“And they said one to another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?'” Luke 24:32
The author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote this concerning the word of God: “…The word of God is quick (or living) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) When in route to the little town of Emmaus, two disciples, after the resurrection of Christ, were joined by Him along the way. The Lord, after inquiring of them what they were talking about, and learning that it was of Him, then reproached them for their unbelief, as they revealed by their account of things that they did not know what to believe. The Lord then began to expound to them the Scriptures, the word of God. Beginning with the writings of Moses, then proceeding to the writings of the prophets, He spoke of the things concerning Himself. The effect of the Lord Jesus speaking to these two disciples, was that their hearts burned within them. There was something in this stranger’s words that testified to them that these were not just the words of an ordinary person, for they had a profound effect upon them. There was Life and power in those words. It was as the author of Hebrews wrote, living words, words of power, able to divide and separate the soul and spirit, …discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. It was only after that these two disciples recognized that it was the resurrected Christ that spoke these words, that they knew the reason for which their hearts burned.
In the life of Samuel, we find the characteristics of a believer who has been revived, or one that is truly walking with the Lord. In Samuel’s case it is not an issue of being restored to fellowship with God. On the contrary, the testimony of his life reveals what is the normal experience of one who is revived, and who is walking with God. The discerning characteristic which reveals one’s walk with God concerns the word of God, and its effect on the heart. Scripture tells us that as Samuel grew, and eventually became a prophet and priest in Israel, that “…the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.” In other words, that which Samuel spoke was the truth, and God confirmed it to his own heart, and to that of the people, by accomplishing what He had spoken to Samuel. However, there is another aspect of Samuel’s relationship with the word of God that must be underlined. Again, Scripture tells us that, “…the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” (1 Sam. 3:21) It is important to understand that God’s way of revealing Himself to the heart, as in the case of Samuel, was the same for the disciples traveling to Emmaus. There was the convincing witness of that living word, revealed by the power of God, not only as the objective truth, but as the living truth.
The Spirit of God takes the objective word of God and then makes it come alive to the heart of the believer. The one who is truly revived, and walking with God, is a good receiver, not only of the objective truth of the word of God, but of the blessed working and influence of that living word. God reveals His power and love through that word. Indeed, this is how faith comes to the heart. One hears the living word and becomes convinced of the truth and power of it. The Spirit of God testifies to the heart of the believer that the word is true and worthy to be embraced by faith. Revival is receiving the living word of God to live by Christ’s power.
Dear Father, May our hearts be aflame with Thy living words of power today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.