Intro: Last Sunday I began a series on, "The Power That Works in Us!" I want you to get your prayers answered! I want to get my prayers answered! There are two extremes in the world today when it comes to receiving an answer to prayer: let God do it all-that is, everything that happens is God's will and there's nothing I can do about it. Or, let man do it all-that is, God doesn't intervene in the affairs of man, he just set the world spinning and let's us do our best! Both extremes are wrong! Answers to prayer come as a result of God's power working in us! It is a joint venture between heaven and earth! God's power must be at work in us if we are to receive an answer to prayer.
HOW DO WE GET THE WORD OF GOD IN US? Sunday School, Central Bible School, Preaching, Daily Devotions, Scripture Memorization, Jr. Bible Quiz, Christian Tapes and Books.
Today, we want to look at the power of the Word of God. Just how powerful is God's Word?
I. THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SAVE US!
A. James 1:21-22 "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
B. The Word of God has been planted in us. Remember the Parable of the Sower? Luke 8:11-15 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [12] Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. [13] They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. [14] And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. [15] But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
C. Friend, what you do with the Word of God, when you hear it preached determines your eternal salvation!
D. Romans 10:8-10, "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
II. THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO KEEP US SAVED!
A. 1 John 2:4-5 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."
B. 1 John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
C. What is this seed? The Word of God.
D. I Peter 1:22-25 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
E. "Psalm 119:9-11, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. [10] With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. [11] Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
III. THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO PREVENT US FROM BEING DECEIVED!
A. Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
B. 2 Tim. 4:1-4, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
C. The devil's desire is to get people to quit believing the Bible.
1. Joseph Smith - "Build a boat"
2. Mary Baker Eddy - "An angel is a good thought"
D. 2 Tim. 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
IV. THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO HEAL US!
A. Matthew 8:5-8, "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, [6] And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. [7] And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. [8] The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."
B. Psalm 107:19-20, "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."
C. Betty Malz testimony
Conclusion: Do you need an answer to prayer today? If so, you need the power! The power that worketh in us is the Word of God. Do you need salvation? Are you a backslider? Have you been deceived? Do you need to be healed? The power that worketh in you-the Word of God-can do exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think! Come to Him today!
