John 1:1 – Part 3
Inside The Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt or tabernacled among us; the manifestation of God in the flesh, born of a woman, and made under the law. Through His power He breaks the bond of creation by His supernatural conception, by His supernatural birth, by His supernatural life, by His supernatural death, by His supernatural resurrection, and finally by His supernatural ascension to the throne of God at the right hand of the majesty on high. Man tries his best, in unbelief, to change the supernatural into man’s pathetic and unscriptural beliefs; whether it be the religionist or the atheist they cannot face the supernatural in Jesus Christ our Lord. He removes the sin of Adam supernaturally through His supernatural death on the cross. He brings light to the darkness supernaturally, and extinguishes death by His supernatural resurrection. He gives to the redeemed a supernatural life in Himself. In His ascension to God He gives a supernatural destination, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all in His Body, the Church, when we will all be together with our supernatural Savior in His supernatural Church, and all this by the supernatural Word of His power.
Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We are engulfed by His Word in this world. Although man tries to rid the world of the Word of God, man fails at every attempt. Once again we return to the supernatural . . . it is a marvelous, majestic, miraculous, supernatural book that is preserved by the supernatural work of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit of God has been sent into the world to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)
Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:9)
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (John 16:10)
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11)
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:14)
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:15)
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. (John 16:16)
Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? (John 16:17)
This ministry of the Holy Ghost is both given of God the Father, and God the Son.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)
The Holy Spirit of God has been sent supernaturally. He is here to lead those who love the Lord Jesus into all truth by the Word of God. We, as the children of God, have been supernaturally changed by the Almighty God. We are born of His Spirit, and left in this world to both testify, and to glorify the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that we can be led into all truth. The Lord Jesus is the Living Word, He has spoken the worlds into existence by the Word of His power. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3) The Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, has come to confirm these truths in our hearts. He is the supernatural spiritual professor of all truth. He also is the preserving power of God upholding the word of truth. And He gives us the understanding and the knowledge of God’s holy word. It is through God’s wisdom divinely given through His Spirit that we have an understanding of a divine being. The Holy Ghost through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, in Isaiah 55:11 proclaims that His word that goeth forth out of His mouth is the direct spoken word from the Living Word, and this word out of the mouth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ — for example, (John 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Can any word of man, or expression of his mouth compare with this? It is the Word of His power, the supernatural word breathed upon man. Once again, the God of heaven in Jesus Christ declares ‘MY WORD,’ and in this one verse we have three eternal promises. First, we have everlasting life by — His Word. Secondly, we, at His word, are no longer under any condemnation. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) Thirdly, we have passed from death into life. As born again children of God, we have passed from death unto life at — His Word. Let us now consider John 11:25 and 26.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26)
We accept that Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily. In His fullness He is the complete power of resurrection. He is able to give life where there is none; whether it be spiritual life or physical life, as in Lazarus. The Holy Spirit wants us to have this confirmation in our hearts that Jesus Christ is the complete supernatural power of resurrection. Remember, that it was at His word that Lazarus came forth, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
Let’s look at our Bible, look closely, it is a majestic book. If it was merely written as an historical event with no spiritual connection it would still be a miraculous undertaking; for there is no man of Adam’s race who could intelligently pen such a book — let alone so many different men over the span of the history of man. This book offers life everlasting. What other book could confirm this wonderful truth? Other books might promise this in their writings, but this book (the Bible) confirms eternal life in the Living Word, Jesus Christ. The word ‘scepticism’ so widely used today in reference to the Bible is only the word ‘unbelief.’ The word ‘scepticism’ rolls off the tongue with no conviction, but in the word ‘unbelief’ you have conviction, for you have set yourself with your unbelief in opposition to the Almighty God.
Let’s just do a simple test. In the number six (6) we have the number of man. The first foretold universal judgment upon man comes in the 6th chapter of Genesis. The most complete prophecy of a savior comes from God in the Book of Isaiah that has 66 chapters — God’s message to man. The Bible has 66 books — God’s complete revelation to man. And the last name mentioned by God is the man of sin, whose number is 6-6-6. Tell me, who can contrive such mathematical purity in one book, and with one number. This is only one instance of the supernatural work of the Spirit of God in the Word of God. But you will still have sceptics simply because without faith it’s impossible to please God. This majestic book leads us in the way of life. It takes us out of darkness and gives us light in the supernatural world of Jesus Christ. Oh, how wonderful is this moment — I can sit and read the words of God that have been breathed by my Savior Jesus Christ — who is my center of affection and my Savior.
