{"id":3548,"date":"2024-09-15T10:44:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T14:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=3548"},"modified":"2024-09-15T10:46:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T14:46:04","slug":"september-18th-2022the-excellency-of-gods-word-part-1central-thought-gods-word-is-forever-settled-and-will-prosper-hymn-thy-word-is-a-lamp-to-my-feet-o-lord-text-psalm-119-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=3548","title":{"rendered":"September 18th, 2022<br>The Excellency of God\u2019s word ( Part 1)<br>Central Thought: God\u2019s word is forever settled and will prosper.<br>Hymn: Thy word is a lamp to my feet, O Lord.<br>Text: Psalm 119; Isaiah 55. (Reading Text Psalm 119:1-24)<br>Introduction:<br>Men who recognize the efficacy of the word of God by allowing His will to<br>be done in their lives have always beaten all odds and excelled. Joseph<br>went from slavery to be an important leader in Egypt because he preferred<br>the way of God, obeyed Him and was testified of by Pharoah to be \u201ca man<br>in whom the spirit of God is\u201d (Gen.41:38). Daniel ruled in Babylon and<br>prospered because he believed and trusted in the word of God continually:<br>\u201can excellent spirit was found in him\u201d (Dan.6:3). Hananiah, in obedience to<br>Mishael and Azariah refused to worship any other gods besides the God of<br>Israel and rose from the fiery furnace to governorship position. Moses<br>forsook Pharoah\u2019s palace and against all odds obeyed God\u2019s word to<br>deliver Israel from Egypt. Each of these personalities portray the<br>supremacy of God\u2019s word. Obeying God\u2019s word always produces result that<br>far exceed the highest that can be achieved through any other way, thought<br>or decision. No wonder God says in Isa.55:8-9 \u201cFor my thoughts are not<br>your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the<br>heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways,<br>and my thoughts than your thoughts\u201d.<br>The bible is God\u2019s written word and will, Jesus Christ is His word made<br>flesh, being \u201cthe way, the truth and the life\u201d (John 14:6). God\u2019s spoken word<br>brought the world into being. It\u2019s forever the same, immutable and<br>inexhaustible. The psalmist was persecuted by men of rank and authority,<br>who ridiculed his beliefs, seeking to put him to shame and make him give<br>up his faith. But he strengthened himself by meditating on the word of the<br>Lord, which to him was comfort, his prized possession, his rule of life, his<br>resource for strength-all of which drove him to desire it now as it was then.<br>Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe.<br>Lesson Objectives:"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>To understand what God\u2019s word is.<\/li><li>To know why the written word of God should be appreciated.<\/li><li>To appreciate the relevance of God\u2019s word.<br>Bible Truth:<br>Q1. What is God\u2019s word?<br>The bible is God\u2019s written word and promise to men. It has been given to<br>guide, instruct and comfort man in life\u2019s journey. From the various<br>symbols with which the Bible has been illustrated we see the need to<br>study, know and do the word of God. Like a two-edged sword (Heb.4:12)<br>the Bible pierces the heart of the hearer; like a hammer (Jer.23:29) it is<br>powerful and breaks the resistance of the hearer; like a fire (Jer,20:9;<br>23:29) it is a burning word consuming the dross in the hearer; while like<br>a seed (1 Peter.1:23) the Bible is a living word regenerating the hearer.<br>Moreover, in branding the Bible a mirror, its ability to faithfully reveal the<br>individual to himself is portrayed (James.1:23-25). This same word is<br>said to be a lamp and a light (Ps.119:105), illuminating and guiding the<br>believer day by day. As food, (1 Peter.2:2; Heb.5:12-14; 1Cor.3:2), the<br>Bible is nourishment feeding the soul. The word of God therefore<br>convicts, regenerates, reveals, illuminates and nourishes the individual.<br>It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof , for correction, for instruction in<br>righteousness (2Tim.3:16).<br>There is need to study to show oneself approved as Paul instructed<br>Timothy (1Tim.2:15-16). Until you \u201creceive with meekness the engrafted<br>word which is able to save your souls\u201d (James.1:20) you remain \u201cdead in<br>sins and trespasses\u201d (Eph.2:1). Therefore, the word of God could be<br>said to be that eternal will, which when we know and obey, we stay<br>alive, grow and all the works of our hands prosper.<br>The word which was at the beginning, which was with God and which<br>was God (John.1:1) \u201c\u2026. Was made flesh and dwell among us\u2026.full of<br>grace and truth\u201d. This is the personification of the word of God and is<br>Jesus Christ our Lord. God has magnified this word above His name<br>(Psalm.138:2). The Lord says of His word in Isa.55:11 \u201c\u2026. It shall not<br>return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it<br>shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it\u201d. This is infallibility which is<br>God\u2019s exclusive preserve. \u201cForever, O Lord, thy word is settled in<br>heaven\u201d (Psalm.119:89). Therefore God\u2019s word is God.<br>Q2. Why should the Bible be appreciated?<br>The Bible, also called the Scriptures or the writings, or the word of God<br>is an authoritative revelation, written form of God\u2019s nature and purpose.