Today, we would be looking at how to believe the Word Of God. In some parts of the bible, we find places where the author writes “…saith the Lord.”
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Ex 4:22 KJV
At other places, God Himself speaks, saying “I will…”
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isa 43:19 KJV
These are words that tell us about the promises and power of God.
When you come across such phrases in the bible, what comes to your mind? Do you think these words are still applicable today? Is God still saying “I will?” Are the words written by those writers still in effect? Do they mean that God is still saying?
Everything written in the bible is still as powerful as they were in bible times. God is still saying the same thing. His promises are continuous. He hasn’t changed. Nothing about Him has and never will.
When next you come across such words, believe that God is still saying them to you and everyone. If it is a place where God made a promise, claim it for yourself and others. That is how to believe and enjoy His promises. He even tells us that He honours His words more than His name.
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Ps 138:2 KJV
He wants us to believe in Him and His words. We are greatly rewarded when we do so.
What a wonderful God we serve!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your words are still the same. They are eternal and powerful. I claim every promise you made to me even before I was born. I am grateful in Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
Action plan: Try to find two instances each for where a writer records, “…says the Lord” and God saying “I will.” Read the full chapters and meditate on them.
Declaration: My children are studious. They read, study, and meditate on God’s word daily.
Before the arrival of Jesus, God spoke to His people through the prophets, so you can start studying the Bible by learning from the prophets.
Heb 1:1 (KJV) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
The prophets received the offerings that the people brought to the temple as sacrifices to God.
They prepared it in accordance to God’s instructions.
Prophets were also sent to deliver messages to someone or a nation.
Jonah was a prophet sent to Nineveh to warn them about their ways.
Elijah was a great prophet, filled with the power of God. He refused to bow to idols worshipped by king Ahab, Jezebel and the false.
Prophets also prayed for sick people and they got healed.
Back in biblical days, prophets were full of God’s raw power, that’s why what they say will happen, will happen. Their words were held in high esteem. So you will grow by learning from the prophets.
There are also stories of good and bad prophets.
Through studying these great men of God (i.e. learning from the prophets), you will learn how and why God chose them.
As you study today, God will bless you with more revelation. Amen.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the mighty prophets in the bible.
Action Plan: Choose a prophet today and study about him or her.
Declaration: As I study these prophets, I get insights. I am learning from the prophets.
Yesterday, we learnt one way to study the bible. Let’s see yet another way this morning. Another way to approach the Bible is by doing a male character study.
The Bible is rich with stories of both men and women. Even children (little Samuel, Joseph).
They were people who like you faced certain challenges you could be facing right now.
People who had flesh and blood like you, walked the earth, ate food, drank water, much like you do today.
There’s no difference between you and them. The difference is only in how they related to God back then and how you are relating to Him today.
Do a male character study. Study the many male characters in the bible, look at what they did, how they did it and the outcomes of what they did.
Look at how God spoke to them, showed Himself to them, what He promised them and more.
As you study may God bless you with revelation. Amen
Prayer: Lord, help me in my study of Your word. Amen.
Action point: How about picking some names to start studying? Do a male character study
Declaration: I am a student if the word. I will study the Bible for profiting.
While studying the Bible, you can decide to study female Bible characters. The Bible records stories of them. There were the good and bad ones.
Apart from giving birth to children and keeping the home, they also played key roles in many important situations.
Read up on them. What did they do? How did they behave back then?
You could study the story of Deborah, a prophetess in the bible. There’s Esther, a Queen that saved her people from genocide. Women also supported the apostles in spreading God’s word.
Check what God says about women, how he spoke to them, what He did to them.
This is a great way to discover God’s purpose for women.
Having your Bible is great. I remember my first bible. It was a teenager’s bible with many illustrations, quizzes, puzzles, a place to write my name, favorite verses and bible characters, and a lot more.
Having my own personal bible really fascinated me. I wasn’t going to share reading it with another person and I could read and make notes in the places provided. It was mine.
‘Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.’ (GNB)
Psa. 119:105
What I enjoyed most about that experience was that God’s words became my own. The feeling that I could pick it up to read and study was the high point of the whole experience. Reading those words felt as if God was Himself talking to me directly.
‘The Almighty God, the Lord, speaks; he calls to the whole earth from east to west.’ (GNB)
Psa. 50:1
As you claim ownership of your things, you should do the same for a bible. Owning a personal bible is a start towards developing a personal relationship with God, knowing His words, and accepting Christ at an early age.
You’ll also know why you need to attend church and the benefits of having friends that are believers like you.
As a child, knowing God’s words helps you to handle the many situations, people, and stages of your childhood. You won’t have to struggle because you can pray and receive answers. Bible verses will be at your fingertips to speak and confess concerning any situation.
‘Then you will know how to behave properly, and your words will show that you have knowledge.’ (GNB)
Prov. 5:2
Do you own a personal bible? Is it according to your age? Ask your parents or guardian(s) for one today. God bless you as you do.
Prayer: Lord, I want to know your words. Help me to cherish, read, and study my bible. Speak to me. Teach me Your words, in Jesus name, Amen.
Action Point: Ask your parents to buy you a bible
Declaration: My children follow what the word says. They are students of the word. They read and understand the bible.
