The Power of the Word

By William R. Cunningham

Scripture lesson
" So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus." (Matthew 14:29 NKJV)

Introduction

How would you feel if you prepared dinner for a group of people for a gathering at your home and someone said that the food you prepared was nasty?  What would happen if someone said that the work you just did was terrible.  Think of your response if you are ready to give up and lose hope, but someone comes and talks to you and encourages you to continue.  Words are indeed very powerful.  We are hurt by them, encouraged by them, and emotionally impacted by them.

Now, considering the power of our words on each other, imagine the power the words of God has on us?  If the words of someone else can cause us to be encouraged and move on, consider what the words of God could cause us to do and even enable us to perform?

We are going to look at the power of the word of God on our lives.  However, we will also examine our part in the effectiveness of God’s word in our lives.

Scripture Lesson

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33 NKJV)

There are a few things that I’d like to point out in this passage of scripture.  First let’s look at each point.

1. Jesus sent his disciples to the other side (the other side of the Sea of Galillee)
2. Jesus sent the multitude away.  Jesus had ministered to them for a while and he and the disciples fed them.
3. Jesus went alone to pray
4. The boat that the disciples were in was being pounded by the waves
5. Jesus went to the boat by walking on the water
6. The disciples saw him and thought he was a ghost
7. Jesus identifies himself to his disciples on the boat and comforts them
8. Peter asks for confirmation that it is Jesus by asking Jesus to tell him to come out on the water as well.
9. Peter walks on the water
10. Peter is affected by the wind and waves around him and begins to sink
11. Jesus holds Peter up

The apostle John in his gospel revealed why Jesus sent the people away and why he went to be alone.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:14-15 NKJV)

So the people were going to take Jesus by force and make him a king.  However, that was not the will of God so Jesus avoided that situation altogether.  It is also possible that the disciples would have fallen victim to the people’s plans since they didn’t understand.
Now back to Matthew.  First of all, it appears that Jesus intended to walk on the water as the boat was gone and so were his disciples.  How else would he have gotten to the other side?  Also, it is also interesting that he walked on the water in the first place.  That was a bit extravagant, don’t you think?  In any case, there appears to have been a purpose for Jesus did, which Peter would be the central object.

Now when the disciples saw Jesus, they thought that he was a ghost.  It is very likely that they had never seen anyone walk on the water before, so it is understandable that they thought it was a ghost.

Now here is the very interesting thing.  Peter’s test to confirm that what they saw was Jesus, was to walk on the water himself by the command of Jesus Christ.  However, they thought Jesus was a ghost so if Peter was wrong then he would have sank.  Perhaps he suspected that it was Jesus.  In any case, that was a big risk on his part.

Now Jesus told Peter to “come” and Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water.  Peter actually walked on the water merely because Jesus said to come.  What if we responded to God’s word like that?  What if God said to do something and we just did it.
The point that I want to make here is that Peter simply responded to the word of Jesus Christ and he was able to walk on the water.  Evidently Jesus enabled him to do it, but he did it merely by speaking the word.  However, Peter had to respond to that word; else he would never have gotten out of the boat.

1. The word of God is powerful
2. We have to respond to the word of God to realize its affect in our lives—God doesn’t force anything on us.

Let’s look another illustration of the power of Jesus’ words.

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:28 NKJV)

Here a woman came to Jesus seeking help for her demon-possessed daughter.  After a short dialog with Jesus, she was told by Jesus that her desire would be fulfilled.  Her daughter was delivered that very hour.  Again we see the power of Jesus’ word.  Consider what Jesus said about his own words.

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63 NKJV)

Also,

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

Probably the most powerful statement about the word is in the gospel of John.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4 NKJV)

The word of God brings life.  The word of God is able to change our lives.  The word of God can guide us and help us.  It is important that we heed the word of God so that it truly would have its effect in our life.

Are you living your life according to the word of God?

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV)

The Path

We should respond to the word of God as Peter did and remain faithful to it.  We should do our best to remain in the Word of God and continually live by it.  Sometimes things happen and we drift away from the Word of God operating in our lives.  However, we stay faithful to the word of God. We should also use words to edify others instead of tearing them down. We should encourage each other with our words and therefore be a blessing to others as children of God.

Is the Word of God real to you?  Do you think of the reality of the Word of God the way you think of the reality of a possible promotion or the maintenance of your car?  We first must consider the Word of God, and thus God, to be real.