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Making the Word Work Mightily in You

Introduction

The entrance of God’s word brings light, strength, power, and faith; and faith comes by hearing and by hearing (reading, teaching) the word of God (Rom 10:17). The Word of God shatters everything that is not the will of God in our lives when given the rightful place in our lives.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 , we see the report given of the Thessalonians,

“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 worketh also in you that believe.”

Although the Thessalonians believed God and were saved by grace through faith, they didn’t stop at salvation; they continued listening and learning.  The joy of the apostle was that when they heard, they received the word, not as the word of man, nor did they see it as coming from the heart of man, they received it as the Word of God. They didn’t see it as another man’s suggestion or advice which was subject to comparison, rather they received it as the word of God even though it was declared by men.

And because they received the Word, it worked in them:

– Bringing light to dispel their darkness;

– Bringing faith to dispel their unbelief;

– Bringing love to cast out hatred;

– Bringing new life to cancel and destroy the old life;

– Bringing hope to dispel their despair.

It brought holiness, sanctification, and inner purity of life dispelling all past defilement of their living.  It worked in them preparing them for heaven. It worked in them bringing them the peace, purity, and power the child of God needs to go through life triumphantly.

Same way it worked in them, it also works in us bringing the cherished experience of holiness and sanctification in the life of the Believer who receives the word of God. This is the reason the word is taught.

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

–Colossians 1:28

The word works triumphantly to prepare us for perfection. If there is anything to prepare us for completeness, maturity, it is the teaching and preaching of the word of God.

To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily (Colossians 1:29).

The word of God doesn’t only work in the hearers, it works in the preacher.

It doesn’t only work in the members; it works in the minister as well.

Psalm 119:11 says,

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

The infallible word, eternal word, inerrant word that came out from the very heart and the very spirit of the Almighty God; the immutable word, incorruptible word have I hid, not in my head, but in my heart. It will show me the way of the Lord and bring new life. It will help me maintain a life of holiness, grace, and purity; that I might not sin against God.

  1. The Permanence and Pre-eminence of God’s Word in Us

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).

This assures us that the word we read abides forever. It means it will stand immovable, will stand the test of time; it will stand all the arrows and the things the unbelieving scoffers throw at it.

The word ‘grass’ means everything on earth which looks beautiful, gorgeous and wonderful today, but fades away in a short moment of time. The Word, however, is not like that; it continues to be effective forever.

“Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

because

“All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

But the word of the Lord endures forever.”[g]

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

 (1 Peter 1:23-24)

The word of salvation never passes away. The word that brings us to a holy God and brings God’s nature into us never passes away. The word used by the spirit to make us desire holiness and heaven never passes away.

All flesh – powerful men, authoritative men – are like grass, and all the glory of man – the things that appeal to men in the world, the Bible says, are like the flower that falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever.

If you have any possession that will still be valuable after all the things on earth become worthless, it is the word of God. If there is anything that is worthy in your life, it is the word of God; it is the greatest possession you can have.

Luke 21:33 tells us the nature of the words that Jesus spoke, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall pass away.”

What you see that appears so solid, so stable, so immovable: the mountains, the seas, the sky, the moon and the sun, which appear as though they are there almost ever; the Lord Jesus says, shall pass away. And all the things that are stored in the depths of the sea, all the things that are secured on this earth, will pass away. Things people sacrifice their soul and their destiny to pursue and possess: the cars, the houses, the certificates, will all pass away.

The words of Jesus:

“Ye must be born again (John 3:7),” will not pass away;

“Sanctify them by thy truth, thy word is truth” (John 17:17), will not pass away;

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20),” will not pass away;

“One man – one woman, until death do you part,” will not pass away.

“Go into all the world and preach the good news,” will not pass away.

The word of God is permanent and preeminent. God has given us everything we need to have, and we must not add to it;

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it (Deut. 4:2).

Whatever is not given in the word of God, forget it! Do away with it! The Lord has given to us all we need through His word.

 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deut. 12:32)

Whatever God has commanded, we must do. It doesn’t matter if it was said once, or long ago, we must do it. Whatever it is, small or great, minute or big, we must observe to do.

Proverbs 30:5 says, every word of God is pure, he is a shield to them that put their trust in Him; add thou not unto His words, lest thou be found a liar.

Those who say they have dreams or a new revelation, or have visitations of angels, or coming from the abode of the dead, heard and saw things in the region of the dead must not add their revelation to the word of God.

Those who add to the word of God are confined to the lake of fire forever and ever.

 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18).

It doesn’t matter the title of that person who adds to the word of God, such a person will have plagues added to him; in short, that person will go to hell. Those who go to heaven have no plagues, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, and no more sickness in heaven. No more plagues in heaven.

 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:19).

It doesn’t matter the title or position of the person who removes from the word of God; God is saying, for such a person to think he can correct God, and say, God made a mistake in His word, that He didn’t have the right to say what He said, and takes the position of God to edit the word of God, God shall take away his part out of the book of life – he will miss heaven!

