God's Powerful Word

The words of God are more powerful than we can imagine. With just four words God spoke light into existence (Gen. 1:3), with eighty-four words God told Noah how he could save his family and all the animals from a global flood (Gen. 6:14-16), and at just a word, the Son of God healed the Centurion’s servant (Matt. 8:5-10). Looking back on these momentous events we recognize God’s Word has had significant power since the dawn of time. However, did you know the Word of God still has exceptional power today? Briefly let us consider several ways God’s Word has power presently.

First, God’s Word has the power to create faith in a soul. When it comes to the subject of faith many would argue this is not something that is created, but something that just comes to us. Faith is one of those “unexplainable” aspects of Christianity that God zaps us with the minute we take religion seriously. While those who believe such is the case are sincere, they are mistaken is how faith comes to us. It was Paul who said, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). From Scripture, we learn it is God’s Word that breeds faith in the minds of men. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark, it is not believing in something or Someone with no evidence (Heb. 11:1), faith is a firm confidence and trust in God and what He says. As Christians we need to recognize Romans 10:17 is just as true today as it was the day Paul wrote it. God’s Word has the power to create faith!

Second, God’s Word has the power to prick and convict a soul. After Peter and the other apostles preached the first-ever Gospel sermon those listening were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). After Stephen preached about Israel’s continual rejection of God’s chosen, once again the people were “cut to the heart” (Acts 7:54). What we learn from these passages is this: God’s Word always convicts a soul. Was that not the very point of the Hebrews writer when he said, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12)? Just as God’s Word convicted those at Pentecost, God’s Word will convict anyone who hears it today.

Finally, God’s Word has the power to convert a soul. We recognize not everyone who is convicted by God’s Word, is converted by God’s Word. However, for those who are “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3), and those who are sorry over their sin (2 Cor. 7:9, 10), God’s Word has the power to convert them. It was the psalmist who said, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” (Ps. 19:7), and it was the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized upon hearing and understanding the Word of God (Acts 8:30-39). The Word of God has the power to convert souls.

When we read the Bible, it can be easy to recognize the Word of God had power back then, but do we recognize Scripture has just as much power today if not more? May we never forget God’s Word has the power to create faith in a soul, convict a soul, and convert a soul!