Sunday, October 24, 2010 am
1 Thessalonians 2:13
In this statement, Paul not only praises these brethren, but he
also speaks highly of the Word of God they had received.
The NKJV notes that this word, “effectively works in you…”.
The NASU says this word “performs its work in you.”
The KJV says it, “effectually worketh also in you” while the ASV
says it “worketh in you who believe.”
A study of the word used here (energeo - e)nerge/w,
NT:1754),
indicates energetic activity in accomplishing something.
That something according to our text is the word of God.
Paul is noting that the word of God can powerfully accomplish
many things. That idea is
also borne out in other passages, some familiar.
Romans 1:16 describes the gospel as “the power of God unto
salvation”. Hebrews 4:12
says the word of God as living and active and sharper than a two-edged
sword. In 1 Thess. 1:5-6 Paul
noted that the gospel he preached came to them “in power, and in the
Holy Spirit and in much assurance…”
Also in 1 Corinthians 1:18, described as, “the message of the
cross” it is said of those who accept it (are being saved) “it is the
power of God.” We
could go on and on reminding ourselves of the power of God’s word.
It is my hope that we all understand and accept this.
In my lesson today we want to take a closer look at the effective
working word of God. We want
to notice some things that demonstrate how it is effective.
It is my hope that with this we will remind ourselves to not only
study the word but have confidence in it to build us up.
a.
In this context Paul is on his 3rd journey in Ephesus and
teaching. Some 50000 pieces
of silver worth of books of magic had been burned.
We then read, “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and
prevailed.” Earlier in 12:24
we read, “But the word of the God grew and multiplied.”
As the Lord’s church was being established, there was great opposition
to it. Nevertheless, it
could not be stopped. In
fact, it seems that the greater the opposition, the more its power and
effect increased.
In Isaiah
55:11 we read, “So shall
My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me
void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the
thing for which I sent it.”
b.
From this we realize that it cannot be stopped.
Throughout history man has tried to exterminate or contain it in
various ways, but with no effect.
It has been preserved and more available today than ever before.
c.
This says something of the effectiveness of this Word.
And it can prevail in many other ways!
(cf. the remainder of this lesson).
a.
We are reminded in this familiar text that God’s word is NOT a dead
message (living, quick). It is just a applicable today as when it was
written.
Powerful (active – NASU, ASV) – effective as we are discussing in this
lesson
b.
It is able to discern what is in the heart.
The idea of this is that it can sift through and reveal the REAL
motives in one’s heart. One might ask how can the word of God do this?
i.
It is God’s word that
will judge us in the last day – Rom. 2:2, “But we know
that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who
practice such things.”
Also 2:16, “When God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
according to my gospel.”
John 12:48, “The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last
day.”
ii.
It can convict your
own soul
– man is often able to hide his true intents from others, but few can
hide from themselves.
Acts 2:37, they were “cut to the heart”
John 8:9, as Jesus wrote on the ground when the adulterous woman was
brought to her, we are told these accusers were convicted by their
conscience.
1 John 3:20 speaks of our heart condemning us (though God is greater
than our hearts)
iii.
It can HELP one to
determine another’s motives. To a limited degree
we can observe one’s conduct and often determine some things about his
motives. We do this by
weighing their conduct to what God’s word actually says.
I believe this is what Jesus spoke of when He said, “Do not judge
according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
We can SOMETIMES tell whether or not he is sincere, etc.
We can SOMETIMES tell if one is honest.
Jesus in Matt. 7:16-20 that that we would know false teachers by
their fruits.
iv.
Concerning this text,
one author said,
“it is perhaps just as well to view this verse as a heaping together of
powerful terms for the purpose of showing the utmost ability of the word
of God to penetrate the complex inward nature of man, to convict him of
sin, to expose his hidden motives, and to judge the very nature of life
itself.” (Coffman’s Commentary, Heb. 4:12)
a.
When one obeys the gospel, it is in response to the message that
has been taught. We have
noted in times past that EVERY example of conversion in scripture
involved someone presenting the gospel to that person.
Also we read of different reactions to the gospel.
WHEN one obeys the gospel, it MUST be because they were moved by
the message preached.
Anything less will be inadequate.
b.
In Peter we read that we are born again through the word of God.
Being “living and active” the word of God can give life to one
who has died in sin (Rom. 6:23).
James 1:18-21 notes that
He “brought us forth by the word
of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
Vs. 21 challenges us to “receive
with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls.”
c.
So how does the word of God effectively produce the New Birth? In
His word is revealed EVERYTHING we need to know to be saved (cf. 2 Pet.
1:3). This includes: How
much God loves us and why He did what He did.
We are introduced to sin.
We told how to obey the gospel AND we are told how to stay saved.
The word of God is KEY to our salvation.
d.
This is more than superficial.
The word of God can actually CHANGE a person (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-11,
etc.) if they are willing to accept it into their lives.
a.
The word sanctify means to set apart or holy.
In the two texts under this point we note:
That it is God who sanctifies us through His word, even as Jesus prayed.
In
1 Tim. 4:5 where Paul is
speaking of all foods being good if received with thanksgiving because
“it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
b.
So HOW does the word of God sanctify food (and everything)?
Consider how God changed “the rules” for what we man could eat.
