The Word of God

2 Timothy 3:15-17New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This verse celebrates the multiple functionality of God’s word. We often underestimate how powerful God’s word is and how practical it is. This normally leads to a spiritual and physical divide when indeed the word is to inspire a better life that should manifest outwardly for people to see and be inspired. Our deeds can show how deeply we are influenced by His word. I bet you had a fair idea but this verse will open your eyes even wider to how and why this is possible. Let’s dig in.

Word from Heaven

The word of God is designed for the purpose of Salvation. The scripture says that everything in the Bible is God-breathed. Meaning the word is inspired from Heaven. Hence each word is designed and chosen carefully to draw us closer to Jehovah through spiritual intimacy. So a daily or a regular devotion to God’s word is paramount to understanding, knowing, pleasing and having a strong relationship with God. His word is key to having faith. His word is full of hope and promises of a better life through Christ both here and in heaven.  In order to believe, we need to build our faith so we can boldly claim what is promised to us by virtue of being His children.

Its Purposes

This verse reveals the multiple purposes of God’s word. The word ‘useful’ in this text implies that salvation isn’t the only thing God’s word is there for. There is teaching (or counsel) where the Bible advises us on how best we approach daily situations to God’s glory. The Bible is full of wise words and examples of people who turned to God in the midst of trouble times, or who worshiped in thanksgiving and provides us with the ultimate example of a life that should be emulated if we want to be Shepherds of his flock, the life of Jesus Christ.

There is rebuking, where the Bible shows us what to say and do in the midst of temptation, adversity and spiritual attack from the enemy.

Then there is correcting, showing us the right and the wrong way to live for Christ as well as ways in which we can make the most of our daily lives in an acceptable manner.

And then training, showing the various prayer methods, prayers, regimens that people in the Bible adopted and times where these thing were relevant so we know what to pray for, how to pray, when to pray and how to pray for others in such a manner that falls in line with God’s ultimate purpose. Apart from prayer, it also educates us on the way to carry ourselves to show others our spiritual allegiance to Christ, hence inspiring others to be changed by Him.

The common denominator is the fact that all these facets of God’s word have to be done in righteousness, meaning all these things have to be done using the Bible as a frame of reference.

Lastly, the verse concludes by giving a condition that all these things that the Bible teaches us are to equip us to be efficiently equipped to do good works to His glory. Think of everything you do on this earth as an avenue to bring somebody closer to God. Your position, situation, troubled times, joyful moments, blessing, network of people and life as a whole is God’s assignment to bring a better life to someone. But you won’t be able to make the most of it if you are not guided by the spirit. This is why God through Christ sent the Holy Spirit to show us the way. Constant reference to the word will keep the spirit ignited so we can be influenced by its power to change someone’s life.

Our prayer is that the word guides us to be an example of righteousness to someone through deeds and actions. May we be inspired to depend on his word when in doubt. May we apply His word to any aspect of our life so indeed; the outside world sees His heavenly influence in our lives.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

  

byNestorAnkuvie   #inspiration  #word  #devotion #Blessing 

God's Secret Places

The House of God
The Lord wants us to find refuge and
protection in His house. There is an instinctive drive
in people that causes them to seek God during times
of trouble. Somehow, I believe, they know that there
is a place of safety in the Lord, and there is.
Psalm 27:5 says, "For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place
of His tabernacle He shall hide me." The house of
God is much more than the building where a church
meets. It is the family of God, those who believe in
Him. There is safety in the fellowship that exists and
in the power of unity among believers.

  The Presence of God
Psalm 31:19-20 says, "Oh, how great is Your
goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear
You, which You have prepared for those who trust in
You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall
hide them in the secret place of Your presence from
the plots of man..."
Would the devil want to be in God's presence?
Of course not! He hates God, and when we are in
God's presence, we are safe. I encourage you to live
in God's presence not only in your prayer closet, but
everywhere you go, praying silently, worshiping in
your heart and acknowledging the presence of the Lord within you by the Spirit all day long and even
through the night.

