WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS WELCOMED AS THE WORD OF GOD
“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 you, 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. And because they received the Word with a good heart, it worked effectively in their lives, as many who believed.
Note: for the Word of God to work effectively in you, you have to believe it.
You must welcome the Word as it is, believing that in truth it is 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 they heard, because they do not believe it or receive it with a good heart; and some trivialize it—they see it as the Word of men, human idea: “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—the person’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 or efficaciousness; the power in it.
The Word of God may seem latent, inactive or ordinary, but it is powerful. What activates its potency or efficaciousness is your believe, your faith in it, and your obedience to it by acting on it.
The point being made is, the heart with which you receive the Word determines whether it will work or not. The Word of God will surely 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 argued with the Word of God, you rendered it impotent, powerless and inoperative (Luke 1:18-20).
Unbeliefs, doubts, aspersions, and trivialization weaken the potency of the Word.
You should dare, be sufficiently courageous, to take a step on the Word, the instruction you received through the written Word, and see the power in it.
You experience the integrity of the Word of God, when you dare to do it (James 1:25).
Faith in the Word of God means acting on the Word. When you act on the Word of God that you heard or read, God moves into action to perform what the Word says.
You cannot know or experience the extent of power embedded or inherent in God’s Word without acting on it. Acting on the Word of God triggers power. In other words, the acting on, or doing of, the Word sets or puts the power in it into motion, swings it into action.
Thus, If you believe the Word of God which you know, you will act on it. Believers are to live by faith in the Word: “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:17 NKJV).
Thus, act on the Word now!
“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!