John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

James 1:21-24

²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Hebrews 4:12

¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the word of God and how it becomes a part of us as believers. One of the things that keep coming to mind is how we must dedicate ourselves to knowing the word of God …not on the surface level, but on an intimate level. We have to be careful not to approach the word of God like it’s a book of poetry to be read and only appreciated for it’s lyrical flow. The Bible is not a book of platitudes, It’s not simply a collection of stories, while it is those things, it’s so much more than that. We need to reach deeper than just memorizing and quoting scriptures. This study I’m going to look into the position of the word of God in the lives of believers.

Jesus is the word of God. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, from Genesis to Revelation you find Jesus and if you read the word of God guided by the Holy Spirit, you’ll see the perfect picture of Jesus. Knowing this, It’s important as Christians that we devote ourselves to reading, studying and following the word of God.

In James chapter 1 the word of God says that we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only. The example given is as if a person looking at their image in a mirror and then walking away from the mirror and forgetting what they look like. What this means is we must look at the word of God in the same way we would look at a mirror and we have to let the word of God reflect back to us the truth about ourselves and that truth it will show us our standing with God. The word of God will reflect back onto us and expose areas that we need to submit to God, areas that we need to repent for, areas that we need to work on. All of these things have one goal and that’s to make us more Christlike. When we walk in the word we affirm that we believe that Jesus is Lord.

Matthew 7:21-23
²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

They called him Lord, they claimed to have prophesied in his name, they claimed to have cast out devils in Jesus’s name and done many wonderful works… and yet Jesus says he never knew them. These people were clueless as to where they were in the Lord, and it was preventable had they done just one thing….that being …get into the word of God and study it  allowing the Word to show us the truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 ¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Studying the word of God is absolutely vital. Not only does it show us areas that we need to commit to God and repent for, but it shows us the very nature of God.

Luke 6:46-49

⁴⁶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?⁴⁷ Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:⁴⁸ He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.⁴⁹ But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

When Jesus is your Lord you’re going to do what he says. Which means you’re going to have to get into the word of God. Not on a surface level but on an intimate level.

The next reason that it’s vital to get into the word of God is because…. if you don’t ….you’re a sitting duck for deception.

Deception

The deceived don’t know they’re deceived

That’s right, the deceived don’t know they’re deceived. In Matthew 7:21-23 you see people who call Jesus Lord thinking that they’re saved only to find out that Jesus doesn’t even know who they are. These people were deceived and had no clue that they were deceived. The word of God is said to be sharp as a two-edged sword. This is the sword that cuts both ways and the way it works is when we look into the word of God it reflect the truth of God onto us so that we can see where we are spiritually. It will either show us that we’re on the right path or it’ll expose the darkness within us. This is how we make Jesus Lord by continually seeking truth in the word of God to shine the light of Jesus on to us to purify our thoughts and intentions and get us in line. Reading the word needs to be a self-reflecting experience. It should change us and grow us in the Lord. By searching the scriptures we obtain assurance that we abide in Jesus and Jesus abides in us.

The word of God reveals deception to us both in ourselves and in others. Whenever we hear a prophecy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, teaching, or discernment we’re to compare it with the word and determine if it’s from God or not. God is never going to give us a word of any sort that can’t be verified through his word. God is never going to give us a word of wisdom or knowledge that goes against the written word. There will never be a teaching from God through a teacher that cannot be found in the scripture. We get discernment through the word whether a prophet is giving prophecies from God or not. All true prophecies line up with the word of God and if a prophet is giving prophecies that aren’t confirmed with scripture, they’re not of God. In order for us to test the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, prophecy,  and teaching we have to know the word of God.

The reason so many people are going to be deceived in the end times is because they departed from the word of God and given heed to teachers having itching ears.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Just like the deceived that don’t know they’re deceived, those that have submitted to teachers to soothe their itching ears are unaware of their error. Even if they go into the word of God they would have to go into it rightly dividing the word of truth. All too often however they go into it to confirm what they want to believe. They resist correction and take offense.

These individuals who don’t know the word, who don’t study consistently,who don’t rightly divide the word of truth, who get their confirmation of salvation through other means besides the word, will go into deception and be lost. They will have a concept of Jesus, but they will never know him intimately. They won’t know there even is a difference between knowing Jesus intimately and knowing a concept of Jesus.

Matthew 24:24 ²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Yep, the deceiver will give you all kind of signs to keep you deceived…. which is why we’re to get our faith through the word.

If it were possible, they should deceive the very elect…. Think about that. We’re going to need a weapon in our hand to stand against this kind of deceiver. That weapon is going to be the word of God. That sharp 2 edged sword that’s able to divide asunder the bone and the marrow to, divide apart the truth from a lie…. to line up what is being said against the word of God and reject what the word does not say AND THE FALSE PROPHET. You don’t stand a chance against this level of deceiver if you’re not rooted and grounded in the word of God.

I say this with a trembling heart knowing that I have to examine myself repeatedly to make sure that I’m in Jesus that I’m not deceiving myself or being deceived. Every one of us has to examine ourselves, every one of us has to make sure that we’re standing firmly in the word and following Jesus. Stay humble…. don’t ever think of yourself as something more than you are….and make sure your faith to stand is in the promises of God….through Jesus.

There’s a spirit of deception out there that’s teaching people that devoting ourselves to reading and studying the word of God is idolatry. This is a lie designed to keep people from getting into the word of God. The word teaches us about Jesus ,about what Jesus did for us, about our salvation and how to live a godly life. The likely reason this heretical deception is now starting to surface is to tickle our ears into not reading and studying God’s word…. so the deception can get a foothold.

2 Timothy 3:16 ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

I’ve had a burden in my heart about this. I’ve also noticed that all the sound doctrinal teachers out there that I listen to have the same burden. We’re all proclaiming that it’s time for Christians to sincerely get into the word of God. It’s a time to check ourselves whether we be in Christ Jesus. It’s a time to repent and get those sins out of our life and purify our walk. It’s a time to stop wasting time with the things of this world and get ready.