Prayer and Worship
Psalm 32:6-7 tells us, "For this cause
everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time
when You may be found; surely in a flood of great
waters they shall not come near him. You are my
hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah"
Just as the devil hates God's presence, he also
hates prayer and worship. The spiritual power in
prayer and worship will cause him to flee as you
draw near to God. We must pray and worship often
and rest in the security that exists therein.
The house of God, the presence of God, and
prayer and worship—these are some of the Lord's
"secret places" of refuge. They are places we need to
stay in order for our prayers to be most effective.
They are strong towers that resist the enemy.
 ... this is from Mike Servello's book

God's   Shield   of Protection  

share a word

We all have something   in us someone   needs.
It could be a song, a smile or just being there.
 Share a word with someone   today
Put a smile on their face
Jesus  is nearer than they know
He will be shining   through you today
Happy evangelism  day
#globalevangelism #shareJesus

#bealight  

a heart's song

I raised my hands
I said yes
Take it all Lord
I want it no more
I said I was over
I was done  with the world
But I still lived in the world
I knew I was not off this world
I was a slave no more
I was free
 To do as I pleased
To be all he had made me
But it didn't feel so
I was highly conscious
I was too afraid   to make a mistake
Was this freedom   or another   kind of bondage
I wasn't   sure how to start
Whether to lose who I was entirely
Whether   to completely ignore my bosom friends
Just in case they led me astray
I had taken a step
But I wasn't   sure how to walk
The path was so uncertain   and the curiosity   within I couldn't   contain
So I picked a preacher, made him my god
This man must surely be perfect
Oh so I thought  
I followed closely,
Imagined all he does to keep  saintly
I started   on a path not   mine
I tried to be him
Forgetting   who was the way
I left the truth   behind
I walked in wrong light
This light grew brighter  
And my burden heavier
I can't do this
"Christian  " may just not be for me
So I walked away from  it all
I felt   free and weirdly restored
The old path is broader, easier and Comfy
 This is who I was born to be or at least that's   how I felt
Years roll by
And I am dry cleaning
 then I dusted up the word and read
The one which said
To each a different   gift but by the same spirit
Curious   to know what mine was
I started   with  Him
This time Him alone
No crowd no role model
Just me and Him
Taking little   steps but getting there daily
I felt   like I was behind
But this time   it felt too real and it was mine
He showed me exactly  who he made me to be
why it didn't   work   the first time
And this time I knew I had Truly found Jesus.
#Jesus  #saved   #Unique  #found  #yes  #truth

coming home

I like walking alot. Especially   when I am going somewhere   new. I want to be able to know the area a little better but who am I kidding at times it is just wiser to pick a bus or a taxi and let the conductor   or driver. help out. We don't exactly have the best road system in Ghana and getting  lost is pretty easy.
So I get lost sometimes cos I didn't   ask directions   maybe cos I was feeling a little complacent .
Good thing is once I ask directions  i get help!  Christians   we are also on a journey of life walking towards  the kingdom  and aiming   to finish the race.
On our journey there are many paths   which may confuse us because   they look like the right one. There are teachings   we hear which may be similar   to what God says In  His word and the small deviation  seems
Iike no big deal. HELP IS IN THE BIBLE  and also THE HOLY SPIRIT   WHO SEARCHES   ALL THINGS EVEN THE DEEPEST THINGS OF GOD.

 Jesus is the only way   to the Father (John 14 :6) and no one who comes to God by any other Means can find him.
God is amazing   because   when we are getting   lost he finds a way to show us home.
And even when we lose our way entirely   He is there to guide us like the loving   shepherd who goes out looking for that one sheep even though   the are 99 in the pen. Each and everyone   of us is important   to God so he will go great   lengths   to find us.
#lostsheep  #grace #Godlovesyou  #cominghome  #youmatter