Interacting with the Word of God, Part 2

Last week we dealt with the whole issue of God’s word as a system of reasoning.

John 1:1-2

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. NIV

The word “Word” here is the Greek word “logos” which means “reasoning”. John here celebrates divine reasoning as a preeminent component of God’s nature (in the beginning was…). If we build church in the earth, that church must resemble this aspect of God’s nature. Remember God said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” We have to resemble the “image” of God in its fullness. Paul proclaimed to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:13

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. NIV

That which we build in the earth has got to fully resemble the diverse components of God’s nature.

The Word of God expresses Divine-Creative Power

In Genesis 1 we see the word of God in action. We see God speaking things into existence. The consistent phrase is “let there be”. This shows us that the word of God is not simply a “letter” but it is truly spirit (John 6:63).

Genesis 1:3-5

3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day. NIV

Whenever we see the phrase, “God said” then we know that the word of God is being released. We know from Genesis 1 that the proclamation of God’s word brings divine arrangement and order in creation and or in human life. Before God’s divine intervention, the earth was formless, without shape and order (Gen 1:2). The proclamation of God’s word brought order and arrangement. So therefore the word of God is not proclaimed haphazardly, it carries divine design in it. When we think of God’s power carried by His word we must also think of the arrangement, design and order that God’s word always seeks to produce. After God’s proclamation in Genesis 1, we see the end result being an orderly eco-system (Rom 1:20). This is the same pattern church has to follow. Every element of power that God discharges through us must help bring arrangement and order in human life. The tendency is to display God’s power but move away from order. By “order”, I am not simply referring to the protocols of church service or meetings but I mean order in the arrangement of human life. Since the earth’s showed evidence of experiencing God’s power by becoming orderly, so too must the people who experience the power of God’s word every Sunday show evidence by becoming more orderly and mature in their lives.

This is critically important when we consider the scripture below:

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. NIV

While we embrace authentic power-manifestations coming from the Lord, we also want to be careful of the counterfeit that comes from the enemy. Note this that the enemy’s power can also heal, i.e. it can produce spiritual works but cannot bring people to a place of divine order and correctness. This is the reality in the last days. The power of the enemy produces (a) chaos (or deception) in people’s lives (2 Thes 2:11) and also (b) lacks godly fruit or character (Matt 7:15-20). And so any church environment that emphasises “power-manifestations” without putting emphasis on Christ’s values and standards needs to be questioned seriously. The point here is that God’s power does not only produce works but divine order. For example, God’s healing power must bring people to a place of submission, holiness and commitment to God’s kingdom. It must not leave them having experienced the power but lacking divine order in their lives. The actualisation of such a divine order in people’s lives relies heavily on the one administering the word and power of God (i.e. the leader).

The big example we have in God’s word is the deliverance of Jewish people from Egypt. God later made it clear that He did not display the power to Pharaoh simply because He was proving some point but that He delivered them in order to bring them to divine order of life. He wanted to use them as a template of correct life before the nations (Deut 4:5-8). When God did not get this, He actually judged the people:

1 Corinthians 10:1-6

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. NIV

Jude 5

5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. NIV

God does not function out of giftedness; He functions out of purpose. Whenever He displays His power, He is thinking about bringing life to a place of correction and order.

So the release of God’s power always connects to the bigger reality of bringing things back to their correct arrangement and order.

The Word of God as a System of Human Development

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, NIV

The word of God is also a tool by which we can construct human life in all of its areas and levels. This actually makes church a system of human development. The word of God can be used to build people in the following areas:

• Correct Inner Life (life motives).
• Godly Mindsets.
• Godly Behaviour & Character
• Correct Lifestyle
• Relational Competence
• Human Productivity
• Correct Worldview and Life Orientation

Consider the following scriptures:

(a) 2 Timothy 3:15

15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. NIV

The scriptures are able to make you wise. “Make you wise” means a process of becoming something that you were not before. The word “wise” here defines someone who has become a skilful expert in God and in life. So the word of God, if taught correctly, can produce a people who have Kingdom Life Skills, who therefore know how to approach life and how to deal with issues of life correctly.

