Faith

Nothing is Impossible: Literally

Romans 8:1-11 (ESV) 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

The Holy Spirit makes impossible things possible. (And we have unlimited access to Him.) 

“Essentially, Christianity is not you leading a righteous life and offering to God. It’s God’s son leading a righteous life and offering it to you.” - Timothy Keller

What impossible situation do you need to make possible? 

Gospel Culture: Translating our Faith for all of Life

The Foundational Question:

What is the relationship of God’s Word – revelation to our real life in the world?

What is religion? Religio & Religare – to tie/bind

Colossians 1:15-23

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in

heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all

things have been created through Him and for Him.”

“He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; He is

the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.”

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself

by making peace through the blood of His cross – whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

“Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled

you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him.”

“if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the

gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become

a servant of it.”

February 25, 2024 // Rev. Dr. Joseph Boot“The man who thinks without the proper first principles goes mad…” – G. K. Chesterton

“Justice is understood t be something strictly human, having nothing to do with obedience to any divine

command or conformity to any pattern ‘laid up in heaven.’ Moral principles, like all other social conventions, are

something’ made on earth.’” – George Grant

“Human freedom requires that the principles of justice be the product of human agreement or consent, that is,

they must be the result of a contract…and these principles must therefore be rooted in an understanding of

the interests of human beings as individuals rather than in any sense of duty or obligation to anything above

humanity” – George Grant

“The terms of the contract may well change as circumstances and interests change. But the restraints free

individuals accept must always be ‘horizontal’ in character rather than ‘vertical.’” – George Grant

The Crisis of Culture

Modern man is conferring on himself the contractual right to:

• Redefine his gender irrespective of creational chromosomes

• Murder (abortion)

• Polygamy, homosexuality, bestiality or any sexual predilection

• Suicide

• Euthanize children and the elderly or sick

• Homosexual ‘marriage’

• Prostitution and pornography

• Suppress worship of the living God and the free speech of Christians

• Blasphemy and worship idols

The Crisis of Culture

Western moral principles are shifting like sand and the metamorphosis of the church’s relationship with the

surrounding culture is happening before our eyes.

The Meaning of Culture

The English words culture and agriculture are derived from a Latin root (colere) and are related to cult (Latin,

cultus) meaning worship. Worship, care and cultivation are all related in the etymology of culture.

The Meaning of Culture

Culture is best understood as religion externalized. The public manifestation of the religious ground-motive (i.e.

worship) of a people.

“The religious ground-motive of a culture can never be ascertained from the ideas and the personal faith of the

individual. It is truly a communal motive that governs the individual even when one is not consciously aware of

it or acknowledges it.” – Herman Dooyeweerd

The Meaning of Culture – Islamic Culture

In the West, we increasingly experience a humanistic, secular culture, deeply influenced by pagan spirituality,

which at the same time displays the cultural vestiges of Christianity.The Direction of Culture

“Genesis 1:26 teaches us that God had a purpose in creating man in His image: namely that man should have

dominion…. If now we comprehend the force of this subduing (dominion) under the term of culture…we can

say that culture in its broadest sense is the purpose for which God created man after his image.” – Herman

Bavinck

Romans 1:25

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served something created instead of the

Creator.”

The Direction of Culture

There is no such thing as a neutral culture; no institution and no cultural activity can ever be religiously neutral.

The Direction of Culture

The structure of something concerns God’s creational laws/norms and ordained pattern that pertain to it. The

direction of these spheres concerns the religious orientation that they have.

The Transformation of Culture

Implicit in the Christian gospel is a particular vision of culture. The gospel is a culture because it is centered in

the worship of the living God, through Jesus Christ.

The Transformation of Culture

“If culture is the public expression of the worship of a people and the gospel restores man to true worship (i.e.

of creator not creature), then the gospel restores man to true culture which is the kingdom of God.” – Dr. Joe

Boot

The Transformation of Culture

Since the Enlightenment, Christians have steadily surrendered the various organs of culture.

The Transformation of Culture

Secular humanism has pursued the marginalization of the gospel and Christian church and a change of religion

in the public sphere (i.e. multiculturalism).

The Transformation of Culture

Great concern for transformation is found everywhere in Scripture.

Psalm 2: 1-3

“Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and His Anointed

One:

‘Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints.’”

Psalm 2: 4-6

“The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.

Then He speaks to them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath:

‘I have consecrated My King on Zion, My holy mountain.’”

Psalm 2: 7-9

“I will declare the LORD’s decree: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

You will break them with a rod of iron; You will shatter them like pottery.’”Psalm 2: 10-11

“So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.”

Psalm 2: 12

“Pay homage to the Son or He will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for His anger may ignite at any

moment. All those who take refuge in Him are happy.”

The Transformation of Culture

Christ’s Lordship and kingship is total, absolute, objective reality irrespective of the desires and will of men.

The Transformation of Culture

All things are being made subject to Christ, in heaven and earth and we are commanded to pray for his

kingdom and will to be done on earth, as in heaven.

“It is only by believing in God that ...

