WINNING WITH GOD’S WORD
By Zacch I Olorunnipa
Text: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. (Hebrews 4:12)
Introduction
If properly harnessed and engaged, the word of God can be a powerful winning tool in the race and battle of life. There are two primary Greek words (logos and rhema) that aptly describe the word of God, especially in the New Testament. The word logos refers principally to the inspired word of God and to Jesus, who is the living Word (John 1:1). The Greek word rhema, refers to the spoken word. Examples of rhema word include that spoken to Mary by Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38) and that from Jesus Christ which Simon received and obeyed (Luke 5: 3-7). Both logos and rhema are taken into account in this ministration. They are the bedrock of what Apostle Paul described as “the Holy Scriptures” (Rom. 1:12; 2 Tim.3: 15) and “the sword of the spirit” (Eph. 6:17).
Winning Virtues in God’s word
‘Race and battle’ of life refer to all things that people engage in or encounter in the world in which they have the desire to achieve one form of success/victory or the other. Invariably, the life of every human being (spiritual and physical) is intricately interwoven with these races and battles encountered in the quest for things like food, shelter, education, jobs, leisure, and pursuit of destiny in general.
There are innumerable virtues, characteristics or attributes that are inherent in God’s word that propel it to be a winning tool in the life’s race and battle. In this ministration attention is focused only on the following five attributes:
Purity Virtue
Power Virtue (examples: Creative and Productive)
Panacea Virtue
Peace Virtue
Prosperity Virtue
The purity Virtue
The Bible declares, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” – (Proverbs 30:5). The Bible further says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). The purity of God’s word signifies its sanctity and inerrant nature (that is without error, without dross; perfect). It is this purity attribute that makes instant salvation possible for a sinner who hears God’s word, repents of his/her sins and receives Jesus Christ (the Word) by faith as his/her Lord and Savior. Instantly, such a person becomes a beneficiary of the prayer of Jesus to His Father: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The most important and inevitable race of life is the one that will either terminate in heaven for winners or terminate in hell for losers. Every human being must participate and end in one of these two races. If you have received the pure word of God and given your life to the Word (Jesus Christ), you are on your way to the kingdom of God in heaven. If you have not, do so today by confessing and repenting of your sins and asking Jesus Christ to forgive you, save your soul and be your Lord and Savior (Rom 3:23, 10: 9-11). Believe in the pure word and Word of God and be a winner of the Kingdom of God. You will not be a loser in the mighty name of Jesus.
Power Virtue
According to Revelation 19:6, God is omnipotent, meaning He is unlimited in authority or power. Corroborating this scripture, the inspired word of the Psalmist says, “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” (Psalm. 62:11). Given the saying that “power begets power” it is not surprising that several scriptures clearly point out that the word of God carries power (Heb 4:12; Rm 1:16; Ecc. 8:4; Lk. 4:32, 36;1 Cor. 2:4; 1 Thes. 1:5; Heb 1:3, Jer 20::9; 23:9),
The power entrenched in the word of God can help the believer to be a winner in various instances. Let us consider only two of these instances, (a) creative power, and (b) the protective power in God’s word:
(a) The creative power of God’s word can be seen in how God spoke the entire universe to existence (Gen, chapter one). Human beings, animals, birds, fishes, etc. are among living things that God spoke into existence by His word. The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Pro 18:21a). Have you been battling with the inability to conceive? Has Satan thrown a death blow at any of your aspirations? With the help of God, you can engage your faith and the creative power of the word of God to reverse these situations. Command your womb to be alive and begin to carry your baby/babies in Jesus name. Remind your entire body of the word of God that says, “There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land …” (Exo 23:26).
(b) The protective power of God’s word is evident in several scriptures. For example, to secure protection against sins use Psalm 119:11 which says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”. The fight against forces of darkness and uncertainty about the direction to go can be won by praying and claiming the scripture, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). In general, decreeing the appropriate word of God over the particular challenge confronting the believer can be a potent winning tool for the Bible says, “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee” (Job 22:28). Jesus Christ used this strategy to prevail over Satan who tempted him thrice (Luke 4: 1-13). In the second temptation, Satan promised to give unto Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them if he would worship him. Jesus vehemently rejected the offer and commanded (that is decreed to) Satan: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). Like Jesus, the believer can use the power of the word of God to prevail over Satan in all his attacks including temptations.
The Panacea Attribute
Panacea means remedy or healing. The word of God can be the most effective panacea for winning the bout against sicknesses or any other maladies (spiritual or physical). During one of his ministrations, they brought unto Jesus, “many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matt 8:16). Talking about God and His word as a panacea to sickness, the Bible declares, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm107:20).
