The Book

In this portion of our study before getting into the actual book of Revelation, God has instructed that we hang out a bit on the subject of the Word. I must warn you that the Word will take you to bible reading yes yet, most importantly of all the Word will take you to the very persons of the God-Head Bodily meaning Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Please hang with us as closely as you can.

There have been very many negative responses to bible reading and bible study from professing saints as well as unbelievers.  These responses may seem justifiable, yet these responses do not hold water with God. Rejection of the bible is really saying to God:” I don’t wanna hear what you’ve gotta say. I don’t wanna know your intents and plans. Reading the bible makes me bothered with you and accountable and I just don’t want to do either right now” Please be advised: Whether you take the time to study God’s law or take the time or not to become acquainted and committed to the Lord; you are still accountable.

The Holy Spirit explained the book to me this way; “the bible, “He said, “is an invitation from God the Father to meet him at the round table to hear the plans and purposes for what he does and to know the purposes for your life.” He said “the bible is the governing agent that unfolds to you who you are and gives direction for where you are to go with and in God. The bible explicitly unfolds and reveals the heart and plans of God that was established before the world was created. It is true” He said,” that Adam and Eve where not governed by written word but by living and spoken Word. Written word was not needed until the fall of man. Written word was and is not an afterthought of God, but a before anything was created thought. Written word was established before the creation of the World.”

I honestly had not given much thought to written word before the Holy Spirit spoke these truths to me. I knew that I had developed a love for reading written word and seeking the treasures within the written word but was totally oblivious to the knowledge that written word and the reading of written word was so too in the plan of God for both the growth and development of man in and with Him. I tell you my friends God has an inexplicable love for man that surpasses the surfaces of what we can see and know. I can now see and say that my love for the written word of God was developed by the Holy Spirit for my walking in a mandate of God. I imagine in my spiritual mind the pleasure that overtakes God when I sit in his presence to search the depths of his law. I can imagine the smile that radiates his face and the surge that courses through his being when he sees me reading his law. I can only imagine the excitement in his voice as he instructs the Holy Spirit of what revelations to impart into my understanding and spirit from the study of his word.

Referencing the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 Jesus said: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

So, when God instructs the Holy Spirit to impart a spiritual truth, I imagine that the Father is overtaken with joy at the allowance to be received and heard.

1^st Corinthians chapter two from the international bible referencing the imparting of God’s wisdom through the Holy Spirit says this: “The words we speak to those who have grown in the faith are wise. Our words are different from the wisdom of this world. Our words are different from those of the rulers of this world. These rulers are becoming less and less powerful. ⁷ No, we announce God’s wisdom. His wisdom is a mystery that has been hidden. But before time began, God planned that his wisdom would bring us heavenly glory. ⁸ None of the rulers of this world understood God’s wisdom. If they had, they would not have nailed the Lord of glory to the cross. ⁹ It is written that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has known.” (Isaiah 64:4 God has prepared these things for those who love him.¹⁰ God has shown these things to us through his Spirit. The Spirit understands all things. He understands even the deep things of God. ¹¹ Who can know the thoughts of another person? Only a person’s own spirit can know them. In the same way, only the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world. We have received the Spirit who is from God. The Spirit helps us understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ That is what we speak about. We don’t use words taught to us by people. We use words taught to us by the Holy Spirit. We use the words taught by the Spirit to explain spiritual truths. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit doesn’t accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. These things are foolish to them. They can’t understand them. In fact, such things can’t be understood without the Spirit’s help. ¹⁵ The person who has the Spirit can judge all things. But no human being can judge those who have the Spirit. It is written: ¹⁶ “Who can ever know what is in the Lord’s mind? Can anyone ever teach him?” (Isaiah 40:13) But we have the mind of Christ.”

