Sabbath: Living by the Word of God
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Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Phil. 2:12-16; Luke 4:4, Luke 4:8,Luke 4:10-12; Ps. 37:7; Ps. 46:10; Ps. 62:1-2, Ps. 62:5; Col. 3:16.
Memory Text: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, NKJV) .
The best method of studying the Bible is of no use if we are not determined to live by what we learn from Scripture. What is true for education in general is also true for studying the Bible in particular: you learn best not just by reading or hearing, but by practicing what you know. This obedience opens a full treasure house of divine blessings that otherwise would be closed to us, and it leads us on an exciting and life-transforming way to increase our understanding and knowledge. If we are not willing to abide by the Word of God and are not willing to practice what we have studied, we will not grow. And our witness will be impaired because our life is out of harmony with our words.
We grow in grace and wisdom through inspiring models who illustrate to us what it means to live by the Word of God. There is no better example and no motivational force more powerful than Jesus Christ. He gave us a pattern to follow. He lived a life in full harmony with the will of God.
This week, we will study what it means to live by the Word of God and under its divine authority.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 27.
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We have come to the last week of this study on interpreting Scripture and we once again need to ask ourselves where did it get us? The accumulation of knowledge and certificate of completion are not or should not be the goals.
A few years ago we have a reunion of the science students who had studied the London BSc at Avondale College. It was interesting to talk to folk we had studied with 40-50 years ago and to see where their life's journey had taken them. Many of them had entered science-related careers but quite a large number had moved into other areas. Their learning was not lost because the skills they had learned were the tools that they were able to apply to their new career path.
Likewise, our study of interpretation has to be applied outside the confines of our study. If our interpretation of scripture is to be any use we now have to take on the task of interpreting scripture to those who are probably never going to read the Bible. It is our responsibility to interpret it for them in a way that can be understood. We need lessons in non-verbal translation.
For centuries the Church has promoted itself as the only organisation capable of interpreting scripture. It capitalised on the unavailability of scripture to paint a picture of God that was condemnatory, vengeful and controlling, to the extent that we now refer to that period of church dominance as apostate Christianity. Against that background, we have the responsibility of reinterpreting scripture to those that have an entirely wrong picture of God.
That is the sort of interpretation that the world needs to hear and it cannot be done by a church organisation. This responsibility is given to heart-changed individuals.
Ps 37:7; Ps 46:10; Ps 62:5.
Living by the Word of God
What does it mean to live by the word of God? How can one live by the word of God in verity? Are Christians called to live by the word of God only in certain circumstances, the ones that does not trouble us?
"We do not live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, as we should. We do not give the diligent, prayerful study to the Bible that we should, desiring the sincere milk of the word, that we grow thereby. We do not believe in Christ as we should, or we would not be so far separated from God. What shall we do? {RH April 2, 1889, par. 4}
Be still before the Lord and wait for him....Ps 37:7. All of you will know by now that I am an immigrant. It is a reason why I always speak about it. When Christians live by the word of God, the Holy Ghost guides then in their daily walk. He is the one who placed us here or there and humans cant move us.
For sometime I worked at a certain job. As an immigrant and not of the same race and ethnic group, my life was/is not easy but I depended on God for his guidance and protection. Whenever the day will be challenging the Holy Spirit will wake me up to pray. Sunday night was not unusual. I woke up and was praying and wrestling for sometime. When to work Monday and was approached by my CEO and boss to find out how I am dealing with all that is going on in the country as well as, to find out if I am facing 'anything'(discrimination) at work. In discussion they asked me for my honest answer. We had a discussion and I told them some of the things I encountered over the years that was unjust and troubling. The boss asked me what about my area of work and if we can talk about it another time, I said yes, I will let you know when.
The same day I had a discussion with another worker about the issues. She told me for all those years things were going on
that was wrong and I never said anything? Tuesday we met with the boss and assistant boss (both new to their position). During the discussion they were saying all the time things so terrible were going on and I was always smiling and had a ray of sunshine with me. I was always happy and even like to encourage others.
The answer is-when one is living by the word, they are being led by the word. Many times I know when the day will be difficult and challenging because I was waken to pray early in the morning. Our struggle is a spiritual one, it is good verses evil and humans are caught in-between. When we remain still because we know who God is, he will work out out victories for us. We should never seek to take things into our own hands.
