But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4. 2 Cor. 3:2-3.
Note: we have a irresistible, unmatchable – defensive and offensive weapon of spiritual battle in the word of God against Satan and against his cohorts, but you must live by what is written – by casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought in you to the obedience of Christ (1 Samuel 3:19. 2 Cor. 10:6), lest the enemy uses what is written against you: besides, lest what is written become your stumbling block of iniquity and destruction in eternity because of your contemptuous disregard, contentious and disobedient spirit against the truth (Amos 2:4-5. Rom 2:8), – unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 2 Peter 2:7-8.
Though, I was a rebellious child and a hardened sinner before my conversion, I was born into a Baptist family where my parents were faithfully devoted to God. You can hardly see my late father away from house without his handy bible with him wherever he goes, but I never knew or experienced the power of the written word until I was invited to faith clinic International of Nigeria Ibadan which is the ministry of late Dr. I. K.U Ibeneme in the late 80 s.
In one of those days after praise and worship season, it was now time for the ministering of the word and prayer. The late Dr. I.K.U Ibeneme came forward and took us through the book St. Mark 16 verses 17-18 and into the book of prophet Isaiah chapter 10 Verses 27. It was my first time to witness the word of God coming alive or better to say like Christ said while he was in the temple ‘this day is the scripture fulfilled in your eyes’ (Luke 4:21) as the word was quickened – made alive by the Spirit power to deliver, save and set the captive free from demonic bondages and oppressions.
Ever since then, my life has never been the same as the result of what is written quoted by late Dr. I.K.U Ibeneme as I witnessed the Spirit of God quickening the word spoken – God working with them, conforming the word with signs and wonders following. Truly, the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13. Note: without the baptism and constant re-filling of the indwelling Spirit of God, the word of God is dead and ineffective as we see by the example of the seven sons of Sceva. Acts 19:13-16. What is written, whatever shall be spoken and whatever should be acted upon for supernatural manifestation of God should be drawn out from the water of life – word coming out from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3.
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6. The handy bible will be seen as one of that old story book until you have a genuine encounter with the author. The word of God can only come alive to bring forth fruit in you if you become a born again believer. 1 Thess. 2:13. The word of God is the seed of God which can only grow in a new heart – new creature where Christ dwells by faith. Is it not written that you must born again? John 3:3. You cannot experience the quickening power of the Spirit bringing the word to life in your circumstances and situations without being born of God – but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.
Though the scripture was compiled together through different scribes, prophets and holy men of old; nonetheless, it was from the same God at different season and time through the Holy Spirit until the birth, death and the resurrection of Christ for the completion of the entire bible at the time of the first Apostolic ministries of the twelve disciples of our Lord – knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 1 Peter 1:20-21.
What is written and given as scripture (John 5:39-40) is forever settled in heaven as the authority of divine will and revelation unto man, given as the manner and rules (moral and spiritual principles) of God’s constitution and governmental requirements for man and woman he has created for his pleasure on earth. Note: they walk in the path of eternal life which is the straight gate and narrow way everyone that live by every word of God: though the prince of this world will come up against them, he will never found anything in them who have refrained their feet from evil way that they might keep his word. Psalms 119:101.
These are the undefiled in the way: it shall be said of them, they also do no iniquity (Psalms 119:3): for the Lord’s right hand shall hold up their goings in his paths, that they slip not in their footsteps (Psalms 17:5), – for they walk surely that walk and live by every word of God. Prov.10:9. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes (to live by what is written as my standard and principles of lifestyle) Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Psalms 119:5-6.
Righteous or sinner, born-again or unregenerate soul, your record is on high. Job 16:19.
There are two major register and reckoning books in heaven set aside by God for all the dwellers or inhabitants on earth: namely, the book of life (Revelation 3:5) which is the written of the righteous – genuine and consistent born again believers (let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. Psalms 69:28.
The second book is the reckoning book of individual sinner’s accountability at the white throne judgment seat of God when they shall be judged and condemned according to what is written concerning their unrepentant and ungodly lifestyles while they lived. 1 Pet.4:6. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15. Note: though, there are two separate thrones of judgment seat in heaven, there are also two kinds of judgments awaiting two different kinds of people at death while those judgments are not for the same purposes, neither are they set for the same period of time.