(b) 2 Thes 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." NIV

The word of God can develop people in the areas of work ethic and productivity. The first man God made was introduced to work and labour, Gen 2:15. So therefore working is not for the sophisticated few. Anybody in the kingdom of God should appreciate and celebrate working.

Psalm 104 celebrates some of the wonders of God. Inside this system of God that is being celebrated is the whole issue of man waking up in the morning to engage in work.

Psalms 104:23

23 Then man goes out to his work,

to his labor until evening. NIV

The word that is used as “work” in 2 Thes 3:10 means: “to toil, to labour, to be engaged in”. The issue here is not one of being employed in an organisation. One can work without being employed. The scripture does not say, “if a man is not employed he shall not eat”. “Work” can be things one does at home – the basic issue from God is that of kingdom productivity. For example, those committed to staying at home in order to raise kids are doing serious business for God. We have to be careful not to be deceived by this Babylonian Economic System that defines “work” within a limited and shallow context of “employment” and “salary”.

This issue of work is the basic component of the gospel of the kingdom. It is expressed in the basic principles of creation (Gen 2:15). So therefore the word of God can develop people in the area of human productivity.

(c) Rom 12:2

Romans 12:2

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

The word of God can be used to develop mindsets and worldviews that in turn allow people to interact with the system of the world much more effectively and skilfully. For people to come to such levels of personal competence, they need to be trained in righteousness.

Discipleship as a Mechanism of Human Development

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV

The idea of discipleship meant that people needed to be trained, schooled and developed into certain qualities, understanding and abilities. There were disciples of the Pharisees, John and Jesus. All these people were trained and schooled to see God a certain way and to interact with life in a certain way.

Acts 4:13

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. NIV

What becomes clear in Acts 4:13 is that Jesus took the apostles through a process of real, practical training for a period of 3 years. In the end, He produced a people who had a developed understanding, articulation and skill in life. This is what we mostly lack in the church. We have many church members who have not necessarily been schooled and developed in certain qualities, mentalities and competences. “Schooling” here goes beyond taking somebody through a Bible class. In fact, the word “disciple” is defined in the Greek as “one who is a student of another both in doctrine and in conduct”. So to disciple is not only about taking people into a classroom to teach them the Bible. It is also exposing people to your mentality, values and worldview through dynamic on-going interaction (just as Jesus used to do). This is why people would talk about “his ways” to guys like Timothy (2 Tim 1:13; 3:10-11). So when Paul says, “follow me as I follow Christ” he is really talking about discipleship. But for true discipleship to take place, there must be real trust between the “student” (the disciple) and the “leader”.

The current structure of the church service mostly encourages the kind of building that is spontaneous and impulsive without any real relationship between those who are teaching and those who are learning – this compromises issues of discipleship and human development, essentially compromising the effectiveness of God’s word in people’s lives. We forget that divine inspiration produces order and arrangement. This God who has anointed us produced an earthly system with hours, days and months. Every day, the sun rises in the morning and sets in the afternoon. That is, divine power and wisdom can flow through set arrangements, and can also produce arrangement and order. We therefore have to find balance between spontaneous and systematic building – understanding that both are spiritual and divine if properly administered.

If we are serious about positioning church as a system of human development (discipleship), then we need to appreciate more and more the issue of systematic building in our approaches and structures.

Interacting with the Word of God

Learning to interact correctly with the Word of God is critically important in our growth in the kingdom of God. The Word of God defines the very nature of God and so the more we understand God’s word is the more we understand God. Moreover, the Word of God defines the structure of life and so the more we understand the Word is the more we have correct understanding of human life.

Looking into the Dimensions of God’s Word

1) The Word of God is the Description of God’s Nature

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. NIV

The phrase, “…and the word was God…” indicates to us that the Word of God defines the very nature of God. It gives language and description to an invisible reality. It is divine truth conceptualised in human thought and language. We access that divine nature of God through our understanding of the Word.

We therefore read the Word not simply because we are Christians but because we want to understand the nature of God. The reading of God’s word is not for the purpose of fulfilling a Christian duty - it is this dimension of religion that kills God’s Word in our lives.

