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The Word of God – Who, not What

13 Feb

BeamI want to talk about the very foundation of the Word of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:1-2

Whenever you talk about the Word of God you must start with Christ.  Notice that in this verse the Word is a He.  God and His Word are one and the same.  When the Bible speaks about the Word of God, it’s talking about God’s revelation of Himself.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Christ is the Word made flesh.  He was the Word throughout eternity past.  He will be the Word for all of the eternity that lies before us.  This is the foundation of all we know about the Word of God.

By looking at Christ we see the total embodiment of what the Word of God is and does in our lives.  It’s through His life and words that we can truly understand how the Word applies to us.

You would think that because of this truth, there would be no question as to what the Word of God is in our life and walk.  I wish that were the case.  The fact is that there’s much controversy surrounding exactly what the Word of God is.

Please read my posts carefully, and prayerfully.  It’s my hope to cut through some of the problems created by our present use of “Christianese” – the religious language we have grown used to in the church.

This language is not always in line with Scripture.  It’s my prayer that you will see a difference between how we describe certain truths and how the Bible describes them.  I also pray that when you see this difference, you’ll choose the Biblical definition.

It’s because of our use of this religious language that we get into many arguments.  One of these is over what the Word of God is.

There are some who insist that only the King James Version of the Bible is the Word of God.  There are others who say that any translation is the Word.  Who is right?

Actually, according to Scripture, the above argument is not even asking the right question!  Let’s allow Christ, the Living Word, to be the Judge in this situation.

Over the next few posts I hope to clarify some things that are causing tremendous problems in the Body of Christ.  I want to see God’s people get back to where we should be in our handling of the Word.

Question: How does Christ continue to reveal Himself as the Living Word of God?

© Nick Zaccardi 2013

 
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Posted by on February 13, 2013 in Word of God

 

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Growing Up in the Word of God

11 Feb

BinkiesI believe that in this generation God is trying to get His children to listen to His voice.  He wants them to hear from Him on a daily basis.  God is maturing His church.  I believe that we are very close to a revival.

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.
1 Corinthians 13:11

God is bringing us from adolescence to adulthood in the Spirit.  In order to attain to this place in Christ we need to “put childish ways behind us.”

By referring to childish ways, I don’t mean these things are bad or wrong.  They’re simply things that we needed to progress in our childhood, but no longer need in adulthood.  For instance, I needed to ask permission to use the car as a teenager when I lived at home.  Now I have my own car, and I can use it whenever I want.  There was nothing wrong with asking permission, but that phase of my life is now over.

The church is progressing through the training levels God has for us.  As this happens, there are some things that worked for a season, but are not needed in our maturity.  I want to take a few posts to talk about this maturing process.  As I go through the teaching of Scripture, we will see some of these temporary principles.

What I’m afraid of, is that there are some who are so attached to the things of our childhood, that they will not want to release them and embrace adulthood in the Lord.  With that in mind, please read with an open mind and an open heart.  Receive those things that are Scriptural and of the Spirit.  And, if there are any things that I have put in from the flesh – with no Scriptural foundation – then you have my permission to lay them aside.

God is bringing His church back to a deeper walk in the Spirit.  At this point in history it seems that we do so much by the flesh.  The winds of change are blowing.  It’s time for us to start operating in the new move of the Spirit.  The foundation for this is the Word of God.

Paul told Timothy that we need to “correctly handle the word of truth.”  (II Timothy 2:15)  In order to correctly handle something, you need to know what it really is.  In the next few posts we will look at what the Word of God is and what it isn’t.

I think some of the words of Christ will surprise you.  In reality, the church has been guilty of using things that are not the Word of God as if they were.  It’s time for us to get back on track.

Question: Do you think the church is ready for revival?  Are you ready?

© Nick Zaccardi 2013

 
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Posted by on February 11, 2013 in Revival, The Church, Word of God

 

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The Word

14 Jul

Hebrews 4:12-13
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.

In this passage, the Word of God is compared to a double-edged sword.  The Word of God is sharp enough to cut through all your barriers to get to the real you.  It knows where you live.  It will find you and you cannot hide from it.  People try to run from the Word, but it catches up with them.

Once the Word of God is sown into your heart it’s inescapable.  As we walk through our everyday lives, we find that the world is alive with testimonies to God’s truth.  The Word of God opens your eyes to them all around you.  The Holy Spirit can speak sermons to you throughout the day.

Once activated in a person’s life, the Word cannot be stopped.  It will achieve that for which God empowered it.  Just think of the effect it will have if we yield to its power.  If I line my ways up with God’s ways, I will see a greater degree of transformation taking place in a shorter time.

Don’t fight it.  Let the Word of the Lord do its work in your life.  Don’t go a day without prayerfully reading a portion of Scripture.  After you’ve done that, then meditate on it throughout the day.  It is life-changing.  Apply it to your life, and see the difference it will make.

 
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Posted by on July 14, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Famine

06 Jul

Genesis 42:1-5
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”  He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt.  Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.  But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.  So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

Many people down through the ages have had to deal with famine.  Sometimes it’s a dry weather pattern.  It might be poor farming techniques.  Whatever its cause in a particular area, its effects can be devastating.  We have all seen pictures of famine victims from around the world and maybe have even sent some money to help relieve the suffering.

The Bible speaks, however, of an even greater famine that is experienced by His people.  I’m talking about a famine of the Word of God.  It seems that these days, it’s not a famine of availability but a famine of receiving.

In the above verses Jacob’s sons were willing to take a wilderness journey of many weeks in order to satisfy their physical hunger.  With us – if it’s not handed to us on a platter, we are not willing to strive spiritually.

We need to take the initiative to hear from God’s Word.  Are we willing to put forth the effort to receive a feeding that will last throughout time and eternity?  Avoid a famine of the soul.  Spend quality time in prayer, read the Word, and hear from God that your spirit may be full.

 
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Posted by on July 6, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Word of Truth

24 May

James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

This verse is referencing our Heavenly Father.  In the book of James He is called the Father of Heavenly Lights.  It is His light shining on us that brings us life.  In His love and wisdom He sent Christ into the world to bring us life.

This verse is clear.  We have been given a new birth.  A birth that was not of flesh and blood like our original entrance into this world.  This birth was through the Word of Truth.  I believe that James is referring to something more than the Bible, as wonderful as that Word is.  It is a Word that speaks to our inner being.

One of the names of Christ is the Word made flesh.  He was not a matter of ink and paper coming alive.  He is the living and enduring Word of the Most High God.  Christ said of Himself, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.”  He is the direct expression of the Word of Truth.

It is through this Word, Christ Himself, that we have been given new birth – if we have accepted the free gift of His salvation.  He did this so that He could begin the renovation of the human race in us.  That is what the last part of this verse is all about.  The firstfruits of all He created.

This is the beginnings of the kingdom of God manifest on earth.  Right now it is difficult to see.  It is taking root in the hearts of men and women throughout the world.  But they are changing, becoming what God intended them to be.  His Kingdom is starting in us.

The more time I spend in the presence of that Word, the more I become like Him.  Don’t ever take the presence of the Lord for granted.  It is a privilege to have access to the throne room of God.  It was paid for by the precious blood of Christ.  Let the living Word do the work in you that only He can do.  Spend quality time with Him today.

 
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Posted by on May 24, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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