God’s Empowering Word in Daily Life
 


By Pastor Dan Kennedy

©2009

www.pastorkennedy.com

pastorkennedy@gmail.com



Believers Need the Living Word

What each of us need, who are truly Children of God, is God’s Living Word resident and alive within us.  When God’s Word is not alive within us then we simply go through the motions of religious life.  When God’s Word is not alive within us then we mouth (at spiritually correct times and events), Bible verses or spiritually sounding truisms and trivia seeking to convince ourselves and to impress those around us of our own depth of spirituality, while in “normal” life merrily living any way we want to live with little seeming regard for God’s Word.


I began writing this message to once again build toward the authenticity of God’s Word; there is no lack of evidence for this, but I changed to an alternate track in mid-stream when I crashed headlong into the life of Joseph.


How has the Living Word of God changed us and how will it change the people around us? 


A History of the Living Word

Throughout history the spirituality of mankind is generally recorded to be in three categories:


1.No faith in God

2.General faith in God

3.Living faith in God


These categories are still alive and well today.   I want to be in the “Living Faith in God” category, don’t you?


The Scripture is full of those who had living faith:  Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Esther, Ruth, and the Prophets to mention a few, and a host of others following Christ’s coming, including the apostles, deacons and numerous believers listed throughout the New Testament.


Joseph


Most of us remember the story of Joseph.


Joseph’s life was very tumultuous until he was thirty year old.  He was rejected and hated by his older brothers as a spoiled “favorite” of his father.  No child likes that kind of rejection!  When they had a chance, the older siblings almost killed their kid brother, but instead sold him as a slave.  After a long and grueling forced march behind camels through the desert to Egypt and the humiliation of being put on the slave auction block, Joseph was purchased by Potipher, Captain of Pharaoh’s Guard.  All through this, God’s blessing was on Joseph.  God’s gift to Joseph to be a good administrator was revealed as he skillfully managed Potipher’s household, to his owner’s delight.  Joseph was also maturing into a handsome man, which was not overlooked by Potipher’s waywardly gazing wife.  Her cheating heart was itself cheated by Joseph’s honorable rejection of her advances, which led to her avalanche of accusations of rape hurled against him, plummeting innocent Joseph abusively and without trial, into prison. 


The ensuing stifling, anxious years in Egypt’s maximum-security penitentiary brought Joseph into a deeper understanding and maturity with His God – and less reliance on his good looks, astute mind and hopeful gaining of a respectable position.  He was, in fact, a slave.  Again, God blessed Joseph in the middle of extreme pain, by allowing him favor with those over the prison.  Joseph became the most trusted trustee, who cared for the prisoners.  At least once he interpreted dreams; this time of two trusted servants in Pharaoh’s own household…surely Joseph thought this could be a sign from God that he would soon be released from this death trap of a prison.  Two more long years wasted away before a sudden flurry of events.  Pharaoh had two dreams.  No one could interpret them.  The butler remembered that Joseph could interpret dreams, and Joseph was called to appear before Pharaoh himself – he was wanted immediately.


After all that painful waiting – all that family hatred and rejection, mis-accusations of rape, beatings, feet locked in chains, his neck fixed in neck-irons (Ps. 105:17-18), humiliations, sorrow, and in his crying out to God…it all came down to an urgent call from Pharaoh.


Joseph had to hurriedly get out of the foul-smelling pit-cell where he had been held all those years.  He took a quick sponge bath, shave, and haircut; rustled up a suitable change of clothes (that didn’t smell like the putrefying pits), only then to run pell-mell uphill with the messengers into the gigantic gilded hall of Pharaoh’s splendid, pristine palace.  He walked in softly, lay prostrate appropriately before Egypt’s master, and was attuned to every word the anxiously pacing Pharaoh spat at his cowering magicians and wise men.


After Pharaoh’s attendant pointed out his presence, Joseph raised himself to his knees and then heard for himself the elusive dreams the Pharaoh had been detailing all morning, trying to get someone to give him a rational interpretation.  Amazingly, the answer that had eluded all of Egypt’s wisest throughout the morning was crystal clear to Joseph.  After acknowledging to Pharaoh that only God was the interpreter of dreams (not himself) he answered succinctly and with great respect, the interpretation of the dream that God had given him, even giving some reasonable suggestions along with the interpretation.


