Focus: The Precious Word Of God!

Text: Lk.4:36

"What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out."

Yesterday we learned that the blood saves us, the name of the Lord secures us, the Spirit of the Lord strengthens us, and the word of God sanctifies us. We have looked at the precious blood of Christ, and now, let us focus on the word of God.

Our text tells us that the words of Christ are authoritative and powerful. With His word He takes care of situations and puts the demons where they rightfully belong. Christ subjugates the violence or turbulence of nature. With His word He takes out chaos and restores calm. God's word works wonders. The exclaims, "What a word is this!" The word of God is awe-inspiring. The psalmist acknowledges that his "heart standeth in awe of thy word" (Ps.119:161).

Let us look at some of the effects of the word of God.

Paul says that "we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Rom.15:4). The word of God is comforting and hope-igniting.

Paul tells Timothy that "from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2Tim.3:16). The word of God has saving power. It is soul-saving.

Luke writes, "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" (Act.19:20). The word of God has prevailing power. God's word always wins. It is winning and winsome.

The psalmist says, "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions" (Ps.107:20). Again he says, "He sendeth out his word, and melteth them" (Ps.147:18). God's word melts things. Nothing and no one can stand the crushing power of God's word. No one can stand in the way of God's word. The psalmist tells us that "his word runneth very swiftly" (Ps.147:2). The word of God sweeps away whatever it is that stands in its way, because it runs with great rapidity. God's word has strength, pace and speed.

A centurion says to the Lord Jesus Christ, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed" (Mt.8:8). Again he says that Christ "cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick" (Mt.8:18). The word of God has curative powers. By the word of Christ demons are cast out and leveled. Luke tells us that the people "were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power" (Lk.4:32). The writer of Hebrews says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword" (Heb.4:12). 

Every time God speaks power is unleashed. God's word is dynamic. It has force. It has energy. It is operative. Not a word from God is devoid of power.

In Luke Elizabeth tells Mary that "there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord" (Lk.1:45). The word works. The spoken word of God gets to be fulfilled. God uses every means to fulfill His word. The psalmist says, "Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word" (Ps.148:8). It is interesting to note this: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word" (Act.10:44). The Spirit follows the word of God everywhere. The Spirit rests on God's word. God is where His word is. The word of God works, regardless of who is speaking it. From God's own mouth the word works, and from the lips of mere mortals, the word of God still works. As Peter was speaking the word of God, the Spirit of God came upon the hearers.

Christ says, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (Jh.15:3). God's word has cleansing powers and sanitizing ability. Again He says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (Jh.17:17). The word of God sanctifies the soul and purges the heart of iniquity.

The word has both curative and creative powers. We read, "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water" (2Pet.3:5). The psalmist declares, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Ps.33:6). In Hebrews we read, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God" (Heb.11:3). The word of God has creative and framing powers. The word of God is both instructive and constructive. It constructs and reconstructs. To add to that, Christ is "upholding all things by the word of his power" (Heb.1:3). God sustains and upholds all of creation with His word.

Paul says, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" (1Thes.1:6). The word of God provokes the Spirit's joy in those who receive it. The word of God plants joy in the hearts of its hearers and adherents. The psalmist testifies, "I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil" (Ps.119:162). The word of God is a fruitful tree; it bears the fruit of joy.

James says, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth" (Jam.1:18). Peter writes, "Being born again… by the word of God" (1Pet.1:23). The word of God has begetting power. It regenerates, enlivens, revives, revitalizes and refreshes. The psalmist says, "For thy word hath quickened me" (Ps.119:50).

Peter tells us that "the word of the Lord endureth for ever" (1Pet.1:25). God's word has enduring power. It lasts forever.

John says to us that "the word of God abideth in you" (1Jh.2:14). The word of God is at home in the hearts of God's people. The word abides in us.

The psalmist says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps.119:105). The word of God is enlightening and illuminating. It gives us guidance and direction.

God's word is good, right and true (Heb.6:5; Ps.33:4; 119:160). You can taste the word for yourself. Experience the reality and ability of the word of God in your own life. From Genesis to Revelation the word of God is true and real, and it works wonders. God, according to the psalmist, has magnified His word above all names (Ps.138:2).

Read Psalm 19:7-10 for yourself, which says:

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

by Bishop Moses E. Peter