The Power of the Word
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 08/23/2020
Foundation Scripture:
For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1:37 AMPC
1. God’s Word is Power.
a. Every Word God speaks is full of power and potential.
b. Luke 1:37 ASV — For no word from God shall be void of power.
c. Luke 1:37 TLB — For every promise from God shall surely come true.
d. Isaiah 55:11 AMPC — So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
e. God never wastes His words—He only speaks words that produce life and words that produce results.
f. The Word becomes a living thing on the lips of the believer.
g. Hebrews 4:12a AMPC — For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]…
h. When it is activated through faith-filled preaching, the Word of God grows, multiplies, and prevails (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 9:20).
i. Romans 1:16 NKJV — For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
j. God’s Word is full of power to change a person; a city; a nation; the world—if someone is bold enough to preach it and demonstrate it (2 Tim. 4:2-3).
2. The Power of the Word is Activated Through Faith.
a. The Word of God is the TRUTH—and it effectively works (only) in those who welcome it as the Word of God and BELIEVE it (Mark 5:36; 1 Thess. 2:13).
b. Take God at His Word—believe His Word; believe that He is Who He says He is and that He does what He says He does.
c. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV — But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
d. The Word has no power in the life of a person who refuses to receive or believe it (Hebrews 4:2).
e. Unbelief is unprofitable and invites defeat (Prov. 13:13; Mark 16:14; Heb. 4:11).
f. Religious tradition strips God’s Word of its power, authority, and effectiveness in a person’s life (Matt. 15:6).
g. Matthew 15:8-9 AMPC — These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me. 9 Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.
h. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
i. Watch your mouth—speak words that agree with, and line up with, God’s Word—everything else is unprofitable (Eph. 5:4; 1 Tim. 6:20-21).
j. Matthew 12:36-37 AMPC — But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
3. Power to Save, Heal, and Deliver.
a. The word “Salvation” offers us everything we need: deliverance; preservation; provision; safety; salvation; health; healing—for spirit, soul, and body.
b. The Lord’s salvation plan has been laid out plainly for us, to appropriate for ourselves; if we will believe and receive it.
c. Isaiah 53:1 NKJV — Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
d. The Word of God prevails over sin, sickness, disease and death.
e. Psalm 107:20 NKJV — He sent His word and healed them.
f. Isaiah 53:5 KJV — But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
g. 1 Peter 2:24 NKJV — Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.
h. Matthew 8:8,13 AMPC — But the centurion replied to Him, Lord, I am not worthy or fit to have You come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant boy will be cured. …Then to the centurion Jesus said, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed. And the servant boy was restored to health at that very moment.
i. Mark 16:17-18 KJV — And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
4. Power to Do the Impossible.
a. Hebrews 11:1 NKJV — Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
b. Abraham received the impossible—innumerable descendants—and was counted righteous, because of his unwavering faith in God’s promise (Rom. 4:16-22).
c. Romans 4:19-21 NKJV — And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
d. Faith prevailed over fear and sense knowledge, in the mind and heart of Abraham.
e. Abraham was fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and to do what He had promised.
f. Sarah considered God Who had given her the promise, to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His Word (Heb. 11:11 AMPC).
g. Hebrews 11 is the list of all those who took God at His Word, acted upon it, and who received the reward of faith and obedience—both here on earth and in eternity.
h. As we follow their example, we can also see the Lord move mightily on our behalf.