The “nature of God” is a pack of principles, qualities and values that must be evidently possessed in our lives (i.e. mindsets, behaviours and lifestyles).

2 Peter 1:4

4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV

We have to “participate in the divine nature”. Eph 5:1 talks about imitating God. The Word therefore provides us with a portal into the immortal invisible realm of God. Through the word, we get revelation.

Really the word of God is not letter. It is not words in the Bible. As a matter of fact, long before there was a Bible, there was the Word. It is for this reason that Abraham and the prophets could live. They accessed a “realm of understanding” in God that allowed them to walk in a dimension of righteousness. When Abraham lived, there was no Book of Exodus, Romans or Revelation. He lived in a “realm of understanding” – he touched the Word. The Word of God therefore does not become alive in our lives until we’ve touched that realm of understanding. We can possess the whole Bible and still have a limited measure of God’s Word in our lives. We possess the Word to the extent that we have understanding. Any truth or principle that we have not yet understood is not “Word” for us.

So whenever we read the Word of God, we need to be looking for the description of God’s nature. If, for example, we read a scripture that says “God is Love” then we know that God’s nature is “relational, caring, selfless, patient” etc. To imitate God in this context would be to start to walk in these dimensions of God’s character. To proclaim a God who is Love and not be relational is to enter into dimensions of hypocrisy.

2) The Word of God is a System of Reasoning

John 1:1-2

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. NIV

The word that is translated as “Word” in our English Bibles in John 1:1 is the word “Logos”. In the past I have read Books where authors described the word “Logos” as simply “written word”. This is a somewhat incomplete description of this word. In the past we would separate “logos” (as written word) and “rhema” (as spoken word) - this is somehow insufficient description.

Logos: “something said; words as the expression of intelligence; reasoning; thought; motive; computation” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary).

The word “logos” comes from the verb “lego” which means: “to utter definite words, connected and significant speech equal to discourse; to speak intelligently”. The idea or meaning carried in the word “lego” is that of putting forth a systematic argument with intended meaning as one engaged in a discourse. So therefore it is reasonable to say that there is intelligence and wisdom behind the Word of God. This reality must in fact be consistent with the nature of teaching and preaching on Sunday morning. We cannot afford to stand before people and say a bunch of words that carry no meaning for the day to day lives of the people. If “logos” is not just expression of words but expression of thought then we need to have a very clear meaning and objectives linked to our teaching.

The word “logos” is also used in Acts 10:29 and 1 Pet 3:15

Act 10:29 "Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" (NKJV)

1 Peter 3:15

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, NIV

In both Acts 10:29 and 1 Pet 3:15, we see the word “logos” translated as the word “reason”. In both these cases, the word “logos” clearly refers to a system of thought and inner motivations that give shape to decision-making process, behaviour and lifestyle. And so therefore to possess the “logos” in your mind is not to simply know scripture verses (although this is very important), it is to allow those scripture verses to formulate thought, perspective and motivation inside your life. Really, the word of God is a thinking system; we therefore possess the Word to the extent that our mindsets reflect God’s mind or mentality.

Thus, the word “logos” deals with God’s thinking system. It is in this context that we say that God’s Word is a system of divine reasoning. And it is in this context that the Word of God can make us wise; consider the following verses:

Deuteronomy 4:6

6 Observe them (i.e. decrees and laws = the Word) carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." NIV

2 Timothy 3:15

15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. NIV

In some sense, interacting with God’s word demands that we die in our own wisdom, opinion and intelligence. You can not touch the power of God’s wisdom in his word as long as you think you are clever in your own self. The word is not designed to increase our own natural cleverness but to kill it and replace it with God’s intelligence and wisdom. It is in this context that we say “any man who is in Christ is a new creation”.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight. NIV

As Christians, we have a tendency to enter into the kingdom of God with our own natural intelligence and as a result, we get shut out of the power of God’s wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2:7-10

7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him"-

10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. NIV

The word of God produced wisdom and intelligence in Daniel’s life:

Daniel 1:17

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. NIV

The wisdom of God in Daniel’s life produced correct and practical understanding of life and its systems.

