Words with real power do transform lives

Words must come with real and visible power to transform. Words of God do that when the believers of Jesus carry the power of the words and the Holy Spirit into the harvest. In Acts 13-14 (quoted from Holy Bible NLT version in parts here) Paul and Barnabas demonstrated this truth. I shall quote only the parts wherein Paul preached a powerful sermon in Antioch of Pisidia (in today’s Turkey).

Acts 13:30-38

30 But God raised him from the dead! 31 And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.

32 “And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, 33 and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus:

‘You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.[a]’

34 For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’[b] 35 Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’[c] 36 This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. 37 No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

38 [d]“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.

Footnotes:

13:33 Or Today I reveal you as my Son. Ps 2:7.

13:34 Isa 55:3.

13:35 Ps 16:10.

13:38 English translations divide verses 38 and 39 in various ways.

Acts 13:46-52

46 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 47 For the Lord gave us this command when he said,

‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,

to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’[a]”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

50 Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. 52 And the believers[b] were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes:

13:47 Isa 49:6.

13:52 Greek the disciples.

Acts 14:1-4

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

14 The same thing happened in Iconium.[a] Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

Footnotes:

14:1 Iconium, as well as Lystra and Derbe (14:6), were towns in what is now Turkey.

God will rejoice over His people with joyful songs

Today’s Bible reading is from Deuteronomy 29-30. What is the relevance for today’s Christians? I asked the Lord. Here are some of what I received based on what Jesus had done.

EYE WITNESS: Here is an account of a multitude of eye witnesses of God’s mighty awesome deeds: signs and wonders. A whole nation of Israel. No one disputed the facts. Jesus (and later, His disciples) too, did lots and lots of miracles, signs and wonders in front of many eye witnesses -the multitudes. In fact, the whole nation of Israel knew and many saw. Some foreigners heard and came to Jesus to see for themselves and seek help too. (John 20:30-31; Acts 4:30-33)

MIRACLES that display GOD’S POWER superseding all natural elements and physical laws: Aside from the spectacular signs and wonders God did in Egypt, God continued to display his POWER superseding the natural elements for two million people in the harsh conditions of the wilderness for forty years, not just one day or several occasions. Forty years of daily miracles: food from heaven, water from rock, clothes and sandals lasted forty years. Jesus had displayed the same POWER: He multiplied a few fishes and loaves of bread into colossal amount of food and fed five thousands and four thousand men plus women and children respectively in two separate records. Jesus walked on water, commanded raging waves and wind to cease, cast out countless demons, healed the sick and made whole the body of many handicapped people, even resurrected the dead. (All the Gospels and Acts)

The WORDS of God can be kept by a whole nation and followed in action. Otherwise Moses would have been telling lies and deceptions. God promised that when they did as God had spoken through Moses, they would prosper and live long. Jesus also said that He came to bring abundant life. He gave His words and the Holy Spirit to His believers. And the authority to use His name. He required the same allegiance to love God only and obey His commandments. (John 10:10; the whole chapter of John 14, 15, 16)

The WORDS of God are binding, good for His people, and just as effective for the future generations. The worlds were framed by the word of God, Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will not pass away. (John 1:1-4; Luke 21:33; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3, 4:12, 11:3; Revelation 19:11-16)

There are serious CONSEQUENCES for breaking this covenant. Both the persons/nation and their land will be left desolate. They will be uprooted from their homeland and cast into a foreign land. Jesus has warned of the desolation. (Luke 21; Matthew 23, 24)

When they REMEMBER and TURN BACK to the Lord and His words, they will be accepted back into the covenant, delivered from bondage and return to their promised homeland, to multiply and prosper. God sent Jesus to establish a new covenant in His blood. Under the new covenant, God has given us the Holy Spirit, blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, and the privileged status as sons of God. In Christ we have obtained an inheritance. (Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 1; Romans 8:15-17; 1 John 1:9)

The Lord will TRANSFORM His people’s HEART TO LOVE GOD only. Jesus said we are to love God with our total being. The mighty power of God works in us who believe in Jesus. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. He will enable us to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. We are not to copy the custom and behavior of the world but let God transform us by changing the way we think. (Ephesians 1-3; Romans 8:1,14, 37; 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16)

LOVING GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD and ONLY WAY to ensure their continuous survival. There is no option as those who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ is accursed. Christians are specifically urged not to love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of God is not in him. He who does the will of God abides forever. (Mark 12:30; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 1 John 2:15-17)

ENEMIES will continue to hate and persecute God’s people. But they will suffer the terrible consequences for their evil for hating the children of God (followers of Jesus), thereby hating Jesus and hating God. (Luke 21:12-19; John 15:18-23; 16:33; 17:14; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8)

GOD WILL REJOICE OVER HIS PEOPLE. He likes to prosper them. (Zeph. 3:17)

