1. You are flying at 30,000 feet. Which wing of the airplane do you think is more important, the right or left? BOTH, of course! Welcome to Biblical thinking; both-and rather than either/or
2. The same is true in our walk with God – Acts 6.4
a. The problem solved with servants so the apostles could maintain their priority
b. Some – focus so much on prayer they leave the word of God off – 2 Chronicles 7.14
c. Some so focus on the word of God they miss the impact of prayer – 2 Timothy 4.2 (preach word. . .)
3. To be genuine, God-led people, we must be prayer-centered and word-focused to know and do
4. The explosive growth of the early church
a. Did not come from:
• Good planning and methodology – Acts 1.8; Matthew 28.18-20
• A sizeable ministry budget
• High Profile Superstar leaders
• Fancy Worship Centers
• Technology and Social Media
b. Rather, It came from:
• Supernatural presence of God and His Spirit
• Where people cooperated with the presence and priorities of God
• Supernatural results – Acts 6.7; 122.24; 19.8-20 – “And the word of God continued to increase,”
5. Let’s explore the “Ministry/Mission” of God’s Word
I. The Internal Mission –
Make our character like God’s – conformed to the image of his son (Romans 8.29)
By the living, powerful Word of God (Hebrews 4.12)
A. The Word of God Works as a Fire – Jeremiah 5.14; 20.9 (word in heart as fire)
Silver, Refining
Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.
He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
B. The Word of God Works as a Sword (to reveal our sins and direct us)
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” Romans 7:7
Signs of Life
An American was walking along a highway in Israel, miles from a city. As cars passed him, drivers or passengers would yell something to him in Hebrew. He smiled and waved. When he arrived at his destination an Israeli asked him how he enjoyed his walk. He said it was fine but wondered why people were yelling at him. He told the Israeli what they had been saying. The Israeli smiled and said, “They were warning you of the land mines in the fields by which you were walking. You obviously could not read the signs.”
All over the world, in seemingly safe settings—fields, jungles, pastures, farmlands—there are signs posted: “DANGER: DO NOT PROCEED.” The signs also explain why. With words and dramatic graphics, they say, “LAND MINES.” There are millions of land mines buried in former war zones all over the world, never dug up following the cessation of hostilities. And those mines kill or maim thousands of innocent civilians each year in locations where no warning signs are posted.
Those warning signs are not intended to deprive anyone of the pleasure of enjoying the land. They are meant to save lives, to warn of danger, to encourage people to take a different path. The signs do what the Word of God does: It warns us of choices and behaviors that are offensive to a holy God and harmful to us. For instance, the apostle Paul said he would never have known that coveting was offensive to God unless the Law said, “You shall not covet.”
God’s laws are signs of His grace and love. They are there to lead us in the path of righteousness and life.
C. The Word of God Works as a Hammer
God as Sculptor
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. 2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. Isaiah 51.1-2
Rabbi invited his disciples to follow him. They left and went down the road to the first village in the Decapolis. The disciples were surprised. They had not been allowed to go their when they were younger. They were also surprised that their rabbi would take them there. They were even more surprised when their rabbi took them down the main street into a sculptor’s studio where he was busy creating a magnificent statue that the Romans were so famous for.
The disciples averted their eyes from seeing the individual that was emerging from the marble block. It was naked and an image, besides. They would not look because it violated Torah. The rabbi, however, pressed the sculptor. He asked, “Sir, may I ask a question?” the man paused and invited his question. “How do you know what to chisel away?” with a puzzled look on his face, the sculptor replied, “It is easy. You go to the block of stone with a picture in your mind of the figure in the stone that you want to emerge. You then chisel away everything that is not that figure.” The rabbi thanked him. He and his disciples went to the synagogue to study Torah.
Each of us is a large uncut stone taken from the same quarry where God got his ancient people like Abraham and Sarah. There is a lot of us that is unnecessary and flawed. God has to chisel those things away so we can become who he intended. He uses the hammer of his word and the chisel of his Spirit along with the carving knives of the community of faith. This can be a painful experience but God molds us to be as he intended.
D. The Word of God Works as Our Nutrition in Our Stages of Life – 1 Peter 2.2; Hebrews 5.12-13
II. The External Mission – to Show God’s Way
A. God’s Word is a Light for Our Path – Psalm 119.105
1. Some ways seem right – Proverbs 14.12
2. Only God’s Way is – John 14.6 (said of Torah)
B. God’s Word Declares God’s Love for People
1. Loving instruction
2. Our Co-Mission with HS – John 16.8
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (see also Acts 2.37)
3. Parable of Sower/Soils
4. God’s Word increased and God’s Influence Increased – Acts 6.7, etc.
III. The Eternal Mission
A. God’s Word Accomplishes His Purpose – Isaiah 55.10-11
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
B. God’s Word is Reflected in Our Prayer
1. Giants of Faith Prayed Scripture to God – Moses; Apostles; Mary; Jesus
2. It is Asking in His Authority – Colossians 3.17 –
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
3. When the law of God is written on our hearts, our duty will be our delight. Matthew Henry
1. God’s Word Has:
a. An Internal Mission – Engage It – Psalm 119.11; Colossians 3.16
b. An External Mission – Share It – Romans 1.16
c. An Eternal Mission – Pray It – Isaiah 55.11-12
2. Making Memories
Young children love collecting coins to fill their piggy banks. They dream of candy and toys as they listen to the clang of dropped coins into banks. Meanwhile, hidden from view, children have a far more important collection growing inside of them: their memories. They process and store what parents teach them.
Whether we are influencing children, friends, or coworkers, who we are speaks the loudest. I can say something is important to me, but do my actions and life agree? Integrity is when a person’s words, actions, and values are aligned. The best way to become a leader worth following is to follow God, allowing Him to transform and direct us.
