Walk

304. Grow or Die – Are you too busy for God?

 

 

Rounded Rectangular Callout: Oh Lord – thank you for your Word!  Now I can make it through the day.  I love you.  Thank you for everything!  Thank you for planting your Word and your will in my heart.
Now I can have confidence that I am in your will today.
Rectangular Callout: I don’t have time for reading my Bible or spending time with God!  I have family, work, sports, friends, and TV.  Most of all, I need lots of sleep!  Going to church once in a while is good enough.  God understands.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


If you are too busy for God’s Word, you will be trapped by the World and you will die!  Also, you will never realize your God-given and ordained purpose in life without giving an abundant amount of time to the Word of God. 

Matthew 4:4 says, “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live (sustain his very life to live and survive) by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

Proverbs 19:15 says, “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.”  Proverbs 13:13 says, “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”

We will use “manna” in the Old Testament as our example.  Manna was the supernatural bread that fell in the desert every morning when the Israelites were traveling from Egypt to the Promise Land.  See Exodus 16.

This is a symbolic picture of us not giving much time and value to the Word of God.  Numbers 21 talks about how the fiery serpents attacked because the people despised the manna (the Word).  Numbers 21:5-10 says, “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread (manna).  So the LORD sent (allowed) fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.’  So Moses prayed for the people.  Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.’  So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.  Now the children of Israel moved on and camped in Oboth.”

Compare this to John 3:14, which says,  “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”  Notice that through the Cross of Jesus there is forgiveness for your past laziness.

Some think that the Bible is just a good book, a book of morals and rules, something we are supposed to read to be religious.  No way; it is alive and living! The Word of God is a seed that will transform you, change you, supply all your needs and support your every need in life.

Jesus said in John 6 “I, the Word, am the real manna.”  Even today, the Word of God is to many Christians what the manna was to the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness.  They do not give much value to it; they do not like it.

Jesus said in John 6 that the manna provided by Moses was not the real thing.  He said the real thing is Him; He is the real manna.  Unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life!  He said this to poor people who were looking for another free meal after they saw Him feed 5,000 through a miracle.  But Jesus wanted to give them something better.  He was teaching in John 6 about the blood covenant. (He taught that when one enters into a blood covenant with a stronger person, then the person ceases to be a beggar.) 

The people were offended about becoming cannibals.  But Jesus relieved their anxiety and told them that the flesh was of no real profit.  Then He said, “My Words are Spirit and life.  If you want the blood covenant with Me, you will eat my Words” (John 6:63).

 

We must love the truth. 

Jesus said the Word is Truth.  2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (KJV) says,  “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

The word ‘love’ used here is agape, which is a very intense word.  You must be intense about the Word of God; otherwise, God will send you a strong delusion.  That is a fearful thought.  If God sends you a delusion, you are in bad trouble!  We cannot take the Word five minutes a day and thirty minutes on Sunday and expect to have victory in our lives.

 

What is the big deal about the Word?

Satan knows the value of the Word – that is why he tries to keep us too busy for the Word!

Jesus is the Word.  John 1:1, 14 (Amplified Bible) says, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself” (14) “and the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us.”

Read Mark 4:1-20.  The Sower sows the Word.  The Word is supernatural.  The Word will accomplish supernatural things in your life, far beyond the limits of your mind, talents, and capability.  The Word is a supernatural seed that is so destructive to Satan that he applies all his pressure to pull it up out of your heart.  Read it.

Mark 4:26-32 says that the entire Kingdom of God works on the principle of seed planting, time for growth of the seed and harvest.  Read it.

So if we do not use this principle, then by default we must use the only other way to supply our needs; that is the world.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the Kingdom of God and all the things we need will be added to us.

The word ‘added’ means the same thing that happens when a crop of corn is produced after the seed is planted.   So the way to seek the Kingdom of God is through allowing Jesus to plant the Word in our hearts.  This is how we are to receive from God all of the good things He has for us, and for the hurting people we are called upon to help.  The comforting thing is that the condition is only to seek, and the promise is to add.  We do not have to be perfect, just energetic seekers!

 

There are only two ways to make it through life:

1. Kingdom of God, which requires the planting of the seed of the Word in order to supply our needs.

2. Kingdom of the World, which always traps us and gives us some sort of death, pictured by the fiery serpents in Numbers 21.  Here we depend upon our own resources and abilities.  We feel we can make it without depending totally on the Word of God!

 

Mary, Martha, and their priorities.  What is our lesson here?

