Speaker: Sis. Techie Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Community

“ Christians' Spiritual Stability ”

Part 4 –“ Importance of the Word of God”

I ntroduction: Part 1 of our series of teachings about “Christians' Spiritual Stability” is about God's command for us to be firm and steadfast . ( Growth Digest Volume 8, No. 12 of April 26, 2006 ).

P art 2 of our series (Volume 8, No. 13 of May 3, 2006 ) is about God's desire that we all pursue Christlikeness.

P art 3 (Volume 8, No. 14 of May 17, 2006 ) lists down the following steps to develop spiritual stability:

1. Know that you were called by God;

2. Follow the will of God;

3. Ask according to God's will; and

4. Find out the Word of God for the situation.

The Word of God – An Important Key to Spiritual Stability

O ne of the most important keys to spiritual stability is the Word of God. If we want to be firm, steadfast, and stable, we must read and study the Holy Bible, the Word of God.

T here is awesome power in the Word of God. To enable us to discover the Word of God and its power for our particular situation, let us observe and do the following:

1. R ead and study the Word of God everyday . “ Keep this book of the law on your lips. Recite it by day and by night , that you may observe carefully all that is written in it; then you will successfully attain your goal.” (Joshua 1:8 ). “Rather the law of the Lord is their joy; God's law they study day and night . ” (Psalms 1:2).

A ll of us who are renewed Catholics must be consistent in reading and studying the Bible. We should have the habit of studying the Word of God. When we stop doing so, we would be like a brass vessel that loses its luster when its daily polishing is stopped. Let us maintain the luster of our spiritual life by reading the Bible daily. We need the Word of God in order to grow spiritually and be firm and stable!

2. H ave the passion to study the Word of God . We will have the passion to study the Bible when we realize and accept its great importance.

“ T he statutes of the Lord are true, all of them just; More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold .” (Psalms 19:10-11).

T he Word of God is important. It gives us strength every time we meditate on its meaning. It lifts us up during distressing times in our life. It always encourages us to seek help from God. In God's Word are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . (Colossians 2:3).

A s we read and study the Bible more and more, we find out that the Word of God gets more and more beautiful. Our passion to study the Word of God gets deeper and deeper.

3. H ave faith in the Word and promises of God . All those who have faith in God and obey the Lord will inherit the promises of God. “We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end , so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12). Every time God asks us to do something, we should say yes even if it is not easy and it seems beyond our strength. God gave Moses and Joshua works that were not easy. He promised Joshua:

? “I will be with you as I was with Moses: I will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5).

? “Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).

G od's promises to Moses and to Joshua stand true for all of us in our present time. We can always claim God's promises. We will not fall; we can stand on God's promises because He is a promise-keeper. “The Lord's promises are sure.” (Psalms 12:7). He fulfills his Word. “Well have you seen for I am watching to fulfill my word.” (Jeremiah 1:12). “The Lord does not delay his promise.” (2 Peter 3:9) .

4. L et obedience to the Word accompany our faith . Inheritance of the world was promised to Abraham and his descendants through the righteousness that comes from faith. (Romans 4:13). Righteousness is not only for Abraham but also for us to whom it will be credited. (Romans 4:23-25).

R ighteousness and fulfillment of the promises of God will depend on our faith in the promises and our obedience to the Word. Faith and obedience (or action) are inseparable like the two sides, head and tail, of a coin. “ Faith without works [ or action ] is dead .” (James 2:17 , 2:26 ).

F aith is incomplete without obedience. “Faith without works is useless.” (James 2:20). No matter how often we say “I believe in God” is of no use if we do not obey the Word of God.

W e might believe by faith that we would be blessed by agreeing to do some work in our Community. Such a belief is however useless until we start the work, persevere, and complete it until the end. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20).

W e should not be afraid to do community work, undertake personal tasks, and even face spiritual tests. We can claim God's promise that He will be with us until the end. We do not merely begin what God asks us to do and then do it half-heartedly or stop mid-way into the work; we faithfully complete the task until it is completed. We should not stop the work; we have God's promise to be with us always. God will never forsake us or abandon us. (Hebrews 13:5). “Whoever endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22). “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Luke 11:28).

H aving faith and obedience to the Word is essential in being firm, steadfast and spiritually stable!

5. S tand on the Word of God – a sure foundation . To ensure our spiritual stability, we must stand on the Word of God, a sure foundation. “ Everyone who listens to the words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on roc k.” (Matthew 7:24).

W e should welcome the Word of God as imperishable seed. “You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding Word of God”. (1 Peter 2:23).

T he Word of God is incorruptible; it would not spoil; “but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1 Peter 2:25).

N o one can destroy the Word of God. No one can stop the Word from performing what God wants it to do. No one can hinder the fulfillment of God's promises. “For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11 ).

T he Word of God is a strong and sure foundation. We have the confidence that we can face whatever are the circumstances in our life. We stand firm and steadfast on a solid foundation!

6. D o not be afraid to experience trials . The Scriptures have given us God's Word on how to face tests and trials.

? “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3).

? “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

W ith courage, we face trials that God has gives us. He tested the Biblical characters; He can do the same for us. God does not change. He is constant. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

W hen we encounter storms in our life, let us seek protection of the Word of God. When our faith is weakened by difficulties in our day-to-day living, let us be inspired by the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the men and women in Hebrews 11.

L et us encounter trials for our perseverance to be perfect, so that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing . (James 1:4).

7. W alk by faith, not by sight . Our spiritual stability may be considered mature if we already walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). In our journey through life, we are walking by faith if we apply the Word of God for every step we make. We do not use our eyes and sight but we use the Word of God as our lamp. (Psalms 119:105).

I n a dream, your Elder was asked by the Lord to “prescribe medicines” to our community members. She realized that these “medicines” are actually the Word of God. She was anointed to memorize a thousand verses. Since then, she has been applying them in her life and in teaching and evangelizing others.

E veryone is exhorted to continue reading and studying the Holy Bible. Everyone is asked to memorize biblical verses and to apply them in the day-to-day walk in the Spirit.