Changed by the Word 2 Kings 7: 1

  click to Read the passage: 2 Kings 7  (a new browser window will open)

(Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow

                about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures

                of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.)

1. The word of God provides the answer for all of man’s needs.

(Thus saith the Lord)

God speaks through His word to the precise point of man’s need.

God’s word has the answer and it contains all answers.

If a believer wants an answer to his need, it must come from  and be founded in the

                word of God.

2. The word of God must be heard by the child of God.

(hear the word of the Lord;)

Rom. 10: 17  So, then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by  the word of God.

James 1: 22  But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own

                selves.

                The child of God must learn to hear the word of God.

God will go to great efforts to see that man may hear.

(i.e. mission work, translation of Bibles, Bibles into communist lands)

A believer must discipline himself to hear the word of God and thus to do the work

                of God.

3. The word of God possess the power of God.

(Thus saith the Lord)

God places power in His word.  God spoke creation into existence.  Gen. 1

Jesus silenced the angry waves.   Mark 4: 39

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the 

                pulling down of strongholds. 2 Corin. 10: 4

God is mighty.  Is. 1: 24;  Luke 9:43

God is a God of might and power.

His Name contains His power.

His works reveal His power.

His word manifests His power.

His children perceive His power.

His children’s obedience releases His power.

His enemies feel His power.

His enemies bow down to His power. 

His own are eternally protected by His power.

His own are eternally sustained by His power.

His own are glorified by His power.

4. The word of God remains unchanged by  circumstances.

(Thus saith the Lord)

Famine doesn’t alter God’s word.

Circumstances didn’t validate God’s word. They  never do. God’s word is just true.

Circumstances have no effect on God’s word.

Circumstances are changed to comply with the word of the Lord.

God’s word never changes.  Circumstances are always changing.

God’s word is always fitting and so good.

Circumstances often do not fit and are not always pleasurable and rewarding.

5. The word of God transforms poverty into plenty, nothing into abundance.

(tomorrow about this time…)

Famine was changed into abundance.

God takes our nothingness (for without Christ we are nothing--John 15: 5)

and fashions it according to His good pleasure (Phil. 2: 13) and changes us into

                His own likeness.  (Rom. 8: 29)  The story of and in redemption.

The believer has all sufficiency from and through Christ Jesus, nothing lacking.

We brought nothing into the world, but what an inheritance the believer departs

                with.

6. The word of God restores God’s provision.

Famine was not God’s original provision, but was allowed because His chosen

                were disobedient; thus, God was restoring His provision.

Adam sinned, and because of that the wages of sin entered into the world.

                (Rom. 3: 23)

When a man comes to Christ, God is able to restore that provision of perfect 

                 harmony with God to the life of the then believer.

Over and over again as saints rebel and are indifferent, they again come to the 

                word of God and are restored, replenished, awakened, quickened, and renewed

                to service and obedience to the God of the Word.

When a believer is unfaithful to the word. God’s word provides an orderly step

                for the believer

to follow so that the provision of the word is restored.

7. The word of God is released by God when it pleases Him to do so.

(Tomorrow about this time …)

God knew when was the right time to call off the famine and replenish the food

                supply.

God is sovereign and knows in our lives as believers when to release the specific

                message of truth we need or when to restore to our hearts and lives a needed 

                message.

God the Holy Spirit really is in control in the believer’s relationship to the Father 

                through Jesus the Son in releasing the right Word at the right time.

This knowledge could really change a believer’s witnessing, his view of waiting 

                before God, his relationship with other believers and other people, etc.

The Unhidden Truth Matthew 2: 5, 6

click to Read the passage: Matthew 2  (a new browser window will open)

v.5 1. Truth has always been available to men.

(And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the 

prophet.)

v.5 2. God has declared His works through His word- past and future.

(for thus it is written …)

v.5 3. God does not hide His word from evil; evil hides itself from God’s word.

It was openly declared. Evil cannot know truth except it be converted.

Truth has no fear period.  no reason to fear evil’s intent.

Truth cannot be taken advantage of by evil.

v.6 4. Truth has no uncertainty, thus can assuredly proclaim its message.

v.6 5. The exaltation of truth is presented before man- that which truth exalts.