I knew a man in Christ who at the age of 31 could not read. He was born with severe dyslexia. It not only affected his eye coordination, but because of the severity he could not determine right from left. The clock went backwards in his head, the hot water and the cold water could not be determined, letters were backwards. No matter how many people tried to teach him to read, he remained in the cell of his prison — unable to read. He could not learn a simple sentence, even his wife who was a school teacher could not succeed in teaching him to read. He was shut in a dark room with no education. Knowledge was being kept from him because of his dyslexia. Then one day, going home in his pick up truck he met the Lord Jesus on the Howard Franklin Bridge in Tampa, Florida (you know what I mean if you are saved by His grace). God saved him that day by His grace. God the Holy Spirit taught him to read and write — all this using the King James Bible. Now, when he thinks of the long journey, for it was not an easy road, it was line upon line and precept upon precept, but what a wonderful gift to be able to learn how to read by God’s word. To be able to read the unfathomable word of God, and to be immersed in the unsearchable riches of Christ. Many times when I reflect on those day tears fill my eyes, but my heart jumps for joy of such a gift. And He, the Holy Spirit, will lead you into all truth by the Word of God. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2) In this verse (Isaiah 66:2) we have God witnessing of all the things that He has made. Then He directs our attention to the humility and contrite heart of a man who has reverence for God’ word. The Spirit of God leads us to a place of humiliation so that we can consider how we are made, and who is our Creator. It is His word that must capture the heart. It is the love for that word that must enrich the soul. One cannot come to the word of God with self exaltation, but must come in all humility, and the mind and heart condescending to the Spirit of God. We must always consider when we are in the presence of God, we are in the presence of the divine creator of all things. We must come in godly fear and treat His word with all reverence.
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) (Hebrews 12:21)
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)
Moses was a man called of God, and yet when God was delivering His infallible word to Moses — Moses respected it with godly fear. These two verses should tell us that reverence and godly fear should have a place in our learning the word of God. There is not one word in the supernatural book that we can take lightly. The Holy Spirit of God has taken meticulous care in preserving the exact words and numbers throughout the entire Bible. God will make His presence known if a contrite heart will listen. The manifestation of God in Jesus Christ brought God down to man so that God was walking with man. Remember in Genesis 3:8, God is walking in the garden in the cool of the day. From the text we understand that this must have occurred frequently, even though this text is after the fall of man. It shows that man walked with God in the garden. This journey ended with sin, and God cast Adam out of the garden. There was now a distance between man and God. A distance that could not be bridged because of sin. Darkness had come over man as a veil. God’s light had been extinguished in the heart of man; so the plan of redemption was initiated. From before the foundations of the earth God would now put His plan of redemption into action.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18)
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:20)
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:21)
God is Holy, He is Righteous, therefore, He cannot abide the presence of sin. He must prepare a way wherein He can approach man, and this must be done by sacrifice. The first sacrifice was done by God’s hand. So it was by God’s hand that Christ went to the cross. The first blood that was shed was only a mirror image of the blood of Calvary. This began a long history of sacrifice until the cross at Calvary. Man had covered himself with fig leaves, a symbol of self-righteousness, a righteousness which he did not possess. Sin had taken away any good part that could be found in man, but by God’s sacrificing and shedding blood, He could now approach man in His Holiness and in His Righteousness through that blood.
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12)
The plan of redemption was in place so God sacrificed the animals to cover man. It was the first blood to cover man’s sin. It was the blood of another, and not the blood of Adam; for Adam’s blood under sin could not atone for sin. It would take the purity of Christ in the fullness of time, at the end of the age to put away sin by His blood and His death upon the cross of Calvary. Adam was driven out of the garden, and the Holy Spirit would not record in the word of God another man walking with God until the seventh (7th) from Adam; this was Enoch who walked with God in His service. He was called of God and was a prophet of God. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14) Enoch, being a prophet, walked with God.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: (Genesis 5 :21)
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5 :22)
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: (Genesis 5 :23)
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5 :24)
We see in Enoch the provision of grace through faith, although there is no mention of sacrifice, the position of Enoch as a prophet would identify him with Elijah. And Elijah, being a prophet, offered up sacrifice to God as did Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. All these men walked by faith and understood the provision of grace through faith; that God’s word would not return unto Him void. It would accomplish the promise of the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This seed would be God’s Christ, and all through the ages past, God would now walk with man once more revealing Himself as the Redeemer of man. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
The Book of Hebrews gives us a wonderful confirmation of the Son of God being the Word of God.
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
We are introduced to the Son of God by the eternal God, the Father, through the Holy Ghost. This is His only begotten Son. He is the inheritor of all things, and it was by the eternal Son that He made the worlds. Christ, or the anointed Son, is the express image of God’s Person, and it is Christ who shows forth the radiance of His glory. The Holy Ghost now introduces us to the Word of John, Chapter 1. Very simply, in Hebrews 1 the Holy Ghost declares that the Son of God, the only begotten Son, upholds all things by the ‘WORD OF HIS POWER’. And by the words of the Son of God, the worlds were spoken into existence. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3) The word of His power must be distinguished from the power of His word; for it was through His eternal power that He spoke the worlds into existence. In Him, before the first utterance of any word, was all power; so that power was shown or displayed by His spoken word. He called the worlds into existence from the very root of His Being, and His power; therefore, He was the Word of His power, and not the power of His word. Both statements are true, one statement is pre-creation and for ever was; and the other is post-creation declaring who He is — in the beginning was the Word. Consequently, we have creation by the word of His power. The Holy Spirit is not, however, finished; He ties eternal redemption into the word of His power. The Spirit of God declares that Christ by Himself purged our sins and set down at the right hand of the majesty on high. It is by the word of His power for this began a new creation when He declared, “It is finished.”
