God’s Provisions

From the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior and experience the new spiritual birth, our mind will begin to understand spiritual truths in God's Word. Just as a new born baby in the natural world needs physical nourishment from food, a person who is spiritually reborn needs spiritual nourishment. Their food for this spiritual growth and development is the Word of God. There are two ways God has provided to help us study His Word:  

v  TEACHERS:

God chooses certain believers as leaders in the Church. One of the special leadership positions is that of being a teacher of God's Word:

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

God provides teachers to explain God's Word and guide us to spiritual maturity.

God has a second way for us to learn His Word. He commands us to 

v   STUDY IT FOR YOUR SELF:

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

God has provided a special Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to help us when we study His Word. When Jesus was living on earth, He personally taught His followers the truths of God. But Jesus knew that after His death and resurrection He would be returning to Heaven so He told His followers that a special Teacher would be sent to help them understand God's Word.

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)

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)

God gave His Word to accomplish specific purposes.  Some of these purposes are as follows:

It produces faith in the Gospel	Acts 4:4
It cleanses	John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26
If we hear and believe, it brings eternal life	John 5:24
It is the basis for eternal judgment	John 12:48
Unclean spirits are cast out by the Word	Matthew 8:16; Luke 4:36
Miraculous signs follow preaching of the Word convincing of the truth of the Gospel	Mark 16:20
It gives assurance of salvation	1 John 1:2-6
We are born again by the Word	1 Peter 1:23; Psalm 119:41
The Word bears record of the truth of the Gospel	1 John 5:7
We are sanctified by the Word	1 Timothy 4:5

There is hope in His Word	Psalm 130:5; 119:49, 81
There is healing in His Word	Psalm 107:20
It keeps us from the path of the destroyer	Psalm 17:4
It is spirit and life	John 6:63
It brings joy and rejoicing	Jeremiah 15:16
Faith is increased by the Word	Romans 10:17
It brings comfort	1 Thessalonians 4:18: Psalm 119:50, 52
It brings spiritual nourishment	1 Timothy 4:6
It brings answered prayers	John 15:7
It is the key to success	Joshua 1:8
If we hear and keep it, we are blessed	Luke 11:28
It is profitable for spiritual growth	2 Timothy 3:16-17
It brings blessings when it is kept and cursings when it is not kept	Deuteronomy 28
It is a weapon in the time of temptation	Matthew 4:1-11
It converts the soul	Psalm 19:7
It makes wise the simple	Psalm 19:7
It enlightens	Psalm 19:8
It warns	Psalm 19:11
Keeping the Word brings great reward	Psalm 19:11
It permits access to Heaven	Revelation 22:14
It brings the blessing of walking in righteousness	Psalm 119:1-3
It makes us wiser	Psalm 119:98-104
It quickens	Psalm 119:25
It strengthens	Psalm 119:28
It is the basis of God's mercy towards us	Psalm 119:58
It brings delight	Psalm 119:92
It gives the simple understanding	Psalm 119:130, 169; 104
It brings deliverance	Psalm 119:170