(And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are unto the least among the princes

of Judah: for out of thee shall come )

v.6 6. Truth is the rule, the only rule, for God’s people.

(come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.)

v.6 7. Truth always rules over everything; everything must submit to its rule.

(rule my people, Israel)

Herod was defeated in his evil plan.

The Message That Had to Be Told Luke 2: 9-14

click to Read the passage: Luke 2  (a new browser window will open)

v.9          1.      Heaven could hold its secret no longer; it was split wide open.

                        (And Lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown

                         round about them;)

                        Grace came down to man through Jesus.  Eph. 2: 8

v.9         2.      Man is not accustomed to abiding in the shadow of heaven’s glory.

                        (and they were very much afraid.)

                        There is so much more to know of the Son of God.

                        Believers are not always comfortable in getting close to God.

                        Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.

                        Begin by communicating to God your desire to be near Him.

v.10       3.    The message of heaven’s glory is not to trouble man’s heart but to free his '
                        heart.

                        (And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold)

                        God reveals Himself to us to free us.

v.10,      4.  The presence of heaven’s glory is to focus the heart of man on the heart of 

                       heaven.

     11               (for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.)

                        (For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the  

                        Lord.)

                        i.e. Christ in our life.

v.12       5.    The promise of heaven’s glory is without fail or false hope.

                        (and this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe …)

                        Jesus can be found by a lost man seeking to trust Jesus.                       

                        Jesus can be found by any believer genuinely seeking Him.

                        It is as God reveals.

v.13        6.   The joy of heaven’s glory is a triumphant encouragement to earth to believe
                        the report of heaven.

                        (And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host 
                         praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest,)

                        Joy is a fruit of the Spirit produced in an individual believer’s life as he believes
                        in and partakes of the word of life-the word of God.

                        i.e. the expression of Christ in our life.

v.14        7.    The power and life of heaven’s glory never diminishes nor weakens; it has the

                         eternal power of heaven as its source.

                        (Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.)

                        What believers need they must see.

                        Spiritual stamina comes to those who see the power of Christ and receive

                        strength from Him through His word.

The Experience of Christmas Isaiah 9: 6

click to Read the passage: Isaiah 9  (a new browser window will open)

(For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.) 

1) Enjoy Jesus 

God has always given Himself to His people to be enjoyed.

2) Believe what God's word says about Him 

God's people still today have trouble with this.

3) Believe what God's word promises to you. 

2 Peter 1 : 4 

4) Allow God's spirit to expand your understanding of His Name.

the power of His Name, Jesus 

the honor of His Name, Jesus 

the glory of His Name, Jesus 

love His Name--Rev. 2:4 

5) Be His child, totally surrendered. 

6) Bear His message to and before others. 

7) Don't leave the message behind after the season. 

Obedient Service 1 Samuel 3: 4-10, 19

click to Read the passage: I Samuel 3  (a new browser window will open)

               1.      Attentive to the master’s voice.

                        (That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.)

                        God’s children must be attentive to the voice of God.

                        They must learn His ways of communication.

                        They need anticipate willingly and joyfully the call of God, the communication 

                         of a divine God to a finite man.

                        To hear the voice of God is a necessary prerequisite to heeding and carrying 

                        out God’s instruction.

v.5         2.      Aggressively ready to serve the master.

                         (he ran)

                         Not only is there a conscious hearing for God’s voice but there is a spontaneous

                         desire to  serve at God’s very beckoning call.

                         There is no putting off for time or for preferring some other activity.  

                         There is no persuasion of doing it when and if I get around to it.

                        There is a prompt readiness seeking only the opportunity of expression.

                        If a believer were master, what kind of servant would he desire.

                        Matt. 6: 33  motivation or inspiration    (need more emphasis on inspiration;

                        inspiration has a longer life and is more reliable.)

v.5        3.      Makes himself available to the master.

                        (here am I)

                        Not only is there a readiness to serve but the servant makes himself available

                        to his master.

                        There is a significant difference between just doing what one is told when one
                        is told and one who makes himself available.

                        The one available communicates to the master his availability. When he 

                        completes an assignment he comes back for another. (not just “whew” I’m glad

                        that is over.

                        (Example- the way a lot of people offer help--”call me if you need me”)

                        This is truly a servant’s heart- Here am I.

           

v.5         4.     Rests in his master’s instructions.

