The Word of God Brings Growth
Bob Yandian
Growing in Maturity Through the Entire Word of God
Food feeds your natural body, but the Word of God feeds your spiritual man. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Notice the words “every word.” This gets back to the importance of the entirety of the Word of God. Every Scripture given from the mouth of God is profitable, and as we begin to understand the whole of the Word of God, true spiritual growth begins to come into our lives.
God’s Word Is Our Food
Job 23:12 says, “I have not departed from the commandments of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job indicates that the Word of God is more important than necessary food. Necessary food will keep you alive for a while until you need some more of it, but the Word of God lives and abides forever.
As you go through the entire Word of God, you begin to see how things fit with other things. Suddenly, verses you have read many times begin to open up to you. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “I found Your words, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”
Have you ever tasted something that was so good you thought, “Man, I need to remember this restaurant. I want to have that again sometime?” That is the way the Word of God can become to us. Jeremiah said, “I ate them.” In other words, he took in the Word of God, and it became the joy and rejoicing of his heart.
There are times when you study the Word of God and you do not quite understand what you are reading. But keep studying it. Pray in the Spirit and depend on the Holy Spirit. There have been times I have done that and seemingly got nothing at the moment. But days later that verse came back to me, and revelation came with it. There are also Scriptures I have stood on for years when suddenly I realize there is more to that verse than I ever saw before.
That is growth.
The Word Produces Spiritual Maturity
2 Timothy 3:16–17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Notice it says, “all scripture.” You are not reading a book like any other book. There are good books that can entertain you and teach you about math, science, history, or life itself. But there is nothing like the Word of God because it comes from the Author of eternal life—God Himself.
You may say, “I don’t get much out of the Old Testament.” Meditate on it. Take one of those Proverbs and think about it throughout the day. You may initially wonder, “What in the world does that mean?” But as you meditate on it, the Holy Spirit may take another verse from James or Matthew and put it together with that verse. Suddenly you realize there is something there you never saw before.”
Scripture is profitable for doctrine, which is teaching; for reproof and correction, which brings us back onto the right track; and for instruction in righteousness. No other book instructs you in getting born again and then living in the righteousness that was given to you as a gift the moment you got born again.
The purpose is that the man or woman of God might become mature. The Word of God and instruction from it bring maturity into your life. The end result of growth is greater maturity, and God will lead you into more and more good works.
Study Is Work
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Why does it call you a workman? Because studying the Word of God is work. There are times you read a verse and say, “God, I just don’t understand it.” The more you meditate on it, however, you begin to look back and see what led into the verse and then look forward to what came after it. The Bible is not simply literature. It is a guide for every area of daily life. It is the only book on earth written by God to us.
Bible study is also not a source of pride. It is not about looking down on other believers because they do not have as much knowledge of the Word as you do. It is not how much Word you know, but how much Word you use. That is the key to the Christian life.
The Word Reveals What Needs to Change
One purpose of the Word of God in our daily lives is to reveal sin. 1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Christians can sin. But God has given us a remedy for it in our daily lives. The sin that kept you out of heaven was dealt with when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Eternal life was given to you, and heaven became your destination. But there can still be sins in the daily life of a believer.
There have been times when every one of us has become carnal and made a decision that was not the right decision. What do we do? We confess it. Sometimes it is simply, “Father, I’m sorry. Forgive me. I’m sorry for what I did.” It is immediately cleansed.
Think about your family. You can say something wrong to your husband or wife and know good and well that you need to apologize. Pride may rise up and tell you not to do it. But what a cleansing comes when you finally say, “Honey, I’m sorry. I should not have said that. I should not have done that.” That restores fellowship.
Our relationship with God was settled when we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but the Word teaches us the importance of maintaining a clean life before our heavenly Father.
Sometimes the Word Is Bitter Before It Is Sweet
1 Peter 1:15 tells us, “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” God wants His holiness to affect our speaking and our everyday actions.
A sermon can be brilliant, flowery, intellectually powerful, and wonderful to hear, but if it is not applied to daily character and the exposing of faults, it has failed to accomplish its purpose in us. Sometimes the Word is not comfortable.
The Passover lamb had to be eaten with bitter herbs. Revelation 10:10 speaks about the little book being sweet as honey in the mouth and then becoming bitter in the belly. Sometimes you hear a Scripture and think, “Oh, that’s really good. I needed that.” But the longer you meditate on it, the more you realize, “Oh my gosh, God is speaking to me through that verse.” You may even wish you had never heard it—but you did hear it! That is what the Word of God is for. It straightens us out whether our flesh wants to be straightened out or not.
The Word Leads Us Away from Sin
Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Pride can cause us to keep silent when we have sinned. We know the Holy Spirit is dealing with us, but we do not want to repent. Yet obedience brings joy. Neglect and turning from God can bring despair. If we confess the sins we know about, God is faithful and just to forgive those sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There may even be surrounding sins we did not recognize. We cannot confess an unknown sin because we did not know we committed it, but God cleanses us as we respond to what He reveals.
