The Word That Brings Victory

INTRODUCTION

A. There are some important passages found within the word of God that teach us the significance of that same revealed word — passages teach us that the word of God is vital to our own spiritual health and well-being in the sight of God. What we find is that God has given us His written word for a purpose: our own salvation. What we have been given by God is a means to overcome the death sentence of sin, a means to defeat sin, and a means to overcome the temptations of sin even after we have become a child of God. But the power is found in the word!

B. Many — even some leaders in the religious world — want to diminish the power of God's written word. Some have declared it "a dead letter", ineffective for today's society without modernization of the intent and/or application. Others say it is beneficial — to a point. Usually that benefit ends when it conflicts with what they want to practice or teach as truth. I do not hold to this view of God's word, for I still believe, as the apostle Paul wrote, that it is "the power of God unto salvation." (Rom. 1:16) I believe the word of God is still powerful! It is what brings victory into the life of the disciple — a victory we could not achieve without it.

C. So today, let us take a look at some of these passages that teach us about The Word That Brings Victory. Let us take a look at those passages that teach us how we may attain victory, how we may continue to be victorious, and how it will bring ultimate victory. As we consider these passages, we will hopefully see the part we have in conjunction with the word that is necessary for its success. Just as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross did not automatically ensure the salvation of all men, the revelation of God's word does not ensure all men's salvation, either. What must we do? We must:

I. KNOW THE WORD

A. Knowledge Essential.

1. No Faith Without the Word. [Rom. 10:13-17] Though many in the religious world claim that all one must do to be saved is to get down on their knees and pray something called "The Sinner's Prayer," such a command or example is not to be found within the word of God in any conversion. Upon what basis would they claim to have faith? Upon what basis, then, could they claim to be saved?

a. When Moses said, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God," he didn't stop there; he went on to say, "but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deut. 29:29) God revealed His word then, and it is revealed to us now, because He wants us to know what we should do! How else could we know God's will except there be modern-day prophets, or direct revelation? (Which some claim!) However it came, it would be God's word!

b. No one could know God's will if it was not revealed to us. Paul used this fact to further show that it had been revealed to them (the apostles) through His Spirit, and they then spoke those words to the Corinthian brethren. (1 Cor. 2:9-13, 16) The reality of faith is that it is based on the word of God, and that word must be revealed to us. And it has been.

2. Salvation Came Through the Word. [Acts 10:30-33; 11:12-14] When Cornelius (a devout man) prayed to God, he was not told that he was saved; he was told that he needed to send for Peter, "who will tell you words by which you and your whole household will be saved." No "sinner's prayer," no salvation without the word! Peter had to tell them words that would lead them to salvation. Do you know those words included the command to be baptized in the name of the Lord? (10:47, 48)

B. His Word Given That We Might Believe. [John 20:30, 31]

1. Here is the proof. The words that John wrote, describing the miracles and signs Jesus performed, were given that we "may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing (we) may have life in His name." Without that written word, there is no evidence upon which we base our faith. Oral traditions, which some religions depend upon for their authority and doctrine, are unreliable and subject to change. God ensured the word was written down for all time for all to see.

2. Our knowledge of this word, then, is essential. Without a knowledge of that word, we cannot be put in a position to obtain the forgiveness of our sins. Through faith in Jesus Christ we receive remission of our sins (Acts 10:43); through belief in Him are we justified (Acts 13:39); through faith in Him, we have eternal life (John 3:16)! Without that word, we can never be justified, can never be forgiven, and could never hope to have eternal life!

C. (Psa. 25:4, 5) We need to have the desire of the psalmist, who pleads with the Lord: "Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day." Knowledge of the word of God will bring us victory over sin and will bring us forgiveness!

II. STUDY & APPLY GOD'S WORD

1. Exerting Continual Efforts. (2 Tim. 2:15) When the apostle Paul wrote the young evangelist Timothy to exhort him to do the work of an evangelist, one of the things he commanded was to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." A proper study and application of God's word is necessary if we are to be acceptable to Him, and that demands diligence and effort.

