Teaching 28

THE WORD OF FAITH THAT WE PREACH

When the Word of God is spoken, it has the power to do exactly what has been spoken
and ordered to do. God's Word is a decree and when He speaks, that word has to fulfill
its purpose. The same thing occurs when God's anointed servants preach-He supports.
every word they speak.
"But what does it say? 'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that
is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is
Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that
you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:8-10).
The power of the Word is in our mouth. Whatever we declare through our sermons will
come to pass. Jesus surprised the world with His teachings, and with the miracles which
occurred as He spoke.

He told a man with leprosy, "I am willing; be cleansed." Instantly the leprosy
disappeared.

He told a blind man, "According to your faith let it be to you." He was then able to see.
• He told the woman who was bent over for 18 years, "Woman, you are loosed from
you-infirmity." She was healed instantaneously.
He told Lazarus after he had been in the tomb for four days, Lazarus, come out!" And
Jesus' friend Lazarus resurrected. He ordered the winds to, "Quiet!" and the sea to, "Be
still!" the wind died down and it was completely calm..

Scriptures teach us that God places His good will in us. Only the Holy Spirit could have
done what He did in Paul's life. He renounced everything and counted them as rubbish
that he may Christ and know His excellence. Thanks to this and the memory of his
persecution of Christians, this man believed that he indebted to humanity.
Communicating the Gospel of Jesus the only thing he could do to repay the debt.
PREACH WILLINGLY
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, have been entrusted with
a stewardship" (1 Corinthians 9:17). The Apostle was well aware of the difference
between the people who work only for pay and those who work willingly. He made clear
it that preaching the Gospel is not a burden. It is a joy. The joy compelled him to desire
to preach with his whole heart.
PREACH THE GOSPEL FREELY
What is My reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of
Christ without charge, and that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel"
(1 Corinthians 9:18).
Paul had set a goal for himself. He preached the Gospel freely. God put that desire in
his heart. How do we know? Paul was focused only on soul-winning and became known
as the one who revolutionized the world.

HAVE THE HEART OF A SERVANT

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win
the more" (1 Corinthians 9:19). Paul established one of the fundamentals of
evangelism-having a servant's heart. He was intent on robbing the adversary of the
largest possible number of souls, and God supported and endorsed his endeavor.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PREACHING
Paul said: "This is the word of faith we preach" (Romans 10:8). We must understand
that Jesus is God's Verb made flesh. He was a man who lived among us. Even though
Jesus ascended to the heavens, the Verb, the fullness of His Word, remains in us. We
are His Church, and it is our duty to make that Verb known to the hearts of others. This
is what Paul was saying when he said, "The Word of faith we preach." The message we
proclaim with our lips must go forth with the same anointing and power spoken by
Jesus. For this, I recommend that you:
• Utilize various resources to communicate efficiently. We should use illustrations,
parables, edifying testimonies, and technology effectively.
• It must be constant, perseverant and effective. The message needs to be constant,
perseverant and effective because the salvation of millions who need to hear God's
Word is at stake. We are living in the last days in which God is raising up an army of
men and women who are totally committed to Him and to preaching His Word.
• The Word must be anointed. This becomes the believer's most powerful weapon.
What we say will determine what we do. God has given our lips the authority to shape
our future. Jesus said: "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the
tree bad and its fruit bad, for a tree is known by its fruit." Every word that comes out of
our mouths is filled with power. When we speak words of wisdom, we release a power
that edifies. If we speak foolish words, we release a destructive power. Solomon said:
"Death and life are in the power tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs
18:21).
CONCLUSION
The Word of God is alive and efficient. It is complete and efficient to fulfill the Lord's
purposes in the spiritual, as well as the physical and material.
APPLICATION
As we get prepared to take the Gospel to the nations, the main focus must always be
Jesus Christ. It is also necessary to seek in prayer the anointing of the Holy Spirit so
that therefore miracles will accompany the preached Word.
"WHAT WE SAY DETERMINES WHAT WE DO. GOD HAS PUT IN OUR LIPS THE
AUTHORITY TO OUTLINE OUR OWN FUTURE."