The Word then begins to produce in us a hatred for sin. Psalm 97:10 says, “You who love the Lord, hate evil.” Psalm 119:104 says, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”
Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity. We need that same heart toward our own lives. We should be able to say, “I want to do the right things. I want to follow God the right way, and I want to hate the wrong way.”
The Word Gives Power to Walk in Righteousness
Second Timothy 2:19 says, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” How do I begin departing from iniquity? Through the power of the Word of God. Quote a verse and then step into it, because the Word empowers you. It is your food for daily life.
Jesus said in John 15:3, “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.” There are daily things that come into our lives that can smudge our lives up, and we need to get rid of them. Find a Scripture, stand on it, and begin to take it before God. The Word not only deals with present sin; it prepares us against future sin. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” The Word you put into your heart today can protect you in the days to come. When temptation comes, that Word can rise up as a deterrent and stop you from giving into the temptation. The best way to keep bad seed from coming up is to plant good seed.
Take In the Word Before Trouble Comes
Psalm 37:31 says, “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”
When the Word of God is in your heart and you are following it, it guides your steps. The problem comes when pride rises up and we begin to think, “I can do this without the Word of God.” That is when our steps begin to slide.
Do not wait until trouble comes to begin studying the Bible. Do not go on a spiritual cram course and try to stuff yourself with the Word overnight. The Word of God takes time to metabolize. It takes time to digest it and allow it to go into the different parts of your being.
Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Studying the Word of God demonstrates your love for God. An increasing desire for His Word shows that your love for Him is increasing. That is one of the greatest levels of faith and maturity.
1 John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Without the Word of God, our lives would be unstable and without direction. This series emphasizes the vital necessity of the Word of God in the life of every believer.
Sermon Titles:
A More Sure Word of Prophecy
The Inspiration of the Holy Spirit
God’s Reputation
The Wisdom of God’s Word
The Merchandise of Wisdom
Wisdom, Riches and Honor
Jesus, Our Wisdom
7 CDs
Bundle and save! Includes a copy of Theology Simplified Volumes 1 & 2.
Theology Simplified Volume 1
A Practical Guide to Foundational Biblical Truths
Basic doctrines are not difficult but easy to understand. They often come disguised as complicated or deep-sounding words, but the definitions are simple.
Pastor, author, and renowned Bible teacher Bob Yandian explains the deep truths of Scripture in ways anyone can understand. Using straightforward vocabulary and down-to-earth examples, Pastor Bob makes complex theological concepts clear and practical.
Theology Simplified demystifies eight crucial doctrines of the Christian faith:
Redemption Justification Sanctification * Reconciliation
Predestination Election Propitiation * Glorification
These eight precepts, essential for all believers to understand, come to light as you study the pages. Theology Simplified will give you a deeper understanding of the finished work of Jesus Christ, allowing you to walk in maturity and stability in your Christian life.
160 Pages - Paperback
Theology Simplified Volume 2
Uncover the Depths of God's Word with Ease
The Bible is full of misunderstood terms and concepts. Many Christians struggle to understand the deeper meaning behind the scriptures they know and learn. What is God’s plan for mankind? Are you living fully in Jesus’s redemption? Do you understand the Church’s true purpose and God’s perfect timing?
Finding these answers can be simple! You can unearth the profound treasures of your redemption, awaken to the glory of your righteousness, and claim the abundant rewards destined for you.
Drawing from decades of biblical research and practical teaching, renowned Bible scholar and teacher Bob Yandian demystifies eight complex theological concepts, inviting you to discover the profound simplicity of God’s plan for humanity.
In his trademark clear and relatable style, you’ll gain a confident understanding of:
The doctrine of theology: A roadmap for understanding God’s Word
The fall of man: The turning point of human history and God’s plan for restoration
Faith for salvation: Your key to unlocking the kingdom of heaven
Unlimited atonement: The boundless extent of Christ’s reconciling work
Advocacy of Jesus and the Holy Spirit: Your endless support in the court of heaven
The seasons and times of God: Discerning heavenly plans in our chaotic world
The triumphant Church: Your place in God’s victorious plan
The Book of Life and heavenly rewards: The eternal ledger of the redeemed
Shake off the stress of academic doctrine and embrace the confidence that comes from knowing God’s redemptive plan for your life. These eight truths will guide you to a new depth of understanding and fellowship that will forever change you.
180 Pages - Paperback
Deepen Your Understanding of Scripture
Unlock fresh insight into God’s Word with the New Testament Commentary Bundle from Pastor Bob Yandian — a comprehensive collection of verse-by-verse commentaries on ten foundational New Testament books. Carefully crafted from years of pastoral teaching and study, this bundle equips believers, students, and church leaders with clear explanation, practical application, and spiritual depth.
Purchase this book bundle and save! This bundle includes one of each of Bob Yandian's New Testament Commentary books listed below.
Acts Commentary
Romans Commentary
Galatians Commentary
Ephesians Commentary
Philippians Commentary
Colossians Commentary
James Commentary
Hebrews Commentary
Epistles of John Commentary
New! Thessalonians Commentary