                        (…lie down again. And he went and lay down.)

                        He doesn’t question, but obeys.

                        A servant must rest in the wisdom of his master.

                        The servant is not to reason out his master’s instructions in order to come to 

                         agreement of his position.

                        As a servant he accepts the responsibilities given by his master.

                        Certainly this is the relationship of bond servant to Christ of which all born 

                        into the Kingdom  of God are.

                        God knows what is perfect and right in every situation.

                        Thus, a servant of Christ has opportunity to always be right, if he simply obeys.

v.6         5.     Willing to exchange his own physical needs to receive an opportunity of 
                        service.

                        And Samuel arose…Lie down again.)

                        (his need to sleep)

                        (certainly a priest and prophet exchanged many physical needs for service)

                        God calls a believer to this type of exchange.

                        There is a denial of the fleshly rule and of the influences of the cares of this
                        age.

                        There are times of sleeplessness while burdened for lives.

                        There are times of sacrifice for the good of others.

                        There are times of laboring in prayer and agonizing for other’s burdens.

                        There are disciplines required for the study of the word.

                        There is a price to be paid for separated living.

                        Jesus instructed believers to deny themselves and take up His cross. 
                        (Matt. 16: 24)

                        Service to Christ is the privilege. There is a price to pay for that privilege.

v.7        6.      Willing to honor the Master without having to understand His purposes.

                        (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet

                         revealed unto him.)

                        God has designed very great purposes for His children.

                        At the new birth a believer’s understanding of God’s purposes is very limited,
                        yet he can be just as honorable in service as an any later time in his life,
                        because obedience is the issue not the amount of knowledge.

                        As a believer gains Godliness he gains a measure of understanding of God’s 

                         purposes but the way  of faith always provides a believer with the opportunity
                         of obedience without having to have understanding.

                       

                        God’s ways are so far beyond man’s ways.

                        A servant must continually purpose to obey and be content with the

                         understanding God  releases to him.                                   

v.8         7.      Patiently waiting for guidance rather than taking impulsive action.

                        (…Here am I; for thou didst call me.)

                        Servants often are tempted to operate according to their own design, what 

                        they  think is right, without consulting the master.

                        Servants often act impulsively without the tempering of patience and restraint.

                        This gets servants into difficulty.

                        The world today encourages you to be a decision maker-a problem solver. 

                        God encourages  you to be a follower.

                        A servant need wait patiently for the gentle accurate guidance of the Holy
                        Spirit.

                        The way of the Spirit is so much easier, uses less energy, and accomplishes so

                        much more.

v.9        8.       Expects to be used in service.

                        (…if He call thee)

                        A servant gives himself for the master. His desire is the master’s desire.

                        He expects the master to have need of him. Thus, he wants to serve.

                        Certainly the Lord Jesus Christ having called believers out of the bondage of
                        sin has purpose for their life.

                        Thus, God’s dear children may anticipate to be used in the service of the

                         Kingdom. God has a special place of service for each of His children.

v.10         9.    Hears and serves the Master.

                        (Then  Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.)

                        Service is the test. Talk brings no honor without service.

                        Commitment is not commitment without service.

                        Understanding is not true without service.

                        Spiritual exercising is but activity if there is no expression in service.

                        There is gain to the kingdom through service to the King.

                        God desires to give increase to the lives of His children.

                        That which provides God the opportunity of giving increases faith on the part of

                         His children.

                        Faith without works (service) is dead.  (James 2:17)

                        Service is fitting to gain Godliness.

v.19         10.  Knows whom he has believed in--who he has trusted.

                        (And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him…)

                        Samuel obviously learned who he had placed his trust in. His life bore evidence

                        of God’s  sufficiency in his life. Likewise the opportunity of service under the
                        new covenant.

                        Every believer needs to know who he has trusted in and continues to trust in.

                       There will be continuous evidence in his life of his trust in God.

                        There will be validation given by God and placed upon a life to reveal his
                        trusting in God.

                        To face the enemy a servant must know who Christ is.

                         (the demons do and tremble) (James 2:19)

                        The believer must know who he is in Christ.

                        God demonstrates His sufficient rule in the lives of His servants.

                        The message becomes clear whose servants they are.

                        The message of true service exalts the perfectness of the Master.