The Importance of the Word*

     We as a church have always focused on the pre-eminence of the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Also from Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

     The words out of our mouths should be the same as in our heart - the Word of God. The Book of Hebrews calls Jesus the High Priest of our profession - meaning that we say the same as Jesus says.

     The Word of God is so important to the LORD that He has magnified it above His own awesome name. David wrote: "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name...All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth." (Ps. 138:2, 4).

     As Joshua 1:8 above says, it is not enough to know the Word of God, or even to know the name of God, but we are to observe to do the Word of God. Jesus made this clear when He warned, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will (thelema - the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ, of what God wishes to be done by us including His commands, precepts; to have in mind, intend) of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23).

     This is a wake-up call to every Christian. Many are speaking the name of Jesus without understanding and playing church. We are to do the will of the Father.

     Paul wrote in Ephesians the deep truth about our God and Father and His Son, Jesus: "...who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise and glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Eph. 1:1-6, excerpt). The Father's plan to redeem us and forgive us through the blood of Jesus Christ was part of His will from before the beginning. (v. 7). He revealed this mystery of His will that He had purposed in Himself: "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even to him." The mystery of the Father's will also contains an in heritance for us, which includes resurrection: "being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the council of his own will." (v. 9-11). The word "will" used in these verses is the same word as above, thelema. The Father has a purpose - and that purpose is His will, and that will included our predestinated salvation in Jesus Christ, and the reconciliation of all of creation to Himself.

     Paul trusted in Christ, as we did also: "...after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment, title deed) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (v. 12-14). It is the Word of Truth that we trusted in, as Paul said, that brought us into God's salvation, Jesus Christ. Jesus IS the Word (logos) (see Jn. 1:-5, 14), and He IS the Truth (aletheia). (see Jn. 1:1-5, 14 ).

     The apostle James also wrote of us, the believers begotten by the Father's will: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures...But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass...and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:18-26., excerpt).

     We were brought forth by His will through the Word of truth. The Word of God does and produces results, and we also are to be doers of this Word. Our lives are to be dedicated to service to God and His Word, proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2)..."That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col. 1:9-10 excerpt), "...making us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever." (Heb. 13:20-21, excerpt). If we are filled with the knowledge of God's will through His Word, then we are fruitful and well pleasing to Him.

     Jesus promised that He was coming quickly with rewards to give men according to their works. He added: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city." (Rev. 22:12-14). Not all will be able to enter into the City of God, and partake of the tree of life. Those not allowed entry will be: dogs (meaning dog, hound, man of impure or impudent mind), sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolators, "and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (v. 15). The five foolish virgins of Jesus' parable, who knew Him and knew that He would return, were meant to enter in, but because of their disobedience in preparation were also not allowed to enter as those mentioned above. Jesus said to them, "I know thee not." (see Mt. 25:1-13).

     The prophet Hosea wrote the Word of the LORD regarding Israel. Israel will claim to "know God," and cry out to Him when an enemy will come posing a threat to them. However, their acts were not of people who know God, His Word, or His will. The LORD said of Israel: "They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off." (Hos. 8:1-4). Like those who claimed to Jesus that they knew Him and did things in His name, the same has happened here. How can we say we know Him, when we ignore what He says or what His will has demanded of us? It is the same today of people, even in church, who claim that they "know" the Lord, but their actions do not bear this out.

     Fruit is expected from the lives of God's people. God's will has ordained fruit to come forth from us, but godly fruit will not be produced outside of the Word and Will of God. Jesus said: "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit...A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why calleth ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:43-46).  Is the Word of God in our hearts and mouths? The Lord said further that those who do what He says are like a man who builds a house, having dug a deep and stable foundation on a rock. No matter the storms that come, that man's house will stand through it. A man who hears but does not do what he hears, is like a man who builds a house on unstable earth. When the difficulties come, that house immediately falls: "And the ruin of that house was great." (v. 47-49).

     Those who hear and do the Words of the Father and the Son are building a spiritual house that will endure all storms that come. We are seeing natural disasters destroying lives and homes all around us as part of the signs of the end times, but can we see our own spiritual houses? Is our house built on a rock, the Word of God? Are we doing God's will, or are we doing our will in God's name?

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 7/6/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling is available on Amazon.