When Joseph finished, Pharaoh motioned with his hand for silence and drew his most trusted advisors around him.  Joseph’s proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.   The anxiety that had dogged Pharaoh all morning, from the moment he woke up, had affected everyone in his court.  Everyone was greatly relieved that someone had been found to give a sound interpretation.


Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Pharaoh asked his servants?

With the characteristic striking of the royal scepter on his open hand, Pharaoh made his final decision.  His advisors backed away from him respectfully as Pharaoh walked again toward Joseph.


It had not been Joseph’s brilliant mind and administrative skills that had been so appealing to Pharaoh.  It had not been his manly appearance that made the court accept Joseph’s advice.  His hair was probably still damp and somewhat disheveled from his hurried washing just before seeing Pharaoh.  The unfamiliar clothes he had hurriedly draped over him hung uncomfortably on his body, and the dank sultry smells of prison still wafted with repulsive reality around Joseph’s presence.  It wasn’t his mind or his body that gave respect to his interpretation and advice.


There was only one thing that was attractive about Joseph and his words, that far off morning, at the Palace near the misty Nile River, during the god-like reign of the Pharaohs.


Joseph’s presence radiated the fact that he was obviously a man who had yielded himself to and who was empowered by Supernatural authority.  It was evident that the words that Joseph had spoken were words given to him from the Living God.


After all the abuse, rejection, lies, prison life and sorrow…it had come down to this.


Probably not much more than an hour after being released from being an accused criminal in Egypt’s maximum-security prison, Pharaoh took off his own signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand.  The misfit, dowdy clothes borrowed from prison guards were exchanged for the highest quality Egyptian linen robe, and Pharaoh finalized his appointment by putting a gold chain around Joseph’s neck.  At that moment, Joseph was elevated to be the second highest governor in all of Egypt, only Pharaoh himself having more power.  “I am Pharaoh,” the ultimate ruler said to Joseph, “Without your consent, no one shall lift up a hand or foot in all the land of Egypt!”


Joseph’s spirit, empowered by God, was that which overcame every liability, in the highest court in the mighty land Egypt – the greatest nation in the world at that time.


It is the life of God’s transforming Spirit working within His Children that makes the most profound difference in our lives today.   Those who live a spirit empowered life as taught us in Romans 8, are those who make the most difference in a godless world.


Being enlivened by God’s Living Word through His Spirit within us should be one of our highest objectives in life.  It makes no difference what our educational achievements may have been; it makes no difference what our status in life may have been.  A life goal of knowing God and becoming a vessel filled with His Living Word is profoundly worthy.  This will affect every other part of our lives.  God’s Living Word in us is hope beyond hope.  It should be part of every maturing Christian’s goals.



Living Words


Sustainable Words; Empowered Words

Does what you say, “hold water”?  Will your words hold up without any “leaks” draining out their validity?  Are your words true?  Are they sound? Will they stand the test of time?  Will they stand the test of eternity?


More than this, are our words empowered by the Living Word within us?


We who are born again by the Spirit of God have God’s Spirit living within us.  If we have been regenerated by God’s Spirit into New Life, that transformation should empower us so that our words become life giving to those around us…because they reflect God and not us!


Where are the places for course jesting, shady jokes, cursing, belittlement and gossip?  These are words that destroy and demean, not enliven.


We who have been born again should be evidencing the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience….


We should speak words that draw others to Eternal Life


John 5:24

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.


We should understand that God’s Word is Living and it Discerns all things


Hebrews 4

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.


We should build on the Stability of God’s Word, Calamity will Follow


Matthew 7

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”


Jeremiah 23:29

29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?


1 Corinthians 1:18

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.



God has Ways of Verifying the Truth of His Word


Modern science has various ways of discovering what has constancy and reality.  That which is tested should be measurable and be able to be duplicated.  God has His own tests to prove authenticity, among these are also:  Time, Measurability and Duplication.


1.Time


One proven measurement that God has to verify His Word is “time”…time and fulfillment of what is being said.  If a statement does not pass the test of time, it can generally be assumed that its perpetrators are liars.


God’s Word has a record of over 4,000 years of stability and integrity – in every known culture and time period of the world.  (This has been verified through the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, certifying once again the validity of the Old Testament Scriptures.)


We, who have committed ourselves to God find that time verifies His Word to our hearts.

If we follow God’s Word, we are satisfied in the outcomes that it brings.  When we communicate as those who have His Word in our hearts, we communicate truth that will give others hope, assurance and the encouragement needed to seek God and follow His will.


Romans 15

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.


