The Living Word

 
The Living Word

By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© January 13, 2013
www.pastorkennedy.com

What holds the Universe together?
How do I know what I believe to be true, to be true?  
(ANYTHING can proclaim itself, or be proclaimed to be true!)
Of all the concepts, religions and structures, how do I know what is the right foundation for my life?  On what can I securely base my life?

The World Dogmatically Asserts, “There are NO Boundaries!”
The world communicates to us freely that if we go beyond God’s boundaries we most likely will have greater fulfillment…we will know more things, we can do more things, and we will enjoy a lot more things.  But that is not accurate.

If, in fact, we go beyond God’s boundaries, we find the boundary we abused is eventually systematically destroying what we thought was fun and beneficial.
All things in this world, without exception, explicitly follow structures and guidelines established by God...Without Exception!

Most often, our study takes us into the Scripture to determine what God is saying about a subject.  Today, I would like to explore additional reasons why it is important for us to base our life on God’s Word, the Bible (both Old and New Testaments), and not merely on…

  Our own fluctuating or emotional experiences,
  The world’s perceptions of truth, which bombard us, 
  Or on the deceptive spiritual impressions, as strong as they may be, from God’s archenemy Satan and the fallen angels, who seek to deceive God’s Creation and cause destruction.

The Goals of this Message 

1.	 I would like us to look briefly at the Principles of Structure that resonate throughout our world, and the universe.  Everything has “structure”, given to us by God, our Creator.
2.	 We also have been given a Breadth of Creativity within that Structure.
3.	 Within the boundaries of those Structures there are natural penalties for breaching or non-compliance with innate Laws and Structures established by God.
4.	 God’s Word, the Bible, reveals the Standard God has for mankind.

1.  Principles of Structure
There are Principles of Structure in everything we see and do not see.

These Principles of Structure reveal distinct qualities that identify attributes, benefits and boundaries inherent with each person and each individual element.  

These Principles of Structure reveal in what grouping each element or individual is found.

Living Things
Chemical/Physical Elements
Invisible Fields which are known
Planetary Domain
Human Beings
All elements of the 118 Atomic numbers have been discovered or synthesized
Microwaves
Billions upon Billions of Galaxies, each with Billions of Stars, and every star with a purpose, existing, spinning and conforming precisely as their Creator made them.
Animal Life
Atmospheres
Aquatic Life

Visual light waves

Insect Life
Audio waves
Aromas
Plant Life
Each element has characteristics specific and unique to itself.
Etc.
Each with Perceptions,
Communication, Personality and
Individuality
Unknown fields yet to be discovered

The Periodic Table itemizes the structure of all the known chemical elements, organized on the basis of their atomic number, electron configurations and recurring chemical properties. 

http://periodic.lanl.gov/index.shtml

Each element is unique.  Look, for instance, at the specificity which identifies the properties for Manganese, Period 4, Atomic number 25.
See interactive periodic charts, such as:

http://www.ptable.com

Each element is specifically identifiable.
Each has an individual “Principle of Structure” – revealing distinct qualities, attributes, benefits and boundaries.

The rock that we may randomly pick up from the ground has specific identity within a specific structure.  Everything has structure.

There are specific boundaries and laws surrounding not only the physical characteristics of the elements of chemistry, but also for biology and physics… velocity, gravity, sound, color, imagery, and every other individual part in our universe.  

These characteristics, elements, and boundaries reveal the authority and attributes of our Creator.  In fact, all of these elements, visible and invisible in heaven and on earth are associated with “authorities” – “laws” and the “keepers of laws” within the universe, which control the “power” for things to exist, to function, and to be sustained, as given by God.

Colossians 1:15–17 
The Supremacy of Christ 
15 He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

Jesus Christ created all things; it is from His Authority that all things exist, and from Him all authority originates.

•	Things in heaven and on earth
•	That which is visible and invisible
o	Thrones – places of authority 
(locations where authority originates)
o	 Powers – dominions of authority 
(breadth of area spanning each domain of authority)
o	 Rulers – individuals of authority 
(persons or primaries controlling authority)
o	 Authorities – principles of authority 
(structures within each authority level)

Humans are in a unique domain.  They are living beings created in the image of God.  God has given them authority, over all the earth. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Genesis 1:26–28 
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 
27 So God created man in his own image, 
in the image of God he created him; 
male and female he created them. 
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 

There are Principles of Structure in everything we see and do not see; there is also the Power of Authority, given to those to whom God wills, but God has also infused His creation with abundant creativity and variety within the boundaries of each structure.

