How Important is the Word?

Since I started writing my first Christian non-fiction book, God has been revealing so clearly to me the importance of the scriptures. We may think, “Yeah, the Bible is the Word of God. And yeah, it tells us a bunch of stuff we should know. But I can get that info elsewhere, synopsized, in today’s English, right? I’ll just listen to the sermons.”

Here’s the truth. The Bible is not like any other book in the world. God’s words are alive, and active. They make things happen. If they were people, they’d be called Influencers, Movers & Shakers. They are spirit and they are life. They’re medicine for physical, mental and emotional ailments. They can change your circumstances. They change you from the inside out. They are Jesus. He is the Word made flesh. If you love Jesus, you spend time in the Bible, because it’s a form of spending time with Him. It’s where you find God’s will for your life, because God’s Word is God’s will. And it improves every area of life because His will for you is to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future.

Did you know that when the Father said, “I sent my word and healed them,” He was talking about Jesus? Jesus is the Word. Did you know that “our daily bread” also means a fresh word from God every day? Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Here’s a beautiful scripture I don’t remember ever hearing or reading before – it just came up tonight.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph

in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma

of the knowledge of Him in every place.

– 2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB

He manifests the knowledge of Himself through us. If you don’t know the word, your knowledge of Him is lacking. You don’t necessarily have to know word-for-word scriptures and their locations right now, but you need to develop a general working knowledge, and you need to constantly add to that body of knowledge. Otherwise, how can you spread the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place? And how about this scripture…

that the sharing of your faith may become effective

by the acknowledgment of every good thing which

is in you in Christ Jesus. – Philemon 1:6 NKJV

Again -- knowledge. Acknowledgement is based on knowledge. You have to have knowledge of something in order to acknowledge it. What do we need to know in order to become effective in the sharing of your faith? You need to know every good thing which is in you now that you’re in Christ. And let me tell you, that is one study you WANT to do! It’s amazing to find out what you have and who you are in Christ. There’s so much, I think you could make it your life’s work to uncover it all. Where are you going to find all that amazing, encouraging, life-changing knowledge? In the Bible -- there’s really no shortcut.

Once you start pursuing truth it starts to get fun. This is no ordinary book. God starts peeling back the layers for you, and giving you revelation knowledge. He takes the scales off your spiritual eyes and you see things you’ve never seen, sometimes things you’ve never even heard preached.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor

of kings is to search out a matter. - Proverbs 25:2 KJV

The most important thing about the Word of God is that it renews our minds.

Do not conform 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. – Rom 12:2 NIV

The promises and blessings of God only work in your life to the extent to which your mind is renewed regarding them. How do you renew your mind? By the Word. Want the promises? “I guess so…what exactly are they?” You’ll find them in the Word. And the renewing word will also make you able to receive them. Now that’s exciting!

Here’s the crux of the matter: if the Word of God was not Truth, it would not be spirit and life, it would not change you from the inside, it would not accomplish that for which it was sent. Because it does these things it has proven itself true and it IS Truth. We also know by logic that if God is God then it is impossible for Him to lie because every word He speaks becomes. He speaks things into existence. That’s not the only reason we know He doesn’t lie, but His Word, spoken or written, is alive and creative. Therefore…

You must, as part of renewing your mind, convince yourself (believe) that the Bible is true. Why is this vitally important? Until you believe the Word above every other word, you will not live the abundant life Jesus suffered and died to give us. That’s a pretty bold statement. Here’s why it’s true: it takes faith to receive the blessings God has for you – His love, purpose, plans, benefits. It takes faith. The Bible asks us whose report we will believe:

Your parents’, who perhaps left you feeling unloved, or God’s, Who says you are His child, loved with an eternal, abiding, unconditional love?

Your kid’s, who may be way off the path you hoped for, or God’s, Who said your children are blessed, that you and your household shall be saved, and that when they are old they’ll return to the Way?

Your accountant’s, who may say your business is in trouble and the entire financial house of cards is coming down, or God’s, Who says you’ll never see your children begging bread, Who feeds five thousand with a 2-piece fish dinner, Who multiplies your giving and gives seed to the sower, Who causes man to give unto your bosom?

Your doctor’s, who may be counting your months, or your God’s, Who sent His Word (Jesus) and healed them all and provided Jesus’ authority to you to use to do the same works Jesus did on this earth, destroying the works of the enemy even in your own life?

The media's, who tells you what to think, brings fear into your living room daily and says you're in danger, or God's, Who tells you to let faith arise because you are under His protection and turns everything the enemy means for evil to good?

Your therapist’s, who after 10 years has you no closer to closure, or Jesus’ Who says He is closer than a brother, Who has left you His peace as an inheritance and sent the Comforter to live in you, Who says don’t look back, focus on what is good and perfect, and keep your eyes on Him and His salvation?

This is the secret to the successful, fruitful and VICTORIOUS Christian life – believe the Word above every dark circumstance. Regardless of appearances, regardless of pain, regardless of what everyone you know, love and respect says, you believe what God says. Stick to it. Tell all those other voices to be quiet. Let the Word of God inoculate you against fear. Have confidence that what He says will manifest in your life. Do not waver. THEN it WILL come to pass. That’s just how the Word works. And that’s why it is the most important thing in this life – it is Jesus and it works.