Luke 10:38-42 says, “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me.’  And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”

Apparently Martha was into self-pity.  Look at her statements!  I don’t think that the story shows that Martha was just a hard worker. I really believe that it reveals self-pity blocking closeness to Jesus and blocking His Word.  My experience is that self-pity, when it’s not dealt with, will always block the Word of God.  When self-pity prevails for very long time, the presence of God leaves.  When you feel self-pity, bring it to God as a sin, immediately!  Notice Jesus’ mercy on Martha, He encouraged her to drop her anxiety and troubles.

 

The woman in Mark 14 anointed Jesus’ head and “wasted” her entire future on Him - The Living Word of God.  She is the only one that got the blessing.

Mark 14:3-9 says, “And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted?  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.’  And they criticized her sharply.  But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.  For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.  She has done what she could.  She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.  Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’”

On resurrection morning, a number of women came to anoint the body of Jesus; but it was too late, only this woman did it in time to have it matter at all.

Everyone, even all of the disciples, thought Mary’s action to be a waste.  Jesus said it may be a waste in their way of keeping score, but He went on to say that when the Gospel is preached in the future, it should produce the wasting of one’s life on Him.

The only thing we are to “waste” is time on Jesus.

In the end, each person needs to make his/her own decision.

As for me, I want to live in God’s Kingdom right now on Earth.  I do not want to go to the World for anything.

 

The Word of God has never failed me or let me down. 

It can be depended on.  Sometimes it feels like it will not work, Satan will try to steal the seed out of your heart, you will experience trouble, but it is worth it.

One thing for sure, it will take time to get close to God, more time than you have been giving to it.

The way you allocate your time is the surest indication of your real priorities. 

You may say God is important to you, but if you allow more time to other activities, you are really giving them priority over God.

If you have not been giving time to the Word and prayer, it is not too late to begin.  Begin with just a few minutes, several times a day.  Make it a strong discipline; do not let anything get in your way (the devil will try to distract you with many things).  Slowly you will find yourself increasing your time.  Soon you will be unable to function without time in prayer and in the Word.  Get yourself a devotion book, or practice reading the Psalms and Proverbs corresponding to the date.  Read Proverb 4 on the 4th day of the month.  Then read Psalm 4, 34, 64, 94 and 134.  This will take you through Psalms and Proverbs every month.  Start today!

 

One test of how much a person loves God is how much time they spend in the Word. 

John 14:23-24a (Amplified Bible) says, “Jesus answered, ‘If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our Home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.  Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching.’”

Where will you “waste” your time?

Will it be for temporary things or for eternal rewards?

Where will you go for your needs?

The Word?

The Kingdom of God or the World – who is called the “Whore.”

When you go to Heaven, what will you tell Jesus about how you spent your time?

 

A study in Psalm 119

I challenge you to make a continual study of Psalm 119 as a testimony of what the Word of God will do. 

Some examples of what Psalm 119 says about the Word:

-       God commanded you to keep it in your heart

-       the Word directs your ways

-       you will not be put to shame

-       God will not forsake you

-       you keep your way cleansed with the Word

-       the Word will become more to you than all the riches

-       you will see wondrous things in the Word

-       God gave you His Word so you would not feel like a stranger on the earth

-       God rebukes the proud and arrogant who wander from the Word

-       the Word counsels you and delights you

-       the Word revives and stimulates you (vs. 25)

-       when you meditate in the Word you understand God’s wonders

-       the Word will strengthen you when your life seems like it is dissolving and hopeless

-       the Word will remove you from the way of falsehood

-       you have to choose the way of truth and set the Word before you

-       God will give you a heart willing to run the way of the Word

-       the Word will keep you safe from idols

-       the Word is only for those that fear and worship God

-       the Word will turn away your reproach 

-       the Word will renew your life

-       the Word will bring you God’s salvation, keep you safe and heal you

-       it will give an answer to those who taunt and reproach you (vs. 42)

-       the Word will give you liberty and freedom (vs. 45)

-       it will keep you from being put to shame

-       the Word brings hope and God’s will to your life

-       the Word will comfort and console you in your affliction

-       the Word will heal and deliver from danger, it will provide for your needs, it will comfort and speak to you, it will be you with in danger, it will keep you from danger

-       when enemies attack the Word keeps you safe

-       God’s favor and grace comes through the Word

-       it teaches you good judgment, wise discernment and knowledge

-       it will keep you from going astray

-       it will keep you safe when the wicked lie about you (vs. 69)

-       the Word is better than gold and silver

-       you were made to hear the Word

-       the Word gives hope, but sometimes you have to wait and be still for it

-       the Word is hidden for those that seek

-       God’s tender mercies come though the Word

-       it will make your heart blameless, sincere and wholehearted

-       even though you suffer sometimes, that is when you know to turn to the Word

