APPLY ACCURATE WORD KNOWLEDGE:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." 

(Hosea 4:6)

Applying accurate knowledge of God’s Word is indispensable if you must live a successful and victorious life in Christ. God said my people are destroyed, not because Satan is powerful, or because they don’t pray much, but for their lack of revelation knowledge; for not applying accurate knowledge of the Word. Don’t assume the Bible says something you haven’t verified; study to know; and apply yourself to doing what the Lord wants as revealed in His Word. The account of Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis is very instructive in this regard.

The Bible says Abel’s offerings were accepted, while Cain’s offerings were rejected; why? Because Cain didn’t offer his sacrifice to God according to knowledge; he gave God what he chose to give without considering what he was supposed to give to the Lord. He didn’t function according to knowledge. They were both to give the best of their produce—the first fruits; but Cain merely took whatever he could find from amongst his crops and offered them to the Lord as sacrifice: "…it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord" (Genesis 4:3). Abel, on the other hand, took "…the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" (Genesis 4:4). 

He gave God the first fruits (the first and the best) as required, and the Lord honoured his offering. This is just like some Christians today; there are things we like to do, but there are things we have been counselled and instructed by the Word of God to do. What God wants is that which He asked you to do; not what you "feel" like doing! Do what His Word instructs, for that is how to walk in His blessings.

FURTHER STUDY

I Samuel 2:3

Proverbs 11:19

Ecclesiastics 7:12

Andy Agim

Christ Realities

THE EFFECTUAL WORD:

"So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11)."

The Word of God is living and powerful: It is active, operative, energizing, and effective: "…it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing {and} sifting {and} analyzing {and} judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). This scripture describes the infallible quality and efficacy of the Word of God.

Despite the effectual nature of God’s Word, Jesus taught that a man could render the Word ineffective in his own life. The Pharisees for one were experts in the Jewish traditions at the expense of following the true teachings of God’s Word. Hence the Word, even though effectual, all-powerful, and operative, didn’t produce results in their lives. They made the Word ineffective.

Many today, like the Pharisees, are either casual with the Word or bound to religion and traditions of men, thereby short-circuiting the power of the Word in them. People with personal traditions and religious opinions, beliefs and thought-patterns that are contrary to new creation realities revealed to us in the Word, will make the Word ineffective in their lives.

Never undermine the power of the Word; don’t get too "familiar" with the Word to the point it no longer makes an impact on you. Have a childlike attitude of delight and hunger for the Word always. Your only recourse in any situation in life should be the Word of God. When you find yourself in any difficult situation where you are wondering what to do, ask yourself, "What does the Word say concerning this situation?" Search the Word for information or instruction that covers that situation and put it to work; that is how to honour the Word and give it pre-eminence in your life, and it will always work for you. 

FURTHER STUDY:

Colossians 2:8

Mark 7:11- 13

Andy Agim

Christ Realities