The second thing we need to know is the reality of our redemption in Christ, not as a doctrine, philosophy or creed of some kind, but an actual redemption from the authority of Satan. Nevertheless, I determined to follow the Word of God, knowing that this is God speaking to me today. And sometimes our loved ones, thinking they have our best interests at heart, will oppose us from walking in the fullest light of God’s Word. It is amazing how we can become more church-minded than Bible-minded. To actually believe God’s Word I had to go against not only the teachings of my church but of my family as well. When I made this commitment the biggest part of the battle was won. And regardless of my church’s teaching, I determined I was going to walk in the light of God’s Word because I believed that this Word is God speaking to us today. But the more I studied God’s Word the more I saw it was true. This was new to me as my church didn’t teach about healing. As I lay for many months on the bed of affliction, I studied the Bible and saw in it the truths of faith and healing. You will wonder why you believed some things the way you did. We must believe what the Word says, not what we think it says.Īs you begin to study the Word in this light, accepting it as it is, you will be amazed to learn that some of the things you have always believed are not in the Word at all. But we must accept it for what it says and walk in the light of it. Some people try to overlook certain passages or explain them away. They are trying to fit the Word to their beliefs rather than fitting their beliefs to the Word. We must always judge these things in the light of God’s Word.Īlso, there are those who try to read certain things into the Word because they want it to say what they believe. That person is just speaking from his own thinking.
These inspirational vocal gifts are given to us to inspire us in line with the Word, but if they say something apart from the Word, it is not the Holy Spirit speaking. The gifts of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues do not supersede the Word. But the Word of God is God speaking to us. Sometimes folks think God hasn’t spoken to them unless they have a message in tongues or prophecy. So we see that the first step toward the highest kind of faith is to accept and understand the integrity of God’s Word. But it will only come alive to you as you accept it and act upon it.
Moffatt’s translation of this verse reads, “For the word of God is a living thing …” The word “quick” actually means “alive, living.” The Word of God is a living thing. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This book is a God-breathed, God-indwelt, and a God-inspired message. Not only is it a book of the past and a book of the future, it is also a book of now. The first thing we need to know is that the Word of God is actually what it declares itself to be.
Step 1 – The Integrity of the Word of God The Lord wants us to be prepared for the future, and through the power of God’s Word we can be ready for any emergency that may arise. If you have studied these faith lessons and they have taken hold in your life, the devil is going to contest you. We have already covered most of these next points in some form or another, but I wanted to bring them together so that you can check up on the progress you are making and get ready for the final exam, so to speak.
In this next series of lessons on faith I have a two-fold purpose in mind. Central Truth: It is by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony that we overcome Satan, that we are delivered from the power of darkness and that we are translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.