The Power of God's Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 

was with God,   and the Word was God.

John 1:1

The Bible, which was written by men, was inspired by God, 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  2 Timothy 3:16

is the written Word of the one true and living God. There is special power in these words of God:  

So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

You will never receive the fullness of God's power until you experience the power of His Word.

God is the source of power and of His written Word. This makes the Word of God powerful:  

The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it.  Psalms 68:11  

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.  1 Thessalonians 2:13

God actually created the world by His Word:  

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  Genesis 1:1-3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  Hebrews 11:3  

God created the heavens by His Word:  

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.   Psalms 33:6  

God continues to uphold the world and all things as they are by the power of His Word:

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.     Hebrews 1:3

The total "logos" [inspired Word of God] revelation of the Word of God is powerful, but when God quickens a "rhema" word from His written Word, it is especially powerful. When God quickens a "rhema" [spoken] word, a verse you have read many times before suddenly takes on new meaning; you can see how it applies to a specific situation you are facing.

The power of God was delegated to Jesus Christ but that power must be tested because strength increases under pressure. A major confrontation between the power of Jesus and the power of Satan came early in His earthly ministry. First, Satan tried to get Jesus to turn stones into bread. The power of Jesus, which soon was to turn water into wine, surely could have turned stones into bread. But to do so in this situation would have been acting independently of God and using His power for personal benefit. Next, Satan tried to get Jesus to cast Himself down from the top of the temple to demonstrate His power. He even misapplied Scriptures to persuade Him it was alright to do so. In the third encounter, Satan tempted Jesus with the appeal of worldly power. Satan said he would give up all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus if He would worship him.

In each of these power struggles, Jesus met the challenge with the Word of God. Jesus quoted Scriptures applicable to the immediate situation. He used the "rhema" Word of God.

It is not enough just to know there is power in the Word of God. To make it effective, that Word must be applied as Jesus did. Jesus made it clear that the words He spoke were not His own. They were God's Words  

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.  John 3:34; 

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  John 14:10; 

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  John 14:24; 

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.  John 17:8;

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  John 17:14

Jesus spoke God's Word with power:  

And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power.   Luke 4:32

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a Word is this. For with authority and power He commanded the unclean spirits, and they come out.   Luke 4:36

Jesus spoke the Word to a man with a withered hand and it was healed 

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  Mark 3:1-5

He spoke the Word to a leper and he was cleansed

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.    Matthew 8:2-3

Jesus knew there was power in God's Word, but He also knew men must hear and respond to that Word in order for it to be effective. The words of Jesus, which were God's Words, were so powerful that they worked from a distance. Jesus did not even have to be present at the scene of the problem. One man who had a sick servant said, 

Lord, I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. 

And His servant was healed in the selfsame hour.  Matthew 8:8, 13  

This man believed in the power of God's Word. He knew it was so powerful it was not affected by time, place, or any other limitations of man. But to make it effective in his own life and situation, he had to claim it. He must apply the Word of God to receive the benefit of its power.

The early church used God's words of power. 

Paul said, And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:4, 5  

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.   1 Corinthians 4:19

→     God is the power behind His Word:  

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11  

Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.   Jeremiah 1:12

→       The Word of God gives great spiritual power:  

For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.   Hebrews 4:12

→      God honors His Word above His name:  

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.   Psalms 138:2

(Biblical Studies)


11/01/14
01/30/16
03/16/17
11/21/18
05/22/20

04/07/22