Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-04-20

not Of corruptible seed but Of incor-
ruptible, by the Word OF God, which
hveth and abideth forever."-I Peter
l:25. 'Of His own win begat he
as with the Word Of Truth. James
l:1S. The instrument the Holy Spirit
Is pleased to use to produce regener-
alton is the Word Of God. Without
It there may be reformation, but there
cannot be regeneration.
Second, 1t is by the Word Of God
that faith comes. $50 then faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word Of God."-Romans 1917.
Many Christians are continually ask
ing the Lord to increase their faith;
II they would spend more time rev.
erently studying the Word Of God,
their faith would be daily increased
and strengthened. Perhaps slowly
and perhaps unconsciously, but never
theless surely, faith grows as the
Word Of God Is obediently studied.
Third, it Is by the Word Of God
that the Christian is built up in his
spiritual life. 'As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the Word,
that We may grow thereby Peter
%. And now, brethren, l commend
you to God, and to the Word of His
grace, which is able to build you up"
Acts 20:32 No Christian who
habitually omits the stud- of the
Word Of God will ever enjoy spiritual
strength. 1t Is Gods appointed medi-
UNI for building up and establishing
the saints, and the neglect of 1t Is
seen in carnality aud the loss of all
spiritual power.
Fourth, it is the Word of God that
keeps from sin. THY Word have
hid in my heart, that / might not
sin against Thee."-Psalms 119 IL.
The only sure and certain guard to
keep from falling into sin is to have
the heart filed with the Word OF God.
Then when sin raps on the door 1t Is
met, and turned aside, by the thrust
of the "Sword of the Spirit; that
sharp two-edged sword which is the
Word of God.
Fifth, the Woro Of God keeps
from error. I'VE do err, not knowing
the Scriptures, nor the power Of
God" Matthew % 20 This was the
reply Jesus made to the Sadducees,
who were the rationalists of their
day, and with supercilious assumption
of wisdom, thought to place Jesus on
the horns of dilemma. But there
was no dilemma to the One whose
mind was stored with the Word Of
God. There are countless errors
abroad today, so subtle and decep-
tive that to be Guarded from their
fatal teachings, the Christian needs
to be like the Bereans of old, who
searched the Scriptures daily, wheth-
er these things were so."-Acts II IL.
IF they tpeak not according to this
Word, 1t Is because there Is no light
In m."-Isaiah 500. Obeying the
exhortation to search the Scriptures"
John 1897 will result in hearing "a
word behind thee, saying, This Is
the way, walk We in 1t, when We turn
to the right hand, and when We turn
to the left."-Isaiah 30:21.
Sixth, the Word Of God brings Joy
to the heart irrespective of circum-
stances. "Thy words were found, and
did eat them; and thy word was
unto me the joy and rejoicing of my
heart. Jeremiah Is :16. Jeremiah's
circumstances were all calculated to
bring the exact opposite of JOY and
rejoicing. The secret of his joy was
the Word Of God within his heart.
The one whom Goo considers
blessed" is one who "walketh not in
the counsel of the ungodiy, nor stand
eth in the way Of sinners, nor stitch
In the seat of the scornful. But his
delight is In the law of the Lord; and
In his law doth he mediate Gay and
night. "-Psalms / Il, z.
Seventh. the Word OF God brings
prosperity and success. This book
Of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt mediate
therein day and night, that thou may
est observe to do all that is written
therein; for then thou shalt make thy
way prosperous, and then thou shalt
have good success''-Joshua L -. In
this commercial age we are prone to
think of prosperity only in the terms
of dollars and cents, but the pros
perity that might be ours by the
Word of God, endures through all
time and through eternity as vel.
The possession of 1t depends on our
treatment of the Word of God.
Paul gave word to the people cen
turtles ago which might well be given
to all Christians today, namely: And
now brethren, l commend you to God,
and to the Word of His grace, which
is able to build up and to give you an
sanctified. Acts 2O:32.
Admired.