Diligence in the Word #2a
We’re going to pick up where we left off on “Diligence in the Word.” So if you have your Bibles with you turn with me to 2Timothy 2:15. Paul is very concerned about Timothy feeling ashamed of the Gospel. 4 times in 2nd Timothy alone Paul uses the Word “ASHAMED.” So Paul instructs Timothy in order for him to not be ashamed he needs to correctly handle the Word of truth by giving diligence to it and the study of it. Now the Word “ASHAMED” comes from the root word meaning “DISHONOR.” So in other words for us if we don’t correctly handle the Word of God, will bring dishonor to ourselves and to God.
I) We can see the need of putting God’s Word 1st. We can see the need of studying to show ourselves approved unto God.
A) Before we go on there are some things that we should know about the Word of God. 3 main points:
1) 1st of all the Word of God is Pure. PRO 30:5.
a) Every utterance or Word of God is pure.
b) The word “PURE” means “Tried and Purified.” It also means, “It’s been put to the test and proven true.”
c) Each word that God speaks can be put to the test. It will not return void.
(i) ISA 55:11.
(ii) The word “PLEASE” can just as easily be translated, “HAVE PLEASURE IN.”
d) Turn to Psalm 35:27.
(i) Here we can see that God has pleasure in our prosperity, but it means more than that
(ii) The Word “PROSPERITY” from the Strong’s concordance means, “Peace, prosperity, safe or safety, health, completeness, soundness, quiet, tranquility, contentment, peace and friendship of human relationships, and peace (from war).
(iii) There is power when we speak the Word of God.
(iv) The centurion told Jesus to speak the Word only and his servant would be healed.
(a) We have been given the Word of God not just only to read but also to use it.
(v) He told the disciples to cast out devils, to raise the dead, to heal the sick.
(a) The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than the two edged sword.
e) Mark 11:22.
(i) This literally reads, “Have the faith of God.”
(ii) What is the faith of God that we are to have?
(iii) He goes on to explain it in the next two Vs. Mark 11:23-24.
2) One Word of God is enough to bring success.
a) We can even see that in the life of Peter.
b) Look with me to (MAT 14:22-31.)
3) Notice that 1 word was the key to Peter and his success of walking on the water.
a) That 1 word was “come” that Jesus spoke.
B) Again in (PRO 30:5) it says, “Every WORD of God {is} pure: HE {is} a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
1) Many times in the Word of God, “the WORD and HE” are interchangeable.
a) God and his Word are one.
b) As you read the Word of God you’ll see the character of God.
c) (NUM 23:19) says, “God {is} not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do {it}? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
d) God’s Word is Pure.
II) 2nd the Word of God is UNCHANGING.
A) JOHN 17:17 Truth is one thing that never changes. It’s like a fact. 1+1=2 It’s a fact. God’s Word is a fact.
1) HEB 6:13-18. I'm going to read this from the Amplified translation. Starting with verse 13. "For when God made [His] promise to Abraham, He swore by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, (14) Saying, Blessing I certainly will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you. [Gen. 22:16, 17]. (15) And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him. (16) Men indeed swear by a greater [than themselves], and with them in all disputes the oath taken for confirmation is final [ending strife]. (17) Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath. (18) This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]."
a) The word “immutable” means “not capable of or susceptible to change.” In other words “unchanging.”
b) The 2 unchanging things in this V. are God’s Word and God himself.
2) God’s Word is already settled in heaven.
a) (PSA 119:89) Says, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”
b) PSA 89:34.
3) God will not change His Word in mid-stream, we can have confidence in His Word knowing that it is TRUE, NEVER CHANGING, and SURE.
III) 3rd God’s Word is to us, NOW. We need to consider God’s Word as present tense. It’s God speaking to us now.
A) 2TIM 2:1-2. (Keep on teaching others)
1) (ROM 15:4) Says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
2) DEUT. 29:29 (DEUT 29:29) Says, “The secret {things belong} unto the Lord our God: but those {things which are} revealed {belong} unto us and to our children for ever.”
3) MAT 28:18-20. Some people say that certain things passed away after the 1st century. But Jesus said to teach them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you.
a) What did Jesus command his disciples to do?
b) To love, to preach, to teach, to heal the sick, to cast out devils, to be filled up Holy Ghost.
c) The whole Word of God is for us now.
B) As you become diligent in the Word of God, keep these truths in your heart:
1) God’s Word is Pure.
2) God’s Word is Unchanging.
3) God’s Word is to us, NOW.
WOLCC 7/28/91 SUN AM DILIGEN2.DOC and Sunday, October 17, 1999. This message is taken almost entirely from the sermon called “Diligent in the Word #2a. Doc Sunday, October 31, 1999 and Sunday, November 07, 1999 & WOLCC Thursday, February 26, 2004