GOD'S POWER FOR MIRACLES IS IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WORD (PLEASE READ ON)

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS POWER

If there was ever a time God’s people and indeed the “Church” needed to know God and the power of His word, it is now. The times are becoming more and more difficult for Christians to live in. The devil seems to have acquired and invented more sophisticated ways of dealing with believers. His attack on Christians also seems to have been intensified in recent times. For the believer therefore, to rise up to these great challenges of our time and the sophistication of satan, he must become more knowledgeable and versed in the knowledge of God, in order to withstand the wiles and cunnings of satan and his host of demons.

The rate at which satan has unleashed his attacks on Christians and the shameful way many have been beaten hands down, is of great concern. Their inability to defend themselves or stand against the devil’s onslaught is to me, a clear indication of the level of understanding they have in the word of God. Brethren I believe that this ought not to be so.

Does it mean that the word of God has lost its power or that God has ceased to be God? He has not changed. His word has also not changed. Rather, the problem is with Christians. Christians have become terribly busy doing other things rather than sitting at God’s feet, with His word, to acquire strength and power through the Holy Spirit. The knowledge that exposes the tactics and operations of satan is lacking in believers. The knowledge that produces power and victory is lacking.

Jesus once had a face to face confrontation with satan. He did not waste time with the devil. He used the appropriate weapon against him – word. He used the knowledge of the word to overcome satan. He quoted again and again “it is written”(Matt 4:4). The word used by the Lord became a weapon that brought about the defeat of His enemy.

The Bible tells us in Jn.13:16, “The servant is not greater than his Lord, neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him” We can therefore, conclude that, if Jesus our Master needed to depend on the knowledge of God’s word to deal with the devil (the tempter), we, His servants need more of this knowledge or weapon because there is no point in time when we will be greater than our Master.

No wonder Apostle Paul saw this great need for the Church in Ephesus when he prayed:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Eph.1:17-18)

The sure way to be delivered from the clutches of satan and ignorance is to have a very good knowledge of the word of God.

The depth of revelation that will eradicate sweat and suffering comes from the knowledge of God’s word. The inheritance of the Christian is contained in God’s word and until we begin to go deep into the word of God, we will live to suffer lack, deprivation and intimidation in the hand of man and satan. We know that the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s (Ps.24:1).

Therefore, to know the things that have been freely given to us, which Apostle Paul refers to as our “inheritance”, we have to know God’s will, which is contained in His word. If we do not have a good knowledge of His word and or what Christ accomplished for us through His death, we are likely to fall prey to the devil again and again. A clear and sure perception of God comes from closeness to the word of God (the Bible). The word is so important to Him that He has exalted it above His name (Ps. 138:2). This truth cannot be over-emphasized. Hosea clearly states the dangers of ignorance thus:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

What Hosea was saying in essence can be summarized this way:

• My people are destroyed for lack of the word of God: because they have rejected the word of life.

• Or my people are destroyed for IGNORANCE of the word of God; because they have rejected the word of life.

Most problems that occur again and again amongst believers and within the Body of Christ today stem largely from the problem of IGNORANCE. Sometimes, the teachers themselves are ignorant and confused and this reflects on the followers. No wonder, it is possible to find people fighting within the Church, even among Pentecostals, who are supposed to know the truth and abide by it. There are many evils that have crept into our churches as a result of ignorance.

Today, the Church has become a political arena, where people fight for positions and such like. There is envy and strife. The Church, Christ’s body, seems to have lost its focus. This is a shame and an anomaly that requires immediate remedy.

The sure answer is in the application of the knowledge of God’s word. I believe the time has come when God’s people should go back to God’s word. Knowledge opens the door to the abundance that is in God for the believer. You can never grow more than the word of God that is in you. It is the knowledge of God’s truth you have inside you that will determine the level of victory you will have in your life.

It is shameful to see God’s own people (washed in Christ’s blood) being tormented and possessed by demonic powers, particularly when such torture is a direct result of the ignorance of their rights and privileges in Christ. Today, we see many lives being destroyed. Some homes are being destroyed and many Christians, who were once standing have been defeated or completely weakened. Satan has taken advantage of their ignorance to destroy them.

It is important to ask, “What is responsible for all this”? The answer is not far fetched – lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6 says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Take note, the people being destroyed are not unbelievers but the chosen ones, those set apart, the peculiar people of God. It is important to point out here that what is responsible for their destruction is not lack of money, education, fame or eloquence. What destroys is lack of knowledge of God’s word.

This is the only reason why God’s people are destroyed. If there is one basic thing the Church needs today, it is the true knowledge of God’s Word. Not necessarily miracles. The knowledge of the word brings permanent miracles. The source of victory for the church is the knowledge of God’s word. The saying is true, that knowledge is power. The “Church” will begin to operate in a new dimension of faith and power if this truth is discovered.

You need knowledge to grow. You need knowledge of God’s word to overcome sin, sickness, poverty, fear, guilt, and demonic forces that operate daily all around us. It is the knowledge of God’s word you have that gives you power. The truth, only found in God’s word, sets free. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. If you know the word of God, it will set you free from many agonies.

It is lamentable and indeed a pitiable development that believers have abandoned God’s word when it is most needed. They have abandoned the very source of power and success – the word. The word of God is the container that carries God’s power. When God’s word is abandoned, His power is also abandoned. Whenever Jesus wanted to create or heal, He sent the Word (Ps. 107:20).

The power to heal is in the word. The power for miracles and signs is in the word. The power you need for your daily victory and success is in the word. To do without the word therefore, is to live in complete failure. To abandon God’s word is to head for real destruction.

As you give yourself to God’s word and become knowledgeable about its truth, you will surely rise to victory in all areas of your life. It is not just its study but its application to circumstances and situations. When the word of God is known and applied appropriately, the devil cannot help but bow before you. Your level of spiritual operations (e.g. dealing with demonic problems) depends on how of God’s word you know, believe and apply. Jesus did not use His wisdom or sense in dealing with the devil, He used the word.

The devil may succeed in disobeying your own words but not when you use God’s word. There is power in the word of God. It was the knowledge or truth of the word that Jesus used in dealing with satan.

You need this knowledge to be an overcomer. As a matter of fact, the level of the word inside you, is the level of Holiness, faith and success you could possibly have. May the Lord grant you understanding.

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