I see it, is really incredible; it's amazing! It allows us to have peace and joy in our hearts even when to everyone else it looks like we're surrounded by an enemy army and about to be tortured, killed or captured. It allows us to make decisions in our life, based on what's really happening and going to happen, instead of what the world thinks is happening or going to happen. His Word feeds our spirit and gives us confidence to face the day ahead and not just muddle through it. Not only can we begin to see more clearly the truth of what's really happening in and to this world and our life, we also begin to see beyond that and into eternity. We begin to see God's plan for us and how He's working that plan out, and how it will all ultimately end. I don't mean that we just get that information to hold in our minds, I mean that we can actually begin to see it! I guess you could say it's kind of like the difference between people that have 20/20 vision and people who have very bad vision or are physically blind. Through God's Word, although we all start out totally blind, we learn to see the Truth, to see God at work in our life and the world.
There's nothing more powerful then God's Word. By it God created the universe, and through it, He sustains the universe...every planet, every star, every person. Through it He created the first man and gave them life, and through it, He creates each one of us and gives us life. It's up to us what kind of life we want that to be - the kind He created us to have or the illusion this world tricks us to believing is what is ours. “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.” (Deuteronomy 32:47) “Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13)
The truly amazing thing is that God hasn't given His Word to everyone in this world. Some who have come to believe and be saved don't have His Word and never will. They live and learn solely based on their communication with Him through prayer and His Spirit. Another amazing thing about this is that some of them far surpass some people here who've had His Word all their lives! But God saw fit, for some merciful reason to bless those of us in what the world calls the "civilized" countries, with His Word. You certainly wouldn't know it today though, since so very few know it, even though it's available to everyone. Sadly for many in our land, the Lord holds each person accountable for knowing His Word, because it IS available to us. He tells us: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) You would think that knowing that alone would spur people on to at least read it. But when we've been told the miracle that happens to us when we do read it with Him, you'd think that everyone would always have their nose buried in His Word!
I'll never forget a video that Marianne posted many, many years ago. It was about a tribe that had been saved through missionaries, and were being discipled through them. The only contact they had with God's Word was what those missionaries were able to translate for them as they taught them day by day. But they grew! They had a hearts desire though, that went far beyond standard things like decent food and shelter, though they needed those things desperately as well. Their hearts desire was for more of God's Word that they could read in their own language. Those missionaries finally were able to translate the bible for them and the video showed crates of bibles being brought into them by plane. I've never seen such joy on the faces of any human being on this planet as I did on theirs that day. When they reverently held their very own bible for the very first time. I found a video that I think is the same as the one Marianne posted so long ago. Please watch the whole thing and feel God's Word come alive for you.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12–13)
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