Greatness of the Bible!
Greatness of the Bible!
Our Daily Bread
The first recorded reference to the Scriptures by Christ is Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." It
is actually a quotation from the Old Testament (Dt 8:3).
In these words Moses explained to the people that just
like the daily manna, the Word of God was a must for living.
The first recorded reference to the Scriptures by Christ is Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." It
is actually a quotation from the Old Testament (Dt 8:3).
In these words Moses explained to the people that just
like the daily manna, the Word of God was a must for living.
One who embraced this truth and experienced it in his life was Job. He expressed, "I have treasured the words
of God’s mouth more than my necessary food" (Job23:12). For Job it was a necessity, but for us it is just a
nicety! Do we ever forget to eat? But how many days we forget to feed on the Word! Most backsliding is
because of a lack of Bible reading. Unless our inner man is strengthened daily, we will become susceptible
to spiritual ills.
of God’s mouth more than my necessary food" (Job23:12). For Job it was a necessity, but for us it is just a
nicety! Do we ever forget to eat? But how many days we forget to feed on the Word! Most backsliding is
because of a lack of Bible reading. Unless our inner man is strengthened daily, we will become susceptible
to spiritual ills.
Highway of Holiness
The main burden of Jesus for His disciples was their sanctification. He knew the tool was God’s Word.
Therefore He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (Jn 17:17). He declared
them clean because of His words they had received (Jn15:3).
The Word of God is pure like silver purified seven times (Psa 12:6). It stands for whatever is true, noble, just,
lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy. But it strikes against malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking
(1 Pet 2:1,2). It is an antidote for "errors... secret faults... presumptuous sins... and great transgression" (Psa 19:7-13). The Holy Bible makes a holy people.
The main burden of Jesus for His disciples was their sanctification. He knew the tool was God’s Word.
Therefore He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (Jn 17:17). He declared
them clean because of His words they had received (Jn15:3).
The Word of God is pure like silver purified seven times (Psa 12:6). It stands for whatever is true, noble, just,
lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy. But it strikes against malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking
(1 Pet 2:1,2). It is an antidote for "errors... secret faults... presumptuous sins... and great transgression" (Psa 19:7-13). The Holy Bible makes a holy people.
Sword of the Lord
The devil was after Jesus to defile and deviate Him. But he was defeated. The secret was the "It-is-written"
sword Jesus swished (Mt 4:4,7,10). He did not depend on His own strength or wisdom. The discipline of continuous obedience to the Word strengthens our muscles to cast down all anti-God
arguments, and capture every ungodly thought (2 Cor10: 4-6). God’s Word in our mouth counteracts the enemy’s floodlight invasion (Isa 59:19,21). Let’s submit to the Word and speak it against the wicked one. The victory is ours.
The devil was after Jesus to defile and deviate Him. But he was defeated. The secret was the "It-is-written"
sword Jesus swished (Mt 4:4,7,10). He did not depend on His own strength or wisdom. The discipline of continuous obedience to the Word strengthens our muscles to cast down all anti-God
arguments, and capture every ungodly thought (2 Cor10: 4-6). God’s Word in our mouth counteracts the enemy’s floodlight invasion (Isa 59:19,21). Let’s submit to the Word and speak it against the wicked one. The victory is ours.
Unshakable Foundation
In the conclusion of His sermon on the mount Jesus spoke about two foundations, one sure and the other
sinking. The sure foundation is the Word of God. He said, "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and obeys
them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; the rain descended, the floods came, and
the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, because it was founded on the rock" (Mt 7:24-27).
In the conclusion of His sermon on the mount Jesus spoke about two foundations, one sure and the other
sinking. The sure foundation is the Word of God. He said, "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and obeys
them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; the rain descended, the floods came, and
the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, because it was founded on the rock" (Mt 7:24-27).
Textbook on Prayer
No one ever prayed like Jesus. His prayers were aromatic to God since He always prayed according to
the Scriptures. Jesus taught, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in
you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (Jn 15:7). Prayerless study will be dry, but
studyless prayer is dangerous. Saturation with the Scriptures is a must for acceptable praying. Submission to the Scriptures is a condition for answered prayers. Prayer otherwise is abominable (Prov 28:9).
No one ever prayed like Jesus. His prayers were aromatic to God since He always prayed according to
the Scriptures. Jesus taught, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in
you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (Jn 15:7). Prayerless study will be dry, but
studyless prayer is dangerous. Saturation with the Scriptures is a must for acceptable praying. Submission to the Scriptures is a condition for answered prayers. Prayer otherwise is abominable (Prov 28:9).
Principles of character
Without the Bible we will be groping in the dark. Because, "the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light" (Prov 6:23). Jesus summarised all the law into
just two commandments: Love God; Love man! (Mt22:35-40). He also added, "There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mk 12:31).
Without the Bible we will be groping in the dark. Because, "the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light" (Prov 6:23). Jesus summarised all the law into
just two commandments: Love God; Love man! (Mt22:35-40). He also added, "There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mk 12:31).
We must not conclude any study or meditation of the Bible without asking these two questions: What must I
do to God? What must I do for man? The world’s regard for the Bible will still go high when we live it out. The
Bible lovers must be Bible-livers also!
do to God? What must I do for man? The world’s regard for the Bible will still go high when we live it out. The
Bible lovers must be Bible-livers also!
Blueprint of God's kingdom
The Scriptures were the blueprint and the plumbline for Jesus in building God’s Kingdom. By reading Isaiah61:1-3, He knew that His ministry was to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to deliver
the captives, to recover sight to the blind and to liberate the downtrodden (Lk 4:16-21). His every step was
punctuated by God’s Word. When great crowds followed Him, He warned them not to make Him
popular (Mt 12:15-21). This He did in order to fulfill Isaiah 42:1-4.
The Bible is our guidebook for whatever type of ministry we are involved in. None of our practices should violate
the principles laid therein. How we build is more important than what we build (1 Cor 3:12-15). Noah built the ark according to God’s plan (Gen 6:22). Moses built the tabernacle according to God's pattern (Ex39:42,43). No athlete wins a medal if he does not compete according to the rules (2 Tim 2:5)
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