The Power of the Spoken Word

All creation came into existence by the spoken Word of God. The heavens were ordained by Him, the starry host of them supported by the Word of His Power. It should therefore not be surprising that, even as created beings, our words hold great power and are often instrumental in shaping our own destiny and the destiny of others. Being made in the image of the Creator God, our words and thoughts are powerful and innovative, being surpassed only by God Himself (Is 55:9).

Indeed, the Bible reveals that life and death lie dormant in the power of the tongue and our words, once spoken, sow either life or death to ourselves and others to whom we speak. The power of choice is expressed and ratified through the use of speech and words once spoken cannot be retracted. The memory of them and the feelings and emotions they first induced live on long after the fact.

Our words have the power to unite or divide people, make them whole or eternally shatter their fragile lives. There are many who wander through life in confusion, choosing not to believe in God because of the careless words of others spoken in ignorance or arrogance. Negative words create negative energies which engender a spirit of discord and rebellion which are tools in the hands of satan, the master deceiver. He would have us believe that we are nothing, yet the Word of God says that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us and died to save us. Sometimes we make the mistake of listening to him and even talking like him!

How often have you found yourself involved in idle gossip or putting others down? Have you ever given someone a tongue lashing only to regret it later, wishing you could take back some of the nasty things you said in the heat of the moment? I think we can all safely say that none of us are innocent in this matter, so it would be good to look at some ways of reducing the damage we inflict on ourselves and others through our callous words, often spoken without much thought.

The book of Proverbs shares some wise counsel revealing that the words of a fool are many,  but the wise man is usually a man of a few words but of great power. A good practice to live by is to think before speaking and if you have nothing good to say, to rather remain silent and keep your peace. Do not speak riotous words, swear or engage in speech that would offend or provoke others to wrath. Let the beauty of the patience of Christ be observed in your speech and actions so that all the world may know that you are His disciple. Speak words of wisdom to the erring, comfort to those in despair and inspiration to the demotivated. Be a champion of those in need of defense. Always speak words of Truth in a spirit of love, even when correcting others. Let your thoughts and heart be brought captive to Christ in all purity for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. The Lord lays before us life and death (Deut 30:19). Choose life for only then can you speak words of life to others who need to hear them. Share your testimony with others and before you speak, ask yourself: Is what I am about to say something that Jesus would say? If not, don’t say it! Years of faithful witnessing can be destroyed by one callous word.

"...If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."-James 3:2

"And God SAID: "Let there be light," and there was light. -Gen 1:3

Scripture references: James 3; Gen 1; Phil 4:8; Col 3:2

 

The “Gift” of Tradition

Stories abound of young people who do certain things in a certain specific manner for no other reason than that it was done in this manner by their forefathers. In Mark 7:5-9, Jesus admonished the Pharisees for upholding their traditions above the commandments of God. The Pharisees had begun to perform the ritual washing as a mere tradition passed down by the elders; all meaning behind the act had been lost and people had started to just perform the washings for the sake of their forefathers.

Traditions often start out as useful elements of society and arise out of a certain specific need. However, as the generations roll on, the reason and truth behind the tradition is seldom passed down to younger generations, but only its empty form. The gift of tradition does much for the people of this world when it encourages common sense and caution, but for the most part satan has used this gift of our forefathers as a battering ram to break down our defenses and allow him a foothold in our lives. The story is told that in the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, that the Greeks simply hid a few soldiers in a wooden horse left outside the walls of the Trojan fortress and pretended to sail away. The Trojans, thinking the Greeks had abandoned the war effort and left the horse as a gift to their nation, wheeled it into the city as a victory trophy. That night, the soldiers hidden within the wooden horse secretly stole from their hiding place and opened the defenses of the city to their waiting comrades. Thus the otherwise undefeatable city of Troy was taken!

In the same way, satan uses traditions in the church to cause divisions in the Kingdom of God. It is Christ’s intention that His church be one Kingdom under one Shepherd, but the church has largely put the tradition of man over the commandments of God as revealed in His Word. This has resulted in myriads of schisms and different denominations all claiming to worship the same God, but each with its own traditional concept of which doctrines are the most important and which ones can be conveniently “done away with.” Popular preaching seeks to please the crowds, and if certain traditional standards are not upheld, members are lost. Indeed, the sayings of 2Tim 4:3 have come to pass in our lifetimes; the church has already started to fall away from sound doctrine, heaping up for itself false teachers who tell the people what they wish to hear, no longer condemning the practice of heinous sins but seeking safety in numbers. No longer is the Word of God and new light seen holistically in growing the people spiritually from strength to strength, but rather the powerful exert their influence in deciding what is supposedly important and what can be discarded.

Traditions also cause relationship problems between different generations if they’re forced to adhere to traditions that have passed their “sell by date” and are no longer relevant to the time in which we live. We must contend for the faith first delivered to the saints, seek the restoration of Apostolic Christianity, and not conform to false traditions of Babylon.

