The Power of God's Spoken Word

What word has God spoken to you lately? Strange question? Throughout the Bible, God has spoken specific words to people at the right time. What do I mean by that? Let’s take a journey of discovery.

The first chapter of Luke describes the event when an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1: 31).  “…the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). What was Mary’s response to the spoken word? “…Let it be to me according to Your word…” (Luke 1:38). Following Mary’s acceptance and agreement to what was told to her, trouble occurred. However, Mary didn’t judge God’s word by the trouble. Instead, she stood on the promise and continued with the plan.

Abraham was given a promise; “I have made you the father of many nations…” (Romans 4:17; Genesis 17:5). After twenty-five years of waiting, their bodies aged. Sarah was already well past child-bearing years, and Abraham was 100 years old. There was no hope in the natural for the promise to come to pass. But Abraham believed what God had said. “Human reason for hope being gone, Abraham hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised…” (Romans 4:18). What was the result of his hope on the word of God spoken to him? Their son Isaac was born! Abraham, just like Mary, did not judge the word of God by his circumstances. God said, and he believed.

Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death. He begged Jesus saying, “Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live” (Mark 5:23). Jesus agreed and went with Jairus; however, they were delayed by another individual who was ill. The delay caused the little girl to die. This devastating report probably caused Jairus to grieve, and recognize that there was no point in having Jesus come. But Jesus said, “…Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing” (Mark 5:36). Jairus responded by continuing the journey to his daughter, accompanied by Jesus. What was the result? Jesus had spoken a word and Jairus believed Him. Jesus “went in where the little girl was lying. Gripping her by the hand” He told her to arise (Mark 5:40,41). “And instantly the girl got up and started to walk around” (Mark 5:42). Jesus had spoken a word and Jairus believed. The result? His daughter was raised from the dead!

Simon, and the other fishermen, had been fishing all night and caught nothing. But Jesus said to him, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Simon explained, “We have toiled all night and caught nothing” (Luke 5:5). Jesus had spoken, however, and therefore Simon confirmed, “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). What happened as a result of Simon’s response to Jesus’ word? When they lowered the net, “they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking” (Luke 5:6). Simon did not evaluate the chances of a catch based on prior circumstances. Jesus had given direction; Simon believed and did what he was told.

God is still speaking a word to each of us today. It is our job to believe what He has said. Each word from Him is a container of power, a container of possibility. Each word has a purpose and will not return to Him void without fulfilling the purpose for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11). Should a natural circumstance dictate the truth of God’s word? Challenges and trials do not alter the word of God. Nothing is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37)!

Let’s look at an example for us today. First, we must have a word from God upon which to believe and to stand. Isaiah 53:4,5 states that Jesus bore every sickness and every disease in His own body; that He was wounded and bruised for us; that He took our punishment so that we could be restored to peace; and by the stripes that wounded Him we were healed and made whole! Jesus told us to speak to the mountain and move it, believing what we have said (Mark 11:22-24). We also learn from Ephesians 1:19,20 that we have immeasurable and unlimited power from God in our spirits, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Philippians 2:9,10 confirms that Jesus’ name is above every name. We are instructed to use His name (John 14:13,14); “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” The word of God has been spoken. Now believing, we stand. A symptom comes against the body. In Jesus’ name, we command the symptom to leave. By this command resurrection power is released into the body. We believe this prayer was heard and answered and we have as our present possession what we have prayed for. We believe that God’s word fulfills the purpose for which it was sent. Although the symptom may remain, the word is still true. Symptoms just like Abraham and Sarah’s aging body, Mary’s trouble, and Jairus’s daughter’s death, do not alter what God has said. Nothing is impossible for Him! There are consequences to the action of His spoken word and our belief in that word. His power is at work. According to His power at work in us, He can do superabundantly and above, more than we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Understanding His power that is at work, is based on understanding His love (Ephesians 3:16-20). By faith, we do what Abraham did, which is to give praise and glory to God knowing that He is mighty and able to bring His word to pass (Romans 4:20,21); we remain in hope; we hope in faith because God said!

God is asking you:

·         Will you trust My word?

·         Will you trust My power at work within you?

·         Will you trust My love for you?