GOD’s Word, Will, & Gospel
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
GOD’s Word is infallible and stands for all time, irrespective of human changes in ideas, trends, fashions, cultures, or anything else. Human changes do not influence GOD, HE does not change. Perfection cannot be improved on.
Certain factions are pushing to suppress everything related to GOD and condemn it; in time GOD will totally eliminated them from existence -- they will never exist again.
Jesus is the Word of GOD. He is also Truth.
John 1:1-5 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD. He was with GOD in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
Verse 18 ‘No one has ever seen GOD, but the one and only Son, Who is Himself GOD and is in closest relationship with the FATHER, has made Him known.’
GOD wants to teach humanity, but so much of humanity continues to reject HIS teachings; and therefore will suffer in many ways until they are willing to learn. Ignorance by stubbornness leads to destruction.
GOD’s spiritual food is truth for us to feed on. If we respond to it, digest it, and apply it properly, it will take us far, far, beyond what anything in this world could ever do.
Deuteronomy 8:3 ‘HE (GOD) humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that humanity does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.’
Psalm 33:4-5 ‘For the Word of the LORD is right and true; HE is faithful in all HE does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the Earth is full of HIS unfailing love.’
Psalm 40:8 “I desire to do YOUR will, my GOD; YOUR law is within my heart.”
Psalm 119:10-11 ‘I seek YOU with all my heart; do not let me stray from YOUR commands. I have hidden YOUR Word in my heart, that I might not sin against YOU.’
Psalm 119:89-90 ‘YOUR WORD, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. YOUR faithfulness continues through all generations; YOU established the Earth, and it endures.’
Commit your heart and mind to GOD’s WORD; and commit GOD’s WORD to your heart and mind. That is true commitment, bonded both ways.
Psalm 119:105 ‘YOUR WORD is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.’
Psalm 119:142 ‘YOUR righteousness is everlasting and YOUR law is true.’
Proverbs 4:20-24 ‘MY son (child,) pay attention to what I say; listen closely to MY words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a person’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth, keep corrupt talk far from your lips.’
Proverbs 19:21 ‘Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.’
Proverbs 30:5-6 ‘Every word of GOD is flawless; HE is a shield to those who take refuge in HIM. Do not add to HIS words, or HE will rebuke you and prove you a liar.’
Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of GOD endures forever.”
Isaiah 55:8-11 “For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the Earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is MY word that goes out from MY mouth; It will not return to ME empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’
Matthew 4:4 ‘Jesus answered, “It is written: humankind shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD.”
Matthew 24:35 ‘Heaven and Earth will pass away, but MY (GOD) words will never pass away.’
Mark 4:15-20 ‘Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word: but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.’
Mark 13:10 ‘And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.’
Luke 1:37-38 “For no word from GOD will ever fail.” “I am the LORD’s servant,” Mary answered. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.’
Luke 4:4 & 8 ‘Jesus answered, “It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: Worship the Lord your GOD and serve HIM only.”
These scriptures, including Matthew 4:4, were Jesus’ answer to Satan, when Satan tried to temp Him.
John 5:39-40 “You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about Me (Jesus,) yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.”
2 Corinthians 4:2b-4 ‘By setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of GOD. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing (those who refuse to believe.) The ‘god’ (Satan) of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of GOD.’
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 ‘It is GOD’s will that you should be sanctified = holy = set apart from worldly ways; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body, in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know GOD; and that in this matter no one should wrong others or take advantage of people. The Lord will punish people for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For GOD did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, whoever rejects this instruction does not reject people, but rejects GOD, who gives you HIS Holy Spirit.’
GOD designed us to need HIM, not only for daily needs but also for fulfilment of deep yearnings. HE carefully designed our longings and feelings of incompleteness to point us to HIM for fulfilment, therefore do not try to bury or deny such feelings and longings or to pacify them with the lesser unfulfilling ‘gods’ such as people, possessions, love of money, power, or whatever kind of temporary involvements or distractions keep you preoccupied.
Rejoice in your neediness which enables you to find intimate completeness, fulfilled longings, and desires, in GOD.
Be willing to go out on a limb with GOD, if that is where HE is leading you; it is the best place to be. If your primary focus is on GOD you can safely and confidently walk along perilous paths.
You will learn to relax as you stay close to GOD and HIS sovereign protecting Presence.
Resting in GOD is believing absolutely in HIS Word.
Philippians 4:19-20 ‘And my GOD will meet all your needs according to HIS glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our GOD and FATHER be glory for ever and ever, Amen.’
Colossians 2:2-3 ‘My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of GOD, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ‘All scripture is GOD-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, connecting and training in righteousness, so that the person of GOD may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’
Hebrews 4:12-13 ‘For the Word of GOD is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of HIM to Whom we must give account.’
James 1:22-26 ‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a person who looks at their face in a mirror and after looking at themselves, goes away and immediately forgets what they look like. But the person who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, will be blessed in what they do. If anyone considers themselves religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on their tongue, deceives themselves and their religion is worthless.’
James 4:14-17 ‘Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life.? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good they ought to do, and doesn’t do it, sins.’
1Peter 1:13-16 ‘Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires and ways you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ’Be holy, because I am holy.’
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news about the grace of GOD and Jesus Christ.
The word ‘Gospel’ originates from the old English word ‘Godspell’, meaning ‘Good News’ OR ‘Announcement of Glad Tidings.’ The New Testament translators used ‘Gospel’ for the Greek noun ‘Evaggelion’ from which is derived the English word ‘evangelism,’ meaning to Preach the Gospel.
The books in the Bible of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are known as ‘The Four Gospels’ because they relate four separate accounts of Christ announcing the Good News. Each one focusses on certain common factors but also on different aspects.