From the above passages of scripture, we can see that God has never intended that man be ignorant of him. Let’s look at the 7^th verse carefully. “BUT BEFORE TIME BEGAN, GOD PLANNED THAT HIS WISDOM WOULD BRING US HEAVENLY GLORY.” Before the manifestation of creation God had us in mind and heart. This passage of Scripture also informs me that the plan of salvation was a carefully laid out plan and its origin was in the heart and mind of God before creation manifested. I’ve often said to listeners and followers that Jesus was crucified before the very foundations of the world. In other words, the plan to go to the cross was set to go into effect at God’s appointed time before he created man. The plan to redeem man wasn’t a plan put together after the fall of man but before man was created. With this being said let us say this: You are here in the right here and now. The plan of Salvation has been put into effect. Jesus has been crucified, buried and resurrected. Since you are here then know that the plan of salvation; the intent of God for you to walk with and be with him as your God, your Father and your Savior APPLIES TO YOU! Selah. (Meditate on this)

Verse 7 says before the beginning of time God planned that His wisdom would bring us heavenly Glory. Now I don’t know what things happens within you when you read the word of God, but I know what happens to me. Believers when I step into the written word, that’s right I said step, the word transports me from the earthy realm into the very presence of our Most High God. I become oblivious to everything around me that is natural except the study materials, my pens and papers that surround me and the very chair that supports me as I bask in the fellowship of the Father and the Holy Spirit in our study of the written word.

                                          HOLY SPIRIT’S DISCOURSE ON WRITTEN WORD

While reading in one of the places in my home where God and I meet, the Holy Spirit said to me: “The written word should bring hope. It should incite and increase faith. The written word should strengthen perseverance and strengthen determination to walk according to God’s standard and expectations of holy and righteous living. The reading of written word should put a running in your feet, a song in your hearts and a praise in your mouth. The reading of written word should position you to a stand position in Christ where you know beyond a shadow of doubt that you’re in God’s way of life to stay and the written word should incite continuity in growth with strong desires to be ever so much like him.  The contents of written word should increase prayer and lead you into a life that is filled with prayer not only for self but for the lost and your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Most of all the written word with its unveiling of your heavenly Father should produce an undying, ever-increasing love for your God and Father. The reading of written word should produce an insatiable hunger and thirst for God. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God for they shall be filled. If none of the things mentioned are happening when you sit down to read the book (bible) then it is most apparent that the book has not found its place in your heart.” The Holy Spirit continued with his encouraging preaching and counseling. “Written word should become living word within you. It should encompass your lives, arrest you and bind your lives so great that your lives speak and preach the word without others even having to open the book. Your lives should speak “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. ⁵ You shall not worship them nor serve them. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that calls into question the character of God]; Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you. “You shall not commit murder (unjustified, deliberate homicide). You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal [secretly, openly, fraudulently, or through carelessness]. You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person). You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 

The Holy Spirit continues: ” It is upon these laws that the success of righteous living hangs. The laws stated that should be read in the lives of the believers are laws or a way of life written in stone from the very hand of God. The title believer here means, LOVERS AND FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST. I stress the word believer here Joyce because your written word tells you that even the fallen angels, demons believe in the one true God, and they tremble with what they know. They shudder in knowing that their choice to defy the one true God separates them from what they now know to be true and was true from the very beginning of their existence. The true lover and believer of God becomes arrested by the written word and opens his or her heart for the penetration of the word for KEEPS. The written words moves from the table of stone on which it was written, into the heart of the true believer of God. The written word moves from the pages of the binder into the very heart of the believer. The things that are in the heart of a man are the things that he or she will do. If an action, a thought or even spoken word is not in the heart then the action will not manifest, the thought will not be entertained, and the words will not be spoken. (SELAH). The true believers seeks with all diligence to abide in the written word of God, looking to me to help the word to be more than an intellectual achievement but a ultimate way of life. I brought to your remembrance Joyce a story we read. Please record that.