Daniel 1:18-20

18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. NIV

So the Word of God is a System of Reasoning designed to impart understanding and intelligence inside of our lives. We can never touch this dimension of God’s word without firstly realising the inferiority of the thinking systems of this world.

The Word of God reveals God’s thinking System (cont…)

The idea of God having a thinking system is foreign to a religious mind. A traditional Christian mind sees church as a place of “spiritual nourishment” and the world as a place of “human development”. So we enter into a church setting, put our minds aside and allow any kind of crazy activity and preaching, walk out of our church buildings and be CEOs and high-profile Professionals within the World Systems. It seems to me that we lose reasoning once we enter the church world, all in the name of “spirituality” whereas true spirituality begins with a developed system of reasoning, at least according to John 1:1&2. In the beginning was the “Word” - the very first thing that John celebrates as the preeminent componential nature of God is His own intelligence and thought (the Logos dimension of God).

Isaiah 55:8

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD. NIV

God separates between His thoughts and those of the world. He encourages us to renounce the thinking system of this world.

Romans 12:2

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

The word clearly says we have to locate and embrace God’s thinking system.

Philippians 2:5

5 Your attitude (or mind) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: NIV

The word “mind” used in Phil 2:5 means the following: “to think; to have a mindset; to have an opinion. The activity represented by this word involves the will, affections and conscience” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary). God is obviously not a Religious Entity existing in some spiritual distance. He does interact with life and He does have opinion about situations in life.

Part of our growth in our salvation is to discover God’s thinking system. We have to be developed to a spiritual position that the Word refers to as “the mind of Christ”. This “mind of Christ” is not only described in Phil 2 but in the totality of the scripture – it is written about Him in the scriptures (Heb 10:7). The pursuit of God’s thinking system means that we have to engage in the following process:

· We have to acknowledge that God has a thinking system.

· We have to acknowledge that the world’s thinking system is inferior to that of God.

· We have to transform by renouncing the world’s thinking system and embracing that of God.

True Christ-centred spirituality begins with a developed system of reasoning, John 1:1-2

By this statement, I am not referring to a natural academic process. The fact that one has studied and achieved high educational qualifications in the world is no qualification to spiritual intelligence.

1 Corinthians 1:18-19

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." NIV

Academic achievement is no qualification to spiritual intelligence but at the same time lack of education and poverty are also no qualification to spiritual intelligence. The way we access God’s intelligence is by “entering the kingdom as children” so that we can study His word and allow it’s principles to develop our system of reasoning. So there is a requirement to study. In fact those of us who have been schooled in the system of this world have a greater challenge to unlearn and re-learn when we enter the kingdom. It is difficult for a “rich man” (i.e. one who is self-sufficient) to enter the kingdom of God. “Rich man” here defines not just an external reality but an internal-heart condition. Those who enter the kingdom of God having been schooled in the ideologies, perspectives and philosophies of this world will find difficulty grasping kingdom concepts, provided they die in these to allow God to teach them life again. We have to separate between that which is “natural” and that which is “holy”. If the world’s perspectives, wisdom, philosophy and ideologies were superior then we would be living in a far better world today. Capitalism, Communism and other world’s ideologies and theories have failed to produce stable life. Instead, life is falling apart right before our eyes. The wisdom and intelligence of men are being proven wrong by life itself. We no longer have to waste time arguing against these things because life is busy proving God right.

Romans 3:4

4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:

"So that you may be proved right when you speak

and prevail when you judge." NIV

So therefore we have to see God’s word for what it truly is. Those teaching the Word of God have a great challenge to emphasise and communicate the right things. To go beyond the letter and begin to communicate the thought positions represented in the word of God. In fact the word “teach” (didasko in Greek) in the word of God defines one who has a skill to develop perspective in people. The ministry of a teacher is not just to display knowledge or to relay scripture but to develop a correct perspective of God and life in people; to shape opinions until they are aligned to God’s thinking system. A teacher must not simply speak theology but must produce people with correct thinking patterns, perspectives, philosophy and ideology.