<br>It comprises sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation; 39 in the old<br>testament and 27 in the new testament. They are all written by the same<br>author, the Holy Spirit, and have one message. There is no other book<br>like it. It is believed that between 36 and 40 different writers were used,<br>written over a period of some, 1,600 years by all sorts of men, including<br>shepherds, kings, fishermen, and philosophers, they never contradicted<br>one another, but all are in perfect agreement and harmony. The Bible<br>was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Moses, writing<br>1600 years before the last book of the Bible was penned, was just as<br>modern and scientific as Paul\u2019s, John\u2019s or any other author or present<br>day investigator. \u201cAll scripture is given by inspiration of God\u201d<br>(2Tim.3:16), man by himself could not have written the Bible. Yet man<br>has tried to ban, burn and bury the Bible. It is alive and available to<br>preach the funeral of any person or nation who wants to do away with it.<br>This infallible word of God will be the standard of judgement on the last<br>day ( John.12:48). Let us read the Bible daily and obey the message.<br>God\u2019s people must handle this book carefully and reverently because it<br>is God\u2019s book to us. Let us rejoice that God has spoken and endeavor<br>by the power of the Holy Spirit to work in the light of its revelations.<br>Q3. What is the relevance of the word of God?<br>\u201cIn the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the<br>word was God\u201d (John.1:1). Jesus Christ is called the word. Words are a<br>means whereby we can communicate one with another. Jesus is called<br>the word of God. He is God\u2019s means of communicating with His<br>creatures. Whether in the natural or spiritual, God speaks through His<br>Son the word. In nature we learn something about the word, for by the<br>word of God the heavens were made. All things were made by Him. In<br>the spiritual sense Jesus is pre-eminently the word, God\u2019s only means of<br>communicating Himself to us. Jesus said, \u201cI am the way, the truth and<br>the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me\u201d (John.14:6).<br>Scriptures have it that \u201c no man hath seen God at any time, the only<br>begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared<br>(revealed) Him\u201d (John.1:18). Jesus is our Mediator, our Savior, and our<br>new and living way to God.<br>In appreciation of the relevance of God\u2019s word, the Psalmist asked God<br>to open his eyes so that he could see the marvelous blessings of God in<br>the word (Psalm.119:17-18). God\u2019s word to him is a lamp to his feet and<br>a light to his path (Vs.105). This is true not only for the Psalmist but for<br>all believers. God\u2019s word is settled in heaven and is attested to by His<br>faithfulness (Vs.89-91). The Psalmist declared his delight for God\u2019s<br>wonderful word which gives light (Vs.129-131). Most of the laws of men<br>and governments originate from the ten commandments, in making the<br>Bible the foundation of all laws. Moreover, most religious and even<br>occultic bodies try to justify their existence by quoting sections of the<br>Bible, making men think they are authentic. Yet they only \u201chave a form<br>of godliness and deny the power thereof\u201d (2 Tim.3:5).<br>May we this day avail ourselves of Him as revealed in His written word.<br>Let the Spirit of God use the word of God to change the people of God.<br>Declare like the Psalmist \u201cI will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not<br>forget thy word\u201d (vs.16). The ability of the word of God to transform us is<br>as potent as ever.<br>Daily Living Application:<br>God is His word, therefore the only way to know God is to know His<br>word and live by it. This means knowing, believing and doing the written<br>word- the Bible, as well as knowing and believing on the word made<br>flesh-our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no other name by which<br>man can be saved except by the name of Jesus Christ. It is therefore in<br>men\u2019s own interest to \u201chear and do\u201d the word of God.<br>Memory verse:<br>Psalm.119:130<br>\u201cThe entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the<br>simple\u201d.<br>Daily Devotional Guide:<br>Mon: Obey God\u2019s word and get the best. Deut.6:20-25; Prov.9:10; 24:3-<br>6; Ps.119:98-100.<br>Tue: The Promises of God are sure. Ps. 119:75; James.4:3; Jer.29:11-<br>14; Matt.5:18-19.<br>Wed: Obey God\u2019s word and prosper. Isa.1:22-25; Josh.1:8; Prov.22:4.<br>Thu: Safety and protection from God\u2019s word. Ps.119:92; 33:8-11, 16-22;<br>Prov.24:6; 4:20-23.<br>Fri: Our ways are inferior to God\u2019s. Isa.55:3-13.<br>Sat: Remind God of His word for your situations. Isa.43:18-26.<\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To understand what God\u2019s word is. To know why the written word of God should be appreciated. To appreciate the relevance of God\u2019s word.Bible Truth:Q1. What is God\u2019s word?The bible is God\u2019s written word and promise to men. It has been given toguide, instruct and comfort man in life\u2019s journey. From the varioussymbols with which [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3548"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4232,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3548\/revisions\/4232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}