-       the Word is faithful and sure

-       forever, the Word is settled in Heaven (vs. 89)

-       unless you had been in the Word you would have perished

-       it kept you safe when the wicked came after you

-       Everything has its limits except for The Word (vs. 96)

-       it makes you wiser than your enemies

-       it gives you more insight than even your teachers

-       you can keep that Word only when you stay honest

-       the Word is sweet

-       the Word is a lamp unto your feet and light to your path

-       the Word heals and gives you life

-       the Word gives you joy

-       the Word is a hiding place

-       you need to stay in good company of friends so that you may keep the Word

-       the Word is better than anything conceived by man (vs. 129)

-       it gives understanding and comprehension to the simple

-       the Word keeps evil from overtaking you

-       the Word is pure and you love it

-       even when you are in trouble the Word brings you delight

-       the Word binds you to eternity (it transfers the life of God to you) 

-       you have childlike trust in the Word

-       the Word brings God near to you, nearer than your foes

-       it seems that when the writer was in trouble the Word meant more to him

-       the wicked cannot work things out because they are far from the Word

-       all of God’s Word endures forever

-       you rejoice at the Word as one who has found a treasure

-       the Word causes you to praise Him

-       the Word causes God to hear you and deliver you

-       it causes God’s hand to be ready to help

-       even when you go astray like a lost sheep, the Word stays in you to bring you back to God

-       since the Word of God is the only stable thing, then you need to measure all other words against God’s or their character against God’s character.

 

What will the Word do?

When Satan heard the Word in the Garden of Eden, he was defeated.  When Pharaoh heard the Word, he let God’s people go.  When Moses heard the Word, the Red Sea split.  When the walls of Jericho heard the Word, they fell.  When Gideon heard the Word, his outnumbered forces slaughtered the enemy.  When Samuel heard the Word, he wasn’t sure who it was.  When Elijah heard the Word, he raised the dead, stopped the rain, and started it again.  When Naaman obeyed the Word, his leprosy was cleansed.  When Goliath heard the Word, he was felled by a stone and a youth.  When Jehoshaphat heard the Word, his enemies defeated themselves with a battle.  When Nehemiah heard the Word, the temple and the wall were rebuilt in record time.  When Esther heard the Word, she saved an entire nation.  When Job heard the Word, even his suffering was worth it: He saw God, and his fortune was restored.  When David heard the Word, he was comforted, made safe and forgiven from the worst crimes a man could commit.  When Solomon heard the Word, it was worth more than all the silver and gold.  When the maiden in Song of Solomon heard the Word, she fell in love with her eternal lover.  When Isaiah heard the Word, his lips were cleansed and he foretold of a Savior who would die for our sins.  When Jeremiah heard the Word, Israel had to become slaves due to their sin; but later their slave masters were overthrown.  When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saw the Word, He was with them in the fiery furnaces of life.  When Daniel saw the Word, He had shut the lion’s mouths.  When Ezekiel and the other prophets heard the Word, they saw the coming King who would save them from their enemies.

When the blind man was touched by the Word, he saw.  When the Word touched the leper, he was clean.  When demons saw the Word, they fled.  When the Centurion heard the Word, his servant was healed.  When the adulterous woman saw the Word, she was forgiven.  When the prostitute touched the Word, she was made clean and loved much.  When John the Baptist saw the Word, he saw the Lamb who would take away our sins.  When John saw the Word the first time, he saw God’s Word become flesh.  When the religious people saw the Word, they argued with Him and called Him demon-possessed.  When the crowds saw the Word, they considered Him to be of no value, traded his life for a thief’s, and executed Him with the punishment of a criminal.  Although He spoke this world into being, they did not recognize him.  They only saw Him as that “bloody mess” on the Cross.

When John saw the Word in the Book of Revelation, he saw a victorious One who conquered death, hell, and the grave; the One who was raised from the dead and clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and a girdle of gold about His chest.  His head and His hair were white as snow (white as in fire) and His eyes flashed like a flame of fire.  His feet glowed like burnished bright bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.  John saw the Ruler and Judge of the Universe!

When Satan sees the resurrected Word, he sees that He, the Word, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  His eyes blaze like a flame of fire and on His head are many kingly crowns.  At every one of our “final battles” in this life, Satan sees Him with a sword in His mouth on a white horse, dressed in a robe dyed in blood.  “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

You need to continue in the Word with a consistent Bible Study.  There are many good ones you may purchase, or you may design one for yourself.  ISOB has a free discipleship course available on the Internet or on CD-ROM for use with your personal computer.