With pleasure Holy Spirit. “A very articulate speaker was invited to a speaking gala one evening. He was a most articulate speaker and could quote everything recited precisely. His intellect and knowledge of literature, quotes and sayings was extensive. He didn’t need papers, notes and texts to help him through his recitals. Nearing the end of his recital performance he said to the audience that he would recite anything they wanted to hear with one exception. The exception was that after he had recited what was desired, that person would have to come up to recite the same request asked; after him. An old preacher in the audience asked the speaker to recite the 23rd Psalm. Accepting the request, the speaker then invited the preacher to the platform to sit while he recited his request. The speaker then began to recite the 23rd Psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want…”  At the end of the recital the speaker received a standing ovation. He had so eloquently recited the Psalm so much so that the audience was moved to render such overwhelming accolades. The old preacher also respectfully applauded the speaker’s ability to recite the Psalm with such beauty and splendor. Once the applause had died and people were able to be seated, the speaker turned to the old preacher and motioned to him to stand at the lectern to recite the Psalm. The preacher was not an eloquent speaker, and he didn’t possess a clear voice. His voice was scratchy from his years of preaching the gospel. The preacher rose and thanked the speaker and took his place behind the lectern. Clearing his throat, the preacher began: “THE LORD IS” he said with emphasis “MY SHEPHERD, I SHAll NOT WANT. HE….”  When the preacher had finished his rendition of the recital of the Psalm there was no standing ovation yet, there was not a dry eye in the audience.

Thank you, Joyce. I am deeply moved within from hearing this again and remembering that very evening because I was there. It was a moving testimony from the heart of a man who knew the Shepherd. The words of the Psalm were just written word to the articulate speaker. The words of the Psalm had never left the pages. The words were committed to memory and was but merely an intellectual piece of art that brought to him recognition when spoken in its perspective place. The ability to use his trained voice to rise and fall in areas of the Psalm that would trigger a response was simply magnificent. His years of practice and study resulted in receiving some of the highest accolades and praises that could be given to man and with this the speaker was well pleased.

The old preacher having had many years of service in the Lord, spoke from his heart and memories of the many times that test, trials and victories had proven the validity of both God and his word. The preacher spoke from his heart and from the memories of the many experiences of verbal persecutions and rejections and God stood with him.  He spoke from memories and experiences of betrayal, slander and lies and God was faithful and upheld him with his right hand. He spoke from memories and experiences of hunger and being fill and back to hunger again and God sustained and made unseen ways for him.  He spoke from memories and experiences of lack and plenty and back to lack again and God still provided. He spoke from memories and experiences of hardships and rest and back to hardships where God provided and gave rest for his mind and rest for his soul. He spoke from memories and experiences of near death and God became a shield and buckler. With love, honor, and admiration the preacher spoke, “The Lord is MY SHEPHERD, I Shall not Want. The preacher’s recital of shall not want was indicative of a few things but mainly, it was indicative to wanting nothing beyond the want of God. Through his recital I empowered him just as Jesus said I would do, to be a fiery witness in that recital hall that evening. If ever an altar call was made of come to Jesus, that evening was the time! The preacher’s knowledge of God, his union with God and his experiencing of God was empowered and impacting. A mark was left on the hearts of men and women, and some left that hall with new determinations while and still others had made a conscious decision to get the know the Good Shepherd of the souls of men and women.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the sharing of your words.

The reading of the written word brings the glories of heaven, the glories of home to the believers while we are here in the earth. While many to most Christians wait to experience glorious times with God in the manifested or materialized kingdom or dwelling of God, please know that glorious experiences with God can and does take place here in the earth for those of them who seek an in-depth fellowship with Our Father who is in heaven. The redemptive plan is all inclusive. Jesus’ coming was for more than paying the debt of sin and inherited sin, but his coming was also to bridge the gap between God and his creation. He came to restore what was lost in the fall: pure un-defiled fellowship with God. One of Jesus’ prayers to God the Father while he was here in the flesh was “Make them one even as you and I are one.”

