THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

 “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Matthew 4:7.

This is a continuing series on “THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Am I To Do With Them?” We have discussed and discovered that the Word of Jesus is the Word of God. (“Jesus and the Father are One”) . I have extracted the words of Jesus from scriptures in an effort to evaluate, study, discuss and understand

• What Jesus really said,
• What Jesus meant by what He said,
• What is the nature of what Jesus has said,
• What He said and what it means to me,
• How I should respond to what He said,
• What I should do with what He said,
• If what He said is literal and if it is really true.

We began this study with the questions, “Do you read the Bible? If so, how do you read and understand the Bible?”

What I am asking is, do you read the Bible as ‘stories’ about people, places and ‘about God’? Do you read the Bible for prophecies? For promises? For power?

Do you read the Bible to learn? And if you read to learn, what have you learned? And most importantly, what do you DO with what you learn?

We have looked at several examples of what the Bible says about The Word of God, and finally, we are asking, “What if the Word of God is true? I mean, what if His Words are literally true in ways we fail to recognize?”

People who personally encountered Jesus testified and reported on the Works He did, and this caused throngs to follow Him, stirred great controversies, created deadly conflicts and gave untold millions a greater hope for a new, vibrant, changed life, full of promise now and eternal hope of a home in heaven with God. The Words Jesus spoke, and the Works Jesus did, changed the world.

I ask again, ‘What if we have been reading and misunderstanding what Jesus meant by and the intentions of His Words? What if we have been misapplying what He taught? (Jesus was always concerned about His disciple’s lack of understanding and ‘lack of faith’.) In Part 2, we considered Jesus’ meaning of ”Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”, and that we need both physical food and spiritual food, ’every word that comes from the mouth of God’, in order to survive and to thrive, both now in this world and in the age to come.

“Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

These words of Jesus, are also found from Deuteronomy 6:16, when God cautioned the Israelites, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah”.  Massah is a reference to the place where circumstances gave the Israelites cause for complaining to Moses, and to doubt whether God was present in their need (testing God); and, it was a sign of unbelief and of challenging the ability, dependability, the provision and sovereignty of God.

(Rather than go into further detail here, please refer to this article on Massah, and this article on what it means to ‘test God’.)

The consequences of putting the Lord God to the test can be severe. In this case, God was merciful. But in a similar and subsequent event years later, Moses and Aaron were denied entrance into the Promised Land because of their disobedience to God at Kadesh Barnea. God had instructed Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the grumbling Israelites, but he disobeyed by striking the rock twice (Numbers 20:12). Because the Israelites had failed to believe and obey the Lord, their arrival into the land “flowing with milk and honey” was postponed until Joshua led the younger generation out of the wilderness by the command of the Lord.

There are volumes being said in this short, terse statement by Jesus, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test’”.

“ON ONE SIDE OF THIS COIN”

• Do not challenge the Lord your God, for it is a sign of a rebellious and ungrateful heart.
• Do not question the sovereignty of the Lord your God, for it is a sign of pride and arrogance.
• Do not doubt the Lord your God, for it is a sign of unbelief.

The Psalmist warns, Do not be a “stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

“The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle.

“They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.
They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers, he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan”. (Psalm 78:8-12)

“He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.

“He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

“Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

“He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?”

“Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.

“Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.

“But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel.

“In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.” (Psalms 78:13-33)

Again, James instructs and warns, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8

“ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN”

These few words spoken by Jesus are prophetic and instructional. They have been spoken to you, and are meant to be active and will come alive, through you!

Jesus’ words are causative and creative. “They shall accomplish the very thing which He purposes, and they shall succeed in the things for which He sent them”. (Isaiah 55:11).

When beset with trials and temptations, when faced with lack, need or want, speak the Word of God and repel the devil, negate his attacks and  temptations. Be steadfast and completely dependent on God, in faith. He will not fail you. He will deliver you!

• • This is what Jesus really said,
  • This is what Jesus meant by what He said,
  • This is the nature of what Jesus has said,
  • This is what He is saying and what it means to you and me,
  • This is how you should respond to what He said,
  • This is what you should do with what He said,
  • What He has said is literally true. Depend on it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Pt. 4. (“Begone Satan, for you shall worship the Lord your God”)

PREVIOUSLY: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?

This is the promise to all of God’s children – First to the Jew, then to the Gentile. This is THE WORD OF GOD for you:

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.

And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:1-6

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 2

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’” – Matthew 4:3.

What does this mean, and can it be true?

