Words and the Word
(Mk 16:19-20)
God is faithful.
His character is faithful (Hos 11:12) and
His word is faithful (Rev 21:5).
Faith is believing His word and
The life of this faith is hearing His word with discernment and delivering it as is.
Different from animals, men express their will and emotions through language.
Thus, they are able to form society and improve civilization, which makes them very unique beings.
While men put their honor and even life on the line to be accountable for their words,
God bets His name, His existence for His word, His language (Eze 22:14; Is 46:11).
Though Adam was a living being that needed to live by obeying the word of God,
He listened to the word of his wife, who listened to the word of the serpent.
As a result, he sinned and death entered (Ge 3:17).
God spoke more specifically when He called Moses.
He taught him what to say (Ex 4:12) and
Let him miraculously deliver the Israelites who had been slaves for 430 years.
After that, God spoke through the prophets (He 1:1).
God put His words in their mouths and
They spoke them (Dt 18:22).
The sanctuary where the name of the Lord God was
Reminded the Israelites the faithfulness of God.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fulfill the Father's word for
He is the incarnate Word who was with the Father in the beginning (Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18).
Thus, He spoke what He heard from the Father (Jn 12:49) and
According to His word, He performed many signs and wonders (Mt 9:6; Lk 5:4-5; Jn 9:6).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
- Died according to the Father's word, and honored Him and His word (Jn 10:17-18);
- Condemned the devil who challenged the word (Ge 2:17, Ge 3:5; 1Jn 3:8); and
- Redeemed men who were deceived by words and died, so that they may hear the word of God again (Ge 3:4; He 2:14).
The Father raised Him and
Jesus ascended to heaven.
The Holy Spirit comes to those who
Heard His word and came to life (Jn 6:63).
He lets them discern words from the word and
Testifies the word of Jesus.
The man of the Spirit is he who
Discerns the word from words (1Co 2:11-14).
He preaches the word and signs accompany it because
The Lord is faithful for His word (Mk 16:15-20).
Prayer, healing and driving out demons are the words of Christ and
He bets His name and His living existence to keep His word (Jn 14:12).
O Lord,
We have heard so many words since the day we were born.
Our parents, siblings, friends, spouses, children, teachers, colleagues, the president...
Hearing their words I was in despair.
But You let us hear these words and we are alive! We are healed!
Let our church, our children hear Your word.
Lord, give us all the discerning ear! Amen.