Proverbs 23:23 (KJV) 23 “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding”.
I woke this morning with a vivid dream that I was selling Bibles. My dream did not have clear details. As I pondered this dream, scriptures starting popping into my mind about God’s truth. God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it.
As a teacher of God’s Word for over 50 years and a certified pastoral counselor for 21 years, the biggest problem I see in the church is the majority of people do not hunger and thirst after righteousness. If all believers were students of God’s Word on a daily basis, they would be strong in faith and be able to withstand any temptation or adversity in life. Notice, I did not say not have any problems. I said they would be strong in their faith in God!
There is never a stopping place when it comes to the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. There is power in the Word of God. When God spoke in the beginning, His spoken Word created the world and everything in it. Then He made man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life and man became a living soul.
The word psychology is from ‘psyche – logos’ meaning the study of the soul! I can teach from Genesis to Revelations on the study of the soul. We were born with a soul that will live eternally. It’s what we feed our soul that will determine if our eternity will be in heaven with God or hell with Satan.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He responded to every temptation with, “It is written!” If we know God’s Word, we have the same weapon to use against the devil. Ephesians 6 shares about putting on the whole armor of God and ‘take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.’
The only way to be spiritually healthy is to know God’s Word. The only way we can know God’s Word is to read, study and pray His Word. I have over thirty Bibles. They are of diverse translations with diverse helps, commentaries, etc. I love having a Bible in my hand to read, mark, and write notes on. I feel impelled to make each Bible ‘my own’ by reading, highlighting and using post-a-notes. It’s my direct connection into the mind of God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV) 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”[a] But we have the mind of Christ.
We can have the mind of Christ if we study His Word. Romans 13:14 (NLT) says, “Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.” How do I find out how to do this? God’s Word tells me how to be saved by obeying Acts 2:38. Paul wrote to the church of Galatia and told them about the works of the flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit. If I’m going to ‘clothe myself with the presence of the Lord,’ I must have His Spirit living and reigning in my heart. I must allow God’s truth to control my thoughts, feelings and actions. This is true worship.
Psalm 119: 9 – 11 (NLT) states, “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
This chapter is full of words describing God’s Wisdom: laws, commandments, decrees, regulations, commands, truths, deeds, instructions, your word, age-old regulations, good judgment, knowledge, truth. There are 176 verses in Psalm 119.
Psalm 119: 97 – 100 (NLT) states, “Oh, how I love your instructions: I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.”
Verses 103 & 104 say, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.” It’s only through devouring the Word of God that we can be wise and build our faith in Him to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. When we read the letters written to the churches in the New Testament, we will learn how we ought to behave ourselves. God will judge us by His Word!
It’s a joy to live for the Lord! It’s a joy to be holy as He is holy! It’s a joy to present my body as a living sacrifice that is my reasonable worship unto Him! It’s a joy to glorify God in my body that does not belong to me but was purchased by His own blood! Why do I feel this joy? Because I’m constantly partaking of His Word that tells me I can be a partaker of His Divine Nature – 2 Peter l: 4.
Does this mean I have no problems on this earth? No, there is adversity on every side, but my strength comes from His Spirit and His Word. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I’m not a ‘dancer’ or ‘jumper’, but my feet are firmly placed on the Rock Christ Jesus and His Word. I’m a planting of the Lord – Isaiah 61. When we are planted by God, nothing can remove us from His love – Romans 8.
Wake up, church! Don’t wait to come to church to be spoon-fed 2 – 3 times a week. Be a ‘self-feeder’ of God’s Word. Know what you believe and why you believe it. Are you able to share the gospel with others from the Word? Do others see God in you? Do you clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord? I beseech you (beg you) to become hungry and thirsty for God! Buy the truth, and sell it not!!!!
© Carol Clemans – December 2013
(Invite me to your church/conference to share God’s Word. I provide nationwide confidential phone/Skype counseling (636) 448-0121 – www.carolclemans.org).