POSSESSING THE WORD OF GOD

“Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying!” (Jer. 33:1 NKJV).

This statement about the word of the Lord coming to Jeremiah is found a number of times throughout the Book of Jeremiah and is full of instruction. From our verse, we want to note the following: the privilege of having the Word, the person who was given the Word, and the practicableness of the Word.

Privilege – “The Word of the Lord.” Having the Word of God in our possession is one of the greatest privileges a person can have. Paul emphasized the value of having the Word of God when he asked, “What advantage then has the Jew?” (Rom. 3:1); and then answered by saying, “Chiefly, because to them were committed the oracles of God” (Rom. 3:2). Not many folk value the Word of God today; they do not read, study, or obey it. Failing to value the Scriptures properly will result in the loss of great blessing.

Person – “Came to Jeremiah.” The Word of God was revealed to Jeremiah because he was consecrated to God. If we want God to reveal the truths of His word to us, we too must be consecrated to Him. Jeremiah was in prison at this time, but he was given the Word of God. On the other hand, Zedekiah was the king in the palace (32:1), but God did not reveal His Word to Him because he was not consecrated to God. God gives His choice blessings to those who are consecrated to Him

Practicableness – “Saying.” Every time the “Word” came to Jeremiah, the message had to do with the situation at hand. The lesson here is that the Word of God is always practical. Of course, most folks do not consider it to be always practical because they do not want to obey it. However, the Word of God is never impractical. It is applicable to every situation in our life.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives!”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

English Particular Baptist Preacher

Word Study

Division

In Heb. 4:12 we read, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (NKJV).

Division is the Greek word merismos (μερισμός =mer-is-mos'). It primarily denotes a division or partition. It refers to the act of distribution or apportionment as of spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. It is believed by some scholars that merismos is emphasizing the power of the Word of God to separate the spiritual part of man from his innermost nature. However, there are others scholars who believe that the verse is not necessarily trying to make a distinction between body components, but is actually saying that God’s Word can discriminate between man’s thoughts and intents. They believe that the Word of God has an incisive and penetrating quality. It lays bare self-delusions and false arguments.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would come to provide salvation (Isa. 59:16)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 6:40

Did You Know…

In the Bible it states that the Lord Jesus was crucified in weakness (2 Cor. 13:4).

Bible Quiz

Which disciple of the Lord Jesus did some people believe would never die?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: From what point in his life had Timothy known about the Holy Scriptures? “From childhood” (2 Tim. 3:15).

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Prince of Peace”

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” (Isa. 9:6 NKJV).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is our peace.

2. Insights – The Lord Jesus has ended the conflict between God and man by His death on the cross. He has also given us internal peace by the love He has planted in our hearts by the His Spirit.

3. Related Titles – Peace (Eph. 2:14); King of Salem / King of Peace (Heb. 7:1-2).

Did You Know – Christian History

Reuben (Bud) Robinson was born January 27, 1860 in Tennessee. He was a traveling Methodist preacher.

Robinson’s family was very poor, and they lived under meager conditions. Growing up with twelve siblings, space and food was scarce. He did not receive an education, and with his father dying in 1872, Robinson had to go to work early in order to make a living.

After the death of his father, the family moved to Texas. In 1880 he attended a local tent revival. That night God spoke to Robinson and he gave his life to the Lord. Later he crawled under a wagon to go to sleep. As he lay there, Robinson and laughed and cried, and with his head on a tree stump, he felt that the Lord had called him to preach. The next day he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and was baptized.

Most people tried to discourage him from preaching because of his stutter. Robinson stuttered so badly that he could hardly pronounce his name clearly. Yet in the first year of preaching there were about three hundred conversions. In 1891 he started school at Southwestern University in Georgetown. During this time he also joined the Salvation Army. Robinson held camp meetings all over the United States. He watched much of the development of the early Church of the Nazarene, and was a member of the board of trustees of Texas Holiness University. Robinson was called him “Uncle Bud,” as he influenced many of the great leaders of the Church of the Nazarene.

Robinson had a wisdom all his own, with unusual insight into the purpose for the redeemed man here on earth, and a holy walk day by day. His personal philosophy is reflected in the following request he prayed each morning: “O Lord, give me a backbone as big as a sawlog and ribs like sleepers under the church floor; put iron shoes on me and galvanized breeches and hang a wagon load of determination in the gable-end of my soul, and help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I have a vision and bite him as long as I have a tooth, and then gum him till I die. Amen.”

During his long ministry Uncle Bud is estimated to have traveled over two million miles, preached over thirty-three thousand sermons, was instrumental in more than one hundred thousand conversions, personally gave more than $85,000 in assisting young people with their Christian education, secured over fifty-three thousand subscriptions to his church paper, The Herald of Holiness, and wrote fourteen books that sold more than one-half million copies. God used him greatly. From Boston to Los Angeles thousands thronged to hear him, charmed by his homespun wit and his unique presentation as a preacher of the old-fashioned Gospel to the common man. Robinson died in 1942 of old age.

A Little Humor

Late for a seminar and unable to find parking, John pulled into a spot behind a church. It was only after he’d gotten out of the car that he spotted this sign: “No parking. Forgiveness is our business, but don’t make it harder than it already is.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“He who puts God first will be happy at last!”