DOING ALL THE WORD

[All of the Time]

There is a record in the Gospel of Luke that shows how easy it is for believers to live below par, with less abundance than what God is willing and able to give us. As mature believers, we must learn not to limit God in our lives and therefore fully manifest the more than abundant life.

Luke 5: 1 - 4 -- And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fisherman were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Notice that Jesus said to Simon, 'let down your NETS for a draught'. He said the plural form of the word net. He wanted Simon to use all his nets for this fishing trip. What was Simon's reply?

Luke 5: 5 -- And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Isn't that a perfectly human response? Simon had to let Jesus know that he, Simon, was the expert on fishing. He knew what he was talking about. He and his crew had fished all night and hadn't caught a thing. Yet he agreed to humor Jesus and said he would put down a NET (singular). He was willing to go a little bit out on a limb, but not too much. He didn't want to look like a fool and put down all his nets for nothing. So Simon agreed to do PART of the Word. He put down a net.

Luke 5: 6, 7 -- And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

These verses appear to show the wonderful result of Simon's action, yet he did only part of the Word. Imagine how many fish they would have caught if they had used even one more net! Maybe the first net wouldn't have torn if they had used another one. And now Simon had a net to repair.

These are the same partial results that many Christians achieve today. They do part of the Word, and get wonderful results, but imagine what might happen if we did ALL the Word. The results would be so much greater. Yet we get by on doing bits and pieces of the Word (the parts we like the best), and live with less spiritual, mental, and physical abundance than what is really available.

While it may not be humanly possible to do ALL the Word ALL the time, we can strive to do our best. What are some of the ways we can practice doing All the Word? Here are just a few areas where we can begin:

A. Renewed Mind:

If we don't renew our minds, we won't get very far in doing the rest of the Word of God because this is our KEY TO POWER.

Romans 12: 1, 2 -- I Beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [logical] service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are to live our lives for God. We are not to allow ourselves, or our actions, to be fashioned according to the world. We must renew our mind (continuously change it) to think the Word.

II Corinthians 10: 5 -- Casting down imaginations [thoughts and reasonings], and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Control your thinking! Think the Word, not the world.

Ephesians 4: 22, 23, 24 -- That ye put off concerning the former conversation [behavior] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit [life] of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is [was] created in righteousness and true holiness.

Renewing the mind takes some effort on our part. We must 'put off' the old thoughts, and 'put on' the Word of God in our minds.

Philippians 4: 8, 9 -- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

These are the things we are supposed to think about. If we do ALL the Word, we will have peace.

Colossians 2: 6, 7 -- As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

We are to walk like Jesus Christ walked and do the things that he did. If we do the Word, we see the result in verse 10.

Colossians 2: 10 -- And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

The King James translation does not do justice to the true meaning of this verse. In the original text, it is a superlative: We are completely, completely, complete in him. That really means that we are complete. There is absolutely nothing that we lack.

B. Edification:

If we are to do all the Word, we must also edify (build up, support) others. This is the opposite of tearing down.

Romans 14: 19 -- Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

We are to 'pursue' ways to make peace, and pursue ways to edify each other. Don't stand around waiting for the opportunity, but go looking for it.

I Thessalonians 5: 11 -- Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Ephesians 4: 29 -- Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Don't say negatives or tear down. What comes out of our mouths should only bless the hearers.

C. Liberty:

We have free will. The true God never controls us, so it is up to us to use our liberty to glorify God. But sometimes we revert to the old human nature of wanting rituals and rules of behavior. We give up our liberty when we do this. If we do ALL the Word, we keep our liberty.

Galatians 5: 1 -- Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage [the law].

Bondage is the rules and regulations by which we attempt to control the flesh such as were spelled out in the Old Testament. Examples today may include 'meatless Fridays', no card playing, no drinking, no smoking, and no dancing to rock and roll music. Now there may be good health benefits to eating less meat, not smoking, and not drinking alcohol, and I am not condoning these habits, but doing these things does not make us holier. It is by using our free will to operate the manifestations of holy spirit (not the body) that we receive the fruit of the spirit:

Galatians 5: 22, 23 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law [rules or regulations].

If we want the fruit listed above, we do ALL the Word, and don't give up our liberty.

D. The Love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation:

The Love of God is the most important thing we need to practice (and manifest -- show to others) if we are going to do ALL the Word.

I Corinthians 13: 1 -- Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [the love of God], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

I Corinthians 13: 2 -- And though I have the gift of ["the gift of" in italics was added by the translators and should be deleted] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith [believing], so that I could remove mountains, and [but] have not charity [the love of God], I am nothing.

I Corinthians 13: 3 -- And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [the love of God], it profiteth me nothing.

These three verses speak volumes to us about the Love of God. Even if we operate the manifestations of the spirit constantly, and give most of our money away to the needy or to support ministries, if we do it all without the Love of God, it is completely meaningless. There is no profit in it for us.

Manifesting the Love of God is tied to the renewed mind -- it is difficult to love if we aren't renewing our mind. Colossians chapter 3 talks about the renewed mind in verse 10. Then some attributes of the renewed mind are listed in the next few verses until it is summed up in verse 14.

Colossians 3: 14 -- And above all these things put on charity [the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation], which is the bond of perfectness.

As important as the renewed mind is, we must 'top it off' with the Love of God. 'Perfectness' means completeness, that we have reached full maturity. To be mature in ALL the Word, we MUST manifest the Love of God.

E. Thankfulness:

If we want to attain the promises in the Word, we must also be thankful.

Philippians 4: 6 -- Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

'Thanksgiving' is one of the key words in the verse. When we pray to God, we are to be thankful. The result is in the next verse.

Philippians 4: 7 -- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds [thoughts] through [in] Christ Jesus.

That's a great promise!!! . . . . . BEING THANKFUL = THE PEACE OF GOD.

I Thessalonians 5: 18 -- In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

It can’t be any plainer than that. It is God’s will that we be thankful.

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There is another record in the gospels that shows not only the importance of doing ALL the Word, but doing it ALL the time.

Matthew 14: 24 - 29 -- But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit [phantom]; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

This is a remarkable record! Here we see Peter believing and acting and doing all the Word. He was walking on the water, just like Jesus. It was a miracle!

Matthew 14: 30, 31 -- But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith [believing], wherefore didst thou doubt?

In verse 30, some of the frailty of human nature becomes obvious concerning Peter. He quit doing the Word. He let his eyes see the waves tossed by the wind. His mind told him he should be afraid, and Peter began to sink into the water. 'Immediately' Jesus reached out to save him just like he is here today to help us. Peter did ALL the Word for a short period of time, and had the experience of walking on water. As Peter spiritually grew and matured through the years, he did perform great miracles. By renewing his mind and manifesting the Love of God, he strove to do ALL the Word ALL the time, to the best of his ability. We can do the same today, because the promises of God's Word never fail and they do not change.

Psalm 119: 89, 90 -- For ever [art thou], O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Psalm 119: 160 -- Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

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