“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

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. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJ

 

The word of God is not just dead words in an old dusty book. It is not man’s ideas or man’s philosophy. It is alive and it is powerful. It is precise and discerning, cutting to the heart of the matter and bringing forth the truth. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Everything is like an open book to Him. He sees and knows everything – all the way into our hearts and our thoughts. We have no way to lie or cover up because there is nothing to hide behind and no excuses we can make – because we know that He knows and He sees all.

 

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. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  John 1:1-17 NKJ

 

Jesus is the Word made flesh. He dwelt among us as one of us. He came from the Father’s presence to bring us grace and truth. In Him is life and this life is the light of men. His light shines the truth into the heart of every man. His light shone in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it. He created the world, but the world did not know Him. He came to His own, but they did not receive Him. Those who did recognize Him and receive Him saw His glory.

 

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.  Hebrews 11:3 NKJ

 

God created the universe with His words and with the “Word” – Jesus. The worlds we see were created from a world we cannot see. The spirit realm created the natural realm with words.

 

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  I John 5:7 NKJ

 

The Father, Jesus (the Word), and the Holy Spirit are one. They always agree. They always say the same thing. God’s will is God’s word. God’s word is His will.

 

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.  1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJ

 

The word of God is just that – the word of God. It is not the word of man. The word works effectively in those who believe in the power and integrity of the word of God.

 

I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.  Psalms 138:2 NKJ

 

God’s name is awesome, but His word is magnified above His name. That is because your name is only as good as your word. You only have a good name when you are a keeper of your word – when you do what you say you will do. That is having integrity – people know that they can trust you because you always do what you say you will do. Your name carries weight. Both sinners and saints will respect you. God always keeps His word. We can trust His word because He always keeps His word. He says what He means and He means what He says.