God's Word Has the Power to Change Us

Sermon on 30 August 2020 by Reverend Dr Samuel

Praise the Lord! Greetings to you in the sweet name of the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Such a privilege and honour to meet you online on this wonderful Sunday that I can bring forth God’s words to each one of you.

First off, I want to thank the Lord who made this possible to meet you this Sunday. I also want to thank Pastor Justin and the leadership of Little Flock Church that today’s message will speak to each one of us and draw us closer to Him like never before. I believe with you that God will speak through me and God will speak to us whatever He has installed for us in this season. I am believing that the Lord himself will hide me behind His wing and reveal His word to us this morning. Can we close our eyes for a short while? Father in the name of Jesus we come to you, we come with an open heart, open mind, a receptive spirit, that the spirit of God will enlighten us, empower us, encourage us this Sunday as we hear and heed to your word. Father we know that Your word has power, your word has life, let your life and let your power transform us from one facet of glory to another facet of glory. We give you glory, and we give you honour in the mighty name of Jesus we ask and pray, and all God’s people say together, Amen.

This morning, my topic is that God’s word has the power to change us. In another word, I will say, God’s word has the power to impact the listeners. So, I’m going to pick up the scripture from Joshua 1:7-9 let me read first then we will see from that particular scripture we will continue our study.

Joshua succeeded Moses and he had the task of leading the people into the promise land and we know that Moses was a strict leader and of course much senior in every sense and Joshua would have felt that his own weaknesses and inadequacies in following this leader. But the Lord gave him words and encouraged him that if were to follow God’s words, just like Moses, Joshua can be successful. That’s what we read in Joshua 1:7-9. Be strong and courageous, be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses has given you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. That you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this book of the Lord depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.

So, let’s see this morning what can the power of God’s words do that pertains to the listener. Let me bring forth four points to you. There are several things I can speak about but I’m only going to bring 4 thoughts this morning. Number 1, God’s word has the power to convict the world of sin. God’s word has the power to convict the people of sin. Number 2, God’s word has the power to impart you and me the spiritual life. God’s word has the power to impart in you and me the spiritual life. Third point, God’s word has the power to produce faith. God’s word has the power to produce faith in your life and my life. Finally, God’s word has the power to build you and me spiritually. God’s word has the power to build you and me in our walk with God spiritually. So, let me go one by one and as we have seen in the introduction verse that that was the key God spoke to Joshua about successful life that he may not turn right or the left but to be very careful to obey God’s words. In today’s context, we can say the epistles, God’s words to the church, is very clearly mentioned in the bible and by looking at it and by appreciating it, we can get benefit out of it. The first benefit I shared with you even when you are not believers was the word that convicted you and me of the need of salvation.

Point 1 – God’s word has the power to convict people of sin

So, point one, God’s word, has power to convict people of sin. Let me read Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other Apostles “Brothers, what shall we do?”. Now notice here, we know that Peter stood up with all the apostles and preached the gospel, the good news. Jesus has already risen and Jesus has already ascended to heaven and right now, the command has been given to go and preach forth the gospel and with the power of the Holy Ghost, and Jesus gave them affirmation that He will be with them confirming the word preached with signs following. And we could see here that Peter just does that he stands and preaches the word. Peter had been preaching the Lord Jesus Christ to the crowd assembled that day in Jerusalem. His sermon was the word of God simply right from the beginning to end of the Holy Spirit and literally God’s word is also sword of the spirit and as they were listening, this word of God cut the people’s hearts, the listeners so much so they will come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Now, in the book of Acts we see the believers using God’s word to bring people through faith in Jesus as their personal saviour and Lord. They were simply preaching God’s words, but they were preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit and they could see wonderful results in evangelism. So, when you preach the word of God, it cuts people’s hearts and they come to know that they need a saviour. Let me quickly go to John 16:8 from King James Version. Book of John 16:8-10 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Now notice in verse 8, when He is come, he will reprove the world of sin. The word reprove in King James Version means convict so who is convicting? According to the scripture, the Holy Spirit. But how does Holy Spirit convict unless the word of God is preached. And notice again in this particular scripture it says when the holy spirit is come, he will reprove or convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement so the people who listen to God’s word has the advantage of the work of the holy ghost in their life so this is the first benefit of God’s word in the listeners. So, I said to you God’s words has the power to convict people of the world of sin. How does the word of God do that? When you preach the word or when you proclaim the word not your word not your advice but the word of God the power of god will convict the need of a saviour in their life. That conviction comes directly by the Holy Ghost because you provide the avenue by preaching the word. And remember, preaching the word brings conviction. Preaching the word brings conviction. Not our persuasion not our skill. We need to preach the word in such a way the Holy Spirit can take the word of God and convict them. Hallelujah. That is point 1.

