How Do We "Live By Every Word Of God?"
Hi Mike,
Why did the Jews refuse to come to the wedding feast? Was it because they chose to put other things ahead of their Messiah? Of course that is the obvious, outward, carnal, fleshly explanation. Yet we are plainly told that while we appear to make choices, good or bad, of our own "free will", the spiritual, scriptural fact is:
"We wrestle [in our apparent 'free will'] not against flesh and blood, but against [spiritual] principalities,If God knows everything before it happens, everything must happen exactly as God decided beforehand. So before the earth was made, it was already decided that the world would kill Jesus. When God formed each individual person involved in Jesus's death, he designed him to do exactly what he would on that day. In computer jargon we are all programed by God to do exactly what we do. Some are designed for honor and some for distruction. Is that correct? Please reply.
against [spiritual] powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places [the celestials - Strong's' #2032 - epouranious]" (Eph. 6:12).
Hi J____,
Yes, that is exactly right. God has created all things for Himself, even the wicked for the day of evil. If you have not yet done so be sure to read After The Counsel of His Own Will.
What is generally lacking in our understanding is that all of this is also true inwardly and that we all must live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God and we must all keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book:
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked [within you and me] for the day of evil [within you and me].
The Truth of this inward application of God's Word is made clear in the directions given us at the beginning and the end of the book of Revelation as to how we are to approach God's Word. It is all to be "kept" and "lived by... every word."
Matt 4:4 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.
Rev 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.
And this message is repeated at the end of the book of Revelation:
What I ask everyone is 'what is your part in this book?" Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Followed by this warning:
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
To answer your question directly; yes, every word of your e-mail is correct outwardly. But God's Word is of no value to us without if it is not first applied within.
Matt 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.Mike