 BACK TO WRITTEN WORD

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” (Amplified Bible) (Hosea 4:6)

Because of his plan for written Word, God gave man the ability to read, comprehend and or understand.  The ability to do this is not something that just is but a requirement in the plan of God for man because of the separation that would take place when sin entered into the human race. This time in humanity (the fall) would not permit God to deal with man as he did with Adam. Keep in mind that written word is not the end of God but is a gift from him that allows us to increase in knowledge and awareness of God: his purposes and plans. The bible actually confirms the Father’s character and abilities. It shows his mind, his heart, his love and care and an endless list of his many facets. Written word along with the Spirit of God is our governing agent on this side of the Jordan as well as on the other side of the Jordan. Written word is applicable on both sides of the Jordan and through my continuous study of the word I find that the greatest of revelation and fulfillment of prophecy as well as seeing awesome moving manifestations of God’s power exhibited; takes place on the other side of the Jordan after the close of the Church age.

Reading the written word is a mandate from the Spirit of God. It is not an option but a mandate that many of us treat as an option. Education is a mandate from God. When God created Adam, we can see a continuous interaction between God and Adam. God and the man he created talked together.  The Living Word was educating Adam. Adam was growing and developing in his knowledge of God. Someone asks Joyce what do you mean by living word? Let’s define living word like this. The Living Word was not words written on paper. The Living Word that Adam had the opportunity to encounter was the Creator himself. And mind you Adam encountered God from what appears in biblical account: DAILY.  From Genesis 1: 26 to Genesis 3^rd chapter we see a continuous togetherness with both Adam and God. Adam’s teachings and instructions didn’t come from inanimate man-made material called literature or book, but his teachings and instructions came from the heart, mind and mouth of God. Adams life hanged on the very words from God. Food or bread did not alone sustain Adam. He was mainly sustained by the word of God. After the fall of man, the written word states this “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4). This passage of written word was spoken first by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 8:3. Adam did not live for food he lived for God and because he lived for God he ate without struggle. There was no lack. Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35

Again, the Living Word is God himself who verbally taught, verbally instructed verbally guided Adam during his stay in the Paradise Garden that was created for him. Followers, please be advised that we don’t know how long Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden prior to their fall. One passage of scripture that started my mind to question is Genesis 2: 15 that reads as this:  The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. The way that most of us read our bibles it appears that Adam never got the work done. We sum up the creation in 7 days with Adam and Eve falling within those seven days and being evicted from the Garden: Really? Another passage in the same chapter that brought questions referencing the length of time before the fall was Verse 19 (NIV);  ¹⁹ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.  Living Word has taught me to know that one of the errors made in bible reading is age, time and years.

God the Father (YAHWEH is his name) Jesus the Christ, (Yeshua Hamashiach) and the Holy Spirit are Living Word. Written word says this about Jesus: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5. In reference to the Holy Spirit and the words he spoke in teaching the people, Jesus spoke this: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. : John 6:63” WOW: LIVING WORD!!!

When Jesus came to the earth, He was the Living Word that existed before the world began. He took on human flesh so he could dwell among us in a human body for a short period of time. So just as with Adam the Living Word began to teach and instruct. The New Testament of the bible had not yet been written. The Living Word lived among man, ate with man, talked, and walked with and among man with many of them oblivious to who he was. Many did not even know that they were in the face of God. Many did not know that God had physically touched them. Many did not know that God was in their home, sitting at their tables, eating the food that he caused to grow and produce. Many did not know that they were hearing words from the mouth of God. Many did not know that God was among them healing the sick and opening blinded eyes and making the lame to walk. Many did not know that God was casting out demons and delivering sons and daughters from oppressing and depressing spirits. The Living word came doing only what a true and living God could do. The difference between Living Word and Adam versus the Living Word and man the second time around is that Adam knew the Living Word. Adam had interacted with the Living Word and though written word preceded the arrival of Jesus, meaning the Old Testament of the Bible, many had read it and still did not recognize the Living Word when he came. If they had read and believed the scriptures, they never would have crucified the Living Word in the flesh. The written word (Old Testament) foretold of a time when God would again come to the earth. It told of a time when God would deal with man fleshly and audibly. It is most evident that folk didn’t believe what was written and read. It is evident that the reading of the scriptures apart from the guidance of God led men to their own concepts and caused them to miss God; caused them to abuse God, caused them to reject God. Jesus said: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John5:39-40 (NIV). Some folk didn’t read the scriptures at all and other’s trusted in the religious leaders to tell them the truth and help them to prepare for the time that God would come to the earth. Other’s felt as long as they offered guilt offerings; and the priest where being fed really good from these offerings; then they themselves were alright. Really?

