THE WORD OF GOD The apostles, too, recognised the authority of the Old
Testament, and in their lifetimes, their own writings came
The bible is a book like no other. Written over a period
of 1500 years by a multitude of authors and the world’s
best selling book, it has influenced men and women
throughout the ages more than any other document ever
written! Men have died so it could be made available
in many languages and it’s power to change lives and
influence eternal destinies is undiminished, even 1900
years after the last book within it was written. It makes
impressive claims about it’s own authority and we will
begin by looking at these.
The Authority of the Word
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that all scripture is
given by inspiration of God.1 Peter confirmed that the
prophets (whose words are written in the scriptures) were
inspired by the Holy Spirit,2 and Jesus, when disputing
with the Jews,3 quoted Psalm 82,4 referring to it as the
Word of God; thus attesting that the words Asaph had
written were the Words of God, Himself. During that
same dispute, Jesus referred to the Word of God as “the
Scripture” (which means “that which is written”) and
declared it couldn’t be broken.
David, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
recorded that God’s Word is truth5 and that it’s settled
forever in heaven.6 Once God speaks, His Word stands
for eternity7 and God has decreed that His Word has even
more authority than His name.8 When we recall that at
the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,9 we see just how
much authority God has invested in His Word!
Jesus often quoted the Old Testament scriptures as authority
for His teaching.10 In fact when the devil tempted Him in
the wilderness, He relied on them entirely, quoting from
Deuteronomy and saying, “It is written ...”11 (i.e. “The
scripture says ...”). By this method alone, He overcame
the devil, who was unable to refute the authority of the
scriptures used against him!
1. 2 Timothy 3:16 8. Psalm 138:2
2. 2 Peter 1:21 9. Philippians 2:10; Isaiah 45:23
3. John 10:34-36 10. Matthew 11:10; 21:13; 26:24;
4. Psalm 82:6 Mark 7:6; 9:12
5. Psalm 119:160 11. Matthew 4:4,6,7,10;
6. Psalm 119:89 Luke 4:4,8,10
7. 1 Peter 1:23,25; Psalm 119:160;
Matthew 24:35
to be regarded as scripture.12
God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the apostles and
even the devil accept that the scriptures are the Word of
God. Who are we to argue!
How the Word works in us and what opposes it
God’s Word is the most powerful13 and most versatile
force in existence. By it God created heaven and earth,14
and with it, He forms His own sinless nature in the centre
of a man’s being.15 Jesus explained in the foundational
parable of the sower and the seed,16 just how the Word
of God works in a man, and also stated why, in many
cases, it doesn’t work! This is because in all interactions
between man and the Word of God, there are other
powerful factors arrayed against it which can stop the
Word reproducing it’s life within us. For instance, faith is
absolutely necessary. If the Word isn’t mixed with faith,
it won’t benefit us at all.17 The Word brings it’s own faith
but it has to be released. When we hear and understand
the Word of God it initially stimulates our attention and
brings a desire to receive the message.18 Subsequently,
by meditating on what we have heard faith grows in our
heart and as we use that faith, the spiritual life contained
in the Word19 is released and brings life in us. This is
a process, and if we don’t meditate on the Word, the
process doesn’t take place, faith is not released and the
Word does not profit us at all – as the Israelites found to
their cost!20 If the Word is going to work for us, faith is
essential, and if we, or in some cases, someone else on
our behalf,21 do not exercise it, or if it is counterbalanced
by unbelief,22 the Word will be unproductive.
Our heart condition is also a major factor determining
whether the Word of God germinates within us and bears
fruit. Faith is always associated with the heart (i.e. the
inner man, the spirit and the soul). It’s the place where
we do our believing,23 and also the place where we
12. 2 Peter 3:1-2; 15-16 18. Romans 10:17
13. Hebrews 4:12 19. John 6:63
14. Hebrews 11:3 and see 20. Hebrews 4:2,6
Genesis 1 21. Others can exercise faith for
15. 1 Peter 1:23 with 1 John 3:9 our healing, but we, ourselves,
16. Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23; must believe to be saved
Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:5-15 22. Mark 9:24
17. Hebrews 4:2 23. Romans 10:10
entertain doubts and unbelief. That’s one reason why
we are exhorted to keep our heart with all diligence24.
If we don’t do that, its condition will deteriorate to such
an extent that it can’t exercise faith and isn’t able to
make the life of God present in the Word, manifest in
our everyday life. Jesus taught this very clearly in the
parable of the sower and the seed.
He explained that a heart can be so hardened towards
God, that the Word of God can’t penetrate it. Hard-
heartedness makes us incapable of perceiving,
understanding or even remembering spiritual truth.25 If
our heart is hardened in this way, when we do hear the
Word of God, satan immediately makes sure we forget
it and it then has no effect whatsoever on us.26
Trials and persecution also affect the condition of our
heart.27 Satan uses them to attack us, often immediately
after we hear and receive the Word.28 Their effect is
severe because they shriek out for our heart’s attention,
and if the Word hasn’t been rooted and grounded
within us,29 they will distract us, and make us offended
– hurt because of what the word has cost us – and the
life of God growing within us will wither. To avoid
this, we must root and ground ourselves in the Word
by constantly meditating on it. That’s the method by
which the Word first becomes planted in our heart, then
germinates there and grows.
