“The Word of God Is Alive”

By Bob Heirtzler

July 17^th, 2011

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            A lot of us lost power this past week, but we didn’t let it stop us from worshipping God.  In some ways, being without power was a blessing.  It doesn’t do any good to complain about that situation; are you going to be an encourager or a discourager?

            There are thousands and thousands of books just sitting on the shelf of the library; they are lifeless until you pick one up and start reading it.  You become part of the story, maybe you are in the story; they start to come alive! 

            The Word of God is alive at all times.

 John 1:1          In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

 Jesus is not in the tomb anymore, He is alive.  Allow Him to be alive in your heart.

 Revelation 19:13         …His name is called The Word of God.

 The Word gives us hope, guidance support, insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and instruction.  BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.  One day the trumpet is going to sound, and all the dead in Christ will rise first, and those that are alive, we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye to be with Jesus.  Until then, we have to share with people; we have to get the Word out.

 Psalms 119:105          Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 God has a path for us to follow.

 2 Timothy 3:16-17       All scripture is given by inspiration of God…

2 Timothy 2:15            Study to show thyself approved unto God...

Why do we need to read the Word of God?

 2 Timothy 3:1-7           …men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters…

To be aware of what is going on.  Paul gave us a warning many years ago; that day is already here.  “…disobedient to parents…”  When I was a kid, I would never talk back to my mom and dad; now I hear it all the time, and all I can say is, “That’s not my kid; all I can do is pray for you.”  Everyone is seeking everything else but the Word of God.  The Word of God is the ultimate help. 

2 Timothy 3:14-15       … the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise…

            Paul encourages us to continue in the faith.  There are a lot of people with fancy words that can talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk.

2 Timothy 4:1-5           I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ…

            When I was a kid, I one time saw a man with a line of kids holding hands.  I didn’t know what was going on, but I wanted to join in, so I ran up and grabbed the hand of the kid at the end of the line.  The man at the other end was holding onto an electric fence.  He didn’t feel the shock, though, I did. “Ouch!” and I let go.  Then the next kid felt the shock, and he let go; then the next kid, and the next kid, and so on.  After a few minutes, the man realized that he was going to feel it soon, so he let go of the fence.  I think about that whenever I read 2 Timothy 4:1, because I felt that charge.  That line of people was passing power to others; we should do the same with the Word of God.  We charge our phones and our laptops, so that they can be used, but sometimes we feel our own batteries getting kind of low.

            Get out there and preach the Word.  Plant the seed; whether it grows or not, that’s up to God.  Let the Word of God flow through your life.  I don’t mean be a Bible thumper; be an example; be an encouragement; live the life.  I’m always looking to ‘cast my lure out,’ to see if I can get a hit.  If I don’t then I cast a different way.  We’ve got to put the Word out, but we’ve got to live it to preach it.  God called each and every one of us here today to preach the Word in season and out of season.  They say that it takes 10,000 casts to catch a Muskie.  What if I quit after 9,995?  Don’t be discouraged if people say no; don’t shut the door on them.  They might come to you; they know your light is on.  It could be just giving someone a cup of coffee, or a smile; one little blessing plus one little blessing builds up over time.  “…Do the work of an evangelist…”  Find ways to continue to reach out to people.

2 Timothy 4:6-8           …I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course…

There are many people that will be scared when Jesus comes; they will be hiding in caves…  Those that have been living for God will be glad to see Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2          …let us run with patience the race that is set before us…

I have a bad tendency to give things to God, and then pick them back up.  If you leave it at the altar, then let it go.  You ever see anybody running through the airport with a whole bunch of luggage?  They don’t run very fast, do they?  They never seem to spill their coffee, though.  Let that baggage down; I understand that some things take time to heal.  It’s not about a building; God will meet you where you’re at.  We’ve got to continue to show that the Word of God is alive in our lives.

            Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd