Profiting from the Word of God

by Elder Randy Slak

From the book of this title by A.W. Pink, going to be with the Lord in 1952, he had a great writing ministry. He knew the prevailing spiritual weakness around him and amidst numerous books he wrote, in 1921 commenced a monthly magazine ,Studies in the Scriptures which can all be found on the internet and are great studies to endeavor in. I would like to share some material from this book of his with you.

What does profiting from the word consist of to us today? Is the Word of God as relevant now as it was in the day it was written? I think so, the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His word thus can be said the same of. (2Tim.3:16),"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for correction, for training in righteousness,(WHY), so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." These are not words just made for intellectual gratification, and carnal speculation. But inspired by God, literally words that are God breathed, not humans willing them, but words of men moved by the Holy Spirit, did they speak from God.(2Pet.1:21) And so often the Lord Jesus Himself quoted the Old Testament in His conversations of words that dropped from His lips to make a particular point.

Pink says we spiritually profit from the Word when it convicts us from sin. It reveals our depravity, vileness, and wickedness. For the word tells us that"the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know or understand it.(Jer.17:9) We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.(Rom.3:23) We have all chosen to treasure other things more than God. All of our Bible heroes have fallen short as well. There is none that are righteous, no not one."(Rom.3:10) Jesus says,: It is not those who are well that need a physician, but those that are sick"(Luke 5:31) Does this not make us recognize how unlike we are compared to Him, when the scripture says, "He died for sins, once for all, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God."(1Pet.3:18)

Pink says we spiritually profit from the Word when it makes us sorrow over sin. David remembers who he has sinned against, and Whose sight he has done evil in, and desires to be restored.(Psalm 51) "Wretched man that I am, says Paul, who will set me free from this body of death."(Rom.7:24) Do these verses spoken from the Holy Spirit give us a burning desire to daily repent from sins, turn away from them, mortify them, killing sin before it is killing us? "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation."(2Cor.7:10) Repentance, Greek,Meta Noeo, translates to a change of mind, which will lead to a change of heart. And Jesus says,"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."(Luke 13:3)

What effect should these ways of profiting from the Word produce in us? Job 22:22 gives us great direction,"Please receive instruction from His mouth, and establish His words in your heart." Pink says,"It is particularly the commandments, the warnings, the exhortations, we need to make our own and to treasure, to memorize them, meditate upon them, pray over them and put them into practice." "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,(Col.3:16), thus giving us less room for the exercise of sin in our hearts and lives. Phil.1:11"having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."

The Word of God is the greatest preservative against sin, the psalmist says," I have hidden Thy word in my heart so I do not sin against thee."(Psa.119:11), and in Psalm 37:31,"The law of his God is in his heart, his steps do not slip." Pink says,"as long as the truth is active within us, stirring the conscience, and is really loved by us, we shall be kept from falling." The Word is not only good for reproof and correction, but also training in righteousness, for our good always and for our survival. God in His infinite wisdom," by His divine power  has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who chose us by His own glory and excellence, for by these He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises."(2Pet.1:3,4)

Keep fixing your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. He is as faithful to keep these promises as He is generous to make them.