"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them: Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." -Mark 7:7-9

Scripture references: Mark 7:5-13; Col 2:8;  Rev 18:4

The Finished Work of the Cross

Just before his death on the cross, Jesus uttered three significant words. These are recorded for us in John’s gospel (Jn 19:30) as: “It is finished.” The work of redemption had been completed, and the penalty had been paid. Salvation was freely available from that moment to anyone who would believe in the righteous Son of God.

However, the process was not an easy one. Jesus did not HAVE to leave the glories of Heaven to come to earth to be rejected and reviled by humankind, who He sought only to save. He could have left us to perish in paying the due penalty for our sins, through eternal death. However, He had made up His mind voluntarily that He would save us. He had the power to lay down His life and to take it up again; He chose of His accord to assert this power for our benefit (Jn 10:17-18).

 He could have decided to leave the work of atonement undone at any point in time prior to His crucifixion. At his arrest, He could have summoned ten thousand angels to rescue Him (Matt 26:63). However, our Saviour decided to go all the way for us. Even when His physical strength was all but exhausted, He hung on because He knew that it meant the difference between life and death for us.

In the same manner, we are called to be soldiers of the cross. Our mission is to spread the gospel to all nations preparatory to the return of our Lord in the clouds of glory. Sometimes, we feel that no one notices the work we do and conversions are few. However, we are not to give up in well-doing though we may be weary, for in due time we will receive the reward of a good and faithful servant if we do not lose heart (Gal 6:9).

Those who are involved in the work of teaching and church leadership are called to a higher responsibility and standard

(Jer 23:1-2). They must answer for leading astray those under their care, or for leaving the work concerning them unfinished. We should endeavour to leave no stone unturned in seeking the salvation of the lost, and in helping those privileged to be in His presence to remain there. We should work even harder, considering that there are many false teachers, who like ravenous wolves, disguise themselves as shepherds of the flock of God (Matt 7:15, Acts 20:29). Let not the blood of the uninformed be on our heads, but rather let us be faithful watchmen in warning others of the soon return of our Lord (Ezek 33:6, Ezek 3:20).

Let us finish the work we have been called to do, just as the Saviour’s meat and drink was to do His Father’s will and to finish His work (Jn 4:34). He finished the work He was called to accomplish on our behalf. Let us with like passion, finish the work that we have started! He has promised to be faithful to us in bringing the good work He has started in our lives to a grand completion. It is time for the great church of God to awake from our slumber and to work the works of Him who has commissioned us, for night will soon fall when no man may work (Jn 9:4).

A Little Piece of Heaven on earth

When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would be established, He answered by saying to them: “The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

Even the people of the world who have not yet accepted the authority and salvation of Christ in their lives agree that we are on the cusp of something momentous. A new era will soon dawn that will change the world forever. However, no one knows the day or the hour of the coming of Christ; not even the angels in Heaven are privy to this information – it is only the Father who knows. (Matt 24:36)

So, what about the here and now? How does the coming Kingdom of God affect our lives today? Jesus indicated that the Kingdom of God, although only literally arriving in splendid glory at His Coming, already has its foundation in the heart of every believer. Christ reigns first in your heart! Your heart must be the seat of His royal throne.

It is only when we totally surrender our hearts to Him, that our lives on this earth become more meaningful and our trials easier to bear. Life may throw hard challenges at you, but with the beginnings of an eternal Kingdom in your heart, you can be an oasis of stability to others around you who are left reeling by the stresses and cares of this world. When they try to unravel the puzzle of your life, they will find Christ! When they look at you with a sense of awe and admiration, they look at Him with a sense of awe and admiration! You can become a mirror that reflects Christ to the world. When people say you’re a wonderful person, you can assert to them that they’re really calling Him wonderful!

God has put a little piece of Heaven inside the heart of each of His children and all the “sham, drudgery and broken dreams” of this world cannot crush it out of you! It is the hope of glory that will be fully revealed at His Second Coming. Do not let your soul be downcast; rather hope in God for Your Redeemer lives and you will soon see Him! (Rev 21, Job 19:25)

God's Word-Jet fuel for Christians

At a lunchtime Bible study at work, my friend touched on an important point. He said that yesterday’s revelation will not help us survive today. God reveals Himself to us anew each and every day of our lives, but in order to truly experience an adventure with Him, we need to reverence and hold sacred the time we spend in His presence.

In Exodus 16:18-20, we read of how the Lord provided the Israelites with manna from Heaven. You will notice that those who gathered more were not better off, and those who gathered less experienced no lack. God was trying to show them that He was their sufficiency in everything. Some of them kept the manna overnight, fearing that there would not be a fresh supply the following morning. To their dismay, it bred worms and had a foul stench. God was trying to show them that they could trust Him. In much the same way, we try to face today’s challenges with yesterday’s revelation.

Although there is nothing wrong with remembering what the Lord has brought you through in the past, it is essential that you do not remain stagnant. Every child of God needs to grow in the knowledge of his Father’s grace and experience His mercies that are new every morning. Oftentimes, we find ourselves trying to live a whole week on the blessings of last Sabbath! Just like an automobile needs fuel, we need the fuel of God’s Word to give us power during the week. We remember to replenish our physical bodies with food every day, but what about some “soul food”?

