This coming Lord’s Day, as the Lord allows, I will continue our series of Major Bible Doctrines with a sermon about what the Bible does in the life of a believer. Obviously, the Bible also impacts the life of an unbeliever, but in a totally different way.

As we think about “The Work of the Word” in our life, the first thing that we need to consider is the impact that it was having in the lives of the believers at Thessalonica. In 1^st Thessalonians 1:4-10, Paul gives many specific details as to how God was working in them through the means of His Word.

The goal of God in the life of His people is Transformation! And the way He brings about this transformation is through our reading and heeding His Word. Usually, this is a long-term process, but, on many occasions He transforms His people “on the spot” when we encounter a convicting truth in His Word.

I remember what I call my “Great Awakening” in 1998 when I was struggling with some things in His Word that appeared to be in contradiction. Of course I know there are no contradictions or errors in His Word, so I was studying and studying and studying to reconcile these issues.

One wonderful day I was listening to a recorded message by a brother who had already been in heaven for two years when I heard him speak three simple words on the subject with which I was struggling. In one blinding moment, the lights of heaven came on… I fully understood the Biblical teaching on the subject… and I exclaimed, “Of course it does!” (I guess that is one of many moments in my life when someone near enough to observe this behavior would be convinced that I had finally and fully lost it!)

Suddenly, “on the spot” I got it! Since that very moment, my life, my faith, and my ministry have been transformed. That experience, and the testimony of others who have similar “on the spot” transformations, keep me encouraged that God can transform His people. Whether it is “on the spot” or over the long-term, transformation into the image of Jesus is the will of God for His people; and the means by which He does this is through hearing and heeding His Word.

As we work through these verses, we will see four specific areas of the believer’s life in which this work takes place. This is how God awakens us to spiritual truth; this is how He gives us the gift of saving faith; this is how He saves us; and, this is how He sanctifies us throughout our earthly life as believers.

I hope you will read over, think over, and pray over these passages of Scripture. I hope that you will ask the Lord to prepare your mind and your spirit to hear the sermon on Sunday.

I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and family and friends by your side!