Point 2 – God’s word has power to impart spiritual life

Let us go to point 2. I said to you, God’s word has power to impart spiritual life. God’s word has power to impart spiritual life. Now I will want you to read 1 Peter 1:23. For you have been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God. Now notice here that you have been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable seed through the living and enduring word of God. And he goes on to say in the book of 2 Peter with the same thought in chapter 1 verse 4. Peter is speaking in 2 Peter 1:4 through this, He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Now we see when you receive God’s words, you participate in the divine nature. That means God’s words impart spiritual life to you and to me. So, by giving heed to the word of God, you participate in Jesus’ divine nature as you behold His word you are transformed by the power of His word. Now go with me to John 6:63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Now, I am reading from King James Version. This particular first statement, it is the spirit that quickeneth which in the King James Version means it is the spirit that gives life. It is the spirit that gives life. The flesh profiteth nothing. The word of God that you preach, the word of God that you proclaim, they are spirit and they are life. So, they are life. God’s word has life so as you proclaim God’s words, as you meditate on God’s words, as you read God’s words, as you study God’s words, you participate in His divine nature. That means God’s words imparts to you spiritual life so that you escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. What a promise. When you engage, when you are saturated in his presence by the word of God. The very word of God that you are saturated with has the power because you participate in His life and it imparts spiritual life through which you and I can escape the corruption that you find in the world caused by evil desires. What a wonderful promise God’s words are to you and me for us.

Now if you see in Galatians 5:22-25 we will find the fruit of the spirit mentioned. Through the word of God, the Holy spirit will reproduce in you and me, God’s very own divine and holy nature and we can be set free from any corruption and any kind of sin so easily. We find in Galatians 5:22-25 and you will find this scripture it is talking about the fruit of the spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. So, you find here the fruit of the spirit. How does the fruit of the spirit develop? Fruit of the spirit develops because as you associate with the spirit of God’s words. Now hold that thought and go to Ephesians 5:9 we read this. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. So, we find that the fruit of the spirit develops as we allow the word of God to impart its divine nature in our walk with God. So we need to continue to look into God’s words so that the very word can impart spiritual life to you and me and that is one of the reason the book of James, the writer writes in the first chapter from verse 22 to 25. I want you to hear me and if you have a bible you can look it up with me. Notice how he writes maybe we can read from verse 21 to 25. James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Do you know what the word engrafted word means? Implanted word the word that has been planted in you like the seed that has been planted into the ground. When you plant God’s words in your heart, the word of God says the very word is going to save you. Now notice in verse 22: 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Now I want you to pay attention to this particular verse if you continue, if you continue in God’s word. So, we need not just hearing but we continue to hear, we continue to hear, we keep hearing. We don’t hear it once and continue in His word constantly, regularly so that the word of God can impart spiritual life to you and to me. That is why the word of God is also said it is living and it is active. It is living and it is active. I will give the scripture for you Hebrews 4:12 I’m not going to that scripture, but I want you to know that God’s word is living and is active so that the very word of God can impart to you and me spiritual life. Praise the Lord.

First, I said to you, the word of God has the power to convict people of sin. I said to you, the listeners, that when you preach God’s word, you create an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to use the very word to bring conviction to the listeners and that is how you and I got born again. Number 2, the word of God has the power to impart spiritual life so as you continue to behold, as you continue in His word as you continue to look into His word as a mirror, the very word of God because it is living, because it has power within itself, because it is quick and active, it can transform our lives, impart growth into our walk, into our spiritual life.

Point 3 – God’s word has the power to produce faith

Now let’s go to the third point. The third point that I mentioned to you is that God’s word has the power to produce faith. Now we know that without faith it is impossible to please God. In fact, Christian walk is a walk of faith. Anytime and every time people came with a request or a need, Jesus questioned them do you believe I can do this for you. Simply, do you have faith in me. Today, you may say I have faith in God but what do you mean by saying that? What do you mean by saying I have faith in God? You need to have faith in His word today so when you have faith in His word it means you have faith in God. But in the first place, how do you get faith? Let’s go to Romans 10:17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Now notice here, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We can read God’s word from cover to cover but never be spiritually changed unless the very word becomes a personal revelation in our hearts. A person can hear that Jesus died for everyone but won’t change at all unless they have a revelation in their heart that Christ had died personally for him or for her. So, when you preach the word, when you proclaim the word, the word of God contains life and it produces faith. Faith only comes when the Holy Spirit takes God’ words and makes it to a living reality deep down in your heart inside you so I will say it this way. When you read God’s word it is what we call logos, the written word of God but the very word of God, when faith is mingled with it, then it becomes rhema word, rhema word to us. Hallelujah. People do not benefit from God’s words because they do not mix it with faith.