Remember we quoted Hosea 4:6-9.  Let’s look at it again with more clarity or understanding.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will].
Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.⁷ 
The more they multiplied [in numbers and increased in power], the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.⁸ They (the priests) feed on the sin offering of My people
And set their heart on their wickedness.⁹ And it shall be: like people, like priest [both are wicked and both will be judged]; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.

This is a most disturbing passage of scripture if we look at it in the light of the Holy Spirit. We are going to bring it home, alright? This is home. We’ve got in the Church age on this side of the Jordan folk that flock to the house of God. Some go not for the intent of learning God or to draw near to God but go out of tradition. These folk feel that as long as they go to the building, pay their money, or grease the Pastor’s palms; they can live any way they want to and be alright with God. Many Pastors accept the offerings given and will not so much as deal with the sins of the people and because of this he aids and encourages the church going sinners in the deception of being alright with God. Some folk go to the church on this side of the Jordan to unite themselves with the auxiliaries in the church: the choir, the usher board, the deacon and deaconess board, the mother’s board, the secretarial positions, the program committees, the hospitality committee, the bookkeeper, the building fund committee, the praise team, the musicians’ corner and aren’t living lives unto God.  And we have pastors who knows that the flock is so blemished, so cancerous, flock that are on their way to a devil’s hell and refuse to teach on the sins, to correct the ways of the sheep through teaching and counseling. We have on this side of the Jordan pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists and apostles, who have a love for money and no love for God and his people. We have on this side of the Jordan leaders who will stand behind pulpit or lectern read from the scriptures, take a text and don’t even live it or believe it themselves.

In Romans 2:21-25 Apostle Paul ask some very pertinent questions. Let’s check him out.

²¹ well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]? ²² You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]? ²³ You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by breaking the Law? ²⁴ For, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written [in Scripture]. ²⁵ Circumcision [the sign of the covenant of Abraham] is indeed of value if you practice the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [it is meaningless in God’s sight]. Amplified Bible.

Therefore, become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; ² and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. ³ But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. ⁴ Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. ⁵ For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. ⁷ So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. ⁸ For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] ⁹ (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰ trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. ¹¹ Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for it is light that makes everything visible. ¹⁴ For this reason He says “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.”   ¹⁵ Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], ¹⁶ making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. ¹⁹ Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

There is a standard that has been ordained for the lives of the believers. The written word teaches of this standard and the Holy Spirit empowers the believer to be able to meet this standard. Staying away from the written word my friends, leads to a path that is outside and apart from the will and righteousness of God. The above passages of written word is filled with meaty instructions for our lives believers and the passages are filled with the will, the intents and the expectancy of God. Pleasing the Lord is to both know his will and to live out his will. Observations of the believers lives show only two things and the two things are: he or she is reading the word of God and living out God’s will for his or her life or: he or she is not reading the word of God and he or she is not living out God’s will for his or her life.

If you would carefully observe the world, you will see that written word pretty much governs the world. Every religion on the planet has its literature. Every job has its own literature: employee’s handbook. Every school has its own literature. The literature of the world is comprised of rules and regulations. No one is exempted from rules, regulations and laws. Even the Government has rules to follow, the president has rules to follow. There are rules to follow in your very own dwelling. Nowhere is exempted. Renters have their leases. HOA (Homeowners Association) has its literature. 

