THE Most Powerful Force

/ Mount Vernon Grace Brethren Church/

Today I’d like to write about the most powerful force in the universe. 

Nuclear weapons and the radioactivity that these bombs leave behind are recognized as a powerful and long lasting force, but these bombs cannot be compared to the most powerful force in the universe which is words — specifically God's Words of Truth. You can be sure that true words, lying words and even unspoken words will have an everlasting affect!

It is evident that words have great power because:

  • Terrorists such as ISIS use words from afar to inspire and incite their followers to destruction, violence and murder. ISIS’ doctrine (which is simply words) is intended to produce fear which can then be leveraged into more power for ISIS. 
  • Politicians, lawyers and judges verbally wrangle over the wording of various laws. Even more so, there is constant bickering over the words and intent of the constitution of the U.S.A. Politically-minded people love this wrangling, because whoever wins the argument also earns the right to interpret the document, which allows them to make the rules. It is true that the one(s) who make earthly rules have earthly power!
  • Writers, blogs and periodicals labor to dissect and interpret the words of The Bible in a way that benefits their particular viewpoint or sin. These content creators want you to live, think or speak in a way that benefits their agenda. 

The examples above have a common thread which is selfishness. Lies are selfish but the truth serves others and God!

But let's get back to the power of words. The power of God's Word is on a whole different level than man's words for in Genesis 1:3 God said

"“Let there be light”; and there was light."

The sunlight, trees, water and creatures that surround you and I were created through simple sentences spoken by God over a 6 day period. Now that's supernatural power! Note that from the beginning God has desired His true words to produce LIFE! Proverbs 18:21 says

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

God is also able to destroy with His Word. See Revelation 19:11-21 where The One Who is named The Word of God strikes the armies of the nations with the sword of His mouth. His Word will forever save some while it forever destroys others. So God's Word is exceedingly powerful and He selflessly gives life through His Word of Truth.

I would say that God primarily speaks through His inspired Word, The Bible, but throughout history He has also spoken through priests, prophets, kings, visions, dreams, a still small voice, etc. Please know that it's not enough to simply possess The Bible. The scribes, Pharisees and lawyers that Jesus upbraids throughout the Gospels had the law, but they did not understand what God desired to work in their lives. To be more than a Pharisee, we need to have The Word, understand it by faith and act upon it.

This is where a true pastor comes into play. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul exhorts Timothy to 

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

A true pastor is approved by God and rightly divides God's Word, not for his own selfish desires or gain but so that God and His children benefit from the giving and receiving of The Word.

If you don't have a pastor today, I encourage you to diligently ask The Holy Spirit to lead you to a man that rightly divides God's Word. And if your pastor speaks and rightly divides God's Word, then cling to him and follow him to spiritual life and true freedom that only comes from God's Word!

Additional Verses: Psalm 29, Isaiah 55:9-11, Jeremiah 5:11-17, Jeremiah 23:29, John 8:31-32, John 15:3, Hebrews 4:12-13, Hebrews 13:7 and James 1:16-18

Note of Interest: If I translated the text properly, then I believe the letterpress type in the thumbnail photo for this blog post is a German translation of Isaiah 35:10. Cool, huh?!