An example of someone who knew the power of God’s word is a centurion whose servant (that was dear to him) was very sick and was about to die. The centurion sent some Jewish elders to go and plead with Jesus Christ to come and heal his servant. Jesus consented and was going to the centurion’s house (Lk. 7: 1-6). When the centurion learned that Jesus was getting close to his house, he sent some of his friends to him saying, “Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed” (Luke 7: 6-7). Jesus marveled at the great faith of the centurion and sent his word to the sick servant. The Bible records that when the Jewish elders returned to the centurion’s house, they found the servant completely healed. (Luke 7:.10). The words of God are Spirit and they are life (John 6:63). It will do for you what it did in the centurion servant’s life. Are you or somebody you know facing any health challenges? engage the word of God as a panacea by speaking healing words into the health challenges (Jer. 33:6; 3 John v.2; Psalm 30:2; Psalm 147:3; Isa. 58:8)
The Peace Attribute
The word of God is an excellent carrier of peace, given that Jesus Christ, the Word, is called the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). The peace-laden word of God can be an advantage for a believer in winning many of life’s battles. A case in point is when the disciples of Jesus were in danger of losing their lives in a great and turbulent storm that confronted them on the sea as they sailed to cross to the other side. The disciples quickly reported the incident to Jesus Christ who was sleeping at the hinter part of the ship (Mark 4: 35-38). Jesus helped the disciples win the battle against the storm by rebuking it saying, “Peace, be still”. It is recorded that, “..the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). On the day of His resurrection in the evening, the disciples of Jesus were assembled, shut-in for fear of the Jews. Suddenly, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said unto them, “Peace be unto you” (John 20:19). With this proclamation, Jesus gave his disciples victory over their fear for the Bible declares,, “And when he had so said, …Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).
What type of chaos or turbulence is facing your life as a believer? Prayerfully speak the peace-laden word of God into it/them in Jesus name and have faith in God for a peaceful resolution. Jesus said, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it”. You shall testify to the glory of God.
Prosperity Attribute
The word of God has tremendous potential in promoting prosperity and success in the life of the believer. Through Moses, God detailed the various blessings of prosperity that will accrue to the Israelites (and to God’s people in general) who will hear, do and obey his commandments (Deut. 28: 1-14). In addition, listen to what God told Joshua regarding prospering, ”This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Josh 1:8).
Any believer who wants to be a winner with respect to prosperity and success must hold the word of God dear to heart, study and meditate on it perpetually and obey God’s commandments delivered through Moses and Joshua as indicated above. The law is the word of God given to us in form of the Holy Bible. In His word are all kinds of “treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places….” (Isa 45:3). By constantly studying and meditating on the word of God, the believer can be given access to divine revelation, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and strategies that can open the way to prosperity.
Simon and his colleague fisherman had labored all night without catching a single fish. They had lost the race to prosper from fishing that night until Jesus gave them the rhema word, “Launch out the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4). After initial hesitation, Simon obeyed the command and the Bible says, “they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. So, they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. Their partners came and filled both boats until the boats nearly sank” (Luke 5:6-7, GW). Their status changed from losers to winners with regards to prospering in fishery business. May you receive the exact word of God you need to turn your failure to success that will launch you to prosperity in the mighty name of Jesus.
Strategies to Engage the Word of God as a Winning tool
1. Pray to hunger and thirst for the world of God (Jer, 15:16,1 Tim 4:6)
2. Pray for divine revelation and the understanding of the word of God (Isa. 11:2)
3. Pray to be doer of the word of God, and not just hearer only (James 1:22-23)
4. Study and meditate on the word of God daily (Acts 17:11).
5. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16)
6. Put the word of God to daily use (Josh. 1:8)
7. Share the word of God passionately (Matt 28:19-20)
Conclusion
Life is a conglomeration of various races and battles in which every rational person has a desire to be a winner. Proper application of the logos and rhema words of God are powerful tools that can facilitate victory in these races and battles of life. The word of God has numerous virtues, attributes or characteristics that position it to be a winning tool. Five of these virtues highlighted and discussed in this ministration are purity, power, panacea, peace and prosperity. While there are many life’s races/battles, the most important one is the race for the kingdom of God and its righteousness which Jesus Christ admonishes us to seek first so that other things can be added to us (Matt 6:33). It is by the purity virtue of God’s word that salvation can be procured leading to winning the most important race of life. This calls for believing and having faith in the pure word of God and the Word of God (Jesus Christ). God does not want any one to be a loser and perish. Instead, He wants everyone to be a winner and have eternal life. If you have not, embrace the word and Word of God today as pointed out in this ministration and in the Bible and be a winner of all the races and battles of life in Jesus mighty name.