Education is power and God’s intent is for man to be educated.  In the book of Hosea chapter 4: 6 God says this: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” (Amplified Bible)

There is a cliché spoken of “What you don’t know won’t hurt you. We used to say this to justify secrets and lies. The actual truth in many cases is: what we do not know, much of the time, can actually destroy us. Many of us can look back retrospectively and say: Had I known this, that and the other this wouldn’t have happened and that wouldn’t have happened, or had I only known, I wouldn’t be in this mess that I’m in.”  Good news my friends; GOD SPECIALIZES in mess. He has a remedy, a cure, deliverance for mess! My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

The knowledge of God and the knowledge from God should have precedence above all other knowledge in the Land. The knowledge of God being the highest of all knowledge is the key to our success in the earth. Keep in mind that we are not implying intellectual knowledge of God alone but a heart knowledge of God above all else. Let’s take a look at one of my favorite brethren.

To Joshua the successor of Moses, God said: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. (Amplified Bible) (Joshua 1:8)

Many of us make a mistake in our thinking that God is only interested in some things about us and other things he leaves to our discretion. This is really wrongful thinking.  With this way of thinking, many of us have made decisions based on a guess or have relied on our own understanding to find ourselves in troublesome times.  Some people facing decisions have said “Oh I don’t need the Lord’s input or counsel in this matter.” Well….in what mess did you find yourself? King Solomon who was granted the wisdom of God by simply asking, became the wisest man in the world. In Proverbs 3: 5-7 from the Amplified Bible he states:

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. ⁶ In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.

The written word has been addressed as a mirror. We can go into it and see ourselves, see the ways and actions where we may be missing the mark. The word should be what governs or instructs our walk and the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk into that which is right. Many instead of reading the word and abiding by what is written therein, will imitate others or compare themselves with the lives of other professing believers. We can compare our spirituality against the lives and examples of others and come up short. We can come up with the wrong answers: diagnosing ourselves with the wrong diagnosis. When we examine ourselves with the word of God and be diagnosed by the word of God we will find the diseases of mind, body, and spirit and too in the word of God we will find the remedy for these diseases as well as the healing balm for our souls.  The purpose of self-analysis is for the intent of determining if we are united with God through Christ Jesus, united with God in our minds through works with hearts that are far from him, united with God through comparison and church affiliation or simply not united at all. Where do you stand?

Genesis 1:26: And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and (in addition to) let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (27) So, GOD created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Wow…the beginning of humanity. Have you ever taken the time to stop and ponder your existence? Ever asked the questions of “Why am I here?” One very important answer is as Genesis 1:26 states: “God said!” I am here because God said. Before worlds, space and time God is.  He has never not existed. Before anything was God is which means that he has no need of anything created to maintain or help him to be.

Now my friends that’s a God! All things are because of him and without him nothing could ever be. Everything came into being by and for him. Just so you don’t think that I am blowing smoke, let’s take a look at a few passages of scripture.

John 1:1-3 says:” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made.”

These passages of scripture offer more detail to the existence of God the Father, God the son who is Jesus Christ himself and the Holy Spirit. What these passages of scripture is saying is:” We have always been and has never failed to exist.! Because of us you are and without us you would never be.

In his discourse on Jesus, Apostle Paul says in Colossians 1:16-17:” For by him were all things, all things, and again, all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him and for him: And he is before all things and by him all things exist.

Now this passage of scripture says all things were created by him and for him.  So, then man who is included in the “All Things” was created by God and for God. With this being a proven fact why then do we reject and ignore him. Why do we shun and abhor the very mention of God the Father and our redeeming Savior Jesus Christ? Why do we treat Them as if They are a plague?

Written word tells of God’s existence and creation shows of God’s existence. Being made by him and for him, God would not leave us ignorant of what his will is for us. The written word of God is a must for every life. The Holy Spirit of God is a must for every life. Without the acceptance of the Lord Jesus we rob ourselves of these treasures.