4. God’s word, the Bible — speaks!

HOW GOD SPEAKS:
The Bible: is the most sure, reliable, safe way we can know God’s voice. All other “communication channels” need to be tested against God’s word of truth.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

God’s Word:
1. Is living! (a living plant vs a rock — Bible vs any other book)
2. Is powerful! (God’s word has energy in it — it is active! — like an active ingredient in a medicine or toothpaste)
3. Is an extremely sharp two-edged sword! (see also Eph. 6:17)
• It is a weapon of battle — soldiers could pierce armor with a sharp, pointy, 2-edged sword. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to battle falsehood, deception, pride, sin, spiritual uncleanness, etc.
• It is so sharp that it can open up any part of our flesh or spirit and expose what is there.
4. Reveals — all the hidden inner things — God’s word gets into our business! He knows the REAL reason we do things. And His word holds a mirror up to our souls for us to see what our motivations are. We need to live as those who KNOW we must one day give an account for how we lived our lives.
5. Is a person (Heb. 4:13; John 1:1,14)
6. Is eternal (Luke 21:33)
7. Gives spiritual wisdom & “light” to our understanding (Psalm 19:7-8)
8. Directs our steps (Psalm 119:133)
9. Is life to us! (Deut. 8:3) Ex. Earth’s “sweetspot” in orbit — narrow path of life
10. Teaches us what to believe* (doctrine) — God’s word reveals what is right and true
11. Teaches us what NOT to believe (reproof) — God’s word reveals error, falsehood, demonic deception
12. Teaches us what NOT to do (correction)
13. Teaches us what should be done — (instruction in righteousness) which equips us for EVERY good work

(* 10-13 Source from The Believer’s Study Bible, pg. 1727 footnote)

Core Lesson:
The Bible, like no other divine communication channel, gives us the clearest and most abundant source of God’s word for our lives.

For more study on your own:
1 Corinthians 10:1-11
God’s written word teaches us through examples of those who came before us.
• Vs1-4: These difficult verses basically tell us that all those O.T. (true) stories, were all a apart of God’s grand story, pointing to the fulfillment of Christ, of which we ourselves have a place in.
• Vs5-10: Things we learn NOT to do by their bad example.
• Vs11: These were all written down for our instruction!