1 Peter 1

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God….


The value of time-tested truth cannot be estimated.  Time allows soiled theories to rust into dust, while the gems of truth, are wrapped more carefully and placed deeper into the soul of those who have found them precious and sustainable.


We, who have been born again by the Spirit of God, should speak time-tested, life giving and Spirit empowered words to the generations that do not know God’s truth.


God’s Word is not only time-tested; it is also measurable in our life.


2.Measurability


The Truth of God’s Word can be measured by how it affects who we are, and how it has affected others throughout the centuries.


  1.   Can what a person says measure how they live?

  2.   What is our life like? 

  3.   What is our home life like? 

  4.   What are we like down deep when all the layers, degrees, dogmatisms and whitewashes are pulled off and the reality of who we are is exposed? 

  5.   How has our faith in God really transformed our life? 

  6.   How has the Living Word of God transformed us?

  7.   How has the Living Word of God through us been “transforming” to others?

  8.   How will that Living Word prepare us for death?

  9.   How can we build into the lives of others around us through the power of the Living Word of God? 


Matthew 7

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.


No one can claim to be perfect – there are always warts and bruises on all of us and sometimes we need to face the consequences of our past faults.  But, let’s face reality: if we are truly born again by the Spirit of God we are not going to live like the world.  Who we truly are, is revealed by our fruit!


God’s Living Word is not only Time-Tested and Measurable, its qualities are meant to be Duplicated.


3.Duplication


Core Values

Anyone who wants to be successful throughout his or her life will follow the Biblical principles outlined in at least some of the Ten Commandments… including not lying, not stealing, not killing and being morally upright, etc.  These traits are honorable and can be emulated and duplicated.  Lifestyles opposite to these are setting themselves up for possible short-term success, but long-term failure and life-long distress.  Real life duplication of honorable lifestyles that have shown consistent success is observed in lifestyles that are founded on Biblical principles, whether one wishes to admit it or not.


These values from God’s Word are written in our hearts, especially if we have been born into God’s family.  When we gently speak truth as those empowered by God’s Living Word, we underline God’s values to others.


Faith

oAbraham, the Father of Faith

Abraham lived some thirty-five hundred to four thousand years ago but faith in God, as exemplified by Abraham, has been duplicated millions of times, as seen in Hebrews 11.


oMen of Faith – full of God’s Living Word, have consistently been Chosen to do the work of the Lord


Acts 7

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the HellenistsÉ arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,Ò pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering…


Faith comes through the Living Word of God.


Romans 10:17

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.


Words are Powerful


The Authority of Words – Jesus, and the Soldier’s Faith


Matthew 8

5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,Ò ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in IsraelÒ have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.


The soldier knew the authority that words carried with them.  He had observed the spiritual power that was in Jesus’ Words when…

…the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepersÉ are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Matt. 11:5)


Words can Change Our Day

How many of us have had a pretty normal day when all of a sudden the phone rings or someone walks up to us and gives us startling news – either something very good or very bad?  Those words had the power to emotionally and/or physically, completely change our day.  We go places we had not planned to go, we spend time in waiting rooms, or on the road driving long distances.  Words changed our day, completely. 


Words can Lift Us Up or Tear us Down

Have we ever been physically tired or emotionally drained, frustrated or depressed in spirit after a long, hard day, when someone came by and gave us a word of encouragement that lifted us up… something that made us believe that we were appreciated and valued?


God Reaches Out to Us through His Word

God doesn’t call us on the phone (God may prompt us or someone else to call and be an encouragement), but God uses His Word through the Presence of the Holy Spirit, to comfort our hearts, teach us and guide us in a variety of ways.


Rest

Matthew 11

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”


Provision

Hebrews 13

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

            “The Lord is my helper;

                    I will not fear;

               what can man do to me?”


Future Hope

Jude

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.


Eternal Life

Titus 1:2

2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began….


Cleansing

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Ephesians 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.


We too should reach out to others with God’s Living Word from our hearts.



Conclusion


Joseph learned to commune with God while in prison.  He became a man who was empowered by the Spirit of God and it was obvious to those in the world around him.


We should spend time in God’s Word and in communion with God so He can fill our lives with His blessing!


If it is obvious that words can be so important – why don’t we use them more often to bless, encourage and reach out to others in our family, in the Body of Christ and to those who do not know Christ…we, who have the Living Word of God in our life!


Psalm 19:7-11

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9  the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

and in keeping them there is great reward.