The Power of Words

Have you ever been impacted so greatly by something someone said? Positive or negative. Think about it. Now ask yourself this question: Why- if they are just mere words? My friend that is because words are not a "mere" thing. Spoken words are powerful and capable of many things. 

Of course I must take the word of God into consideration in this. After all they are the mightiest of words. There are multiple accounts in the bible of just how powerful words can be. Spoken words can bring a world into existence as in Genesis 1:3,6,9, 11,14,20,24, 26. "God said ___" and it came to be. Just like that! "For he spoke and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm." (Psalm 33:9). Words can bring life as in the case of the valley of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:4-13 (take note and be reminded this passage is symbolism of a believer being brought to life). Words can take life as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:5,9-10. Words can cause the paralyzed/lame to walk as in the case of Acts 9:34. 

My friends, brothers, and sisters- let us allow this to encourage our hearts! If God can speak a world into existence, or bring or take life with words how much more can he provide for the things we ask with pure hearts. Yet also let it hold us accountable in choosing wisely what words we speak- for words are mightier than we realize and known in detail by a sovereign and holy God. Words have a mighty power capable to do many of things. So let us be eager to encourage, and quick to choose to ponder a thought before speaking it. Words are a mighty and wonderful thing. 



SUPPORTING TEXT

GENESIS 1

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse[a] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made[b] the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven.[c] And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth,[d] and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants[e] yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,[f] and for days and years,15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds[g]fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Ezekiel 37:4-13

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath[b] to enter you, and you shall live.6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am theLord.”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling,[c] and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.

Acts 5:5,9-10

5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Acts 9:34

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

The Good Thing

There are a handful of people in this world who have been to some of it's darkest corners- I am one of these. Yet it is not something I ask for pity over, but rather rejoice in. Many may ask why? Well surely I must say, because through such things God has granted me strength and wisdom. I have become (through his sufficient grace) a conquering warrior for his message of redemption. My point is not to publicize these such scenarios, but to address gratitude for the good things. In a weary, broken, and fleshy world these said good things can come far and few between. It is not that we are victims of such circumstance- for we due to sin do not deserve good things. Yet God is a God of grace, and desires to (in his timing) gift us such things.

In the past year of 2014 there were a multitude of unwelcomed circumstances in my own life. This is oddly now becoming a major praise- for they compelled me to spend these days on worn knees in prayer. I am a slab of clay in which God is shaping, and surely (Lord willing) last year there was much progress in his handy work. I prayed that God would provide me with a job in the next year. Often we gaze over that sometimes the answer is no- yet this is not one of these. God did provide me with a job- better yet one that blesses me (though I do not deserve it). He provided such a job in his timing and not mine, and for such I am ever greatful! Due to his sovereign timing I have a job, that meets my field and encourages my weary spirit. Unfortunantly in the most delightful way I cannot end this on a final note- for the chapter continues. Simply I must praise my heavenly father.

"For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." Psalm 11:7

Sufficient Grace

'But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' -2 Corinthians 12:9-10

'When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.' -Psalm 34:17-19

This season has been heavy to my spirit, yet by God's grace I have endured and continue to do so. I was dependent on the little things to get me through the difficult days. Then the Lord reminded me the only way was to look up. To seek him. Upon reaching this point I didn't develop some super strength, but realized where my strength truly lies. Not in the sound of a child's laughter, nor a breath taking scenery- but in the grace of God alone. There were times I was depended on to be the strong one- but I'm not. The truth is I - am- weak. I am fallible. I am NOT sturdy. Upon stumbling upon the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 I found that through God's sufficient grace I had strength. Strength to weigh through heavy days. To endure. To persevere. There have been tears, and long restless nights- but I am living. I am pushing forward with hope towards the cross. My days spent on my knees in prayer. My face, when given a moment, pressed into the word of God.  My spirit at war with my flesh. My flesh burning away a molecule at a time.

With each passing day I felt more and more alone. Even on the occasion that I was surrounded my others my heart was desperately lonely. Suddenly all those people that would have been there for me were busy or unable. Yet God remained faithful by giving wiser council and more compassionate hearts to surround me with the love and guidance I truly needed, I kept close to the promises of Deuteronomy 31:6 that God would never leave me or forsake me- and he remained true time and time again. There were and have been points where God alone has been the only one there for me. It is a troublesome thing to feel alone, and a reassuring thought to know I never am. For God is always with me. Will there be days ahead filled with grief and affliction? Absolutely! But will I ever be alone? Never! As sure as I am that there are days of trial and tribulation ahead I am sure it is never for nothing God does not intend, and that he will constantly be at my side. I may mourn and weep- but I also may dance and sing with joy, because I have hope. I have a mightier God on my side. "If God is with me what can stand against"? In hope of future grace I press forward willingly. I may press forward against a heavy wall, but surely I will press forward with the strength of the Lord. Mighty is he! Wonderful is he! Worthy of praise even in affliction is he! By my weary side- is he!

'I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes it boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.' -Psalm 34:1-5