How did God create the Heavens and the Earth?
“By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathered the waters of the sea together like a heap, putting the depths in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him, For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:6–9).
By what method does Christ uphold all things?
“Who being the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His own power when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).
Observation: Not only is Jesus God’s spokesman, He is God Himself, the very God who spoke in Old Testament times. He is eternal; He worked with the Father in creating the world. “Because by Him were all things created, the things in heaven and the things on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers: all thing were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all, and by Him all things subsist” (Colossians 1:16–17). Everything would fly all apart if Christ did not hold all things together.
What is it that some people are willingly ignorant of?
“But this fact is hidden from them—they themselves choosing to ignore it—that by the Word of God the heavens existed of old, and the earth came forth out of water and amid water, By which the world at that time, having been deluged with water, had itself been destroyed” (2 Peter 3:5–6).
What kind of fate is reserved for the present heavens and earth?
“But the present heavens and earth are being held in store by His Word, and are being reserved for fire in the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:7).
“Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created” (Psalms 148:4–5).
Observation: The whole creation is like a most beautiful symphony or a great choir made up of many harmonious parts that together offer up songs of praise. We also should praise God as individuals, yet as part of the great choir of believers.
THE REDEEMING POWER OF GOD’S WORD
Is there a change in one who is in Christ?
“Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Observation: By accepting Christ and receiving His Holy Spirit you become a new person on the inside. Christians are not retreads but new creations living in vital union with Jesus Christ. Christians begin a new life under a new Master.
What are the new and precious promises?
“Through which He has given to us the greatest and most precious promises, that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
Observation: Through Jesus divine power, Christ also has given us all of His rich and wonderful promises, Christ’s Second Coming, the New Heavens and Earth, and the believer’s welcome into Christ’s Kingdom. In John 3:3, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless anyone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Even though we are now “new creatures in Christ” through the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration and renewal, we are still in the flesh; we are not pure; we are not perfect and, most apparent of all, we are not “Spirit Beings.”
Regeneration is the imparting of a new nature—God’s nature. Note clearly that it is the Holy Spirit that imparts the new nature, making us partakers of the divine nature. However we still cannot see the Kingdom of God; nor can we, in our present humanly fleshly state, enter into it. We might look at this wonderful event that has happened to us in this way. Paul said, “for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4: 15). The human heart is the soil, Paul the father type of teacher or preacher is the sower, the Word of God is the seed, the Spirit of God quickens the seed, and the Divine nature is the result!
THE POWER OF HIS WORD
Were the people astonished at Christ’s words?
“And they were astonished at His doctrine; for His word was with power” (Luke 4:32).
What apparent proof was there of His words of power?
“And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:36).
Did the centurion show faith in the power of Christ’s word to heal?
“The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8).
GOD’S WORD WORKING IN US
What is the seed of the Kingdom?
“The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).
Should the Word of Christ dwell in a person?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).
What comment did Christ make to the unbelievers in regard to the Word of God?
“And you have not His word abiding in you: for whom He has sent, Him ye believe not” (John 5:38).
Does the Word of God work in those who believe?
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Observation: In the New Testament, “Word of God” usually refers to the preaching of the gospel, the Old Testament, or Jesus Christ Himself. In these times we often only apply it to the Bible. However, we must remember that Jesus Christ Himself is the “Word.” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
RESULTS OF GOD’S WORD
Will God’s Word help us not to sin?
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalms 119:11).
Observation: We must put God’s Word to work in our lives, because it will be a vital guide in everything we do.
How can a man cleanse his way?
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalms 119:9).
What is it that cleanses believers?
“Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3).