The context in which Jesus spoke these words is found in Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Verse 2. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Verse 3. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Verse 4. But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus’ response to temptation and testing by the devil, even in the most extreme of circumstances, was to say, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Please remember, this is not just a study ‘about the Bible’ or ‘about Jesus’, and, this is not just a story.

This is The Word of God being demonstrated in real life situations. These Words are for your learning, your rebuke, your correction and training in righteousness, so that you may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

This Word of God, is creative, causative, prophetic and instructional, to you, for you and ultimately, ‘through you’.

So, again I ask, what do these Words mean, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”   And, are they true?

It is true that we need food for nourishment and for life, but natural food will only sustain and strengthen you temporarily.

The Word of God is the true food, the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.  Jesus is the bread of life, and whoever comes to Him shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Him shall never thirst. (John 6:27-40).

What do these Words mean to you? And are they true?

In this case, when Jesus says, ”Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”, He uses the word ‘Rhema’ which is the spoken Word of God. Jesus speaks the known, written Word of God to counter and to negate the tests and temptations of the devil.

Can this be true for us? Likewise, you also are to speak the known Word of God, (the ‘Rhema-word)’, that is the known, written Word of God to counter and to negate the tests and temptations of the devil.

Why is this necessary? Because Jesus has told us, ‘this is the way’.

Is it possible for you to do this?

Being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, is not a casual relationship nor is it a convenient pursuit. It is hard. It takes work, discipline, dedication and commitment. But It is the only way to life and true peace. (Romans 8:6b).

So, if you prefer a life with purpose and meaning, a life full and abundant, then don’t “live by bread alone, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

If you prefer a life with peace in your heart in mind, at peace with people and with God, don’t “live by bread alone, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

If the Word of God is absolutely true, and in light of what we have discussed and in light of what you have read, what do you now think about the Word of God?

How would you now approach the Bible?

Would you now pick up The Word of God, and breathe in it? Suspecting or knowing it somehow leads to life and life worth living?

What would you now DO with such a strange and exciting potential?

Would you still read the Bible just as ‘stories’ about people, places and ‘about God’?

Would you still read the Bible just for prophecies? For promises? For power?

Would you still read the Bible just to learn about it? And, if so, what would you DO with what you would now learn?

“I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly”. (John 10:10 b)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What To Do With Them? – Part 3

PREVIOUSLY: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What To Do With Them?

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

Do you read the Bible? If so, how do you read and understand the Bible?” What I am asking is,

Do you read the Bible as ‘stories’ about people, places and ‘about God’?

Do you read the Bible for prophecies? For promises? For power?

Do you read the Bible to learn? And if you read to learn, what have you learned? And most importantly, what do you DO with what you learn?

Reading the Bible and knowing about God can be a good thing – or it can be just a religious exercise to make us feel better about ourselves.  But that is NOT necessarily knowing God, and He wants us to know Him and His ways and to walk with Him, daily, then He becomes our sanctuary.

Please consider these Bible facts:

Did you know that the Bible is alive? Alive, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword? That it penetrates as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and that it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart? (Hebrews 4:12).

Did you know that all Scripture is actually the Breath of God? And that The Scriptures, (The Bible), is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work? (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Did you know that the Word is God? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God? (John 1:1).

Did you know that The Word became flesh and dwelt among us?  Did you also know that many have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, and that Word is Jesus? (John 1:14).

Did you know that the Word of God that goes out from His mouth shall not return to Him empty, but it shall accomplish that which He purposes, and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it? (Isaiah 55:11).

Did you know that you are made clean because of the Word He has spoken to you? (John 15:3).

Did you know that whoever believes in Jesus, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water?’” (John 7:38).

Did you know that the Gospel, the Good News found in The Word, is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek? (Romans 1:16).

Did you know that God’s Word like fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29).

Did you know that the Word of God is eternal and will not pass away?  (Matthew 24:35).

The Bible says that Jesus’ Words are creative, causative, prophetic and instructional. Can this really be true?

Let me ask you, “WHAT IF WHAT THE BIBLE IS SAYING IS REALLY TRUE?”  I mean, not only without error, but literally true and factually accurate in ways we fail to recognize? Regardless whether this Truth is spoken through plain language, as metaphors, similes or as an idiom? Let me give you an example before you answer.

The Bible says, “For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  These words were written about 2,000 years ago, and there was no such thing as a discipline of psychology. So, can these words really be true?  And, how could the Bible look 2,000 years into the future to make such a statement?

These Words would seem to have been written as a metaphor, containing a simile. But, are they true? Can the Word of God this actually make these things happen?  Or are the Words of Jesus just metaphors and similes, an invention of a poetic mind?

