“But He (Jesus) 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

The study of the Word of God is not mere intellectual entertainment but nourishment to our spirit.  Many protestant churches will begin their denominational “series” on the tradition of ash Wednesday and Lent while their remains a lost and dying world who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer.

When the Word of God is preached in context and not used as bait to deceive the sincere Believer or to rationalize the preacher’s philosophy (aka sermon), the Word is anointed by the Holy Spirit and pierces the heart of the Believer.

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.” Hebrews 4:12

With one side, the Word of God will circumcise the heart; removing the carnality of the old man as it reproves and corrects both the Saint and convicts the sinner. The Word of God will cut off sin from man or man in his sin as it guides us to a point of decision which we all must make.  Do we follow the Lord or submit to the intellectual stimuli offered from the pulpit?  The decision is strictly the individual’s.  If they wish to follow that which the Lord seeks to sever because of denominational hindrances, God will see to it they are sent a strong delusion that they should believe a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

^“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Word of God is His faithful witness to His saving purposes for mankind.  It brings death to the old man and resurrection power through the anointing of the Holy Spirit when Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done, is lifted up to all who may hear and our faith has come by hearing the Word of God, rooted and built up in HIM – Jesus Christ, the Rock of our Salvation…not a religious tradition given to stimulate the intellect.

“³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴ For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Recognize the difference between intellectual entertainment and the Word of God feeding your spirit with the Bread of Life.

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

-Donna Clark Warren