The Word To Live By: 1-16-26
Phil Waggoner
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. John 6:63
The Word To Live By: Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came that we might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows (Amplified Translation). To me, it seems that if you combine those to sayings of Jesus, He is saying that the things you come up with to have an abundant life profit you nothing. However, if you allow the Spirit of God to lead you by doing what Jesus says, you will enjoy your life to the point that it overflows with joy. In Acts 13:39, Paul was preaching about the resurrection of Jesus and the promises of God that were fulfilled because of it. He said, “Through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.” The law of Moses doesn’t free you from the penalty of sin; only faith in the mercy and grace of God can do that, but it does put you on the right track for an abundant life. When you love your neighbor as yourself and treat others the way you want to be treated, it doesn’t save your soul but it does close the door on fear, doubt and unbelief, and unforgiveness that derails your faith from working to bring the promises of God into your life. The Word of God is the wisdom of God and when applied to your life, it brings the power of God by the Spirit of God. Remember in Ephesians 6:16 where it says, “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to 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.” You can’t separate the Word of God from the Spirit of God. Let’s go back to our stick of dynamite. The Word of God is the dynamite, the Spirit of God is the power in the dynamite, and your faith is the fuse. You light the fuse by speaking and living according to the Word which explodes into an enjoyable life for you. 1 Thessalonians 1:6, “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit…” When you receive the Word of God and imitate it (do it) even in tribulation, the power and joy of the Holy Spirit will be present in your life.
Read through the Bible in a year: Luke 13:1-17; Genesis 23; Psalms 16;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 16, Matthew 8:18-34, Acts 16:
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160