A pastor and friend says Jesus’ words are largely, if not completely, metaphorical, communicating an idea but not facts, especially when it comes to His miracles. This pastor would say that when the Bible says Jesus raised the dead, it was a metaphor, actually meaning that people who are ‘dead’ are only emotionally or spiritually dead. So, by Jesus’ words of encouragement, they would come alive with new purpose in life, but no one actually came back from being dead.

This preacher would say the same of Jesus healing the blind and lame. The blind and the lame did not actually see or walk again, (and perhaps were never really physically blind or lame), but this preacher was asserting that Jesus could motivate the infirm to a ‘see life in a new way’ and would find a new way of ‘walking through life’.

But the Bible says Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and the savior of the world. Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Jesus and the Word of God is not an invention of a perverse and unbelieving person and generation. (John 14:6)

I say, ‘how absurd’ of this pastor! Why bother studying scriptures if you believe they are hyperbole at best and a lie at worst! Why change what is plainly written to satisfy your own limited opinion and lack of understanding?

So, this pastor and many others would choose to stand in judgement of the Bible because they just cannot and will not believe. They are, in essence, saying that Jesus is either a liar, a fraud a hypocrite, a lunatic, or a motivational speaker and the Bible is a scam.

A STEP FARTHER

But, what if The Word of God is true? I mean, what if His Words are literally true in ways we fail to recognize? People who personally encountered Jesus testified and reported on the Works He did, and this caused throngs to follow Him, stirred great controversies, created deadly conflicts and gave untold millions a greater hope for a new, vibrant, changed life, full of promise now and eternal hope of a home in heaven with God.

The Words Jesus spoke, and the Works Jesus did, changed the world.

I ask again, ‘what if we have been reading and misunderstanding what Jesus meant by His Words and the intentions of His Words? What if we have been misapplying what He taught? (Jesus was always concerned about His disciple’s lack of understanding and ‘lack of faith’.)

What if Jesus has been telling us how to actively engage His Word, so we could actually do His Works, and even greater works? (“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will you do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12.)

I realize I am wading into a potentially controversial area, but I am not referring to some kind of religious mysticism or extra-Biblical teaching, heresy or religious nonsense. (I believe, practice and teach a reformed view of the Bible.) But I do believe a great majority of the church, the teaching and practices of the church and the results produced by the early church have waned if not disappeared completely.

So, I ask one last time: What if the Word of God is

•  Somehow, literally Alive, and
• Somehow, literally Active, and
• Producing the effect of being Sharper than any two-edged sword,
• Capable of literally Penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit,
• Dividing both joints and marrow, and
• Somehow, literally able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart?

Ask yourself, “Why would the Bible and Jesus say such things if they were not true?”

“Why would Jesus and His disciples be willing to suffer and die for a lie or a scam?”

If The Word of God is absolutely true, and in light of what we have discussed and in light of what you have read, what do you now think about the Word of God?

How would you now approach the Bible?

Would you even dare pick up The Word of God, suspecting or knowing it is somehow “actually alive, and active and able to penetrate your mind, spirit and body, having the ability to ‘cut you to pieces’ and reveal the deepest secrets and thoughts of your heart mind and soul?

What would you now DO with such a strange and exciting potential?

Would you still read the Bible just as ‘stories’ about people, places and ‘about God’?

Would you still read the Bible for just for prophecies? For promises? For power?

Would you still you read the Bible just to learn about it? And, if so, what would you DO with what you would now learn?

Now perhaps, these Words have a clearer meaning, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are We To Do With Them? “‘Man shall not live by bread alone”?, Part 2.

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

Do you read the Bible? If so, how do you read and understand the Bible?” What I am asking is,

Do you read the Bible as ‘stories’ about people, places and ‘about God’?

Do you read the Bible for prophecies? For promises? For power?

Do you read the Bible to learn? And if you read to learn, what have you learned? And most importantly, what do you DO with what you learn?

Please consider these Bible facts:

Did you know that the Bible is alive? Alive, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword? That it penetrates as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and that it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart? (Hebrews 4:12).

Did you know that all Scripture is actually the Breath of God? And that The Scriptures, (The Bible), is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work? (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Did you know that the Word is God? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God? (John 1:1).

Did you know that The Word became flesh and dwelt among us?  Did you also know that many have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, and that Word is Jesus? (John 1:14).

Did you know that the Word of God that goes out from His mouth shall not return to Him empty, but it shall accomplish that which He purposes, and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it? (Isaiah 55:11).

Did you know that you are made clean because of the Word He has spoken to you? (John 15:3).

Did you know that whoever believes in Jesus, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water?’” (John 7:38).

