RECEIVING THE WORD
The word of God is not a scam, but when we don’t know how to properly use the word of God, it looks as if it is powerless.
Sometimes people think the word of God is powerless in their lives but the word of God is like a messenger
Psalms 107.
The word of God can be sent.
Just like the way I can send someone to you, you have the choice to either receive the person or reject the person. Just like our lord Jesus Christ telling his disciples: “whoever receives you, then you should enter his house but whosoever shall not receive you, take your sandals, dust it and move”. So the choice belongs to a man to either accept you or reject you. So it’s either they receive the word of God or they reject it.
Sometimes people reject the word of God but they do not know that they’re rejecting the word of God. Sometimes we have been missing it, but studying the word helps us.
There are two sides to the word of God. The written and the spoken (sent word). The written word is referred to as the Scripture (Logos), 2 Timothy 3:16. On the other hand, Spoken words are the word that is revealed (Specific).
The word of God has many functions (expression): 2 Timothy 3:16
It gives you understanding and exposition.
The word of God reproves us
The word of God disciples us and corrects us
The word of God gives us instructions. Instructions are not advice. Just like “Rejoice evermore”. It is not a suggestion but an instruction.
There are different attitudes to which we must receive the word without which the word will not work.
Thanksgiving
Meekness
Faith
Patience
Joy
Determination
They are crucial in receiving the word, or else you won’t have the best in the word of God.
THANKSGIVING
Philippians 4:6-7. It is with Thanksgiving that we get peace. As much as we want to receive peace before thanking God, we have to understand that it is our Thanksgiving that produces peace.
Why are we meant to thank God? Isaiah 55:11
The fact that God always hears us is a good reason to thank him.
MEEKNESS (humility, Simplicity of the heart)
James 1:21.
For God’s word to help you, you must be simple. Matthew 15:21-28.
God is not an unrighteous judge. In the above scripture, Jesus wanted to test the woman, he wanted to know her heart. Imagine if she was offended and left, something might happen to her daughter but she received God’s word with meekness.
FAITH
You must believe God, his word, and his servant. To have faith you must first believe that God is God.
Heb 4:2, how are you saved? You must hear the word, you must believe it.
Roman 10:10; faith here talks about believing in the word of God.
Matt 14:25-29. From Peter’s statement “if it is thou, bid me come unto thee on the water”. He was able to walk on water because of faith, he knew that all he needed from Jesus was just the word “come”, and he had faith and he walked on water. The word of God became the vehicle through which he walked on water.
You must believe the word of God, it is your believing that qualifies you to see the experience of it. It is faith that sponsors our practicing God’s word.
PATIENCE
Patience is a character of maintaining rest even in the phase of contrary symptoms in the journey of the word of God.
ROM 15:4, our finding hope is based on patience and comfort in God’s word.
Heb 10:36. What is the will of God? Confession of faith. You still need patience even after confessing God’s word.
The word of God works gradually, like a drug that when taken in, takes time for someone to recover. Recovery is a process; you need patience after speaking the promise.
James 1:4. Patience must have her work in you.
Luke 8:11-15.
JOY
Isa 12:3 ” with joy we draw from the treasures of God’s word”. We must receive God’s word with joy.
Joy is related to Thanksgiving. You can’t thank God when you don’t have joy.
When we study the gospel, we see what happened to Christ but when we study the epistle we see what happens in him. we can’t do that when we lack joy.
Matt 13:20-21. Receiving the word with joy is a crucial aspect of receiving God’s word. No man gets the best of God’s word by being doubtful. We get the best of God’s word by rejoicing in him.
Sometimes at the place of rejoicing, faith is obtained.
DETERMINATION.
Matt 13:20-21. You must receive God’s word with determination.
Determination for what?
Determination to wait for his word to come to pass. There’s a certain degree of stubbornness to see God’s word come to pass. There’s a level of violent faith. You must be determined to keep pushing through despite odd circumstances.
Conclusion;
Hearing the word of God produces faith. ROM 10:19, but you must design your heart to utilize the faith. when you hear the word faith is supplied to your spirit, you must be determined not to waste that faith. you must be determined to practice your faith, act on it and let his will be done.
Author: Blessing Ifeoluwa
De Vine 