In
Acts 10:9-16 Peter has a
vision in which he is told to eat food that were unclean under the Old
Law. When Peter noted this,
the voice spoke to him saying, “What
God has cleansed you must not call common.”
Peter eventually accepted this.
So what happened? GOD
spoke and His word became law.
Thus when we accept (and do) what He tells us, we are pleasing to
Him and thus we are pure and holy in His sight (i.e. sanctified).
Therefore, his Word sanctifies us.
c.
Within the word of God it is revealed what we need to do to STAY in
a holy state with the Father.
1 John 5:13, “These
things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue
to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
1 Peter 1:13-15 challenges
us to be holy in conduct.
James 1:22-23 challenges
us to be doers of the word and not hearers only.
d.
When we obey God by responding to His word, His word is sanctifying
us.
a.
In the above verse we read, “‘Is
not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a hammer that breaks
the rock in pieces?’”
The context of this verse is a condemnation of false prophets who
misused God’s word. The
message is that His TRUE word will consume them.
b.
Such is equally true today.
Our best “weapon” against false doctrines and false teachers is
the effective, working word of God.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 describes the weapons of our warfare (including the
word of God – Eph. 6:17) as being “mighty
in God for pulling down strongholds and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought to the
obedience of Christ.”
2 Tim. 4:2-4 finds Paul admonishing Timothy to preach the word, to keep
many from endorsing false teachers
Psalm 119:104 says, “Through your
precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”
c.
How can the word expose error?
i.
By Identifying to
true believers what is truth, and consequently what is NOT truth.
2 Tim. 2:15 – with the word of God we can “rightly divide the word of
truth.”
In 1 John 4:1 we are instructed to not believe every spirit but to test
them. This can only be done
with the word of God.
ii.
By identifying those
who are teaching error – two books are devoted primarily to warnings against false
teachers - both 2 Peter and Jude expend a considerable percentage
warning about what they are and how they operate.
Galatians 1:6-9 warns us against those who preach “another gospel”.
iii.
By converting those
with honest hearts
–
David was convicted by Nathan the prophet who said, “You are the man” (2
Sam. 12:7). Consider Apollos
in Acts 18:24-28. Here was a
man who had almost everything correct.
He instructed people in the way of the Lord and taught accurately
the things of the Lord. BUT
he knew only the baptism of John.
His learning was incomplete and his message concerning baptism
was error. HOWEVER, all he
needed to be corrected was someone that “explained to him the way of God
more accurately.” And
he responded. His honest
heart is what set Apollos apart from most of the false teachers we read
of in scripture. The word of
God can CHANGE one in error.
d.
There is great power in the word to expose that which is false.
a.
The word faith means “firm persuasion.”
We often equate this word with believing God and trusting Him.
But how do we know we can trust Him?
Because we have the word of God.
We know we have to have faith (Heb. 11:6) and that faith is found in His
word.
b.
So how does the word produce faith?
i.
Within its pages we
learn about God,
what He has done to save us, we know what He is capable of doing and we
know what He wills for us to do.
We believe that all the scriptures say happened really did (and
there is some proof of this). Therefore
we trust Him.
ii.
Because of the
evidences we have of inspiration based on what it says, (such
as the many proofs ahead of their time revealed within scripture,
because of its inerrant cohesiveness even though it was written over
1600 years by some 40 authors on 3 different continents and in 3
languages, etc.) we believe.
Great efforts have been taken to discredit the Bible, but always without
success. In other words, the
Bible testifies of itself.
iii.
Because of its
ability to change our lives and give us real hope.
James 1:21, when we receive with meekness the implanted word, it
is able to save our souls.
Rom 6:17 speaks of “that form of doctrine” that they “obeyed from the
heart.”
Eph. 4:17, 20-24 speaks of the change that has taken place.
Note how Paul said, “But you have not so learned in Christ, if
indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by him, as the truth is
in Jesus.” He then proceeds
to explain how we change by putting off the old man of sin and putting
on the new man.
c.
Truly, the word of God can produce faith in us.
But the real irony in this is that we have to take that “leap of
faith” for it to effectively work within us.
In other words, we believe God’s word and in time it grows so
much stronger and becomes the foundation of our life (cf. 2 Pet. 1:5-9).
a.
In this context Paul is speaking with the Ephesian elders whom he
had called to Miletus. He
challenges them to watch for wolves and to shepherd the flock in their
midst. He concludes by
saying, “So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace,
which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all
those who are sanctified.” (Ac 20:32)
b.
The remarkable thing about the word of God is how we never quit
learning. If we are truly
studying and applying it, we will become increasingly stronger as
Christians. In time we will
become mature in the faith.
Everything about our faith will be stronger.
There are so many passages that challenge us in this - 2 Tim.
3:16,17, 2 Pet. 3:18, Heb. 5:14, Eph. 4:13-16, etc.
As Peter said in concluding the “Christian graces”, “For if these
things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…Therefore, brethren, be even
more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these
things you will never stumble…” (2 Pet. 1:8-11)
Truly,
the word of God can effectively work within us.
We have seen some ways in which this is possible.
Many more could be added to these things.
Simply study His word and you will see that to be true.
So while the word of God IS effective, is it effectively working
in you? Think about it!