1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Word of God

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. [1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB]

The Bible is the word of God. What Paul preached and taught came to him by way of revelation from God Himself. When he taught, he repeated what God had told him; his words were the word of God. 

We can accept that the New Testament Bible is the word of God because we have 2000 years of history to back it up. But imagine what it was like for those early believers. They had people coming through and telling them about every religion that came along - the Roman and Greek pantheons, local religions Eastern religion, secular philosophy, Judaism - each claiming to be the one true religion.

So what made Paul's preaching so different? How is it that he "turned the world upside down?" God said;

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,And do not return there without watering the earthAnd making it bear and sprout,And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;It will not return to Me empty,Without accomplishing what I desire,And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. [Isaiah 55:10-11 NASB]

The word of God is not just a collection of words. It is the nature of God's word be active, and to have power. When Paul spoke God's word, the power of that word penetrated to the spirit of the listeners. We read in Hebrews;

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [Hebrews 4:12 NASB]

The power of God's word produced faith in the believers. As it says in Romans;

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. [Romans 10:17 NASB]

When you are speaking to an unbeliever about Jesus, your words matter. There are people who make a career out of using logic and reason to defend the gospel. The problem is, logic and reason can be refuted by more logic and reason, or even by emotional arguments that defy logic and reason. Your words, that is the words that come from your natural mind, have no power. Jesus said,

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." [John 15:5 NASB]

The same is true when speaking to fellow believers. Psychology has limited value to a hurting Christian. The love and care of fellow Christians, the prayers of the saints, and the word of God, spoken in love, have the power to heal.

Study the Bible so that you can have an answer. Don't be afraid to speak the God's word into the life of others as well as yourself. His word will perform its work in we who believe.

Father, I thank You for Your word; that is powerful and effective. I pray for the wisdom to apply Your word to my life, and to speak Your word into the lives of others.