Author: Dr. Mark D. Flattery 

Chapter Eleven

Victory Action #8 Live in the Word of God

 

“For the word of God is alive 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” (Hebrews 4:12).

 

The mass murderer who had terrorized the state for over two decades as “the most prolific serial killer in American history” now sat in the court room listening to the families of his victims express their feelings and emotions to him as part of the healing process. The families participated wholeheartedly in this activity as the pain, the anger, and the hurt spewed without reservation and in no uncertain terms. They wanted the killer to hurt even more than he had hurt their loved ones. They wanted no mercy or leniency. In fact, one person declared that she hope he died a painful and tortured death. The killer sat listening to this and responded with a deadpan, dispassionate, and detached stare. It seemed that no words, no emotion, and no pain expressed could penetrate his cold stare and hardened heart.

Then, a man came to the podium and spoke with a different tone in his voice and stated an entirely different message. As I watched this live on TV, I sensed that this man was unlike those who had gone before him. With pain in his voice, he spoke slowing, measuring his words

with controlled passion, and directly to the killer who had shown no mercy to his daughter. “There are people here that hate you. I am not one of them. You have made it difficult to live up to what I believe and that is what God says to do. And that is to forgive. You are forgiven, sir.”

To my utter amazement, the mass murder, unfazed by the anger and hatred expressed previously, broke into tears when encountered by the love of God displayed by the mourning father. Repaying evil with evil did not penetrate the hardened heart but, it was God’s Word displayed in love that brought an outward expression of remorse. For that one moment, the killer encountered the Truth of God’s Word and saw himself for who he truly was.

 

It is interesting to me that the apostle Paul used two pieces of a soldier’s armor in the same sentence when he wrote, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). In order to live in the hope of your salvation, you need to fill your heart and mind with the Truth found in God’s Word. Working simultaneously with Live in Hope is Victory Action #8 Live in the Word of God.

The Word of God will be your best weapon in your season of defense but also in the times when you display a strategic attack. When you seem to be pounded mercilessly by life, the Word of God will be an effective weapon in your defense. God’s Word will equip you to stave off and even repel your attacker. When you regain your balance, the Word of God becomes your unparalleled weapon in your season of counter-attack. The devil has no recourse but to flee and in effort to attempt to fight another day.

Before we discuss how Victory Action #7 Live in the Word of God is immensely vital to your defensive and offensive strategies, we must first consider the “why?” Why does living in the Word of God take such a prominent place in standing firm against our spiritual enemies and in our personal rebuilding?

I will suggest four reasons, of many, why living in the Word of God is tactically sound as you stand firm. First, the Bible is the Word of God and it like no other book. It is a manual instructing you on the meaning of life, the purpose of life, how to live life, and what happens to you after your life on earth is over. There is no other book written in history that contains the Truth, the power, and the life transforming content found in the Bible. This is the source of all sources.

Second, the Bible reveals who God is. When you read the Bible, you discover the character of God, how to know God, and how your relationship with God will change your life now and for eternity. If you want to know God then you must read His book that He wrote for you! If you want God’s help to get off the canvass of life and to rebuild victoriously then you must study who He is, learn what He wants you to do, and then obey His instructions.

Third, reading the Bible breathes life into your spirit. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16, 17). All of God’s Word is useful to you as it equips and empowers you to be like Him and to act like Him for His glory. When God breathed into man the breath of life, Adam became a living being (Genesis 2:7). In the same way, when you allow God-breathed Scripture into your heart and mind, you become alive in Him and experience life on a whole new level. Though your external circumstances may reek of destruction, if you live in the Word of God, you will experience internally the peace that passes all understanding, the joy of the Lord, and hope of your salvation.

Fourth, the Word of God is God’s word to you! Yes, I mean you! You would like to call God on your cell phone and talk with him now. You can talk with Him and that is called prayer. Also, you can delve into His Word and allow Scripture to speak to you! For example, as you read the Psalms you will identify immediately with the writer as you feel his passion, ache with

him in his dilemmas, and rejoice with him as he discovers the joy of being in God’s presence. God’s Word will come alive as you read and will resonate in your spirit because God is speaking to you specifically and directly from the pages in your Bible.

