“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
Throughout the entirety of Scripture, the importance and power of the word of God is declared and demonstrated. If we would simply begin with the testimony of Isaiah, and God’s work in and through him, to reach the heart of the nation of Israel again, God would speak of His word. For example, in reaching out to Israel with the comforting words of hope, and the promise of His provision, the Lord speaks of the revelation of His glory, again being manifested and revealed in their midst. However, for this to occur in the manner and magnitude that the Lord desires, the nation of Israel must have a right attitude, or mindset, concerning the word of the Lord as compared to all else, whether thoughts, imaginations, speculations, or every high and lofty thought that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God. This He would do by drawing the analogy between “all flesh,”the goodliness thereof,” and His word. (Is. 40:6) He goes further using this illustration by declaring that “the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it.” He then adds, “Surely, this people IS grass.” So, the Lord leaves no room for man to think that he is great. Even all the nations put together, are nothing compared to Him. Man will not endure forever in his flesh. The Lord then contrasts all that is of man in this creation with His word, that spoken word of God. Why? The answer is clear: “… the word of our God shall stand forever.” (v.8) Here is revealed something of the power of God, manifested according to His spoken word, and written down in the Scriptures….it abides, remains in tact, never diminishing in quality or essence, and this forever. It possess the power to remain the same, just as Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That which accompanies this spoken word of God also remains in tact, for it will always accomplish its purpose. This is the testimony of Scripture: “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but is shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is. 55:11) So, when the word of God is compared to “all nations,” which are as a drop in a bucket, the word of God stands unchanged, effective, powerful, in its original essence, for it is the expression, and communication, of the eternal God to men. It is therefore Living, and powerful, and able to save. This is why the gospel, the word of God, possesses the power of God to save a lost soul, and reveal the glory of God, regardless of what man may think or do. How does this apply to the Christian, the disciple of Christ, who would follow Christ?
From God’s dealings with Adam and Eve to this present day, we discover that when God speaks, He will accomplish all that He has promised, and will enable all who hear to obey. God’s blessings come in accordance with His word as the believer submits to His authority.
Secondly, the believer must not only realize that God is faithful to men according to His word, but that with that word comes His power and strength to “rise up an walk,” serviing Him victoriously. When Jesus was faced one day in a synagogue with the man who had the withered hand, he spoke to the man and told him to, “Stretch forth thy hand.” The man did so, and his hand was completely healed. Christ did a similar thing concerning a crippled, helpless man, who had been that way for thirty eight years. He asked the man if he would be made whole. Helpless and yet hopeful, Jesus then said to him: “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” (Jn.5:8)
Dear Father, Speak power into us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.