This morning we have the testimony of the work of the Gideons International. Their goal has been to distribute the Word of God to men, women, boys, and girls. Jesus said that the field was the world and that the seed was the Word of God. Why not distribute the works of Shakespeare or some other great author? Why not distribute the Encyclopedia Brittanica or Webster's dictionary? Why the emphasis upon the Word of God? Briefly this morning I want to share with you three things about the Word of God that will answer these and other questions.
I. The Permanence of the Word of God. cf. Psalm 119:89
A. There was never a time when the Word of God did not exist.
1. Jn. 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
2. That means that before the light of day, there was the illumination of the Word.
3. Before the sun, before the moon, before the stars, before the mountains, before the oceans, before the rivers, streams, and lakes, before the deserts, before the trees, before the animals, before the insects, before the fish, before the fowls of the air, before the man, and before the woman...
4. Before anything was brought into existence, there was the eternal, inspired, infallible, perfect, pure, powerful, Word of God!
B. Note the other side of the coin.
1. Mt. 24:35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
2. After science, philosophy, education, governments, nations, kingdoms, empires, tyrants, dictators, and kings...
3. After theology, biology, psychology...
4. After socialism, communism. capitalism...
5. After gold, silver, rubies, diamonds, the dollar, the yen, the ruble, and the shekel...
6. There will be the precious living Word of the Living God!
C. The Word of God is permanent!
II. The Person of the Word of God. cf.John 5:39
A. The central character of all of the Word of God is Jesus Christ.
1. The Bible tells of His pre- existence in John 1:1
2. The Bible tells of His virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14
3. The Bible tells of His atoning death in Romans 5:8
4. The Bible tells of His victorious resurrection in Revelation 1:18
5. The Bible tells of His triumphant return in Acts 1:11
6. The Bible tells of His righteous kingdom in Revelation 20:6
B. Consider this...
1. Open the Bible anywhere , and it reveals Jesus.
2. Read the Bible anywhere, and it writes of Jesus.
3. Listen to the Bible anywhere, and it speaks of Jesus.
4. That is why Philip could take a portion of Isaiah that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading and begin to preach Jesus Christ to him.
C. The person of the Word is Jesus!
III. The Power of the Word. cf. Hebrews 4:12
A. There is great power in this world...
1. There is political power to control nations and people.
2. There is military power to destroy armies and strongholds.
3. There is financial power to buy, sell, and trade.
B. But the power of the Word of God is greater than them all!
1. It is seen by its content...
a. It contains the mind of God and the ways of man.
b. It contains the doom of sinners, and the hope of heaven.
c. It contains the uncertainty of life and the measure of eternity.
2. It is seen by its ability...
a. It is able to convict the heart, and convert the soul...
b. It is able to conquer the will, and capture the mind...
Conclusion: We have spoken of the permanence, the person, and the power of the Word of God. In closing let ask you about the place the Word of God has in you. Jesus told those wicked Jews who sought to destroy Him that His word had no place in them. Does the Word of God have its proper place in your life? 1) In your heart? "Thy word have I hid in mine heart..." cf. Ps. 119:11 2) In your home? "...thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children..." cf. De.6:7 3) In your hand? "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only..." cf. Jas. 1:22
This morning, if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, why not come now in repentance and faith trusting Him. Christian, does the Word of God have its proper place in your life? Is it in your heart, your home, and your hand? Are you living the Word of God?