You need to mix with faith. How does it happen? Let me show you one of the scriptures I believe it is Hebrews 4:2 just came to my remembrance and let me read it for you. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Can you see this, that means to say, when you preach the word, the Holy Spirit will cause faith to arise to the listeners so when the word of God that is preached (logos) and the Holy Ghost brings revelation, life to that particular word, faith is available. Now the word of God preached and faith together produces life and the word of God says no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Ghost and when you preach the word of God, it is in partnership with the Holy Spirit, people get saved so God’s word has the power to bring faith. God’s word has the power to bring faith. Now God’s word changes. God’s word brings change. It is not our feelings, it is not our commitment, it is not our persuasion but it is God’s word that brings change and so we need to be careful though we may talk about stories or sharing about testimonies, testimonies can really inspire people but it cannot bring them to salvation because only the word of God produces faith. Only the word of God produces faith and I will suggest whenever you preach the word of God to somebody, you are actually creating an environment to those people to get faith by hearing the word and mixing with faith it produces life in them. Hallelujah. It is the word of God that does all things. Let’s go to James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Now notice it is the word of truth that got us born again. So, the word of God has the power to bring forth faith. Amazing.

Point 4 – God’s word has the power to build you and me up spiritually

Finally, God’s word has power to build you and me spiritually. That means, you grow up spiritually not just to be born again but to grow spiritually. Let’s go to Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Now notice here, how the word of God is mentioned as the word of His grace. Word of His grace. And what does His word of grace do to you and me? It is able to build you up, it is able to build me up and to give you and me an inheritance among the sanctified. So very clearly it says God’s words has the power to build you up and build me up spiritually. So, we need to turn to the word of God, we need to go back to the word of God because it has the power to build you and me up. That’s why again we will see in 1 Peter 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. As newborn babes, desire the sincere or pure milk of the word that ye may grow thereby. So here we find God’s word is there for you and me so that we can grow up in Him. That’s the very reason we have God’s word. So, I’ve been talking about God’s word but actually the word of God has a lot of things to share to us but I was bringing only those 4 points to you just to bring you back to the word.

So far, what have we heard? What have I shared? Number 1 God’s word has power to convict people of the world of sin. Number 2, God’s word has power to impart spiritual life. Number 3, God’s word has power to produce faith. Finally, I said to you, God’s word has power to build you and me up spiritually. Now in conclusion, I would want you to go to Proverbs 4:20-23 and I would want you to pay close attention. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Notice here, the word of God has to be attended to. You need to incline your ears unto his sayings, and we should not depart the word of God, let them not depart from our eyes. Let’s be careful to keep God’s words in the midst of our heart. Why? Because they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh. You know what the word health to all their flesh means? Medicine to all our flesh. Praise the Lord. And it says in verse 23 keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Do you know in connection with that particular statement what does it mean? Be always word-centered. Be always word-saturated just like how you will want to see yourself continually in a mirror. God’s word is mirror to us so much so that we always take a look at it continually so that you and I will be word-centered. May the spirit of the Lord help us in our walk of God that the word of God convicts when we preach to the listeners and the listeners when they listen to God’s word preached, the Holy spirit will bring conviction. When you preach the word of God, read the word of God, continue the word of God, let it bring spiritual life as you concentrate and as you continue on God’s word, let it produce faith. Finally, as we meditate on God’s word, let us grow up spiritually.

Let’s close our eyes and pray. Father thank you so much that I could bring forth God’s word with the help of you Holy Spirit. Thank you for hiding me behind your cross and to reveal your word. Father God thank you so much the word of God that contains life living and quick powerful thank you so much and we allow this word to impact our life. We will be in a situation so much so word-centered, word-saturated that the Holy Ghost will take that very word and impart the spiritual life so that we can walk worthy of our calling and people of God and people of the word can see in us Christ in me, the Hope of Glory. And not only that, people will be able to partake of your divine nature by the word of God and by our testimony. We give you glory, and we give you honour in the mighty name of Jesus we ask and pray Amen. I believe I brought forth the word of God in season for little flock church. Do not fear little flock church, continue in His word and be impacted by His word. Let your light, let your love, let your life shine for God’s glory. May the Lord bless you, God bless you, Shalom to each one of you. Amen!