The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-19

e born again. BE
M#W& ing born again,
not of corruptible seed but of incor-
liveth and abideth forever.'-I Peter
1 :25. "Of His own will begat he
us with the Word of Truth ."-James
1:1S. The instrument the Holy Spirit
Is pleased to use to produce regener-
alton is the Word of Cod Without
1t there may be reformation, but there
cannot be regeneration.
Second, 1t Is by the Word of God
that faith comes. $50 hen faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God."-Romans 10:17.
Many Christians are continually ask
ing the Lord to Increase their faith
If 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
thai the Christian Is built up in his
spiritual life. LAS newborn babes,
that We may grow ~thereby."-I Peter
30. And now, brethren, l commend
you to God, and to the Word of His
grace, which Is able to build you up"
Acts 20 1872. No Christian who
habitually omits the SUD- 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 it Is
seen in %carnality and 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 l might not
sin against Thee."-Psalms 1911.
The only sure and certain guard to
keep from falling into sin is to have
the heart filed with the Word or 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 t~wo-edged sword which is the
Word of God.
Fifth, the WORD of God keeps
from error. "Ye do err, not knowing
the Scriptures, nor the power of
God."-Matthew % 30. 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 a dilemma. But there
was no dilemma to the One whose
mind was stored with the Word of
God. There are countless errors
abroad today, S % 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 III.
IF they cpeak not according to this
Word, 1t Is because there Is no light
in them."-Isaiah $40. Obeying the
exhortation to search the Scriptures
(John 5:39) will result in hearing "a
word behind thee, saying, This is
the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn
to the right hand, and when ye turn
to the left ."-Isaiah 30:21.
Sixth, the Word of God brings Joy
to the heart irrespective of clrcum-
stances. Thy words were found, and
| did eat them; and thy word was
unto me the joy and rejoicing of my
heart."-Jeremiah 10 :16. Jeremlah'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 Goa considers
blessed" is one who "walketh not In
the counsel of the ungodly, 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 uay and
night."-Psalms Il, 2.
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 II night, that thou may
est observe to do all hat is written
therein for then thou shalt make thy
way prosperous, and then thou shalt
nave good success."-Joshua l:S. 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 well.
The possession of 1t depends on our
treatment of the Word Of God.
Paul gave a 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
inheritance among all them that are
sanctifed.'-Acts 20 1882.