A Deeper Look at the Word of God

1 Thessalonians 2:11-13

1. The Bible

A. Miraculously written.

B. Verbally inspired. II Peter 1:21

C. Infallible. Psalm 111:7; 119:160

D. Forever settled. Luke 21:33

2. The Word of God

A. Logos - True Word John 1:1

B. Rhema - Dynamic Word - Matthew 4:4, John 6:63

C. Jesus Christ is identified as the Word - John 1:14

3. Receiving the Word

A. Reading - Obtained

B. Preaching - Proclaimed

C. Teaching - Explained

D. Meditating - Entertained

4. Interacting with the Word.

A. Illuminates. Psalm 119:105, 130

B. Creates. Genesis 1:3, 6; Hebrews 11:3

D. Edifies.

E. Reproves, rebukes, corrects, instructs.

5. Applying the Word.

A. The Word is food for the mind.

1. Logical.

2. Rational.

3. Reasonable.

B. The Word is food for the heart. “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

When we take this scripture a step further, there seems to be a deep, almost involuntary work that takes place on a subliminal level when we hide the Word of God in our hearts. It has an inner washing, a cleansing effect upon our conscience, our soul and our very being.

The first Psalm indicates the value of this inner work of the Word. (Read) When we have no specific agenda, when we don’t know what’s wrong, when we have no target for thought, we simply allow the Word to run through our hearts and minds as a cleansing agent.

B. Recognizing the unconscious depths of the heart. Jer. 17:9-10.

1. Conscious and subconscious levels of the mind.

2. Habits, feelings, inclinations that are not deliberately chosen.

3. Matthew 15:19.

4. The human heart has stains, stubborn dirt and grime, deeply ingrained faults that we cannot address directly. But these can be removed through a continual exposure to, dealing with, daily processing by and application of the Word of God.

C. The Word of God acts like a detergent.

1. Pre-Treat: Pour ALL directly on tough stains. Rub in. Eph. 5:26; John 15:3; John 17:17.

2. Measure: Fill cap to line for normal loads. Use more for heavily soiled loads. Acts 20:27

3. Pour: Add ALL to washer as water level rises, then add laundry. We do not add the Word of God to our lives, but we cast our lives into the Word of God.

(Rich young ruler)

4. The Word of God is not a mixture but a solution.

D. Ingredients:

1. Cleansing agents. Psalm 119:9

2. Buffering agent. Hebrews 4:12

3. Stabilizer.

4. Perfume. Psalm 119:103

5. Brightening agent. Psalm 119:130

6. Colorant.

E. Disclaimers:

1. ALL does not contain phosphorus.

2. The surfactants in ALL are biodegradable and safe.

F. The agitator helps get the clothes clean by making sure every square inch of the material comes in contact with the detergent.