Building the Kingdom of God

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen”

2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
“Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

John 16:7 (ESV)
“I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

John 16:8 (ESV)
“when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”

John 15:5 (ESV)
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit,”

John 16:13-14 (ESV)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

John 15:26-27 (ESV)
“when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness…”

Building the Kingdom of God.

What is God’s Kingdom?

Matthew 3:2 (ESV)
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

John 18:36 (ESV)
“...My kingdom is not of this world...”

Acts 1:3 (ESV)
“...speaking about the kingdom of God.”

Acts 1:6 (ESV)
“...Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 1:7-8 (ESV)
"He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)
“we are co-workers in God’s service...”

Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV)

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,
your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.”

Philippians 3:20 (ESV)
“our citizenship is in heaven..."

Faithful ordinary People help build God’s extraordinary Kingdom on earth. 

1 Peter 2:9,10 (NIV)
“you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

1 John 2:27 (ESV)
“the anointing that you received from him abides in you...”

Hebrews 13:7,17 (NIV)
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

God builds His Kingdom through ordinary ways. 

1 Cor. 1:18-31 (NIV)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Helping People Become Wholehearted Followers of Christ

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” 

Christianity is not for loners or individualists.

Matthew 28:19 (ESV) 

“…make disciples of all nations…”

John 13:34-35 (ESV) 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

1 John 4:19 (ESV)
“We love because he first loved us.”

“It is very easy to build churches in which seekers congregate; it is very hard to build churches in which biblical faith is maturing into genuine discipleship.”
- David Wells

Colossians 2:2-3, 6-7 (NIV)
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” 

“…continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

Built For This – Freedom

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NIV)

“God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for [Faith] church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
“[We] are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that [we] may declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Acts 20:28 (NIV)

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Psalm 118:1,14-16 (NIV)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.”

“The Lord is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.

Shouts of joy and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:

 ‘The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’”

Built For This – Built to Belong

Romans 10:9 (ESV)
“if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

1.      Belonging to our local Church is how we express that we are apart of the family of God. 

Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
“as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
“...I will build my church...”

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NIV)
“God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

“it is simply not possible to live a God center, Christ Center, spirit, lead life unless my life is also Church center,” - Sinclair Ferguson

Matthew 12:47-50 (NIV)
“Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

2. We belong to a family that is directed and sustained by God’s word. 

1 Timothy 4:6,7.11-17 (ESV)
“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Acts 2:42 (ESV)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching...”

James 3:1 (ESV)
“...my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Acts 20:28 (ESV)
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

3. Belonging to the family of Faith Church is a commitment to be devoted to one another.

Romans 12:10 (NIV)
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
"...serve one another humbly in love.”

James 4:11 (NIV)
“do not slander one another...”

1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
“...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

“it is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brothers and sisters”
- Dietrich Bon Hoffer from his book "life together Says 

4. Belonging to the family of Faith Church means you are cared for by the pastors God has set in place. 

1 Peter 5:2-4 (ESV)
“ shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)
“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Built For This – Four Pillars of Discipleship

1.      Believe - Love of God

Matthew 22:36-39 (ESV)

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

2.      Belong - Love others

Acts 2 (ESV)

3.      Become - Mature and Grow

4.     Build - Transform the World

Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

1.      Believe

My Trust Pleases God

Hebrews 11:5–6 (ESV)

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Jesus Came to Rescue Me

John 3:17 (ESV)

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

God Actually Wants Me

Luke 15:1–7 (ESV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.

“So he told them this parable: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “

Real Reconciliation Is Available Now

Colossians 1:19–23 (ESV)

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard… “

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Acts 2:21 (ESV)

“Everyone who calls upon the name … will be saved.”

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Romans 10:8–15 (ESV)

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Who is in my Sphere of Influence?

Jesus is The Lord and Head of The Church

Ephesians 1:17-23 (NIV)

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

James 3:1 (ESV)

“my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Acts 20:28 (ESV)
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Colossians 2:18-19 (NIV)
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)

“God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Ephesians 5:23-27 (ESV)
“For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

Colossians 2:8-10 (ESV)
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”

The Invitation

Matthew 4:1-4 (ESV)

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to hm ‘if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (ESV)

“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every wordthat comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

Every word that flows for God’s mouth contains life-sustaining power. 

Live is the Hebrew word  חָיָה   /  ḥāyâ

Meanings:

1.     Power to continue to live

2.    To be sustained by a word

3.    To prosper 

4.    To revive from Sickness, Discouragement, Faintheartedness, Death

5.    Preserve alive 

6.    Create life from nothing - Psalm 119:37

7.    Cause to grow and multiply, like planted grain

8.    Deliver from destruction 

9.    Revive with fullness of life in his favor - Psalm 119:25

10.  Revive the crushed heart (emotions) and spirit 

11.   Restore a ruined city

Isaiah 55:1-3 (ESV)

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”

John 1:1-5 (ESV) 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

 
Jesus is inviting you to align yourself with him.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (ESV)

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Isaiah 58:6-14 (ESV) 

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. ‘If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord , and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”