Why is the Lord so serious about the permanence and preeminence of His word?

Psalm 138:2, “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.”

You know the name of God – Jehovah; the word of God is magnified above that name.

Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Nissi – the Lord our banner; God’s word is magnified above that name.

If you will not think of taking away anything from the name of God because it is eternal, then you must not take anything out of the word of God, for the word of God is magnified above all his name. The word is permanent, it is preeminent because his name is preeminent, “Forever O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”

The word of salvation that, except a man be born again he shall not see the kingdom of God, is forever settled in heaven!

Follow peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord, is settled in heaven.

God will not be in a different mood and say, “You are not holy, but I will allow you in just this time.” No, it will not happen.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what we have done in the flesh,” is forever settled in heaven.

All the literature we read will pass away; if you are going to give your attention to anything, it should be this word that will never pass away, because ‘forever O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven’ (Psalm 119:89).

Prayer: Father, help me to make Your word my priority.

 

  1. The pruning and profit of God’s word in us.

How do we profit from the word?

How do we get the best from the word before we move from here to the great beyond?

Mark 4:14-15, “The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Here is when pruning comes in; you hear the word of God, no matter how many times you hear the word, if you don’t take time to understand, meditate and take decision, and say, from this word I have heard, this is what I am laying aside, this is what I am going to concentrate on, Satan comes and takes it away, because you didn’t prune your heart, you didn’t say, “I will take this away from my heart so the word will have a place.

Many people hear about salvation and holiness, but they don’t think about it, and so the devil takes it away. They hear about the triumphant victorious life, but they don’t think about it, and because of that the word bears no fruit and has no profit in their lives.

There are people who may shout in the meeting, and celebrate that they love the word, but it is all superficial. They have not dug deep in their hearts that the word may take root in them.

“These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble” (Mark 4:16-17). They did not produce any fruits because they didn’t plough the fallow grounds of their hearts.

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).

They read the Bible, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches: wealth, money, business, making money have come to the very centre of the throne of their hearts. They think about riches, plan for riches, look for Bible verses on riches, go to meetings on riches and prosperity, and all they are thinking about day and night are riches, wealth, prosperity. Their prayer and fasting and faith are centered on riches. Jesus says the deceitfulness of riches chokes the word and it becomes unfruitful.

It is not a problem of hearing the word; it is a problem of what is in your heart before hearing the word, while hearing the word, and after hearing the word.

Toss aside the deceitfulness of riches, and say, I am for heaven. Cast away the cares of this life; because even though you manage to hear the word, the cares of this life will not allow the world to take effect. Your heart is so deep in the search for riches, exactly why there is no effect; being everywhere, yet spiritually lean.

Dig deep into your heart so the word can have root in you. When you take all those things out, your heart becomes a good ground which has been pruned.

“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred (Mark 4:20)”

 

Break up the fallow ground, get rid of the thorns in your life:

For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

‘Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. – Jer. 4:3

 

Plough that ground. Dig it up; clear everything that will take the place of the Lord. Get rid of those thorns.

 

If you want the word to bring profit in your heart and in your soul, here is the word of God for you, for everyone:

 

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12

We need a flood of righteousness, but for that to happen, break up the fallow ground and take away all the rocks and the stony grounds there, and then the word of God is sown in a heart that will bring forth fruits.

 

The reason the word isn’t bringing fruits in some is because they have not pruned their hearts; there is unbelief there which has not been rooted out. There are things which we not planted by the Heavenly Father, and they allow those things to stay there.

 

Hebrews 4:1-2 says, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”

 

Some people tell us that God will do whatever he wants anytime, and that he will take you from earth to heaven, that it doesn’t depend on you; don’t listen to them (Heb. 4:2). Those mentioned in Hebrews 4:2 had unbelief in their lives, hence could not benefit.

 

There is something to take away; you must take that unbelief away, take away unseriousness in your mind, take away love for the world.  The Lord is saying you need to do something if you are going to profit from the word.

 

 

If you want to profit from the word:

 

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

I Timothy 4:15 NKJV

 

  1. Meditate on these things; think it through. E.g., Salvation: Roll it up in your mind. Ask yourself, “what if I am not saved,” and picture the consequence of not giving your life to Christ. Picture disregarding holiness and observe what would happen afterward; “Where will I spend eternity?”

How would God feel that you relegated Him to Healer; and banned Him from touching your thoughts and inward thinking?

 

As you meditate upon the word of God you’ll find out those things that are significant that you’ve not done something about.

 

  1. “Give thyself wholly to them.”

Don’t give yourself wholly to the pursuit of grabbing this and taking that in the world. Think! You are more than just body; you have a soul, and a spirit. Meditate on the consequence of neglecting the care and destiny of your soul and spirit, for all eternity.