BIBLE VERSES: Deuteronomy 29-30 (quoted in parts)

29:1 These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel… “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— 3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders…5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God…9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do…14 “I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, 15 but with him who stands here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today…18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 20 “The Lord would not spare him…23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, 28 the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’

30:1 “Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, 2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you… 5 Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

7 “Also the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. 8 And you will again obey the voice of the Lord and do all His commandments which I command you today. 9 The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10 if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

John 14:23 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Economic solution: Be astonished at the catch of fish

When Jesus is around, people are astonished. Why? Because of the ease He catches things that we value for our livelihood even at the hardest external physical circumstances and environment. We know and have tested. The situation is like ground zero. Nothing can be done. No production. No income. No more resources. We are not in control. The elements are against us. The list goes on. But with Jesus is just the opposite. Everything favors Him. The wind, the sea, the fishes. All obey Him. He merely speaks and they come.

THE KEY TO NOT IN LACK: Be astonished at the catch of fish. Be around Jesus. Be in Christ.

[Luk 5:4-6 NKJV] 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.8 When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;

[Jhn 21:3-11 NKJV] 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some].” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on [his] outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

in the mighty name of Jesus

John 10:25

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

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John 20:31

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

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Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Acts 3:6

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

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Acts 4:18

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

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Acts 5:40

And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

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Acts 8:16

For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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Acts 9:27

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

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Acts 9:29

And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.

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Acts 16:18

And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

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Acts 19:5

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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Acts 19:17

This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

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1 Corinthians 5:4

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

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the positive power of the word: "confess"

Today we come to one powerful positive word: “confess”. Take note that this is a verb and not a noun. The word has often been associated with fear. No one wants to make public his or her deepest secret. The word “confess” intrudes. However, today we look at the positive side of this word which is in truth a key to opening the door to victory in life!
Here are some powerful and real life and death matters on positive confessions in the Bible:
Jesus ‘confesses’ good reports about believers to God in heaven, for recording purposes! (Praise God for such a system of positive record – the Book of life !)
Matthew 10:32[ Confess Christ Before Men ] “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:31-33 (in Context)
Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-6 (in Context)
Apostle Peter ‘confesses’ correctly (as led by the Holy Spirit) and is commended instantly by Jesus:
Matthew 16:15-17
¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Confessing rightly with our mouths bring us to salvation!
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:8-10 (in Context)
When one confesses, God is listening. Each individual confesses to the Almighty God.
Romans 14:10-12
¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.^{[a] 11} For it is written:

“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”^[b]

¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

When one confesses, one is giving glory to God. The name of Jesus is exalted. it has to come from the heart and not mere lip service. God knows. 

Philippians 2:10-12

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

One confesses to God for sins. Why? Because God wants to forgive you.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-10 (in Context)

I confesses who Jesus is, to me. Why? Because God wants to live in me.

1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:14-16 (in Context)

What shall I do, after confessing Who Jesus is to me? Hold fast to my confession.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-13 (in Context)

Journey to see God: Jesus word power

The way Jesus dealt with healing and deliverance is the only way the disciples followed. Jesus promised this, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." Then He also promised that the Father will send the Holy Spirit in His name. "He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 15:23, 26)

The key to disciples' success in carrying out the supernatural mission that Jesus had started on earth, to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, to heal the sick, cast out demons and set the oppressed free, reconciling the Father in heaven with those who believe, bringing the supernatural rebirth by the Holy Spirit to mortal lives, thereby translating believers from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of marvelous light of the Son of God, transforming ordinary human being into sons of God...is the word of God, quickened by the Holy Spirit. 

Our faith is based on the word of God. The word of God brings the presence of God. Here are some of the significant words (from the Gospel according to Luke) about the importance of His (God's) words that Jesus spoke:

1. His first statement to His earthly parents about His real heavenly Son-ship and priority in life: "Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 2:49
2. His first kingly announcement to the spiritual enemy: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." 4:4
3. His first statement to the synagogue (Jewish religious leaders and congregation): "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 4:21H
4. His first command to demon: "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 4:35
5. His first declaration of purpose to the crowd: "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." 4:43
6. His first command to the future apostle (Peter): "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5:4
7. His first confirmation of His willingness to heal: "I am willing; be cleansed." 5:13
8. His first display of His authority as God's Son to forgive sin: "Man, your sins are forgiven you." 5:20
9. His first revelation of His position above the Law, to those who challenged Him with the Law: "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." 6:5
10. His first praise was given to a man of faith in Him (His word): "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" 7:9 ( a centurion who had publicly declared his faith by asking Jesus to just say the word, and his servant would be healed!)  

Summary: Jesus does not speak idle or empty word. Every word God speaks has purpose, authority and power. Every word is truth. Every word has substance. The minute He spoke it the word became life and spirit to those who received them. (John 6:63)