Now that we have considered why living in the Word of God is so important, we can use His Word to defend ourselves in life’s daily spiritual battles. Living in the Word of God protects, equips, and empowers you to stand firm against your spiritual enemies and live victoriously in the midst of the most heated of battles. The reason is found in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive 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.”

God’s Word is “alive and active.” As I mentioned, it is God-breathed which makes it a “living” document; it is just a genuine and relevant today as it was on the day it was written! God’s Word does not have an expiration date, it does not lack in having power to answering the problems of today, and it has not changed the definition of “Truth” in effort to be more appealing to the masses.

God’s Word is “sharper than any double-edged sword” as it penetrates and judges. The reason is because God’s Word is Truth, Light, Love, and Life. When people encounter it, they are exposed for who they are truly. Their facades, pretenses, and accomplishments cannot withstand the comparison of who Truth declares they should be.

When we are living in darkness and encounter light, we are exposed by that light for who we are truly. That light penetrates our self-made barriers and even our self-imposed rules for living. We are judged by the compassion and stand self-condemned because we chose the darkness rather than the light and do not meet the standard set by the light. Our situation is what

it is and no amount of negotiating, pleading, whining, or even self-deprecating can change that fact.

With all of this in mind, you can stand firm against the attacks of your enemies with the sword of the Spirit as a defensive weapon. The tactics of the enemy used against you include lies, rumors, fear, doubt, chaos, isolation, and temptations. But, none of these are from God! God is not the author of anxiety and death but of peace and life. Like the incident I mentioned earlier, when Jesus was tempted by the devil as recorded in Matthew 4, He responded to the temptations of the devil by quoting God’s Word at every point. Three times the devil tempted and three times Jesus responded with “It is written.” Living in God’s Word empowered our Lord with Truth and Love to withstand the attacks of the enemy.

Jesus could have engaged the devil in a power struggle and displayed his superior strength and authority. But, in doing so He would have lowered himself to the level of his aggressor. Playing by the devil’s rules would have raised the devil to a level of authority and importance that he does not have because he is not the equal, in any way, to the Son of God. Instead, he let the Word of God do His talking for Him!

As I remember being knocked down to the lowest point in my life, the time when it seemed that I had to struggle to even breathe and I had lost my energy to function properly in life, I remember the attacks of the enemy. He told me that I was worthless. He told me that my trusting in God was useless because if God loved me then I would not be on the canvass of life. He told me that there was no hope, no rescue coming, and that my current situation in life was my new “normal.” Had I listened to his lies, I would have been utterly and completely destroyed.

Thankfully, I found strength in God’s Word! I made the specific choice NOT to believe the “father of lies” but instead to live in the Word of God and believe the Giver of Life. When I

did not have the emotional energy to pray, I delved into the Psalms and read aloud, line by line, the Truth of God Word. Instead of focusing on the lies, I immersed myself in God; in His Truth, His Love, and His Grace. God’s Word solidified in my heart and mind that He loved me, that I was a child of the King, that He would walk with me even through the valley of the shadow of death, and that He would rescue me to fulfill my destiny that He ordained.

In spite of my external circumstances, I chose to live in God’s Word and follow Him. Even in the moments of having no energy, I forced myself to be in the presence of people who loved the Lord and who would speak life into my heart. I was blessed that I could talk weekly with a Pastor who used God’s Word to counsel me. I purposed to apply to my life Victory Action #7 Live in God’s Word and use the sword of the Spirit as a defensive weapon to stand firm against the enemy. And by the grace of God, I have seen the Lord rebuild my life and honor me by allowing me to serve Him as my life occupation.

Living in God’s Word equips us to use the Bible as an offensive weapon, as well, and can be used in the heat of the most intense and life-threatening battles. God’s Word equips you to win the day in your spiritual battles in the following actions.

First, when you live in God’s Word, you are appealing to the highest authority. As highly as you might think of yourself, your chances of withstanding the temptations and spiritual attacks of the enemy alone are not very good; in fact, your defeat is guaranteed. Sorry to bring you the bad news but you are incapable of defeating the devil on our own because he has a greater spiritual authority than you at this time. The Apostle Paul taught us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This is why we need a Savior!

