Looking forward to awesome services in @crccpt & @crcstb this Sun with @Aidan_Jeffery! New series #mindset starting! Let's #fetch our world!
| Word Up |
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 06 December 2011 12:36 |
 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn't think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God--which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT) Words have tremendous power. We respond to them daily – whether we read them in books, on billboards, in magazines, on the web, road signs, in the Bible, bumper stickers, and posters or through what others say. Everyone is affected by words in some shape or form every day. After all these years I still remember encouraging words my teachers spoke to me in primary school, unfortunately I can still remember the not so positive words to. I can recall nice things friends have said, and terrible things friends have said. Words have the power to take us back into a moment of time and we can vividly recall the emotion attached to those words. Words shape us, whether good or bad. That is why the word of God is so vital in our lives. Our very first introduction to Jesus in John 1 is that He is the Word of God, the one who came and fulfilled the Word, the One through which everything was made – He is the Word that became flesh and Who came and dwelled amongst us. God’s word was there in the beginning, and it is still here today. The Word God spoke at the beginning of time is still performing what He set out for it to achieve. We still see the stars in the sky, the fish in the sea, the birds of the air, the animals in the fields, the trees and the flowers, we’re still being fruitful, multiplying and hundreds of thousands of babies are being born every day all over the world. All because of the Word God spoke in the beginning. God demonstrated to us the power of His word when He spoke in the beginning. When we read Genesis 1, we’re not introduced to a God slaving away in a heavenly workshop, making big bangs and hairy apes. Our introduction is to that of a God who speaks into existence what He sees, forming vast galaxies, oceans and life as we know it. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4. In this scripture Jesus is speaking to the devil while fasting in the wilderness. Jesus is tempted by the devil to turn rocks into bread so that He could eat and His response gives us clear indication to the power of God’s word. Firstly He tells the Devil that “it is written”, confirming He studies & knows the word of God and secondly He shows us that God’s word is more important to our lives than eating bread (food). Throughout His temptation Jesus refers to the Word. The Word of God establishes us, sustains us and shapes us. Jesus is not saying we shouldn’t eat, He’s saying it is more important to eat (study) the Word of God than it is to eat food. Meaning we should be getting more of God’s word in relation to how much time we spend eating. People who don’t eat enough or who are mal-nourished are weak, tired and often sickly. We can draw a parallel between malnourished people and people who do not study the Word of God. A lack of God’s word in your life on a daily basis will make you weak, and ineffective as a Christian. The Word of God is our source of energy and spiritual vitality. The spiritual world responds to the words we speak. If you desire to see God’s power at work in your life you need to speak God’s word over your life. When you speak God’s word, you release His power! If you want to see change in your life, start by spending time in the Word. The bible says “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). God’s Word will produce faith in you as you see His word at work in your life. Make a decision to spend time in God’s word everyday and watch your life transform. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 |