The Power of One Word from God

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.”
Luke 7:6–7

The great English missionary statesman Andrew Fuller was well known for preaching on faith. In one of his sermons he described a trip he made in response to an invitation to preach. He was traveling on horseback following a time of heavy rains. He came to a river that was flooded, and was uncertain whether he could cross without being swept away. A farmer who lived nearby saw him hesitating and said, “Go on sir, you are quite safe.” Fuller rode out into the water, and though it rose nearly to his saddle, there was solid footing, and he made it safely across. He believed what the farmer told him and acted on it—and that is exactly what faith is.
When we say we believe God but do not do what He says to do, we are demonstrating not just disobedience but a lack of faith. Why do Christians not give generously, witness faithfully, work diligently, and love deeply? In large measure, it is because we do not truly believe that what God says about the rewards for obedience and the punishment for disobedience is true. We do not trust the Word of God as we should.
The commands of God come with all the power we need to obey them. God never tells us to do something without equipping us to do so. A single word from Jesus, “Come” was enough to allow Peter to walk on the water until he took his eyes off the Lord. Our lives should be focused on living in obedience to what God has said.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Faith is not something we talk about—it is something we do.

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And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.   --1 Peter 5:10 When tragedy hits, it can be devastating. But whether you’re facing a bad doctor’s report or a discouraging job hunt, I’d like to remind you how God can use adversity to your benefit. That’s right, to your benefit. God uses adversity to purify us. Sometimes it takes the heat of trials to help separate out the impurities in our lives. Challenges can force us to examine our lives and look at what’s really important. Adversity can also give us just the motivation we need to follow God’s plan. When you seek God’s guidance and act in obedience to His Word, you’ll be amazed at the results.  The trials of our lives also help grow our faith. Consider the muscles in your body. They are strengthened as they are stressed and pushed to the limit. Our faith is the same. The more it is tested, the stronger it becomes. God also uses adversity to teach us perseverance, endurance, and character. Quality people are always those who have come through the fire.  If you are in the midst of a struggle today, hang on. Keep steadfast in your faith, because your trials won’t last forever. And you will come out on the other side a better person, one who is better equipped to handle the strains and stresses each of us inevitably face. Think about Joseph. He had to endure many trials in order to fulfill God’s divine plan for his life. He was tested and tried. He grew in wisdom and faith. And in the end, he was prepared and positioned to save his family and an entire nation! So no matter what is going on in your life today, remember this: God always has your best interest at heart. He has not forgotten you. And He can be trusted with your future. If you are in the midst of a struggle today, hang on! Your trials won’t last forever.