We somehow manage to get out of bed every morning and go to work because we know that we must work to survive. However, the truth of the matter is that without the breath of life that God gives you, and the power he gives you to earn wealth, you are nothing! (Deut 8:18)

When Jesus fed the five thousand with the loaves of bread, He was showing them not just His power to meet their physical needs, but also His body that would be broken for us so that He could establish the body of Christ. The bread symbolizes the Word of God of which Christ was the living representation. Though millions may eat of it everyday, there is always enough for everyone just as the baskets were not empty after feeding thousands of people. (Luke 9:12-17, Jn 1:1-14, Jn 6:58)

I have learned that there is no such thing as taking a Sabbatical from studying God’s Word. True rest is found only in the contemplative posture of discipleship. Satan will try to keep us as busy as possible because He knows that if he can distract us, he has won half the battle! The Apostle Paul writes that we should pray without ceasing; sometimes that’s easier said than done, but if we weigh our thoughts each day we will usually find that not much thought is given to the one who is sustaining us from one minute to the next.  There are those who long to be with the people of God but cannot, because of circumstances beyond their control. Those who can, must meet to pray for them like the church did for Paul in prison.

" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."-John 6:63

"For the word of God is quick, 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

The King who Serves

God is calling us all to active service in His Kingdom. Although His Kingdom has not yet arrived visibly in majestic splendor in the clouds of glory, we have declared Him King in our hearts and He remains the King of the Universe and beyond.

Jesus asks some interesting questions in Luke 17:7-10. He asked His disciples which master, having a servant who came in from the field, would give his servant permission to sit down and eat before having first served the master. He then states what the conventional master would do i.e. ask to be served first. The master would not thank his servant for having performed his duty since he was merely fulfilling his purpose, neither would the servant expect any thanks from his master for having done his job.

Contrast this with John 13:3-5 where Jesus, knowing His position as master and sent of God, laid aside His garments and took the position of a servant in washing the feet of His disciples. What was He trying to say? He was trying to show that He is not a master like the masters of this world, who too often do not deserve the respect given them. Being the Son of God, He has every right to our respect and worship and yet He assumes the posture of a servant.

Now examine Luke 12:37. Jesus speaks of the future reward of His servants i.e. those who have labored for Him in this world. If He were like other masters, He would not thank them or give them honours for merely performing their assigned tasks. However, this verse reveals that when His Kingdom in all its glory is established, the King of the Universe will still be the same Lord that serves His servants and bestows upon them honours they don’t deserve! It says that His servants who are found working at His return will sit at His table and He will come forth girded to serve them. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Heb 13:8)

He served during His time on earth. He gave His life to save us from our sins, and in the future He will still consider it a delight to serve those whom He loves. This shows that what you do doesn’t detract from who you are (Luke 22:24-30). The King remains the king even though He chooses to serve. So basically the message to us in Luke 17:7-10 is that we are not greater than our Lord. We should not expect any thanks from those we serve. We’re just doing our duty! Don’t let your service come tainted with ulterior motives or exercise a superiority complex over those you serve. Let the love of Christ, the servant-King, shine through your deeds. Let all the world see it and give glory to God! (Mat 5:16, 1 Cor 10:31, Col 3:17, Phil 2:14)

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."- Matt 5:16

What kind of brother are you?

The story in Luke 15 tells of a young man who demanded his inheritance so he could start a life of his own. After much deliberation, his father is forced to accede to his request as his son refuses to see the error of his ways. The son squanders his inheritance on riotous living, and soon is left empty - handed. Friends desert him as his inheritance dwindles. Eventually he is alone, left to fend for himself in an unfamiliar and hostile world. He possesses little skill or wisdom as he refused to use the time spent with his father to learn a trade or help in the family business. As a young Jewish lad he eventually finds himself hired as a keeper of swine, a job that in his culture would have been viewed as unclean and despicable.

Eventually he comes to his senses and returns home, planning to beg the forgiveness of God and his father and to secure a place among his dad’s hired labourers, as he is no longer worthy to be called his son. The magnitude of his sin weighs heavily on him as he walks the dusty road to his village. Suddenly from afar, he sees a figure running toward him, robes flapping ridiculously. He immediately recognizes his father, arms outstretched and looking less than dignified as he dashes toward his son to embrace him, kissing him on the neck. With tears in his eyes, he commands that the best robe be put on his son, sandals on his feet and the signet ring of authority on his right hand thus restoring him to the position of honour he once held as his son.

Meanwhile the older son who had remained with the father came in from the fields after a hard day’s labour and was less than impressed with the reason for the great celebration the father had arranged. After his brother had left home, he had to carry the workload of two men and he had no time for fun or celebration. He reasoned that he was better than his brother. After all he had sacrificed much to remain with his father. He felt unappreciated, and his grudging obedience to the father was taking its toll on him.

As part of the church of Christ, what kind of brother are you? Are you happy when your brother in the Lord comes home, sinful though he may be? Remember, you have sinned too. Take the example of Jesus to heart. As our elder brother, He chose to leave the glories of Heaven to risk all to save us. Now that we are safely home, he commands us to do the same. We are to go into the world, looking for straying children of our Father for He longs to welcome them home.

Scripture references: Luke 15:10-32