THE WORD OF GOD, THE TASK OF MAN

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

 

I. SATAN SEEKS TO UNDERMINE THE WORD OF GOD [Genesis 3]

 

1. Hath God Said? [v. 1]

 

2. Is God Correct? [v. 2-4]

 

3. Is God Hiding Something? [v. 5-19]

 

II. GOD SEEKS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD [Nehemiah 8: 8]

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

 

1. We Need the Right Attitude [Psalm 11:97]

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

 

2. We Need the Right Aptitude [1 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 2:24]

-A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

-And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

If the pastor is to be “apt to teach” then the congregation also needs the right aptitude- apt to learn.

3. We Need The Right Altitude [Isaiah 55: 6-11]

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

III. CHRISTIANS MUST UNDERTAKE THE TASK OF KNOWING THE WORD OF GOD [Philippians 3:14]

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What a great undertaking. A lifelong task, a lifelong joy, an eternal glory.

 

1. The Word of God Must be Read [Isaiah 34:16]

Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

Read it all, read it daily, read it often.

 

2. The Word of God Must Be Studied [2 Timothy 2:15]

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

3. The Word of God Must Be Lived [James 1:22]

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

Someone has said, Read the Bible to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.