Other powerful influences which come against the
Word, are cares, anxieties, pleasures and riches. If any
of them claim our heart’s attention and take precedence
over the Word, the life of God within the Word won’t
be reproduced in us to its full extent.26 If however, we
simply plant God’s Word in our hearts, protect it, and
give it priority, it will reproduce the life of God within us
without further effort on our part.30 It cannot do anything
else - every seed brings forth life after it’s own kind31 and
the life in the Word of God is the life of Jesus Himself. Jesus
24. Proverbs 4:23 28. Hebrews 10:32
25. See Andrews teaching 29. Ephesians 3:17;
Hardness of Heart audio or Colossians 1:23; 2:7
book format 30. Mark 4:26-28 and see
26. Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Andrew’s teaching Effortless
Luke 8:6 Change in audio or book
27. Matthew 13:21; Mark 4:17; 31. Genesis 1:11; Luke 6:44
Luke 8:13
is the Word made flesh,32 and when the Word of God we suddenly KNOW the truth with absolute clarity and
comes into our heart, it reproduces the life of Jesus certainty.
in our flesh too – first in our spirit,33 and then, as we
Our emotions, too, are determined by our thoughts.
renew our mind34 by meditating on the Word, that life
As our mind starts thinking in line with God’s Word
also flows into our soul and body. Let’s look at some
our emotional life is transformed,46 and our will is also
scriptures which confirm this.

The Word
brought to the point where we use it to make decisions
Renewed by the Word which are in line with God’s Word.
When someone preaches the gospel,35 the Holy Spirit Finally, the Word of God impacts even our body and
brings the seed of the Word to the spiritual womb of a brings health and healing to it.47 It acts as spiritual milk, of
God
man’s heart, in a similar way to the way in which He enabling young Christians to grow,48 and as they mature,
brought the seed of the Word to Mary’s womb.36 If it serves as the spiritual equivalent of bread,49 a fundamental
germinates, the man is born again, or, as James puts it part of our spiritual diet. Those who never read the
“brought ... forth by the word of truth ...”37 Paul confirms bible will necessarily be malnourished and their growth
that at this time we become new creatures,38 our spirit retarded, so they never reach spiritual maturity, whilst
is instantaneously renewed and made righteous and those who regularly study and ponder the scriptures will
holy39 and it’s like Jesus’ spirit.40 It’s sealed so it can’t be steadily grow and develop in their Christian life.
contaminated by sin.41 This is the effect the Word has
on our spirit. What next?
The effect of the Word on our soul is somewhat different.
This teaching has only just scratched the surface in our
Psalm 119:130 tells us, “The entrance of thy words
study of the Word of God. Andrew has many albums
giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
and individual messages which will bring further
The Word brings spiritual knowledge and understanding
enlightenment (some are mentioned in the footnotes)
to the soul, renewing the mind.42 This, in turn, is able to
and these are available on CD and DVD. You may order
transform every part of our soul (mind, will, emotions,
them by ringing the helpline, by email or by writing
conscience). This change is so great that it’s comparable
to Andrew Wommack Ministries – Europe. We can
in effect to what occurs when a caterpillar changes into
also send you a resources catalogue which will give you
a butterfly! However, it’s not an automatic process and
further details of the many messages which Andrew has
depends on our cooperation. The degree and rate of
available.
change are under our control and depend on the priority
we give to God’s Word. If we don’t read it or meditate
on it, our soul will remain the same as it always was
and we, like the Christians Paul addressed43 in Corinth,
will be carnal and unchanged in our way of life. By
contrast, as we read the bible and our physical eyes
take into our soul the Word of God which is spirit and
life,44 our spirit, which already has within it the mind
of Christ and knows all things,45 bears witness to the Further copies of this teaching may be obtained
truth now permeating our soul. As soul and spirit agree, from the address below:
32. John 1:1,14 43. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
33. 1 John 4:17 44. John 6:63 +44(0)1922 473300
34. Romans 12:2 45. 1 Corinthians 2:16; Andrew Wommack Ministries – Europe
35. Mark 4:14; 1 Peter 1:25; 1 John 2:20
Romans 10:14 46. See trifold – The Fruit of the PO Box 4392, Walsall WS1 9AR, England
36. Luke 1:35,38 Spirit and Harnessing Your
37. James 1:18 Emotions audio and book enquiries@awme.net www.awme.net
38. 2 Corinthians 5:17 format.
39. Ezekiel 36:26; Ephesians 4:24 47. Proverbs 4:20-22;
40. 1 John 3:9; 4:17 Psalm 107:20
41. Ephesians 1:13; 48. 1 Peter 2:1-2 © 2007 Andrew Wommack Ministries – Europe Item: 512
2 Corinthians 1:22 49. Matthew 4:4 Registered Charity
42. Romans 12:2