Ps 13:2- How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Ps 13:6- I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Does Jesus cares when my heart is pained, too deeply for mirth and song; as the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?
Many day/mths/years I had those years, but my answers came in the Refrain
O yes, He cares- I know he cares! His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, The long nights dreary, I know my savior cares.
Take courage and strength from His words, live by his words. Let his words guide us. Great Peace have they who love thy word and nothing can offend them.
What is the greatest commandment according to Jesus?
Mark 12:30 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.
What changes first our heart, our mind or our actions when we believe in Jesus?
Does love the LORD mean its our heart?
We surrender our will to His will is that our mind?
Does the Holy Spirit convict people through their soul/spirit?
Why do so many concentrate on expecting people to change their actions?
Love your neighbour is the second commandment of the two on which all the Law and Prophets hang.
How did you, how did I, first come to love LORD?
What is the best way to introduce the LORD to those who don't know Him?
I look forward to this weeks lesson. There is one question that I always like to ask when studying such topics and that question is: What does it look like?
So in the context of this weeks lesson the question would be: What does it look like to live by the Word of God? And the bible gives us the answer to that.
Maurice quoted a wonderful passage above that answers this question. It is clear (at least to me) that this passage as well as others show that God is very interested in how we treat one another and has spoken often of that very thing. That passage is about showing love and compassion to others who are in need and perhaps are hurting. It's a heart response to the hurting of others.
Those who are living by the Word of God will show this type of response often. They won't be perfect sinless beings but they will exhibit the love of God to others.
Hi Kendall -
One can also use a different definition to understand 'living by the Word of God'. This would be to understand that outside the *Word*, there is no life and we are dead in our trespasses and sin.
John 1:1 states: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God'.
Eph. 2:1-10 states in v.1: 'And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins'.
Col.2:13 states: 'And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
There has always been a living 'because' of the *Word* and therefore a living made possible 'by' the *Word*. We are given the Holy Spirit which enables us to live *by* the Word, when we accepted God's authority to govern our lives. We have given our consent through Faith and accepted to be now inspired by Him to live according to His Will.
Yes, we remain imperfect in our actions. When we accepted the act of Faith by Jesus', laying down His life so that we can live, God *gifted* to us His righteousness by faith. We do not any longer have to 'work' to earn it, though we engage in spirit-led actions to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest the Love of God through us.
It was the Faith of Jesus which made it possible for us to be acceptable to God. By faith we are now walking in the newness of Life.
'Live(ing) by the Word of God' can be understood as a directive or to be a handbook about 'how to do this living'. We Christians employ/need a spiritual influence to guide us. We desire to learn righteous living as expressed through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit's Power inherent in and revealed to us through the Word of God.
I am happy to see that each day's lesson this week expounds further on help we receive which enables us to make good choices. I believe it is essential to understand fully and accurately *how* God has enabled us to live confidently and joyfully once having decided to walk along this road of righteousness through applied Faith.
Rom.3:22; Rom.1:17; Phil.3:9;
Being a student of the English language as well as a learner of Scriptural Truth, I needed to look up the words 'Translation' and 'Interpretation' to fully comprehend their correct meaning.
Translation: The process of translating words or text from one language into another.
Interpretation: The action of explaining the meaning of something. The act of explaining, reframing or otherwise showing your own understanding of something.
Well, we certainly do not want to stop with our 'own' understanding when interpreting Scripture, but want rather to have the Holy Spirit help us to comprehend the spiritual Truth of the Word of God.
Regarding 'translation', one could say that a form of 'translation' took place when inspired writers of our biblical texts wrote down inspired messages from God and 'translated' these insights/visions using man's language.
In these cases, both - translation and interpretation - are inspired and provided by the Spirit of God.
Now followes application by including the revealed Truth into our daily lives.
God's Grace and long-suffering Mercy provided that we can now better understand and apply God's revealed Truth because of the power of the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit. His inspiration causes us to *desire* to 'live by the Word of God' and apply the revealed Truth to our daily walk by Faith.
Col.3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The phrase, “ wait patiently upon the Lord,” I wanted to better know what it means. I started looking and the best explanation came from the Bible itself as this quarterly lesson study suggests. I will leave the texts to speak for themselves.
Romans 8:25 - "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."
Romans 12:12 - "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,be constant in prayer."
Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Isaiah 30:18 - "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!"