The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb. 4:12
What does the scripture mean when it says that the word of God is living and active? What does it mean to say that the word is animated and has life beyond the page? How does it dissect and judge? And is that our experience with reading God’s word?
I like what Bill Johnson has to say about reading and studying the written word. “Our yielded hearts are impressionable as we study the Bible and receive God’s impressions like fingerprints. Within that sort of tender soil, the Lord plants the seeds of his Kingdom perspective. The insights and empowering nature of the Scriptures provide solutions that are applicable to every society and culture…Our study of the Scriptures must take us beyond the historical settings, beyond language studies…, and at times beyond the context and intent of the human authors as to its content. Our reading of the Word must enable us to hear from God afresh…I am not knocking principles. The transformation of individuals, families, cities, and nations depends upon receptivity of Kingdom principles. However, this is not the core of the Christian experience with the Bible. Rather, more often than not, we should read to have a God encounter. The Word of God is living and active. It contains divine energy, always moving and accomplishing his purposes” (Bill Johnson, Walking in the Supernatural, p.161-163; Destiny Image).
Some things appear to be inanimate. Without knowing what you had found, a battery would seem to be inanimate, cold, hard, and good only as a paperweight. But when something connects to it in the right way, tremendous power can be released. Uranium appears to be only a lifeless rock. Yet it emits radiation, an invisible power that has almost unlimited potential (for life or death) for those who know how to tap into the tremendous energy resting in the stone. Gunpowder just lies there like a pile of sand until something releases the inherent power in the powder. The Word of God contains tremendous power for those who have receptive hearts and for those whose faith can tap into the life resting in the word. Like gunpowder, it can simply lie dormant but when a spark is added, explosive things happen. Faith and obedience is that spark.
Most seminaries or classes on how to study the Bible will emphasize context and the original meaning the author gave to his writings. Having established that, it is up to the student to determine some biblical principle that might apply to our current life situations. Determining the principles for Christian living is the thing and the goal of Bible study. I still believe that is the starting place and there is significant value in that. But there is more. With God, there is always more. I believe that Johnson’s assertion that the ultimate goal of Bible study is an encounter with God is a key to spiritual transformation.
God did not just provide Israel with the written word from Sinai. He gave them his presence in the tabernacle so that they might encounter him and his goodness as Moses did on top of the mountain. The written word was given to prepare them for an encounter. Jesus rebuked the Jewish scholars for their approach to the scriptures. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (Jn.5:39-40). The Pharisees believed that the Torah was a document from which to determine God’s commandments for men and principles for living. That was true, but there was more. Not only did the scriptures tell them how to live but they pointed to a person – Jesus Christ. They never thought to look for the person, only the principles.
More than principles and Bible facts, scripture reveals the heart of God for us and reveals who we are to Him. Knowing those two things, ignites faith and faith releases power. If I were to go back to the book of 1 Corinthians, I could study it through the lens of, “What did Paul say to the church at Corinth that might be applicable to us today?” That would be valuable and give me a great approach to Christian living. But if I studied the letter through the lens of, “What does this letter reveal about the heart of the Father, the love of Jesus Christ toward me, and who I am in the eyes of my Father?” it would be even more transforming. One approach promotes obedience first, while the other promotes relationship first, from which obedience will naturally flow.
As you spend time in the written word, look for the Living Word who came in the flesh and dwelt among us. We all believe that Bible study changes us but I have known many men who could quote extensive sections of scripture but did not seem to have the love of God in them anywhere. The Word is living and active as God lives through his word. Receptive hearts, hunger for his kingdom, or a willingness to risk something for the glory of God is what releases the power because it releases God to touch us in transforming ways. You might want to ask God to arrange an encounter with him as you study, a revelation of who he is and his heart for you, a rhema or fresh word for the day, or a response of obedience that will create an encounter with the Father during the day. Finding him is the thing.
Be blessed as you search for the Living Word in the written word today.
