Sunday Sermon: The Word of God

by Minister Denise N. Fyffe

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 (NKJV).

Bless the Lord forever, for He is worthy of being praised.

Beloved in Christ, as we gather today, let us delve into the inexhaustible depths of God’s Word. The word of God has many meanings, resonating uniquely with everyone. For me, it stands as a timeless beacon, as relevant today as its inception. The Bible, a profound and endless source, is like an unexplored ocean, its depths beyond measure.

The Word of God

The word of God means so many things to so many people. It is one of the few books in the world that is as popular today as the day it was created. The Bible has a depth that we can never explore finish. It is greater than the Atlantic and Pacific oceans combined.

The Bible is food to the hungry.

The Bible is water to the thirsty. It is a comfort to the grieving and hurt.

The Bible is home to the lost.

The Bible gives hope to the hopeless.

The Bible turns wise men into fools and fools into wise men.

When everyone is without an answer to the most complex or simplest of questions, the Bible reveals the mysteries of God.

Personal Testimony

You know I have been saved for a while – 30 years – and there have been moments when no one and nothing can give me the answers that I need.

In these times, I turn to the word of God.

In these times, I find even a nugget that I can chew on. And in these times, my mind and my spirit are at peace and trust, knowing that God has my back.

I am sure that many of you understand what I’m talking about and can identify and even reflect on those moments when life has been hard, and situations seem impossible, and only the word of God was able to help you come up out of that situation by giving you hope.

Finding Comfort in His Word

When I am faced with spiritual warfare and demonic oppression, I turn to the word of God and I’m comforted by His word that says that He will never forsake me or leave me (Deuteronomy 31:8) and that He’s always with me and that He will always fight my battles (2 Chronicles 32:7), and I know no weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

I am comforted by the word of God when the people at work are fighting against me, oppressing me, or causing harm to my reputation. I am comforted by the word of God when He says that God sees everything (Proverbs 15:3) and that I should trust Him because vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19-2). I am comforted by the word which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In moments when I feel like I am nothing to no one and that I am by myself I question and ask God why my life is like this, why am I oppressed and fought against on every side, why am I kept apart? Then, I take comfort in the word in the book of Jeremiah which says that He knew me from when I was in my mother’s womb and even before the foundation of the Earth was created, that God knew me, and He had a plan for me (Jeremiah 1:5). And that He justified me, and He has done everything for me, and He has preserved me for His own (Romans 8:30).

I am comforted by His Word.

Dealing with Hunger for the Word

This past week I found myself hungry for the word. In reflecting, as I often do, I realize that I was consuming too much ‘programming’ from the secular world and that I really needed to infuse my spirit with the word of God. So, I decided that on my journeys to work, I would listen to the Bible rather than just listen to anything else – even Christian or gospel music.

And so, I opened the book of Jeremiah as I was led to do by the Holy Spirit, and I listened and meditated on the book over the two or three days that it took me to consume those profound words from the prophet Jeremiah.

Something changed in my mind, in my spirit, and in my whole way of being.

I was more convinced in myself that what I truly needed now and, in the season, was to be more focused on God and more focused on the word of God.

I needed to sit at His table and just feast on the word of God.

The Book of Jeremiah

Listening to and consuming the book of Jeremiah and Lamentations truly put me in a very repentance-focused place. I realized that some of the things in my daily life are rising and holding the place like idols and that I really needed to be careful. You know, sometimes things that we use to relax and take our mind off our everyday life can become idols. Things like music, movies, TV, streaming, social media, and all the other things occupy our time when they shouldn’t, as we should seek to give even a tenth of our time to God and to His work.

You know I am thankful for the Holy Spirit because without the Holy Spirit, maybe I would not be a reflective person who tries to seek God’s forgiveness. I am thankful that God saved me as a child and not as an adult because maybe I would be even more stubborn than I am right now.

But God is good.

If it had not been for the strong hand of God in my life, I don’t know where I would be. So, I am thankful for the word of God that has guided my life these last few days.

Listening to the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations has really put me in fear of my God and made me see how I am taking advantage of His love and how I am not praising Him as often as I should or serving Him as much as I should. Even with as much as I do in this ministry, I still believe that I can do more.

There are still hearts breaking.

There are still people in pain.

There are still people who do not know Jesus Christ and have not accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

There are still people who are hopeless and searching for answers.

So, as many of you might also know, for a minister, or a servant, God’s work is never done until we are called home to heaven to be with God.

I want to encourage you today to read and to listen more to the word of God if you can, especially if you have long commutes to and from work. You can play the Bible app, play the verses or the chapters instead of just listening to some of the non-edifying content on the radio. Or instead of wasting an hour or two on social media, find the time to read the word of God and focus and meditate on His word.

Prayer for Transformation

I pray that just like I did, you will find solace. You will be convicted in your spirit. You will find hope. You will find peace. You will find the answers that you have been looking for, and know that God is God, and He always will be God.

Amid life’s uncertainties, may the unchanging nature of God be a constant anchor.

The Invitation

I invite you today to take a deep look and reflect on your life. Is God calling you to be baptized and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you been ignoring him? Have you been facing immense hardships and challenges? What can you do to take the first step and trust that he will help you to take the next step?

Be encouraged.

Be bold. Answer the Call.

In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

Bible Verses:

Here is a list of Bible verses along with excerpts from each verse in the New King James Version (NKJV):

1. Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
2. 2 Chronicles 32:7 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.”
3. Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
4. Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”
5. Romans 12:19-20 – “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’”
6. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
7. Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
8. Romans 8:30 – “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

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About the writer:

Minister Denise N. Fyffe is a devoted Christian, author, and servant of God, whose life is guided by her faith and values. Since accepting Jesus Christ at a young age, she has made it her mission to share her journey and knowledge of the Bible with others. In addition to her passion for writing, Fyffe is actively involved in community outreach, Christian mentorship, and ministering the Word of God.