2. To Be Mindful of Their Words. (2 Pet. 3:1, 2) Peter wrote the Christians of his day to "stir them up" — to remind them of the words of the prophets and the commandments of the apostles.

a. As Christians, they needed to remember all of those words, for as he would later say, they needed to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (v. 18) That growth would come through the word (1 Pet. 2:2).

b. Failure to grown in that knowledge would render them as immature and unfit. The writer of Hebrews condemned those to whom he wrote for needing to be taught "the first principles" of the Scriptures and for being "unskilled in the word of righteousness." (5:12-14) That immaturity would put them in danger of being unable to "discern both good and evil" and falling to the temptations every man faces.

c. Failure to know the word of God led His people into captivity and destruction (Isa. 5:13; Hos. 4:6). It wasn't that they had no knowledge of God, but a lack of knowing what He demanded of them for His blessings to continue. The writer of Hebrews appeals to their example for us to note, lest we should "fall according to the same example of disobedience." (4:11)

B. The Key to Defeating Sin.

1. Words To Help Us Not Sin. (1 John 2:2) The apostle John wrote to the believers of his day, giving them words that would help them to overcome sin. Looking into the letter, we see that there are many instructions that serve that purpose.

a. Keeping His commandments. [2:3-5]

b. Walking as He walked. [2:6]

c. No love for the world. [3:15-17]

2. Following the Pattern of Our Lord. (Matt. 4:1-11) Looking at the example of our own Lord, as He was tempted, we may see what we can do to avoid the temptations that are hurled at us. In every case, it is not coincidence that Jesus answered the temptations with "It is written…" If we follow the same pattern and answer every temptation with "what is written," we may, too, overcome sin.

C. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) We need to understand the importance of the word of God in our life, for within it is contained that which is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." If we desire to have success in spiritual growth, only the word can give us that victory!

III. LOVE GOD'S WORD

1. When God's Word is Our Treasure. (Psa. 19:9, 10; 119:127, 162) The psalmist loved the word of God and valued it highly — more than gold.

2. Too Valuable To Exchange. [Prov. 23:23] "Buy the truth and do not sell it."

B. The Benefits of This Love.

1. Hatred of Evil. One consequences of loving the word of God is a natural hatred, then, of that which is evil. When we have a true and sincere love of the truth, we will not have a desire to do evil — sin! As the psalmist admonished: "You who love the Lord — hate evil! "(97:10) He had this love for God's word within himself, and motivated him to say, "Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way." (119:104)

2. Avoiding Sin. Again, the psalmist tells us, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!" (119:11) That word, hidden in his heart, motivated him to keep himself from evil because he wanted to keep the word (119:101).

3. A Godly Example. Those who have the love for God and His word will live lives patterned after the teachings found within the word. The world will see the life of godliness and know that we are one of His children. We will truly be shining "as lights in the world" because we are "holding fast the word of life." (Phlp. 2:15, 16)

C. (Psa. 119:97) We need to have the same love for God's word as the psalmist, who said, "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." That love will help us to have the victory over sin, because those who love His word will obey His word. The psalmist also says, "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." (119:165)

IV. TRUST GOD'S WORD

1. Not In Ourselves. Many a disciple has fallen by the way because they were trusting in something other than the word of God to give them victory, to give them the answers that they might overcome. (Jer. 10:23) "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." We may think we know best, but that it seldom the case.

2. A Reliable Source. We may trust in the word because we can trust in the giver. God is known as one who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and that being true, whatever He says is true. His word is reliable and the proof is in the fulfillment of what He has promised (1 Kings 8:56).

B. Answers to Questions.

1. If His Will Is The Standard. Again, we look to the psalmist, and he shows us that we may have answer to the one who stands against us if we trust in the word (Psa. 119:42). Though the world may attack our Lord, attack what He teaches, and attack everything we do, we will always claim victory if we go to — and stick with — the word.

2. The Great Questions of Life.

a. Where did we come from? [Gen. 1:26, 27)

b. Why are we here? [Eccl. 12:13]

c. Where are we going? [Heb. 9:27 John 5:25-29]

C. Some want to cast doubt on the reliability and trustworthiness of the word of God, but the psalmist said, "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psa. 119:89) Peter said, "The word of the Lord endures forever." I can believe it! I can trust it!

CONCLUSION

We may certainly and assuredly have victory through the word of God — if we would but know it, study and apply it, love and desire it, and trust in it. Lacking these things, we cannot have the victory that awaits us and is promised within. Do you want to have victory? Then go to God through His word — the place where you will find the answer to our own inability to remove our sins, the place where you will find the answer to temptations, the place where you will find the answer to life's questions and the attacks from those who do not know it as we should know it. How about you? Do you desire victory? Have you gone to The Word That Brings Victory? In it, you will find "the power of God for salvation for all who believe." In it you will find the righteousness of God revealed, His promises revealed, and our hope revealed. Will you come? Will you obey that word that brings victory?

By Steven Harper

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