So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).’ – Romans 10:17 AMPC
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]
Ephesians 6:10 AMP
The most potent tool in the hands of a believer is the Word of God. Everything bows to its authority when applied rightly. When Apostle Paul explained the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:17b, He likened the Word of God to the Sword the Spirit wields. Doubt, fear, anxiety, worry, and so on are all fiery darts the enemy throws at us to sway our minds from the promises of God. These are words in the form of thoughts that hover around our mind, attempting to twist the truth. In one of our earlier devotionals, we discussed how we don’t silence thoughts with thoughts, we do with words. When we confess a scripture to thwart the thoughts the enemy sends our way, we build faith. When Jesus Christ was tempted in Luke 4, every response of Christ to the fiery darts of the enemy stood on the Word of God.
Around tow years and three months back, I was in a fix. I had a huge project that needed to produce twice my annual salary (before tax) at that time. Before then, I had not worked for about 8 months and was two days into my new job when this need arose so you can imagine how, within my physical strength, it was impossible to produce what was needed. God had spoken long before then and there was an assurance of the overall outcome of the project, but you know how something seemingly impossible can be thrown your way, and while there’s belief in what God has promised, you wonder how God will pull this off. This was the situation we found ourselves. How was this going to be? We had roughly two weeks and the morning after the request came, after discussing all possible options with my wife, I went into the room ( I worked the night shift and closed very early in the morning). I typically had my quiet time before going to bed and on this day, I could not settle. So i resorted to dancing to a selection of praise songs and while I did, a scripture dropped in my spirit. It was Psalm 114:4 “why do the mountains skip like rams”. While unrelated to my present predicament, I opened the Bible to read the whole chapter. On getting to the last verse ( verse 8 NLT) and I saw “He turned the rock into a pool of water”, something leapt inside me and all that heaviness disappeared. God turns hard things into water was all I saw. I burst into loud singing and praise, praying in tongues, while I rejoiced in the assurance I had just received. That’s the potency of the Word of God. That was the end of that fear, and within a week, we had all the money we needed in our account ( another mighty miracle God wrought through His Word).
Faith, according to Hebrews 11:1 (AMP), is defined as “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]”. This means that, although you haven’t seen what you are believing God for, Faith is its evidence in your hands, and according to Romans 10:7, it comes from hearing by the Word of God. This means that the evidence of that you have received what you have asked for, even though you are still waiting, is the very scripture that the Holy Spirit within you present as an answer to that need ( or trial). Everything life throws at you has an answer in the scripture. You must find it and apply it rightly.
The evidence of your reception is peace. Phillipains 4: 6 – 7 (AMP) , says “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” The peace stands guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and since we know that Christ is also the Word of God (Hebrews 1:2 and Rev 19:13), we rest in the assurance of His promise to us. Is there something you need answers to? Sit with His instructions, and find our what He is saying to you. Your peace rests in His assurance.