2.  Breadth of Creativity

•	Consciousness, perception, discernment and intuition 
•	Individuality in Personality
•	Competence of skill
•	Huge divergence in all creativity
•	Strength of Unity
•	Tapping of the broad scope of amazing creativity already in the world – that we are just beginning to harness
•	Oceans of Unseen but abundant Forces of Energy exist, which allow us to expand the creativity which God has given us!
o	Wireless communication
o	Internet – broadband, Wi-Fi, etc., etc.
o	LED and other sources of light
o	Visual, sound and perceptive technologies (HD TV, Surround enhanced sound, motion detection games, etc.) 
o	Microwave Technologies
o	Laser Technologies
o	Etc., etc.
•	Microbiology
•	DNA research and development
•	Biological linking – Medical breakthroughs
•	Mechanics
•	Carpentry
•	Business
•	Governments
•	Etc., etc., etc.

Within the boundaries of our unique human Structure God has given us amazing Creativity!
All of these “new” discoveries, inventions or developments in the 20th and 21st Centuries have simply been revealed from the ancient forces of energy and band waves of technologies that have existed since the beginning of the world.  

Microwave and wireless technology is not new – microwaves have always been there, we have just more recently discovered their existence and are just beginning to use some of them to benefit society.  

DNA and microbiology has always existed since the beginning of when God created mankind.  Human beings could not have existed had microbiology not worked flawlessly in the minutest detail from the beginning of time.  How long could any living body function without a heart, lungs, liver, living cells, or without veins, arteries and blood itself?  This just begins the enormous list of essential elements, which allow each one to have a functioning physical life.  

We, in the last few years, understand what might be “the first page”, or the first few lines of the first page, of a very large instruction manual on how any of these things work.  The function has been there all along; yet, we just now comprehend how they work.   We can then creatively develop them more usefully and commercially.

Without exception, all things – all forces of energy, all biology and microbiology, etc., all things, explicitly follow structural guidelines and God has given mankind the ability to be amazingly creative within those boundaries…while each of them are continued to be governed by laws - by structures…from our Creator.  If a scientist, doctor, physicist (or anybody) works within the laws and structures of the element within which he or she is creating or discovering, then there can be many astounding creative advances in his or her discipline.  If he or she not work within the laws and structures of the element, there will be failure.

All things in this world, without exception, explicitly follow structures and guidelines established by God.

It is imperative then that we find God’s structures and boundaries in our life and live within them.

3.  There are Penalties for Breaching or for being Non-compliant within the Laws and Structures Created by God

  Failure to accomplish what we wish to do or create.
  Discipline for destructive failure.
  Death for sin against God…breaking the Laws He has established for the human race.

Romans 6:23 
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Much is said in the Scripture about sin and punishment, but I trust we can all understand how terribly serious this is without pressing the point.

4.	  God’s Word, the Bible, reveals the Standard that God has for mankind.

There are many, many verses in the Bible about the Truth and Benefit of God’s Holy Word.

Hebrews 1:1-2 
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

John 12:48
There is a judge for the one who rejects me (Jesus said) and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 

John 8:32
“Then you will know the truth, (Jesus said) and the truth will set you free." 

Acts 20:32.
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

1 Peter 1:23-25 
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25  but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. 

James 1:21-25.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

2 Peter 1:19-21 
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 

Revelation 1:1-3.
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw -- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 

Let’s look at the longest chapter in the Bible.  There are no other chapters that have 176 verses!  Nor, are there many chapters in the Bible that have such an emphasis on God’s Word.  Below are some selected verses on God’s Word from the chapter.

Psalm 119

Purity of Life
Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

Strength and Encouragement in Life
Psalm 119:28
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. 

Psalm 119:92
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 

God's Word is more valuable than any of the world’s wealth
Psalm 119:72
The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.   

Psalm 119:81
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 

God's Word is Eternal and Gives Great Wisdom
Psalm 119:89
Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 

Psalm 119:97-100 
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.  I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. 
 
God's Word will guide our way
Psalm 119:103-105  
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. 
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  

Conclusion

1.	  Everything has Principles of Structure that resonate throughout our world, and the universe, given to us by God, our Creator.
2.	  We have been given a Breadth of Creativity within that Structure.
3.	  There are natural penalties for breaching or having non-compliance with innate Laws and Structures established by God.
4.	  God’s Word, the Bible, reveals the Standard and Structure that God has for mankind.

If we seek to know God, learn His Word and follow it, we will reap God’s blessing, life’s fulfillment and Eternal Life.

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:31

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