What is your favorite book? What current book is impacting your life? What author do you follow? I see and hear these questions on a consistent basis. Several scriptures come to my mind.
Psalm 138:2 King James Bible
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Psalm 119:105-112 King James Version (KJV)
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:9-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
9 How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
John 17:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 5:39 King James Version (KJV)
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 14:15&21 King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Romans 10:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
These scriptures are a small sampling of the importance of the Word of God. If I am asked any of the above questions about my favorite book, etc., my reply will be, “I cannot get enough of God’s Word!” Yes, I read other books. But no book has impacted my life to the depths of my soul as reading and studying the anointed inspired Word of God through the power of the Holy Ghost.
I have hundreds of books. Almost all of my books are based on God’s Word for spiritual, emotional and relational growth in God and with others. They have added to my knowledge. But nothing can supersede God’s Word.
My father received the Holy Ghost in 1925 at 15 years of age. He became a student of God’s Word under the tutorship of Bishop GT Haywood in Indianapolis, Indiana. The love my father had for God’s Word penetrated his life deeply. He was not only a hearer of the Word but a doer of God’s Word. God and His Word are what dominated our family life in a positive manner.
My father taught the Word as my pastor/father from the time I was six years old. My parents ‘lived the Word’ in the home. I was blessed as a child to have the godly example in the home before I understood anything about the Bible. It created a desire in me to baptized and then receive the Holy Ghost at age nine – obeying Acts 2:38.
The influence of God’s Word taught me how to have a relationship with God that impacted my life daily, not just in church. We were taught the love of God. It was not about rules, it was about having a relationship with God who loved so much that He came to the world in the flesh to die on a cross for my sins.
Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.” This truth can apply to parenting but it also applies to knowing God. How do we learn about a relationship with God? It is in God’s Word.
In my 26 years of counseling, I find the lack of reading and studying God’s Word on a personal basis to be the missing link in spiritual, emotional and relational growth in people’s lives.
Today in the church according to what people share with me nationwide, there is a lack of in-depth teaching of God’s Word. Sermons are shortened to about 30 minutes. My father taught a minimum of one-hour verse by verse from the Bible including other reference scriptures. He taught with such inspiration that the people loved his ‘treaching’ – anointed teaching – they never wanted him to stop. By following my father’s example, I have the same experience when I’m expounding God’s Word for churches or conferences. People hunger for God’s Word!
When Jesus was on earth, He would teach for hours on the hillside or wherever. He did not need to entertain the people to get them ‘in the spirit’ with 30 minutes of singing before he taught and then limit his teaching to 30 minutes.
I’ve been teaching God’s Word for over 50 years. My father taught me how to study His Word. I spend several hours preparing to teach that includes much prayer and asking God for His wisdom every time I’m asked to speak. What I know is this, when a minister floods his own soul daily with God’s Word, God’s truth will flow out of his heart. There will always be an anointing and the people love it – they will say, “Please go on!”
I love to sing praises to the Lord. I play the piano and organ. I believe in making a joyful noise unto the Lord. But nothing is more important than devouring God’s Word daily in our personal lives and then hearing the teaching of God’s anointed Word at church.
James says (James 1:21),
KJ21 Therefore lay apart all filthiness and the superfluity of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.
ASV Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
AMP So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.
It is the implanted Word – rooted in your heart – which is able to save your souls. Praise and singing unto the Lord is the ‘icing on the cake’ in our relationship with God, but His Word saves our souls!
When we are saved by obeying God’s Word, then His praises shall continually be in my mouth –
Psalm 34 King James Version (KJV)
34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My prayer is that you the reader of this article will be inspired to become more intimate with God through the power of His Word. It will radically change your own heart and it will also greatly influence the people around you beginning in the home.
Paul told Timothy – 2 Timothy 4:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.
What is my favorite book? It is God’s Word! It is God’s heart speaking to us. Our relationship with God and His Word is all that we will take to heaven. It is the key to the gate of eternal life. Nothing is more important! I must make it an intimate part of my walk with God.
www.carolclemans.org – Anointed Bible Teacher (for churches & conferences)/Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/Sexual Addiction Recovering Facilitator/Author: God’s Design for Marriage – teaches marriage seminars. Read details: ABOUT MINISTRY page. Mins. Ref: Pastor Daniel Batchelor, Dupo, IL
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