As glad as I am that we no longer seem afraid to talk about the Holy Spirit in our lives these days, I am hearing other things that disturb me, disparaging comments about the Word: “I know it can’t be just the word of God doing this” paraphrases some of the statements I am hearing. Praise God that his Holy Spirit works in our lives, but do not treat any less respectfully one of his biggest feats: translating the mind of God into words so that we mortals can comprehend what He has done for us and what He wants from us, 1 Cor 2:6-12.
Paul calls the gospel the power of God unto salvation, Rom 1:16, and an angel told Cornelius to send for Peter who would tell him words whereby you shall be saved, Acts 11:14. Peter tells us himself that God’s word contains all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Pet 1:3, and the Hebrew writer tells us the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart, 4:11. What can God not accomplish with a Word like this?
God told Jeremiah, Is not my word like fire…and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces, 23:29. Have you ever seen the devastation that fire can cause? Can you imagine anything more effective at changing the face of a wall than continually pounding it with a hammer?
In Isaiah we learn how God’s word acts on both the good and evil. For those who seek knowledge and understanding, it is precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, 28:9,10. And to those of strange lips, the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken, vv 11-13. In other words, it acts the same way on all of us, but the results depend upon the heart who hears it.
And so it is. After Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, they were pricked in their hearts, Acts 2:37, and those who received the word were baptized, v 41. After Stephen preached the crowd was cut to the heart, Acts 7:54, and they stoned him to death, v 58. The same knowledge of God’s word that saves some brings death to others, 2 Cor 2:14-17. But either way, it is the Word that causes the result.
God said the world would call it foolishness to try to save through preaching, 1 Cor 1:21. Aren’t we guilty of the same thing when we devalue the power of God’s word? Jesus was constantly quoting scripture, and in doing so He strengthened himself, defeated Satan, and saved the lost. We should be following in His footsteps, treating God’s word with all the deference and respect it deserves, because it is truly the power of God.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and returns not. but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isa 55:8-11
Dene Ward
Paul calls the gospel the power of God unto salvation, Rom 1:16, and an angel told Cornelius to send for Peter who would tell him words whereby you shall be saved, Acts 11:14. Peter tells us himself that God’s word contains all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Pet 1:3, and the Hebrew writer tells us the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart, 4:11. What can God not accomplish with a Word like this?
God told Jeremiah, Is not my word like fire…and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces, 23:29. Have you ever seen the devastation that fire can cause? Can you imagine anything more effective at changing the face of a wall than continually pounding it with a hammer?
In Isaiah we learn how God’s word acts on both the good and evil. For those who seek knowledge and understanding, it is precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, 28:9,10. And to those of strange lips, the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken, vv 11-13. In other words, it acts the same way on all of us, but the results depend upon the heart who hears it.
And so it is. After Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, they were pricked in their hearts, Acts 2:37, and those who received the word were baptized, v 41. After Stephen preached the crowd was cut to the heart, Acts 7:54, and they stoned him to death, v 58. The same knowledge of God’s word that saves some brings death to others, 2 Cor 2:14-17. But either way, it is the Word that causes the result.
God said the world would call it foolishness to try to save through preaching, 1 Cor 1:21. Aren’t we guilty of the same thing when we devalue the power of God’s word? Jesus was constantly quoting scripture, and in doing so He strengthened himself, defeated Satan, and saved the lost. We should be following in His footsteps, treating God’s word with all the deference and respect it deserves, because it is truly the power of God.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and returns not. but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isa 55:8-11
Dene Ward
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