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.