"Letting God’s Word Have It’s Way”

Ephesians 5:18-33; 6:1-9 and Colossians 3:16-25; 4:1 are two interesting passages to compare. In Ephesians 5:18, we read, “be filled with the Spirit” and in Colossians 3:16, we read, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Each passage then describes how being filled with the Spirit and letting the Word dwell in us richly will positively impact our relationship with God, with our fellow believers, with our spouse, our parents, our children, our employers, and our employees. In other words, each of these commands found in Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16, if obeyed, will make a positive and powerful difference in our lives as followers of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is actively working in the life of every Christian to enable us to be our best for God and do our best for God; and the Spirit uses the Word in our lives to speak to us and to lead us. The Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b), the tool the Spirit uses to transform us and make us more like Jesus.

With this as our understanding, we can see that the more I allow the Word of Christ to dwell richly in me, the more I can give the Holy Spirit to work with to transform my life.

To do a job right, it’s best to use the right tools. In an article, 10 Different Hazards of Using the Wrong Tool for the Job, the author gives examples of people using the wrong tools to carry out a task, like: using a knife instead of a screwdriver, using pliers to tighten bolts instead of a wrench, using a flat-head screwdriver on a Phillips head screw, using a hammer instead of a rubber mallet.

Well, when it comes to the work of making us into the likeness of Christ, the Holy Spirit needs access to the tool of the Word of God in our lives, rather than worldly philosophy, personal opinion, popular trends, or man-made traditions. So how do I allow the Word of God to dwell richly in me? James tells us in our passage. (READ TEXT)

At this point, we want to address what James says about God’s word in the latter part of verse 21. To understand what he’s speaking about, we need to recognize the Bible speaks of salvation in three phases:

1. Salvation past (justification). This is the act of God whereby He forgives the sinner of all his sins – past, present, and future – and declares us righteous in His eyes and free from guilt and punishment. It is an immediate and instantaneous act of God upon the our confession and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9). When I am born again through repentance and faith in Christ, I am immediately saved from the penalty of sin (Ephesians 2:8). I am saved in my spirit (Romans 8:9).

2. Salvation present (sanctification). The meaning of sanctification is “to be set apart.” The believer is set apart: 1) by God, 2) for God, 3) from sin, 4) unto a holy life, and 5) to be made to live in the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29). It’s a work done by the Holy Spirit in our life (2 Thessalonians 2:13), where we move from spiritual

infancy to maturity over time as we learns God’s Word (2 Peter 2:2) and choose to live according to God’s will. Sanctification is spiritual growth (2 Peter 3:18). By this process, I am being progressively saved from the power of sin (1 Corinthians 1:18). I am being saved in my soul as I progressively have my mind renewed according to God’s will (Romans 12:2), my emotions renewed according to God’s will, and my choices made new according to God’s will. This process is completed when the believer enters the Lord’s presence (1 John 3:2).

3. Salvation future (glorification). Glorification is the final phase of the saved sinner’s salvation when he is given a perfect glorified body like that of our risen Lord. This will occur when Christ returns to make all things new (Philippians 3:20-21). There will be a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). Jesus will remove Satan, Satan’s influence, and Satan’s people from this world and we will eventually be saved from the presence of sin (1 Peter 1:5). We will be ultimately saved in our body.

So, as James speaks letting God’s Word have its way in our lives, he is speaking of the second phase of our salvation, our growing to live more like Jesus. So, how do I let God’s Word have its way in me?

1. I approach God’s Word with a repentant spirit - v. 21a

When we sin, we take control of our lives. By definition, then, the Holy Spirit is not in control, but we are. The importance of confessing sin whenever we become aware of it is critical to keeping the Holy Spirit in control of our life and allowing God’s Word to have its way in us.