"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Last week we looked at Scripture that revealed that God's word is divinely inspired; furnishes light in darkness; is food for the soul and that its precepts are written on the heart. Of course, we know that this is true only of those who know Him, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness..." 1 Corinthians 1:18 (but the rest of that verse is God's grace to the believer!) "but to us who are being saved it is the powerof God."

God's word is mighty in its influence:
*It is a devouring fire:
The Lord says to Jeremiah concerning Jerusalem's godlessness, "Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, 'Because you have spoken this word, Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire And this people wood, and it will consume them.'" Jeremiah 5:14

*It is a crushing hammer:
Again the Lord says,
"Is not My word like a fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?" Jeremiah 23:29

*It is a life saving force:
"Thus the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] grew and spread and intensified, prevailing mightily." Acts 19:20 The Amplified Bible

*It is a saving power:
As the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." The Amplified Bible

*It is a defensive weapon (a part of the full armor of God):
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17

*It is a probing instrument:
"The word of God is living and active and sharper that 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

*God's word gives hope to men:
"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4

It follows then, that we are directed to study the Word:
"Seek from the book of the Lord, and read..." Isaiah 34:16

We see in Acts 17:11 how the Word was received in Berea:
"These were more fair-minded that those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Read Vs. 10-15 for the account.)

God gave us the Bible so that we might know Him personally, that we might know salvation is the mighty work of the whole Godhead, that it is only by grace through faith, and to bring glory to His name. It is in His word that we find nourishment for our spiritual growth.

Thank You Lord for Your transforming written Word! Amen