HIS GOODNESS (IX) – FULFILLED WORD

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TOPIC: FULFILLED WORD

TEXT: Exo.3:8, 10; Josh.5:1, 6-12; Num.23:19

INTRODUCTION

God had earlier promised Abraham as part of the covenant, the land of Canaan. He reiterated this to Jacob and repeated again and again to the Israelites. In order for the children of Israel to keep this to heart, He ensured that all of them knew this word and were constantly being reminded by their leaders of the “land flowing with milk and honey”. God made the promise desirable to them by creating in them a vision of the land. In His Goodness, He had done the following to and for them:

Multiplied them
Taken them through adversity
Granted them favour before their enemies
Judged their enemies
Granted them His presence
Tested them and lastly
Caused His word to them to be fulfilled.

God’s word was conveyed to them thru:

His covenant with their forefathers and renewed passed on generation after generation. – Gen.18:19, Deut.6:7-8
Through His servant – Moses and other leaders. –Num.29:40
Through God manifesting to them directly -Exo.19:18-25
Through the miracles and wonders they saw –Exo.6-13

Today, God still speaks and He honours
covenants. He speaks to us today by:

His word
Through personal studies and revelations – Josh.1:8,Dan.9:2, Acts 17:11, Heb.10:1-6
Preachers – Matth.10:1-10, Acts 13:1-3
The witness of the Spirit – Rhema- Rom.8:16
Direct encounter with His spirit through vision, dreams etc, but all these are subject to the word. – Acts 9:3-7;10:1-7,9-18

WHY THE WORD?

God’s word contains the mind /will of God for us on any matter.-Dan.9:2
God’s word conveys His power to us. – Psm.33:9,107:20; Lu.1:37
The word of God gives us focus and clarity- 2Cor.4:16-18, Heb.12:1-2
Because His Word shows us His character, it is a transforming agent for us to become more like God. – Rom.12:1-2, John 5:39
The word of God defines us. It tells us who we are and what our culture, language and core values should be. – Exo.4:22-23, 1Pet.2:9
The word impacts to us wisdom for living –IITim.3:16-17
The word warns us about the judgment to come. – John 3:3,17-18,36

RECEIVING THE WORD
1 Sam.3:1-11
3 things to note:

Samuel was 12 years old when this event occurred-this had some serious implications. From God’s perspective and human.
He was already serving God in the capacity allocated to him.
The event occurred at the early hours of the morning-implications—serious spiritual activities- good and or bad occur at night.

Positioning for Reception:

I have to receive and believe the word. – Joh.1:11-12. How?

Receive:

Ie . Show interest.
Desire it,
Be favorably disposed to it,
Not being antagonistic-which some do probably because the word:
contradicts their belief system or prejudices
censure their vices or bad habits
brings restraint to their dominant desires/lust.

Our attitude to the wore is affected by 4 issues viz:
-Our backgrounds/Environment e.g-Samuel, Moses and Gideon.
-People around us /Mentors e.g – Moses, Uzziah-2Chr.26;
-Our expectations e.g- Andrew & Peter
-Reports previously heard or things seen e.g-Philip, Matthew, the woman with the issue of blood.

IN believing, we:

We accept as the truth the word and begin to base our actions and decisions on it entirely.
We accept His example as our pattern.
We act or do as we see HIM or perceive He desires.

Logos and Rhema

2 Greek words in the Bible for the Word.

Logos- the total utterance of God. It is the complete revelation of what God has said.
Rhema- refers to a specific saying of God that applies specifically to a special situation.
The Logos is powerful, but when quickened a rhema word results and it is very powerful.
The quickened word- a rhema, could come from a verse of scripture you have read many times before which suddenly takes on new meaning. You suddenly see how it applies to a specific situation you are facing.
The rhema gives you the answer, revelation, direction and comfort needed at the time. e.g at the temptation of Jesus

The power of God was delegated to Jesus Christ but that power must be tested because strength increases under pressure.

APPLYING THE WORD

The Word has to become effective for it to benefit you.
For effectiveness to come, it has to be applied as Jesus did:
Speak the word of God not your own. John 3:34; 14:10, 24; 17:8,14
Speak God’s Word with conviction and power Lu. 4:32.
Speak the Word with expectation of results.
a withered hand and it was healed Mk 3:1-5 Lu. 4:36.
a leper and he was cleansed (Matthew 8:2-3).
He said. . .

-“rise” to the impotent man at the pool (John 5:8)
167
-“see” to the blind (Luke 7:21)
-“come out” to demons (Matthew 9:32-33)
-“hear” to the deaf (Mark 7:32-35)
-“come forth” to the dead (John 11:44)

PLS NOTE:

Jesus knew there was power in God’s Word, but He also knew men must hear and respond to that Word in order for it to be effective. Distance or time not being a barrier. Matt. 8:8,13.
I must personalize & seek to know for myself the word in my life and situations. Ezra.7:10, 8:22-23, 10:4. This will require an investment from you of:
Time-
Study
Currying ie to begin to prove the word
Money –materials-bibles, books CDs etc and
Labour
I must vocalize the word – confess and meditate. Pro.12:14,14:14,18:20
The mouth /heart connection.Rom.10:8-10.See last page.
Paul-Acts.9:22,13:43, 18:28,27:23-24.
I must take faith based actions on the word.

Acts 27:25-26.

It must be settled in my heart that the word has achieved success several times and so won’t fail in my situation. The remembrance and use of testimonies, mine and those of others. 1Sam.17:32-37, Rev.12:11.
If its not yet working in my life, it is not the word that is not working but something I don’t know or not doing right.
The place of resolve and absolute surrender.1Thess.5:24,Heb 10:35-36.
Refusal to quit or stagger.Job17:9, Rom.4:20.

Vii I must make it a daily objective for me to grow and know the word better 2Pet.1:5-8.
Viii I must delight myself in the word by obedience and telling others about the word. Psm.1:1-3, 37:4-5.
PLS NOTE:
The word can become powerless in your mouth:

if you continue to speak covetous, idol, and foolish words, argue over what does not edify, murmur and complain, lie and boast, use cursing words, bitterness etc
The flow of God’s power in your life is not only affected by the power of His Word, it is affected by the power of your words.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11.
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; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. (Proverbs 6:2)
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.(Proverbs 18:7)
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.(Proverbs 21:23)
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6)
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (Proverbs 13:3)

Dr. Udoh
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