I was watching TV the other night when a commercial came on. The narrator said these words, "We all know words have power." That got my attention. I heard that and I couldn't help wonder to myself, "Do we really?" Do we really know how powerful our words can be? Do we know how powerful words in general, can be? After all, everything we see on a daily basis is the direct result of someone's words. God's. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth." John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was WITH God and the Word WAS God." John goes on to say in John 1:2-5 that, "He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."
The New International Readers Version says it this way, John 1:1-5, "In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him. Nothing that has been made was made without Him. Life was in Him, and that life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness. But the darkness has not overcome the light."
Who is "He" that John is talking about here? What is this "Word" that was both with God and God Himself? Jesus. So, basically what John is saying here is, "In the beginning was JESUS. And JESUS was WITH God and JESUS WAS God. Everything that was made, was made THROUGH JESUS." Words are INDEED powerful! And the greatest word of them all is the Name that is above EVERY OTHER name. Jesus. There IS NO word or name greater than HIS Name!
"We all know words are powerful"? Do we really? Do we really know how powerful HIS Words are? Do we really know how powerful OUR words are? God created the Heavens and the Earth with His Word. IN THE BEGINNING was THE Word! John goes on to say in John 1:14, "And the Word BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us." The Word that made everything we see all around us, became flesh. The Word became ONE of us. And WE are HIS creation.
Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
WE are made in HIS IMAGE! His LIKENESS! We are made after HIM! Now that don't mean that everytime you look in the mirror, you're seeing God face to face. It's not our OUTWARD form that is made in His image. No. Remember what Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth."
Now, I remember a translation of this passage reading it this way, "God is Spirit and is SEEKING those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth." Notice how that has changed? But the point I'm getting at is God IS SPIRIT! So, if we are made in His image and His likeness, then it is our SPIRIT that is made that way. Not our flesh. Remember the flesh is cursed? Has been ever since man fell in the Garden of Eden when he ate of the forbidden fruit. So, why would God let His image be reflected in something that is cursed?
But the Bible says we are made in His image AND His likeness. That means we are not only the reflection of God in the World, but we are like Him in this world. But it's hard to see the similarities when you're engaged in sin and faithlessness, isn't it? But when you get in His Word, and you practice His Word in your daily life, and you live out His Word, the very image and likeness of God will begin to shine forth! People will start seeing God in you! People will see God's hand on you! And yes, people who are without God in their life will become angry with you because the sinful spirits that are on them will sense the GOD in you!
Do we really know how powerful the WORD is? Hebrews 4:12-16, "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. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Father God Almighty, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God of Israel. we come before Your Throne of Grace today with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts. We come to You today in the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus. Our Tribal Chief. The Head of the ONLY Table that matters! We ask you, Father, to bless the reading and teaching of Your Word today. Let it pierce the hearts and souls of all who are here today and fill them with Your Glory and Majesty. Open our ears, our hearts, and our minds to receive what You would have for us here today. In Jesus Holy Name we pray and ask it in faith believing and expecting! Amen and Amen!!!
The Word of God IS powerful! Sharper than any two-edged sword! It's pierces the souls and spirit of men! Dividing soul and spirit. Joints and marrow. Your Bible says it discerns the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no one is ever truly hidden from His sight! Can you imagine how different this world would be if we ALL knew that? Would we be seeing what we are seeing unfolding in the world today? Or would we see an entirely different picture?
Imagine how differently our government leaders and politicians would be if they knew that God knows every thought, every imagination, and every intention of their hearts? Imagine how differently every man, woman and child would be today if they knew that God knows their every thought, imagination and intention? Oh, how differently the world would be if everyone knew that!
And it's not so much that people DON'T know that. It's also that there are people in the world today who have never heard the Word of God. They have never heard the Name, Jesus. They have never heard of the Redeeming Grace that God has for them. Others have rejected the Gospel. They have rejected God. They have rejected His Word. Mostly, because they would rather do things THEIR way. They foolishly believe that they can do more and better than God! As Jesus once said, "Oh foolish generation!"
What would you say if I told you that there are even people like that in the Church today? There are people in the very House of God every Sunday, every Wednesday, or whenever the doors are open who have absolutely no idea what the truth of the Gospel REALLY is! And yet they foolishly believe that they are saved and on their way to Heaven! Why? Because they have been deceived to believe that their WORKS assure their place in Heaven. They believe that their service in the Church and ministry are enough to get them into the God's Kingdom!
But what did Jesus tell Nicodemus when he came to Him by night? Look at John chapter 3. John 3:1-3, "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus is laying it all out for Nicodemus! He's telling him exactly what it takes to enter the Kingdom of Heaven! It's right there in your Bible! And yet people STILL don't get the message! How is that possible? 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine on them."
Who is the god of this world? Satan. Now, an even deeper question, WHAT is the idol of this world? Money. Why is money the idol of this world? Because that is what people want more than anything! Money. Look at all the people who are buying up lottery tickets trying to win the jackpot. Even people in the Church are buying these tickets! "What's wrong with buying a lottery ticket?", you ask.
Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." First of all, what is mammon? Mammon is the biblical term for riches, often used to describe the debasing influence of material wealth. So, mammon is money. Second of all, what does this have to do with something seemingly as innocent as the lottery? Why don't we ask Jesus Himself?
Now Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Where is your heart today? Is your heart on fire for God? Or is your heart set on winning the lottery jackpot? And being financially rich and wealthy? When you make ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY money, more important to you than serving the Lord, that something becomes an idol in your life! Have you read what your Bible says about idols?
Galatians 5:19-21, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Psalms 135:15-18, "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them."
Isaiah 44:9-10, "All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing?"
