The Power of the Word of God
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
This is a simple statement. Period. God does not need to prove anything….nor does He.
He simply speaks, commands, and calls.
He created the heaven and the earth.
Psalms 33:6-9 “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens formed, and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”
The first creation was a beautiful place….but the sin of Lucifer entered and destroyed it’s beauty….it was now covered with darkness….no order..
Genesis 1:2-3 “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.”
But God’s Voice spoke….”Let there be light”……there was light.
God purposed this earth….and us….and would not let this rebellion put an end to His purpose……”and He commanded….and it stood fast.”
His Purpose continued….there was nothing He was not prepared for.
Psalm 18:30 “As for God, His Way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in Him.”
Have we found His Word to be the purifier of our minds and hearts? For that is what “tried” means…..to be purified like silver.
Psalm 138:3 “In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”
His Word corrects and instructs…..His Word encourages and comforts us…..His Word brings knowledge, and through His Spirit, understanding.
John 1:1, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
His Word is truth.
Ephesians 4:21 “If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:”
Have you heard Him? Has He spoken His truth into your heart?
Our example of the power of His Word, is Lazarus:
John 11:43 “And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
This is Jesus, raising Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus had waited two days after hearing that His friend was sick…..
John 11:3 “Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick.”
He had done that,….knowing that Lazarus would die,…..so that God’s purpose would be shown…….a manifestation of the power of His Word.
John 11:14-15 “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”
He had healed the sick, cast out demons, and done many wonderful works…..so much so that even the men present said….
“Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have cause that even this man should not have died?” (John 11:37)
They believed….but only up to a point. They believed He could have done something….if Lazarus was sick….if Jesus had been there.
They called Him….”this man”…..not Christ, “the anointed”…..or the Messiah…..or even Rabbi.
They saw Him come out of obscurity…..preaching “the kingdom of God is at hand”……
……He had come in “power”…..healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, giving the blind, sight.
But now, the power of Him, through His authoritative Word, will be shown…over life and death.
All He had to do was say the Word….and it was done….Lazarus was free from death….by His Word…..”Lazarus, come forth.”
But then Jesus said,…
John 11:44 “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”
Lazarus was raised, but not freed from the grave cloth bond……till, Jesus spoke again,…
…this time in a command to others (whether His disciples or others)..”Loose him, and let him go”.
Christ Jesus, has spoken to His church the same way:
“I have raised up all who will believe in Me…now you need to loose them and let them go, by the preaching of My word.”
There are things Jesus does by His Word alone…..and then there are things He commands others to do…..by His authority….with His Word.
Only Jesus Christ can free them from the death of sin, and give liberty to the captives….
….yet in this work He calls His church to join Him.
We can not bring them from death to life….He does that.
But we can loose them from he grave-clothes of the world….by His Word.
The Lord has shown us God’s heart…..for He sent His Son to seek and to save all who are lost.
Let us speak His word faithfully….
…..the Lord will save….
…..for no Word that He speaks will return to Him void.
Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.
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.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 