You can find victory for today when doubt, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and anger rears its ugly head and you are tempted to respond in ways the originated in your old nature, by appealing to God’s Word; the highest authority. There are times in your journey when the best response to

being knocked down by life is to read God’s Word and declare your belief in Him and His promises. When you drawn the proverbial line in the sand and declare that you will stand on the Truth of God’s Word then you are appealing to the highest authority. John gave us the reason when he wrote, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4). Jesus is greater than the one who is in the world; the devil. All the devil can do is flee.

There is none greater the Jesus Christ. He was and is and is to come (Revelation 4:8). God, “cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt” (James 1:14). He is “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Romans 8:31 teaches us, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” When you read your Bible with an open heart ready to receive and obey, then you appeal to the highest authority.

Second, when you live in God’s Word you live in Truth. Truth exposes the lies of the devil just as the light reveals all things hidden previously in darkness. Already in this chapter we quoted Hebrews 4:12 and it applies here as well, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Remember that the devil is the author of lies. He will do everything he can to cause you to doubt, to fear, to feel guilty, to feel anxious, and to live a defeated life. But, these feelings and thoughts are not from the Lord! God’s Word teaches that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God and that God loves you! He loves you so much that He gave His one and only Son to die in your place so that you can have eternal life!

Here’s what you can do in your moments of doubt or fear. Take those feelings and thoughts and compare them to the Truth of God’s Word. You will discover the truth that you are

loved by God, that God is on your side, and that you will find victory as you remain faithful during your season of struggle. That is a guarantee!

Third, when you live in God’s Word, you are equipped to respond righteously. The temptation you face is to respond in a manner that reflects how you were hurt. In fact, our sinful nature tells us to seek revenge and that if someone hurts you then you are justified to hurt them more. But, by taking this low road then you are playing by the devil’s rules. Instead, we can take the high road to freedom and victory by learning from God’s Word how to respond righteously.

Previously, we considered how Jesus responded to the devil’s temptation. He did not try to impress the enemy or overpower him. Instead, Matthew 4 records that at every temptation, Jesus quoted God’s Word in response. By living in the Word of God, Jesus was equipped to respond righteously.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to avoid judging others and to let the light of God’s love shine through us. The Bible will provide instruction as to how you can respond to life’s struggles. Search God’s Word and then be willing to obey what you are taught. In doing so, you will respond righteously. You will live without regrets and you will live in victory.

Fourth, when you live in God’s Word you discover that your weaknesses are turned into strengths. As you engage our spiritual enemy, you are not defined by your weaknesses but instead live as a member of the family of God and with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit of God. Let’s use the anger you feel that resulted in your being knocked to the canvass of life. Your old nature is screaming at you to get revenge, extract your pound of flesh, and even the score. The thought is that you may not recuperate totally your losses but you will stand up for your rights! You know this line of thought because you have heard it from the voices in your

head. But, in your heart, you know such an approach is a reaction from your hurt and pain. This is actually defining your new reality.

Instead of focusing on your weakness, you can turn to God’s Word, stand firm in His authority, and find strength! Here are some Bible verses that address a righteous response to anger; a response that will rebuild your life and bring victory!

· “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away … Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil” (Psalms 37:1-2 and 8).

· “`In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26, 27).

· “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you” (Psalms 25:21, 22).

· “`But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also’” (Matthew 5:39). · “`You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[g] and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you’” (Matthew 5:43-44).

· “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, `Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, `I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’” (Matthew 18:21-22).

· “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19).

When you address Victory Action #8 Live in the Word of God by filling your heart and mind with the Truth of God’s Word then you are equipped to stand firm against the enemy defensively and offensively. Read God’s Word daily! Read each verse of the Bible aloud and as a personal prayer. Apply these truths to your life every single day and in every single moment. Remember that:

· Knowing God’s Word helps you to understand God’s character.

· Living God’s Word helps you to understand God’s love.

· Sharing God’s Word helps you to understand God’s heart.

 

I end this chapter with Psalm 19:7-14:

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.

The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

 

 

For You to Consider

 

1. Compile reasons why you must live in the Word of God; the Bible.

2. There were four actions given to you that reveal how God’s Word equips you to win your spiritual battles. Share how each of them are relevant to your life and what your response will be.

3. Read Psalm 19:7-14 and write what the Lord is saying to you.

 

Scripture for You to Pray Today: Matthew 7:24, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

 

What is the Lord saying to you right now?