The fact that the lottery is so popular in the world today should be a sure-fire sign that it's not of God! Since when has the world ever endorse God in any way? If the world is for it, that's all the proof you need that God is against it! The enemy will stop at NOTHING to keep us from the blessings of God! He will blind us! He will mislead us! And don't think for a moment that he won't use God's own Word against us! Because, I assure you, he will. Just ask Jesus. Look at when he tried to tempt Christ! He used the Word of God to try to tempt Him! What makes you think he won't do the same with you? Didn't Jesus Himself say, "No servant is greater than his Master"?
But we have been blinded by the lusts of this world! Look at everything that is so popular and successful in the world today. Pornography, the lottery, alcohol, gambling and so on and so forth. ALL of these things are weapons formed against the people of this world and the people of God to lure them away from God! All of these lustful acts are designed to entice us away from our Jesus with the pleasures they seem to give! And yes, they will bring pleasure for a time, but that pleasure will quickly fade and wither away in that time. But God has blessings and prosperity waiting for us that will last forever!
Now Nicodemus has come to Jesus by night because he didn't want to be seen with Him. He was afraid of what would happen if he was seen with Him! Not afraid of what might happen to Jesus, but what would happen to himself. And he had reason to be fearful, but he could've still stood on his faith and not let fear grip his heart. Nonetheless, he lets his fears overcome him by meeting Jesus secretly, where no one could see or hear. And Jesus does not disappoint. He lays it all out for Nicodemus. He tells Him exactly what he needs to hear!
But Nicodemus is still without understanding. He asks Jesus, "What do you mean? What are you trying to tell me?!" He stills questions what the Lord is telling Him. Now, to you and me, it's plain as day. Because we have accepted God's Word and received His gift of salvation. We have received His Holy Spirit. We have received His peace that surpasses all understanding! But Nicodemus is still struggling with what he is seeing and hearing.
John 3:4-6, "Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
So, what is Jesus talking about here when He says born of water and Spirit? He's talking about baptism. Remember John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water UNTO REPENTANCE". And when he baptized Jesus in the Jordan, the Bibles says that "He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him."
That which is born of flesh IS flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. That means that all who are without God in their life, unrepented, unforgiven, and unsaved, are OF the flesh. But if you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have received God's gift of salvation through His Son. If you have confessed Jesus as Lord, you ARE of the Spirit of God! ONLY THE FLESH will burn in hell when it's all said and done! The Spirit will live on. It is THROUGH Him that have eternal life IN the Spirit! Though our flesh will be buried and decay in the ground, our spirits will soar to Heaven into the arms of our Redeemer!
But wait! There's more! John 3:7-17, "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you Heavenly things? No one has ascended to Heaven but He who came down from Heaven, that is, the Son of Man Who is in Heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Notice how the words, "We" and "Our" are capitalized? Why is that? Anytime you see words like these and words like, "Angel" capitalized, the Bible is referring to the Lord Himself. So, when Jesus says the words, "We" and "Our" here, He's talking about the Trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, "WE speak of what WE know"! "WE testify of what WE have seen"! "And you do not receive OUR witness."
We testify of the grace of God. We give witness to what you and I have seen! We are HIS witnesses! HIS disciples! HIS children! HIS people! HIS Word calls us a CHOSEN generation! A ROYAL priesthood! A HOLY nation! AND YET! People don't receive our witness. But Jesus said, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up." That statement does not just apply to the crucifixion! The crucifixion is where it started! WE are to CONTINUE lifting Him up! He said, "Go into ALL the world"! "Teach ALL nations"! "Baptizing THEM in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".
WE ARE TO CONTINUE LIFTING HIM UP! We are to lift up His Name, we are to lift up His Word, we are to lift up HIM! From the day those words were spoken till He comes again. There will be many who refuse our testimony. There will be many who reject His Word. And there will be MANY who don't make it into the Kingdom. Among them will be family. Friends. Loved ones. Those we hold dear to our hearts could very well be among the many if they refuse the Word of the Lord.
That is why WE must take up the fight and tell EVERYONE the good news! Jesus is coming back! There is still time to receive Him today. There is still time to be saved by His Grace. There is still time to repent and turn it all around! Will you take that step today? I heard the Lord tell me once, ask My people, "Will you stand on tradition and ceremony? Or will you step out in faith?"
Are you going to remain steadfast and hard hearted in your ways? Or will you step out in faith today and reach out to the Lord Almighty? There's still hope in God today. There's still redemption for all who seek it today. Will you take that step today? Will you humble yourself before the Redeemer today? Will you make Jesus Lord today? If so, all you have to do is reach out to Him and call upon Him. He's right where you are today. He's waiting on you. On you! Will you let Him in today? All you have to do is receive Him. All you have to do is accept Him. All you have to do is call to Him and answer Him. He's calling for you.
Romans 10:5-13, "For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The Lord is with you where you are today. And He is calling out to you. He's reaching out to you today. All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. That He IS the Son of the Living God. That He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified for your sins, rose from the dead 3 days later by the power of God, ascended into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God making intercession for you. And that HE WILL return for His Church and destroy Satan forever.
If you do that and make that confession sincerely. Jesus will respond. And you WILL BE saved. By the very Grace of God Almighty! There is no such thing as beyond all hope with God. If He used Moses, who killed a man. If He used Paul, who murdered the saints of Jesus Christ. If He used Peter who cussed out someone and cut off a man's ear! If he used David, who slept with another man's wife and then had the husband killed to cover up his sin. What makes you think God can't use you? There is no such thing as beyond all hope with God. Not even when it comes to you. Turn to Him today and let Him redeem you today.
