4. God’s word — the Bible: part II — God’s word is living and active

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful” (it’s active!)

Read Psalm 103 (NIV)

1. God’s word SPEAKS to us today, as fresh and RELEVANT as it was when it was originally spoken

2. Personalize God’s word when you read it — because He means it for you today.

See complete lesson and Pastor Duane Miller story here.

Hearing God through Bible toilet paper story

This is an amazing story that Ravi Zacharias retells from one of his trips to Vietnam. God, in His wonderful sovereignty, can even speak powerfully through soiled Bible pages.
Read story "Hien Pham: A Man Set Apart"

4. God’s word, the Bible — speaks!

HOW GOD SPEAKS:
The Bible: is the most sure, reliable, safe way we can know God’s voice. All other “communication channels” need to be tested against God’s word of truth.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

God’s Word:
1. Is living! (a living plant vs a rock — Bible vs any other book)
2. Is powerful! (God’s word has energy in it — it is active! — like an active ingredient in a medicine or toothpaste)
3. Is an extremely sharp two-edged sword! (see also Eph. 6:17)
• It is a weapon of battle — soldiers could pierce armor with a sharp, pointy, 2-edged sword. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to battle falsehood, deception, pride, sin, spiritual uncleanness, etc.
• It is so sharp that it can open up any part of our flesh or spirit and expose what is there.

Click here for the rest of the lesson…

HOW GOD SPEAKS: 10 CATEGORIES

1. God directly spoke with a manifest presence, in very clear, powerful ways

• “The word of the Lord came to… saying…”
• God appearing and speaking to Moses in the tent of meeting
• To Adam & Eve in the garden; to Abraham as one of 3 men; to Elijah;
• Christ, God incarnate, spoke during His earthly ministry, and a few times after
He ascended (Ex. Hebrews 1:1-2; to Paul Acts 9:1-6; 23:10-11; the testimony of Charles Stanley)

Click here for 2-10…