When God speaks: He gives life-giving Word to the world today
"You speak and it comes to be. I marvel at your authority.You speak and the enemy No longer has a hold on me. Forever free by the power of the words that You speak."
These lyrics are from a song I co-wrote and was released last week called"You Speak", (a lyric video for You Speak is available on Suzanne Hodson’s YouTube channel). Indeed, it is astounding when I consider how God spoke the universe into existence. The psalmist writes: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth… For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” Psalm 33:6,9 (NIV)
This passage gives a brief summary of God’s powerful activity found in Genesis 1. The story of creation is filled with the repeating pattern, “And God said,…and it was so.” God’s words have creative power! As amazing as that is, the same God who spoke the cosmos into existence speaks his life-giving Word to us today.
Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV): “All scripture is God-breathed…” Scholar Rick Renner gives enlightening insights on that phrase. The original Greek paints the picture of God breathing his own substance into human language, like a musician blowing into an instrument to make a distinct sound. The biblical writers were the instruments, but God was the great musician who made the music. As others have noted, the writers held the pen, but God was the Author of it all.
Jesus used similar language: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63 (NIV) Jesus spoke natural human words, but they were fully immersed with the Spirit of God producing results of the Spirit. The words you and I have access to in the Bible are spirit and life. Understanding that reality can revolutionize the way we live out our faith.
Whatever Jesus spoke came to pass
Whenever Jesus spoke, whatever He said came to pass. Lepers were cleansed. The blind received sight. The dead were raised. As we read the Bible with eyes of faith, the Holy Spirit makes it come alive to us with the same power. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word will always accomplish its purpose in fulfillment. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
When God speaks, power comes alongside those words to bring about their fulfillment. If God has spoken a word to you, keep trusting him and patiently wait for it to be fulfilled. Jesus assured us: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35 (NIV) May the Lord give us eyes to see we are forever free by the power of the words that He speaks.
Dave Langdon is pastor of Ashland Church of the Nazarene
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: When God speaks: Whenever Jesus spoke, whatever He said came to pass