The first reckoning is at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), while the other is at the great white throne before or of God. The believers who shall be partakers of the first resurrection are said to be blessed and holy to appear at the judgment seat of Christ for the rewards and applauds of their exploits of faith on earth, having passed from eternal death unto eternal life, while those who are to appear before the great white throne are the unconverted sinners, rebellious and backslider believers…while the chief justice of both judgments – righteous and sinners in heaven is the Son of man – the Lord Jesus Christ: for the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:22-23.
Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17. What is the will of God? The will of God is in all that are written that we might live according to whatever is written in the word of God. Whatever is written is true: wherefore when he – Christ comes into the world, he says, sacrifice and offering thou have no interest, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10: 5-7.
What is written is the word which by the gospel is preached unto us (1 Peter 1:25) by which the entire life and works of Christ are in compliance on earth according to what is written (Matthew 26:24): whosoever that says he abides in Christ must also walk (according to what is written) even as he has walked. 1 John 2:6. He or she should live by what is written, – speak what is written, – get his answers from any of the questions of life from what is written, – react and handle any situation or challenge (s) before him according to what is written, – live to defend what is written as the true living epistle of Christ, read and known by all men – only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ – according to what is written. Philippians 1:27.
The scriptures cannot be broken – every word of God is flawless (every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Prov.30:5): those who distort or twist the written word to fulfill their pleasure not to live by every jot of it are doing so to their own destruction – to incur the King’s wrath of final rejection for alteration and corrupting the pure and incorruptible eternal word of God. 2 Cor. 2:17.
The believers in Christ Jesus should be common sense law abiding citizens on earth, but they are primarily ruled, guided and governed by the highest law of liberty given from heaven – pure, holy, righteous and eternal. They will not obey any ungodly decree of man to compromise in any of the vain and sinful culture of the world for the praise or approval of man forasmuch as their sufficiency is of God. They will not accept to conform to any ideology or idea against the written word and divine will – to live or do anything outside the frame work or contents of what is written by the King of heaven who is also the governor over all the earth shall they be willing to be killed and persecuted all day long, and they shall be accounted as sheep before her shearer. Esther 3:8.
The inhabitants of the world will not have this man – the Lord Jesus to rule over them, but Christ rule and reign over all those who have chosen to live by what is written: they tremble before the word of God against the new and sinful evil doctrine of inclusion of gay and lesbians: they resist false doctrines and brethren while they embrace and love true brethren in the Lord – therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalms 1:5-6.
Search the scriptures: for in them you think you have eternal life: but they don’t only testify of Christ, but you are also commanded to lay up these my -God’s words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them – what is written when thou sit in your house, and when thou walk by the way, when thou lie down, and when thou rise up. And thou shall write them upon the door posts of your house, and upon thy gates: that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sworn unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. Deuteronomy 11:18-21.
Until you have tasted of the goodness of the word of God by repentance and acceptance of Christ into your life (I am the way, the truth and the life), you can’t find life in the written word of God. You will only found life in what is written by the quickening of the in-dwelling spirit of God because the word is spirit, and they are life.
The faithfulness of God is according to what is written in his word because he looks to his word to perform them: though he is able to do beyond what you ask or think according to the power of his spirit which is at work in you, let your heart be perfect towards God in what is written by speaking and acting on what is written. His manifestation is according to what is written because he magnifies his word above his name. Those who have received the word for salvation must be guided by its counsels if they will keep the word to the end, that they might inherit glory. Psalms 73:24.
Believer must learn to trust, walk and live in submission to divine providence in whatever God allows, for this what is appointed for them from the Father (Job 23:14), so that they might fulfill the word of God, that is, to live according to what is written of them in Christ Jesus; for there are many devises in the heart of man, nevertheless the counsel of God that shall stand. Proverbs 19:21.
What is written is unalterable – his commandment is life everlasting. Note: those who alter the word of God for whatever reason are rebellious against the truth and light, they changed their God for another which is Satan the father of liars; unto them the Lord declares, he that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:48. Those who are exceptionally living for the written word are fulfilling the scripture in their daily lives: these are indeed living for God and for Christ in the world: in them is the love of God perfected; but the liars, though they claim to love God with their mouth, they walk contrary to the written word – though, they have the word, but they walk not in the truth. 1 John 2: 3-6.
