Be Enriched by God’s Word (2 Tim 3:16,17)
Too few people experience the fullness of God’s enrichment from the word of God. His word is life, empowerment and enabler to please the Lord in all respects filling us with the knowledge of His will.
Let us examine a few of the benefits of God’s word as a way of elevating to higher levels of spiritual wisdom and insight and intimacy with the Lord Jesus.
Illustration: From Mutiny on the Bounty
Illustration: One of the most dramatic examples of the Bible’s divine ability to transform men and women involved the famous mutiny on the "Bounty." Following their rebellion against the notorious Captain Bligh, nine mutineers, along with the Tahatian men and women who accompanied them, found their way to Pitcairn Island, a tiny dot in the South Pacific only two miles long and a mile wide. Ten years later, drink and fighting had left only one man alive--John Adams. Eleven women and 23 children made up the rest of the Island’s population. So far this is the familiar story made famous in the book and motion picture. But the rest of the story is even more remarkable. About this time, Adams came across the "Bounty’s" Bible in the bottom of an old chest. He began to read it, and the divine power of God’s Word reached into the heart of that hardened murderer on a tiny volcanic speck in the vast Pacific Ocean--and changed his life forever. The peace and love that Adams found in the Bible entirely replaced the old life of quarreling, brawling, and liquor. He began to teach the children from the Bible until every person on the island had experienced the same amazing change that he had found. Today, with a population of slightly less than 100, nearly every person on Pitcairn Island is a Christian.
From Signs of the Times, August, 1988, p. 5.
Song: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light, unto my path. When I go astray, think I’ve my way. You are there right beside me.
Illustration: An unknown writer said, "This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.
Illustration: It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left--his Bible.
Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 28.
1. TEACHING - God’s word gives systematic instruction, information and ideas that are necessary for life and godliness. Even when we think we may know what we need, God’s word enables us to do things that we could not perceive to be possible, probable or practical. Ask the Lord to help you be more teachable so you are not one who is always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Speak the truth in love so that you can help others grow in all aspects into Him who is the head.
2. REPROOF - God’s word has a way of rebuking us without rebuffing, rejecting or restricting us from what is good. We all need to be shown where we have gotten off the path of righteousness thinking, being and doing. Those who harden their hearts and fail to receive the rebukes of God’s word often become callous, indifferent and immature in their thinking.
3. CORRECTION - God’s word is profitable to help show us where we can get back on the path of righteous thinking, being and behaving. It is not enough to simply learn about truth or receive a rebuke, but it is essential to make the corrective adjustments in our thinking, character and obedient behavior. Correction is essential to readjust our atttidues so conform more to the perspectives of Christ.
Song: May the mind of Christ my Savior, live in me from day to day. By His love and power controlling, all I do and say.
Application: Ask the Lord to convict and correct your thinking, reactions and perceptions so that you be filled with His faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and Christian love. (2 Pet 1:3-8)
4. TRAINING - God’s word brings us to God’s desired level of performance. We need practice to get to a higher level of proficiency in preaching, teaching and counseling with God’s word. Only as we apply what we know will God reveal more insight, knowledge and wisdom to our mind. Those who are not trained with God’s word become spiritually flabby and indisciplined. Paul wrote Timothy,
"But discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness as it is profitable for all things, not only in this life but also in the age to come." (2 Tim 1:7)
5. EQUIPS - God’s word has a way of supplying us with what we need. There are some people who need to be given greater knowledge in areas where they are deficient in their understanding of God’s attributes, the word of God enriches a person by giving us everything we need for life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who calls us by His own glory and excellence. Without the continual, consistent and comprehensive equipping of God’s word we will not be thorougly furnished for all good work and will end up being exposed for incompetency.
6. FURNISHED - God’s word supplies us with the furnishings that are necessary to work the whole will of God. An emergency room without furnishings is lacking the necessary equipment to perform vital functions. Those who go to such hospitals may not survive crisis because the necessary equipment was not available in times of need. When one learns to hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on God’s word, that person will be thorougly furnished with all the tools that are necessary for health, growth and ministry opportunities. People who fail to meditate, fail to furnish their lives with the equipment that furnishes them with the enrichments of God’s all sufficient supply for every emergency.
God told Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it day and night for then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will have good success. Be strong and courageous and act. Do not fear or be afraid for the Lord God goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work of the service of the house of the Lord is finished." (Josh 1:8,9)
7. READJUSTER - God’s word has a way of helping us adjust to every situation with a fresh infusion of His grace, goodness, and love. Servants of God are like polished arrows that need continual refining, readjusting and re-directions that come from the scriptures. Without abiding in Him and His word abiding in us we are not able to confidently say like Jesus, "If you abide in me and my word abides in you then you can ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." (John 15:5-7) Ask the Lord to help you meditate, memorize and reconsider His word as a means of helping you readjust to every provocation, predicament and problem that requires readjustments.
8. REFUTER OF ERROR - God’s word is the sword of the Spirit that helps refute erroneous thinking better than anything. Some people hesistate to share their faith or talk about Jesus because they feel ashamed that they do not know how to answer critics. God’s word helps rebuke, correct, and refute any error as Paul taught in 2 Tim. 4:1,2, "Preach the word, herald it, in season and out of season. Keep your sense of urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. Whether it is convenient or inconvient, whethere it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the word of God are to show peopel in what way their lives are wrong. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction. Convince them by rebuking, correcting and warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction but having itching ears for something pleasing and gratifying they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number chosen to satisfy their own thinkingand to foster errors they hold. These people turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fiction." (2 Tim. 4:1-4) Amplified Bible
Application: Ask the Lord to help you experience the full enrichment of God’s word by heeding, following and embracing all of Paul’s insightful teaching on God’s word’s power, purpose and perspective
Illustration: One of the most dramatic examples of the Bible’s divine ability to transform men and women involved the famous mutiny on the "Bounty." Following their rebellion against the notorious Captain Bligh, nine mutineers, along with the Tahatian men and women who accompanied them, found their way to Pitcairn Island, a tiny dot in the South Pacific only two miles long and a mile wide. Ten years later, drink and fighting had left only one man alive--John Adams. Eleven women and 23 children made up the rest of the Island’s population. So far this is the familiar story made famous in the book and motion picture. But the rest of the story is even more remarkable. About this time, Adams came across the "Bounty’s" Bible in the bottom of an old chest. He began to read it, and the divine power of God’s Word reached into the heart of that hardened murderer on a tiny volcanic speck in the vast Pacific Ocean--and changed his life forever. The peace and love that Adams found in the Bible entirely replaced the old life of quarreling, brawling, and liquor. He began to teach the children from the Bible until every person on the island had experienced the same amazing change that he had found. Today, with a population of slightly less than 100, nearly every person on Pitcairn Island is a Christian.
From Signs of the Times, August, 1988, p. 5.
