The Word Is God Breathed
The Bible is a very special book. Hebrews 4:12 says that the bible is alive and powerful. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that the Bible is inspired by God. In some translations, it says that it’s “God Breathed”.
It is not an ordinary book. It’s a supernatural book. It is unlocked by the Holy Spirit that teaches us. Before reading it, it’s a great idea to invite Holy Spirit to teach you and give you new revelation.
Have you ever read a part of the bible that you have read 1,000 times before and this time you saw it differently? It’s like it jumped off the page at you? That is the Holy Spirit highlighting that to you and giving you a deeper revelation about it!
If you grew up in church, you have most likely been told to read your bible. Have you ever wondered why? What is the big deal? Do we need to read it just on Sundays or more? Here are just 9 reasons why it’s important to dive into the word every day.
1. It’s Truth
John 17:17 “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”
This was Jesus praying for his disciples. Jesus himself said that the word is truth. Satan is called the “Father of Lies”. Lies are the opposite of truth. We must know truth if we are to stand firm and not be deceived. It anchors you when you are pressed or squeezed by life and trials.
The word is what we build our foundation on. It is a solid rock.
Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
2 Tim 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
We need to be so anchored in the truth that we can immediately identify lies when they come our way. Everyone will experience hardship and trials in their life. When they do come, we want to have a sure and steady foundation to withstand them.
2. It Protects
Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
When we know the loving boundaries and commandments God has given us, we can make sure to obey them. John 14:15 says: “If you love me, keep my commands.” We need to know what his commands are! He also said:
John 14: 23-24 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
Matthew 7: 24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
We need to know what his teachings are so that we can follow and obey them. We want to be wise builders, so we must know what the word says so that we can put what we hear into practice.
The word is a weapon for us!
Ephesians 6: 10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.”
You might have noticed that all of the armor except for the word was for defense. Only the word is a weapon for offense.
Jesus used it when the devil was tempting Him. Jesus used the word against him. What is very interesting and something to make note of is that Satan also used the word to try to manipulate Jesus. It really makes it clear that we need to know the whole canon of the bible and not just a few verses here and there.
3. It’s Food
The word is spiritual food.
Matthew 4:4 “But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’ “
In the Lord’s prayer, it tells us that we need to get our spiritual food daily. The word nourishes us so we can grow. It helps us to be strong and healthy. We are designed to live on God’s words daily.
4. It Teaches
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. “
Jesus is the ultimate example for us. We need to know how Jesus walked so that we can follow him. It says that we will do the same works and even greater ones! We need to be students of his life.
He is our guide on how to walk as a Christian. The Kingdom we are a part of operates very differently from the world. The word teaches us how to walk this whole thing out.
It also teaches us about our authority as believers. Jesus gave us his authority.
Luke 10:19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
5. It Grows
The word grows our:
Faith
Knowledge
Understanding
Trust
Relationship with God
Maturity
Discernment
Ephesians 4: 13-14 “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
The word helps us grow and mature. It helps us to have roots and be steady Christ-followers.
6. It Gives
Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
The word gives us:
- Wisdom
- Hope
- Promises
- Knowledge
- Good News
- Comfort
- Encouragement
- Peace
Colossians 1:9-10 ” For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
7. It Connects
In the first chapter of John, it tells us that Jesus is the Word made flesh!
John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
So Jesus is the word! We also get to know him better by reading about his life and listening to the words he said. He also said in John:
John 15:4-7 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (emphasis mine)
Not only do we need to abide in Jesus, but it’s very important that his words abide in us as well!
8. It Washes
Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
9. It Corrects
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
2 Tim 3:16 ” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
This is one of my favorite things that the word does. It exposes everything. It helps illuminate the areas that need to change or get healed. God is so loving that he doesn’t just leave us like we are. He corrects and trains us up in righteousness. Not only that we get to be equipped so that we can do good works for him. He is a good Father!
The word is a vital part of a Christian’s life. There are definitely more reasons to read the word daily that was not listed here, but 9 was already pushing it. ; ) If you need a little help getting the word in every day, you can also check out these Bible Study Hacks. Here’s to getting into the word!