Our professed subjection to the gospel of Christ should be to walk in the light of what is written, lest we hold the truth in unrighteousness. There is no power and authority with God if we do not live by the authority of his word. There is no better sword of the spirit than what is written to fight back against the enemy; neither is there any shield as strong as the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked One except by speaking or confessing those things that are written, upon which the strong and mighty angels of God are waiting upon to execute on your behalf. Those who are uniquely living by what is written and for what is written to defend the truth have their habitation and defense on top of the Rock that is higher than them: though, they can sometimes be overwhelmed by the multitudes of thoughts within them because of the challenges of life before them, but the comfort of the scripture will bring delights to strengthens their soul, so that they keep laying hold of the hope that is laid up before them in heaven.
The key to disable the enemy’s temptation is found in the written word of God such as Christ found the answers to the three temptations presented before him by Satan from what is written to defeat the enemy. The scripture is full of instructions in righteousness to keep us from the pathway of the destroyer, so that the man and the people of God altogether might be perfect, thoroughly furnished – made ready or prepared unto every good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
You cannot offend in word or misspeak from your tongue if you will only speak what is written, for the tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the foolish pours forth evil things. Proverbs 15:2. If your deed (s) action (s) and reaction to situation (s) is guided by what is written such that David behaved himself wisely before king Saul, and the Lord was with him, and he found favor before all Israel (1 Samuel 18:14), you will not misbehave or make any false move to fall into any trap of man or Satan, – concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Psalms 17:4.
The spoken – Rhema word of God’s voice will never contradict his written word -logos. Be careful of dreams, voices, prophecy and revelations which contradict the written word, but stay in the word to prove prophecy, dreams, voices and revelations by the written word of God. Whatever God is saying by the spirit of revelation or prophecy is according to what is written in your handy bible. Take heed to the voice of God, and be not wary of his word (because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. Hosea 8:12.
Stay in the word of God and the devil will not touch you: labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. John 6:27. God will never count or see your prayer or petition as of much or fair speeches – talkativeness or false spirituality as long as it is presented and accompanied by what is written from the lists of his given exceeding great and precious promises. Continue instant in prayer, watch in the same with thanksgiving – importune prayers on the ground of what is written until your request is granted is not in any way a vain repetition, for we are called to give him no rest, day or night, until he establishes, and until he make Jerusalem a place of praise on earth. This is the act of praying or asking according to the will of God: it is the confidence that we know he hears us, and the assurance that we shall receive whatever we desire of him sooner or later, because we ask according to what is written,- much more, because we are living by what is written, doing those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Whatsoever were written, both in the Old and New Testaments of the scriptures are for our learning to gain advantage of wisdom unto eternal life. There is no any other way to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear than to abide in those things which are written, so that our hope is sure and steadfast, even as our longings for heaven increases by the day through the comfort of the scripture. Romans 15:4-6. Surely, God will be pleased with us as he was pleased with his beloved Son – Christ during the days of his flesh when everyone speaks and talks about how you are living by every word of God by your obedience (Romans 16:19) because you have respect unto all his commandments (Psalms 119:6) for the testimony of Christ to be confirmed in you to the end.
We were once without God in the world until we invited Jesus into our lives because we believed in his love, death and ressurrection for our justification. Now in Christ Jesus, all those who are not living by the written word are equally living for nothing in the world, and their hope for the world to come shall become a disappointment or shame because they love not to practice the truth of the gospel that they might be saved. 2 Thess. 2:10.
So, we learnt that we can have hope – even increasing hope through the patience and comfort of scriptures. Rom.15:4. Are we not saved by hope? Rom.8:24-25. Is he not equally the God of hope? Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Rom. 15:13. Note: if we do not live by what is written, we shall surely die by what is written. Is it not written that I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou may love the Lord thy God, and that thou may obey his voice, and that thou may cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou may dwell in the land which the Lord sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. Deuteronomy 30:19-20.
Vain is the hope for heaven or eternal life (Titus 2:1) for such who are not living by the written word, nor living for the defense of the truth, – thereby, they have failed the purpose of their new birth into the kingdom (a) to speak and live for the truth to become the embodiment of truth – of Christ the truth that lives in them: (b) to bear witness to the truth in the defense of it – to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. John 18:37.