A teaching by Peter Wade
Today there is much talk about power. Everybody wants power; it has been the same throughout the centuries. In one magazine there is a column entitled "It pays to increase your word power." That would be a great slogan for every believer: "It pays to increase your Word power."
Let us start our quest for power in God’s Word in Psalm 138. "I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word" (Psalm 138:2). If God means what He says here, that His Word and His name are magnified above all things, then by all means we should make the number one priority in our life to get to know the Word of God, in which we will learn about His name.
Let us examine the Word and see what it says about itself. Throughout the Bible there are statements made regarding the Word of God, giving us insight into its greatness. We will limit our study to two books: Hebrews and Thessalonians.
The Word is powerful
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power..." (Hebrews 1:3a). The word "power" is dunamis, which means
inherent power, latent power. The Word is dynamic in its operation; in the Word lies dynamite. The English word "dynamite" comes from the Greek word dunamis, as does the word "dynamo", an English word for a generator of electric power. God's revelation to us is described as the "Word of His power".
It is vital and interesting to note that power and the Word are tied up together. We know that as we have progressively learned more of the Word of God, we have applied it in various areas of our lives. Perhaps just a little at the start, and gradually we have stepped out more boldly upon the Word. We started believing what God said in the Word about our finances, our health, our relationship with other people, and we found that the Word has power.
It is the Word of His power, His dunamis, inherent power. I am convinced that we cannot have the power of God in operation unless we have the Word in its integrity, because the two go hand in hand. A lot of believers have the power of God in operation, but it is out of order when it is not based on the Word. It often brings more reproach than glory upon the Gospel, and the things of God. But if we operate the power of God the way the Word says it has been made available to us, then we can walk with confidence. The Word will always accomplish that for which it was sent.
On the other hand, the moment you go all Word and no power, you have a lot of head-knowledge but no abundant life, because it takes power to live a more abundant life. We need both Word and power as Christian believers today; it is no wonder that we read of the Word of His power.
The Word is steadfast
"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution" (Hebrews 2:1,2). Notice the phrase, "the message [word] declared by angels proved to be reliable." The angels said what God told them to say. God's Word is steadfast; it is endurable; it never changes. The word "reliable" is translated "steadfast" in other places, also "sure." It refers to something as having force; something that has strength to stand. This is the greatness of the Word, strong enough to stand because it is His Word of power (dunamis), power to stand firm, whatever men or women think or say or do. The Word will always be there in its greatness, and it will always work whenever we are ready and willing to believe it.
Adapted from the book The Dynamics of Positive Living by Peter Wade.
