March 2009 Issue

“Is not My word like a fire? Says the LORD, And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)

The word of God is power and it communicates power. The communicating power in the word of God is the vehicle for transformation for those that are able to receive and believe in the word of God. Jesus said, “… I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) As a temple of God, until you are built up by Him, you will not be able to contain what He purposed for your life to carry for His glory. Will you allow Him to build you up for His glory? Jesus made an emphatic statement that He will build His church and nothing shall prevail against it. Do not prevent yourself from being built but invest yourself in the word that will build you. Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” Jesus, the word of God is what will build you and give you life abundantly. How can the word build you? The word of God will have to enter into you for you to be built. Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” Before Jeremiah could become what the Lord wanted him to be, he was built up when the word sounded in his direction. Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” The same word that identified and called Jeremiah out informed him what he was before he was born. The word also deposited in him the boldness that built him for God’s divine agenda for his life when He said to Jeremiah, “’Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,’ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:8). Just like Jeremiah, Ezekiel also encountered the word. “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ 2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.” (Ezekiel 2:1-2) Jesus is the master builder. The same word that brought forth creation is still the same word that is building up those who receive and believe in Him. The word of God is spirit and it gives life. John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” It is worth to remember that the same word that created everything is there to give more than we can imagine. It is one thing to know and memorize the word, it is another to know to memorize and meditate. Knowing the word and not knowing to memorize and meditate is empty; it generates no power. Meditation will cause you to observe and do what the word requires, and there’s simply no substitute for it. The word of God is power and the word can never deny itself nor fail, but man can fail to have the word work on their behalf. The work of God is in the word of God. The disciples once asked Jesus, “…What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28) Jesus responded, “…This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29) The word of God cannot be compromised if you desire for the word to build you. Just as there is no substitute for food in order to grow physically, so there is no substitute for the word to grow spiritually. Jeremiah confirmed that the word is food when he testified, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And your word was to me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart…” (Jeremiah 15: 16) As a believer, how often do you feed on the word of God? Waiting for Sunday or once in a while reading the word will amount to nothing. What is it that you are giving your ear to? What you give your ear to is what will build you up because whatever you receive will become of you. “Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the LORD has spoken.” (Jeremiah 13:15) The Lord has spoken, as a believer, play your part and receive his word that will build you up for His kingdom glory. Job stated, “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 41:5) Take the hearing of His word to be your greatest priority and you will have reasons in this world to testify that you have seen God move in His word.  

Knowing the word and not knowing to memorize and meditate is empty; it generates no power.
Tunde