THE HEART WITH WHICH YOU RECEIVE THE WORD
“FOR THIS REASON WE ALSO THANK GOD WITHOUT CEASING, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, YOU WELCOMED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)
The heart with which you receive the Word of God determines the result it produces in your life.
If the Word of God you heard or read would work effectively in your life, you have to welcome it as the very Word of God.
The Word of God which the Thessalonians heard from Paul and his team was accepted as the very Word of God—they did not receive it as the word of men, human ideas (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
For the reason that they received the Word with a good heart, it worked effectively in them, as many who believed (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Note:
• For the Word of God to work effectively in your life, you have to believe it.
• You must welcome the Word as it is in truth, the Word of God; it should not be seen as the Word of man—word of the preacher who preaches it.
• A number of people could not derive any benefits from the Word of God which they heard (Hebrews 4:2), because they do not believe it or receive it with a good heart; and some trivialised it—they see it as the Word of men, humans ideas.
“FOR INDEED THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO US AS WELL AS TO THEM; BUT THE WORD WHICH THEY HEARD DID NOT PROFIT THEM, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THOSE WHO HEARD IT.”
Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV)
God uses human beings to proclaim His Word, whoever believes it and sees it as God’s Word would receive the blessings that accompanied the Word.
“FOR PROPHESY NEVER CAME BY THE WILL OF MAN, BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD SPOKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV)
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SPOKE BY ME, AND HIS WORD WAS ON MY TONGUE.”
2 Samuel 23:2 (NKJV)
The extent to which the Word of God works in a person’s life is determined generally by the recipient’s attitude to the Word.
If you believe the word of God, you have faith in it, and obey it, you will experience its potency—the power in it.
The Word of God may seem latent, inactive or ordinary, what activates it is your believe, that is, your faith in it, and your obedience to it.
The heart with which you receive the Word of God determines whether it will work or not. The Word of God will work for you, if you receive it with a good heart—heart of faith and obedience:
38 THEN MARY SAID, “BEHOLD THE MAIDSERVANT OF THE LORD! LET IT BE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” AND THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HER.
45 BLESSED IS SHE WHO BELIEVED, FOR THERE WILL BE A FULFILLMENT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD HER FROM THE LORD.”
Luke 1: 38,45 (NKJV)
• When you argue with the Word of God, you render it impotent, powerless and inoperative (Luke 1:18-20).
• Unbeliefs, doubts, aspersions, and trivialization weaken the potency of the Word of God.
• You experience the integrity of the Word when you dare to do it (James 1:25). Thus, dare to take a step on the Word, the instruction you received through the Word, and experience the power in it!
Faith in the Word of God is about acting on it.
• When you act on the Word of God you heard or read, God moves into action to perform what the Word says.
• You cannot know or experience the extent of the power embedded or inherent in God’s Word without acting on it.
• Acting on the Word of God triggers it, sets or puts it in motion, swings it into action.
Thus, If you believe the Word of God that you know, you will act on it. Believers are to live by faith in the Word. Act now!
“THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
Romans 1:17 (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.”
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!