The Abiding Word

17 Pages·2016·1.12 MB·English

by  Charles Capps

The Abiding Word
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We are living in a day when we
hear parts of Isaiah’s prophecy
quoted quite often, i. e. “For,
behold, the darkness shall
cover the earth, and gross
darkness the people...” (Isaiah
60:2) It does seem to fit in the day
in which we live. However, we
must read this prophecy fully and
in its context to get the true
revelation.
This prophecy is really good
news for the righteous. It is clear
from the preceding verses of
chapter 59 that this prophecy is
given to Zion, but we also know
that the Church of the Firstborn is
referred to as Zion in Hebrews
12:22. So let’s read the first three
verses with that thought in mind.
Arise, shine; for thy
light is come, and the glory
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The Abiding Word
of the LORD is risen upon
thee. For, behold, the
darkness shall cover the
earth, and gross darkness
the people: but the LORD
shall arise upon thee, and
his glory shall be seen
upon thee. And the
Gentiles (or heathen) shall
come to thy light, and kings
to the brightness of thy
rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)
I’m convinced that by double
reference this prophecy refers to
the Church as well as Israel.
Jerusalem is considered to be
physical Zion, but the Church is
considered to be spiritual Zion. So
we must consider the fact that
while there is darkness covering
the Earth and gross darkness
covering the wicked, in that same
time-frame this prophecy reveals
there will be great light for the
righteous of the Earth. Today
there are wars and rumors of
wars, crime, and wickedness all
around. But the words of Jesus in
John chapter 14 and 15 give us
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great insight into how to arise and
shine in the midst of trouble and
turmoil.
If ye abide in me, and
my words abide in you, ye
shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye be
my disciples. (John 15:7-8)
The Word must abide in you
for you to bear fruit and glorify
God.
Then in John 14:23, Jesus said:
... If a man love me, he
will keep my words: and
my Father will love him,
and we (not just me, but we
—the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost) will come
unto him, and make our
abode with him.
If you love Him, you will keep
His Word in you. Your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost. Your
human spirit is housed in the
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temple of your body.
Proverbs 20:27 reveals: “The
spirit of man is the candle of
the LORD, searching all the
inward parts of the belly.”
God’s Word abiding in your
human spirit will create a lifestyle
fit for God; and the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit will set
up camp inside you producing light
in the midst of a world of
darkness.
In these last days, we need the
direction of the Holy Spirit in
every decision we make. But there
are so many who say,
I never know what to do
when bad situations arise. I’m
always in the wrong place at
the wrong time. It never works
out for me.
They go on repeating past
experience and giving voice to
what the devil would want them to
believe.
They have overdosed on doubt
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The Abiding Word
and unbelief. They need to try
overdosing on God’s Word because
there are no harmful side effects.
You can tell when the Word of
God abides in a person, because
the Word will cause them to speak
in line with what God said about
them, i.e.:
Whatever I do will
prosper. No weapon
formed against me shall
prosper. I’m always in
the right place at the
right time! I’m led by the
Spirit of God, and I
always hear the voice of
the Good Shepherd.
God’s image of you is perfected
inside you by speaking God’s Word
after Him. The Word enlightens
your innermost being. Your head
may be screaming, “It’s not so!
You’re lying! You’re never in the
right place!” And in the past, you
might not have been in the right
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place at the right time, but you
should continually affirm what
God said about you. Don’t be
caught casting out God’s Word in
favor of what you have experienced
in days past.
The Word of God says that no
weapon formed against you shall
prosper, and whatever you do will
prosper. If you believe that, even
your mistakes should prosper.
David said, “For thou will light
my candle (lamp): the LORD my
God will enlighten my
darkness.” (Psalms 18:28) It’s the
Word in your mouth that causes
your lamp (spirit) to give you light
(Isaiah 54:17; Psalms 1:3;
119:130).
In Psalm 19:14, David said,
Let the words of my
mouth, and the meditation
of my heart, be acceptable
in thy sight, O LORD....
This is what God wants us to
do: speak only words that are
acceptable to Him. Many things
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acceptable to God are unacceptable
to many religious people.
Matthew 13 reveals the
attitude of Jesus concerning those
who don’t want to see or hear the
truth.
And the disciples came,
and said unto him, Why
speakest thou unto them in
parables?
He answered and said
unto them, Because it is
given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven, but to them it is
not given.
For whosoever hath, to
him shall be given, and he
shall have more
abundance: but whosoever
hath not, from him shall be
taken away even that he
hath.
It is obvious from this verse
that Jesus is referring to those
who have ears to hear and also
those who don’t have ears to hear.
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Therefore speak I to
them in parables: because
they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not,
neither do they
understand.
And in them is fulfilled
the prophecy of Esaias,
which saith, By hearing ye
shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing ye
shall see, and shall not
perceive:
For this people’s heart
is waxed gross, and their
ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have
closed; lest at any time they
should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and should understand
with their heart, and
should be converted, and I
should heal them.
(Matthew 13:10-15)
Notice Jesus didn’t say that
God closed their eyes, but rather...
their eyes they have closed. It was
an act of their will. The word
“closed” is the same Greek word
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