Did you know that the Gospel, the Good News found in The Word, is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek? (Romans 1:16).

Did you know that God’s Word like fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29).

Did you know that the Word of God is eternal and will not pass away?  (Matthew 24:35).

The Bible says that Jesus’ Words are creative, causative, prophetic and instructional. Can this really be true?

Let me ask you, “WHAT IF WHAT THE BIBLE IS SAYING IS REALLY TRUE?”  I mean, not only without error, but literally true and factually accurate in ways we fail to recognize? Regardless whether this Truth is spoken through plain language, as metaphors, similes or as an idiom? Let me give you an example before you answer.

The Bible says, “For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  These words were written about 2,000 years ago, and there was no such thing as a discipline of psychology. So, can these words really be true?  And, how could the Bible look 2,000 years into the future to make such a statement?

These Words would seem to have been written as a metaphor, containing a simile. But, are they true? Can the Word of God this actually make these things happen?  Or are the Words of Jesus just metaphors and similes, an invention of a poetic mind?

A pastor and friend says Jesus’ words are largely, if not completely, metaphorical, communicating an idea but not facts, especially when it comes to His miracles. This pastor would say that when the Bible says Jesus raised the dead, it was a metaphor, actually meaning that people who are ‘dead’ are only emotionally or spiritually dead. So, by Jesus’ words of encouragement, they would come alive with new purpose in life, but no one actually came back from being dead.

This preacher would say the same of Jesus healing the blind and lame. The blind and the lame did not actually see or walk again, (and perhaps were never really physically blind or lame), but this preacher was asserting that Jesus could motivate the infirm to a ‘see life in a new way’ and would find a new way of ‘walking through life’.

But the Bible says Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and the savior of the world. Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Jesus and the Word of God is not an invention of a perverse and unbelieving person and generation. (John 14:6)

I say, ‘how absurd’ of this pastor! Why bother studying scriptures if you believe they are hyperbole at best and a lie at worst! Why change what is plainly written to satisfy your own limited opinion and lack of understanding?

So, this pastor and many others would choose to stand in judgement of the Bible because they just cannot and will not believe. They are, in essence, saying that Jesus is either a liar, a fraud a hypocrite, a lunatic, or a motivational speaker and the Bible is a scam.

A STEP FARTHER

But, what if The Word of God is true? I mean, what if His Words are literally true in ways we fail to recognize? People who personally encountered Jesus testified and reported on the Works He did, and this caused throngs to follow Him, stirred great controversies, created deadly conflicts and gave untold millions a greater hope for a new, vibrant, changed life, full of promise now and eternal hope of a home in heaven with God.

The Words Jesus spoke, and the Works Jesus did, changed the world.

I ask again, ‘what if we have been reading and misunderstanding what Jesus meant by His Words and the intentions of His Words? What if we have been misapplying what He taught? (Jesus was always concerned about His disciple’s lack of understanding and ‘lack of faith’.)

What if Jesus has been telling us how to actively engage His Word, so we could actually do His Works, and even greater works? (“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will you do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12.)

I realize I am wading into a potentially controversial area, but I am not referring to some kind of religious mysticism or extra-Biblical teaching, heresy or religious nonsense. (I believe, practice and teach a reformed view of the Bible.) But I do believe a great majority of the church, the teaching and practices of the church and the results produced by the early church have waned if not disappeared completely.

So, I ask one last time: What if the Word of God is

•  Somehow, literally Alive, and
• Somehow, literally Active, and
• Producing the effect of being Sharper than any two-edged sword,
• Capable of literally Penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit,
• Dividing both joints and marrow, and
• Somehow, literally able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart?

Ask yourself, “Why would the Bible and Jesus say such things if they were not true?”

“Why would Jesus and His disciples be willing to suffer and die for a lie or a scam?”

If The Word of God is absolutely true, and in light of what we have discussed and in light of what you have read, what do you now think about the Word of God?

How would you now approach the Bible?

Would you even dare pick up The Word of God, suspecting or knowing it is somehow “actually alive, and active and able to penetrate your mind, spirit and body, having the ability to ‘cut you to pieces’ and reveal the deepest secrets and thoughts of your heart mind and soul?

What would you now DO with such a strange and exciting potential?

Would you still read the Bible just as ‘stories’ about people, places and ‘about God’?

Would you still read the Bible for just for prophecies? For promises? For power?

Would you still you read the Bible just to learn about it? And, if so, what would you DO with what you would now learn?

Now perhaps, these Words have a clearer meaning, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: Is it really true that, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone”? (Matthew 4:3).