By David Brandt Berg
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The Bible
God wrote the 66 books of the Bible through about 40 men who were yielded to His Holy Spirit. As Peter said, “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).
The fulfilled prophecies contained in its books are the greatest proof that the Bible is the Word of God. Some outstanding examples of fulfilled prophecy are seen in the Old Testament predictions about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
There are approximately 300, all written four to five centuries before His birth. Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 foretold that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem of a virgin and was to be called “the Prince of Peace,” who had been in existence “from everlasting.” His betrayal by Judas is seen in Zechariah 11:12–13 for “thirty pieces of silver,” crucifixion in Psalm 22:16,18 (“pierced my hands and my feet”), and resurrection in Psalm 16:10 (“will not leave my soul in hell”).
These prophecies, of course, are merely a few of the literally thousands of fulfilled prophecies about empires, individuals, and world events which the biblical prophets have predicted and which prove the Bible’s divine authorship.
As Jesus said of His own prophecies, “These things have I spoken to you ... before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe” (John 14:25,29).
What the Bible means to us
The Bible is God’s plan for eternal life: the solid, genuine foundation of truth on which we’re building, whose giver is God. It is the Bible that gives genuine and eternal immortality through the resurrection, to everlasting heavenly bliss with God. The Bible is the greatest book in the world, with the only author in the world who can guarantee life and love and happiness and heaven forever.
The Bible is our foundation, our guide, our standard, and the rod of measurement whereby we judge all things, even the words that God gives us today.
“The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Psalm 37:31). If it isn’t in his heart, his steps will slide and he’ll get off the right track.
Why we need God’s Word
If you think you don’t need the Word now that you have the Spirit, let me tell you, Jesus said, “My words are Spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). I didn’t find the truth until I began to heed His Spirit, but it was the voice of His Spirit in His Word. For “Thy Word is a lamp into my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
It is impossible to have faith unless you have the Word, because your faith is something that is built by faithful study of God’s Word. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The main thing is to know the Word; that’s the contract and the law. That’s why you can claim it and command the Lord to fulfill His promises. You have to quote the terms of the contract (the Word) to the contract maker (God) and hold Him to it.
Faith in the Word not only heals our souls, but also our bodies. “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” “He sent His word, and healed them.” “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3, 107:20; 2 Peter 1:4).
The Word is our weapon against the Enemy and his strongholds on people’s minds and hearts. “For the weapons of our warfare are (spiritual) not carnal, (and) mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). When the Devil tempted Jesus and lied to Him, He just quoted the scriptures: “It is written” (Matthew 4:3–10). The Devil is a liar and the father of it, and he knows it and he can’t take the Word. “Resist the Enemy and he’ll flee from you” (James 4:7). He’ll turn tail and run. Take up the white-hot sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and cut the Devil to the heart! Lay it on him. Sock it to him. Drive him away! Tell him he has no part in you, and that he’s got no business there.
The Word also gives us examples of how God has worked in the past. What is always the first thing you should think about when you begin to think and pray about God’s answer? Think about similar situations in the Word: What did they do then? “All these things happened unto them for ensamples” and “were written for our learning” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
We are going to be teachers of the world, as the prophet Daniel predicted. “They that understand ... shall instruct many” (Daniel 11:33). This should cause you to study and memorize, not only for your own sake and to be a better witness to many, but also to be able to teach them to teach others, to teach others, to teach others, to teach others, to teach others, to teach others.
Obeying the Word
If you obey what you know God wants you to do, then He will show you more truth; and when you obey that, He’ll give you a little more, and step by step, as you follow Him, He shows you more and more. It’s like Solomon said, “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
The minute we begin to listen to the Lord’s recorded, written Word, immediately we put ourselves in the position of being willing to listen, so then the Lord begins to speak and give us the living Word.
Jesus said, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words (written words): and My Father will love him, and we (the living Word) will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23).
Originally published September 1974. Updated and republished June 2012.
Read by Simon Peterson. copyright@thefamilyinternational
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