God's Word- the Powerful Weapon and the joy for beleivers

The mighty weapon which the Bible is talking about for a believer is the powerful Word of God. The Gospel is seen, through the death and resurrection of Christ; Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:1 Cori: 15:1-4.

The Lord opens the eyes of the heart of believers through His Word; And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven  Matt: 16:17.  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul; Acts 16:14. When we are reluctant to read His Word, that is because of indwelling sin; Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me; Rom 7:17. We are called to put to death our old self; Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin; Rom 6:6; Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; Col 3:5. The Word of God awakens and strengthens faith;  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; Rom 10:17.

The reason for this is the Spirit of God, glorifies Christ; Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you; Jn 16:13-14. Through hearing the Word, God supplies the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit produces a subconscious influence in building us in faith; That, which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit; Jn 3:6-8; But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not; 6:36; It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me;(v.45),  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” ;( v 65).

God’s Word in the Book of Ephesians commands us to be filled with His spirit, addressing one another in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual songs; And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:18-19. The Word of God creates and sustains life; The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly; Jn 10:10. Man’s life is in God’s Word;  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; Matt:4:4. The Word of God gives us hope, strength despite earthly trials; For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope; Rom 15:4. The Word of God leads us to freedom, because it is written that God’s truth will set us free from the bondage of sin and death; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free; Jn 8:32. This freedom is the reason, that  we fight for joy, freedom from sinful corruption of our lives. We shall see Jesus, if we are pure in heart away from the sinful corruption; Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God; Matt 5:8. Sin’s substitute promises are deceitful pleasures, and the main streak of self-control, and the liberating power of the Word is the power of promised joy.

The Cross of Christ, is the absolute way to kill joy killing sins. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live; Rom 8:13. John Owen (1616-1683), in his paper on Mortification of Sin in Believers, and his exposition on Rom 8:13, mentions “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you”. The Word of God is the key to answered prayer because we welcome him into our lives, in our hearts, mind and with our whole strength learning to abide in Him; These things I command you, that ye love one another Jn 15:7.  The Word of God is the source of wisdom, and God can provide wisdom for various life situations, for our day today life, because in Him is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; Col 2:3. The Word of God admonishes and gives crucial warnings, and there is great reward by keeping His Word; More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward Ps 19:10-11.

The Word of God enables us to defeat the devil and his schemes, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it Jn 8:44; Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil Heb 2:14. We are called to be faithful unto death;  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life Rev 2:10.

·         Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph:6:10-18.

God’s Word is a powerful weapon to fight for joy and it is crucial to fight for joy, and God’s Word is pleasant in itself; But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper; Ps 1:2-3.  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver;119: 72. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day; Psa 119:97. Is it then valuable than anything else in this world? 

References:

Piper, John. When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy (Wheaton: IL, Crossway Books,2004).

The Matthew Henry Study Bible, King James version: The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, (Iowa Falls, U.S.A, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994).