The power of redemption came from within Christ, and His eternal power; for He is the fullness of Him who filleth all in all.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)
Now every word spoken or written by the Spirit of God is with the Son’s word of His power. This word will not return unto Him void, (BUT) but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whether to I sent it. The Living Word in Christ Jesus, His Person, was sent by God the Father; God the Son was the manifestation of God the Eternal Word to man. He was manifested in the fullness of time, or the end of the age, to confirm the written word, and to establish the Living Word. He was to be confirmed as the author of God’s word, and all this from deep within His Being came forth the word of His power; that all the prophets and all their writings are confirmed in Christ Jesus, our Lord. The word that was sent by God was the Living Word to accomplish what He was sent to fulfill. He was to fulfill the power and the work of redemption. He was to redeem man unto Himself in spirit and truth.
We should also examine the world of unbelief. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (John 8:37) The Lord confirms the Jews and religious leaders were Abraham’s seed; however, they were so involved in their traditions that the traditions of the elders were more important than the words of Christ. They had no place in their beings for the word of God, and because of the absence of divine light they sought to kill the Lord Jesus. He told them the mind of God, but they could not understand His speech, for the truth of the word of God was not in them. And they could not hear the words of truth from the lips of the God of grace and mercy. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. (John 8:43) To add to unbelief, the Spirit of God brings us to our day and beyond to the last judgment of man by the Judge, the Sovereign of the quick and the dead. Who will this Judge be? It will be the Lord Jesus Christ, and it will be according to His word, the word of His power. In John 12:48, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day, the Lord declares in general (to all men) that he who ‘rejecteth me’ shall be judged ‘in the last day,’ and he that rejects His word will be judged in the last day. When this judgment is set there will be one Judge. It will be the Christ of God, and the Word of His power. It will be because that the word that He had spoken, the word I have written, the voice of my Son has declared the path of righteousness; therefore, my Living Word and righteous Judge will judge man in the last day.
Out of all man’s senses the eye, or sight, and the ear, or hearing, are the most compromising. For example, if one smells smoke he will move away from it. If one smells bad food he will not eat it; or in the realm of touch, man will not stick his hand in the fire, or hit his hand with a hammer. But with sight, he will look on lust and sin to his own hurt and destruction, he will see and desire things that we should not have. This brings on the desire to steal or to covert which is sin, and sin brings forth death. With our eyes we reject the truths in the written word of God, with the ear we hear vile things, ridiculous jokes, and blasphemies against the Almighty God. We allow the world to frame our ideas, and mold us into their ungodliness through our hearing until man denies God altogether. I did not mention speech, for it is the outward expression of our being. It reveals from our heart what we have both seen and listened to the ungodly world. And let there be no doubt or mistake, we as Christians, live in an ungodly world. Ungodliness is all around us, in our families, in our towns, in our cities, in our counties, in or states or provinces. The whole world lieth in wickedness and ungodliness. And last of all, in the religious world, the masses of this world are far away from the Person of Christ, and the Almighty God. But there is a ray of sunshine, the last time the Lord Jesus mentions His word as MY WORD, I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8) The Lord of glory is encouraging His faithful saints in the church of Philadelphia. He commends them for keeping ‘MY WORD,’ and not denying His name. Even though they have little strength, He has set before them an open door.
Let’s consider this door. It’s more than just a door of evangelism, or ministry. It is the gateway or the door to Himself. I am the door if any man enter in he shall be saved. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9) Through this door, who is the Lord Himself, we shall enter in. We shall go in to be refreshed by Him. He will sit and sup with us. He will make His presence known as He did to those on the road to Emmaus. Through the Spirit of Christ He will lead us in spirit and truth. When we go out into the world, He will guide us with His presence. We will approach a dying world with the glorious gospel; the door that no man can shut. Then we will return to His presence through the wonderful door of communion with our blessed Lord. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
We have opened the door to His presence, and we are joined with Him as He sups with us in everlasting joy to reflect the labors of the day through His eyes, and listen to the good and the bad of our lives so that we can be conformed to His image. Listen now to the still small voice of the Spirit of God.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)
Beloved, where ever you are, your work is precious to the Lord. Hold fast to the things that are pure and good. Hold fast in spirit and in truth. Hold fast in the word of God for it shall accomplish, without a doubt, that which it has been sent to do. (verse 11) The word ‘behold’ look up for your redemption draweth nigh, He is coming to receive His own. So hold fast to that which thou has, that no man take thy crown.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (2 Timothy 4:6)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:(2 Timothy 4:7)
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.(2 Timothy 4:8)
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13)
Amen
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)