The evil in the world is waxing worse every day. Satan is trying to penetrate the church with his evil through broken marriages, sexual abuse issues, porn addiction, all types of sexual sins, etc. There is only one answer for all of the above and that is obedience to the Word of God. We must be students of the Word – gaining the knowledge – and then seeking wisdom in how to apply it to our life moment by moment. This needs to begin in the home.
One problem is the drought of teaching the Word of God. I want to challenge the heart of everyone in ministry. We are going to be accountable to God in what we do with our ministry of leadership. Please consider a few verses about God’s Word:
James 1:21-25 (NKJV)
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
What will save our souls! The implanted Word of God! I just heard a discussion on AFR about how we form our worldview. We must form our worldview through the Word of God. When we understand the times we are living in and the next prophetic event is the return of Jesus Christ in the sky to take His Bride out of this earth before the Great Tribulation, this gives us a great understanding as to why evil is becoming greater every day! It is a fulfillment of prophecy.
We are initially saved through obedience to Acts 2:38. It is the new birth of water and Spirit. We are new babes in Christ. As a new baby in the natural, someone must feed, nurture, protect, provide, train, love, care for the new baby for it to grow in a healthy manner. This is the same spiritually. Ministry must be teachers of the Word – the spiritual food – to help the new believer know what to do to grow up into Him (Ephs. 4: 15).
Psalm 119:9-11(NKJV)
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
This scripture tells young people (all of us) we are cleansed by taking heed (pay attention, take notice, obey) God’s Word. How can we obey if we do not become a student of God’s Word and we are not taught The Word?
The psalmist adds that he hid God’s Word in his heart so that he would not sin against the Lord! What saves our soul? Obedience to the Word of God! I was raised with Holy Ghost filled parents who read the Word of God daily. They lived the Word and they shared the Word with us children.
Children will not read the Word if their parents do not read the Word. Deut. 6 instructs parents to teach their children God’s truth when you wake up, walk along the way, sit down and go to bed at night. Making God a part of all actions and decisions in life. Parents, you will answer to God for how you parented.
Psalm 119 is all about God’s wisdom and commandments. If we do not study the Word, we will not know the mind of God. Paul told us in 1 Cor. 2 that we can have the mind of Christ. We will know the mind of Christ according to His Word!
Paul told Timothy to preach the Word! Psalm 119:105 (KJV)105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Our young people need to be taught the Word of God. If their parents would share God’s truth at home by word and action and the church reinforced the Word through life application of God’s truth, youth would be empowered by God’s truth and His Spirit to live godly lives. They would not be using porn and having outer sex. How can one participate in sinful acts and glorify God in body and spirit that belong to God (1 Cor. 6: 18 – 20)?
We all must hunger and thirst for God’s truth. I love God because I know He first loved me by sacrificing His physical body on the cross to pay for my sins. I was taught as a child that I was a sinner that needed salvation. I was taught about the great love of God. I was taught about God’s plan for His Bride now and for eternity. I was taught about our hope in the power of the resurrection. I was taught not to fear death because it would be in an instant that I would be in the presence of God. I was taught about ruling and reigning with God over the new heaven and new earth for all eternity. I was taught that Jesus could return for His Bride at any moment. I was taught that I had to live a holy life set apart for His glory! My worldview was based on scripture.
As a young child, I could tell someone how to be saved. I understood there was one God. God was manifest in the flesh through the birth of Jesus Christ. This was because I was taught the Word!
I have had more than one pastor tell me that the only time he studied the Word was when he was going to preach. This makes my spiritual heart sick. Everyone needs to be in the Word of God daily for self-feeding and growing in God. If we ministry leaders do not implant the Word of God into our own hearts, how can we implant the Word in others’ hearts?
The majority of people sitting on our pews do not know how to have an intimate relationship with God. So much is focused on church attendance. But what about our lives when we are not in church? We each have 168 hours in a week. If we were in church 8 hours each week and slept 60 hours a week, we still have 100 hours a week to work, be with family, do all other activities. My question is: Is God the center of the 100 hours a week that we are not in church. Are we presenting our body as a living sacrifice unto Him that is our reasonable worship (Roms. 12:1 – 2)? Do we allow God to direct our daily activities? Do we make decisions based on God’s truth? Does our family see God in our words and actions?
I counsel people daily nationwide. Many are struggling because of lack of understanding God’s Word. They do not have the knowledge how to apply God’s Word to their daily lives. They live in their woundedness and do now know who they are in Christ. Our purpose for life is found in God’s Word. We are to be holy as He is Holy. Our life is to reflect the glory of God in and through us. We are His special treasure. We belong to Him! We must look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith!
I pray this will touch the heart of every reader. What will save our soul? The implanted Word of God. In the beginning God!! God created the heaven and earth and everything in and on the earth. God created male and female in His image and after His likeness to subdue and have dominion over the earth. Through salvation and His Word, we have all we need to walk in victory even in the middle of adversities of life! I choose to daily implant God’s Word in my heart for His glory!
© Carol Clemans – www.carolclemans.org – speaker for churches/conferences – teaching God’s Word for over 50 years. As a Certified Pastoral Counselor 25 years, I provide nationwide counseling for pastors and lay people by phone/Skype (636) 448-0121. Read ‘about ministry’ page for bio of life, ministry, education, etc. Watch teachings on Carol Clemans YouTube channel. Teaching CD’s, DVD’s, book: God’s Design for Marriage soft cover through website or eBook: amazon.com. Ministry ref: Pastor Daniel Batchelor, Dupo, IL.