 

  1. Take heed unto thyself!

We want to take heed unto other people; we want to spot out something that the person is doing wrong; maybe you are correct, but why don’t you get yourself settled first. Why don’t you close your eyes to your brother’s fault for now, and think about yourself. Even if you perfect, purify and mature them, and make them do the right thing at the right time, if you neglect your own soul, you’ll perish.

Many times we are too eager to help people – it is good to help people, especially those who are close to us – we want them to be holy, spotless; and you concentrate all your energy on ‘my friend you must be perfect, you must be free from this;’ maybe you are correct, but you are more eager to have them saved than you are eager to have yourself saved. You’re too eager, more eager to have them live upright, perfect and pure than you are eager to have yourself live perfect, and pure.

 

Would you take some time and forget about other people, let them think about themselves; everyone has a soul to keep, everyone has a burden to bear, everyone has a heaven to gain, everyone has a hell to shun.

 

Forget about other people for a moment, and think about yourself.

 

What do you wish for others?

  • Salvation
  • Sanctification
  • Holiness
  • That they do things perfect and correct

Forget about other people for now, and think about yourself.

Do those very things; continue in them, live by them, in public and in private, for in doing this you’ll leave other [less important] things undone. In making sure you’re ready for heaven, you’ll both save yourself and them that hear you.

You’ll do more good in the lives of other people if you first of all settle your own eternal destiny.

James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Prayer:

Lord, remove everything in my heart which is making the word ineffective in my heart and life.

Lord, help me not to think of earthly things much more than heavenly things.

 

 

  1. The purpose and the power of God’s word in us.

Why was the word given?

What is the word able to do in our lives?

Peter 1:23 says, “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever”

Is it important which church you attend? Which fellowship you frequent? Which books you read?

Of course.

We become born again by the incorruptible seed of the word of God. If the word of God is not preached in the proper perspective, you’ll not be saved. You will not be saved finally and fully except by the word of God.

As a preacher, is it important what church you go to preach? Of course!

No matter how much sound doctrine you preach, if the congregation over there is filled with cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, it will not profit them, and you’ll be wasting your time and your life.

As an unbeliever, it matters which church you attend, if you are going to be saved.

As a believer, it matters which church you go to, if you are going to retain that salvation.

And it matters which churches you go to preach as a preacher if you are not going to waste your time and your life.

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:1-2).

If the word is going to profit you, prosper you, lay aside all malice for your own sake, and desire the sincere milk of the word. Not the contaminated milk, not milk that is mixed with a little bit of impurity, not milk mixed with a little of the things that will corrupt your soul and poison your life. Desire the pure milk of the word, so you may grow thereby.

Many people say, “I read Christian books a lot, I do quiet time a lot, but I’m not growing, why?

It is because the things you are reading are not all sincere milk, pure milk, unadulterated milk of the word. Flee things that excuse your sin, and things that excuse your infirmity, so that all you are left with is the pure milk of the word that will help you grow.

The purpose of the word:

Wherewithal shall a young man keep his way pure?

By taking heed according to your word. Psalm 119:9

 

 

 

 

It brings cleansing, purifying, and purging. If you are going to remain holy in the sight of the Lord; and if you are going to have the strength to fight against sin and prevail against sin, you will need that regular word in your life.

In Psalm 19:7-11, we are told the power of the word –

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

There is warning in the word that keeps us in the path of rectitude.

Ephesians 5:25 tells us,

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Christ gave himself so he might wash the church with the word and present it to himself without spot and wrinkle. That is His goal.

As we meditate on the word and give ourselves wholly to it, we will be strong in the Lord. You will be strong!

The word makes us overcomers:

1 John 2:14, I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

To get to heaven, you need to be an overcomer, and there is only one way to overcome – the word abiding in you!

All the promises that the Lord has made to the church, especially of getting to glory, is based on overcoming, and if we are going to overcome, the word must dwell in us.

 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).

For you to overcome, this word must abide in you!

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:11).

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it (Rev 2:17).

And that only comes by the word abiding in you.

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations (Rev. 2:26).”

And that only happens if you overcome, and you overcome by the word abiding in you!

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (Rev. 3:5).

For you not to be blotted out from the book of life, you need to overcome, and you overcome by the word.

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name (Rev 3:11-12).”

That is for the overcomer, and you overcome by the word abiding in you.

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev. 3:21).

I pray you will be an overcomer. The word must abide in you.

He that has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. I pray you will have ears that hear.

Give the word the place it deserves, in your thinking, in your life. Let the word of God abide in your heart.

Prayer:

Lord, let your word abide in me.

Lord, help me to receive your word as it is, and not the word of man.

Lord, I will read, meditate, believe, learn, and apply the word of God in my life, and allow the salvation that the word brings to take root in my life.

Further Notes:

Worldliness hinders the word from profiting the people.

A heart that is eaten up with the cankerworm of convetousness hinders the word from bearing fruit.

Receive the word of God, protect it, hide it in your soul, and don’t allow anything to compete with that word of God in your heart and in your life.

Transcribed Message by W.F. Kumuyi.