1ST THESSALONIANS 2:13 - PART 5

TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2023

The Word working effectively in a born again Christian guarantees faithful indications, hopeful and righteous longings, secured promises, bold expression of the glorious gospel and more, and all of these omens advance our intimate relationship with God, like an ever-deepening river. More below!

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 New King James Version (NKJV) "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."

According to Paul, the third point for being thankful on behalf of the saints is: The Word effectively worked in them because they believed it (Their faith and the efficacy of the Word). The true Word of God will always work in a born again Christian, when put to work, because it is alive and God-breathed. So Paul acknowledged that the "Word is now at work in you who believe", which implies a transformed inner being with an inward witness of the truth, visibly evident and manifesting outwardly. This testimony denotes an absence of doubt and unbelief because they made a great profession of their faith without ceasing. And that is where our faith and efficacy of the Word come in.

We are called to walk and live by faith, not by sight, meaning that the Word of God should be put to work (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT). As we put it to work, it is accompanied with the powerful effect and efficacy of the grace of God. Therefore, firstly, we must develop an overpowering sense of a profound consciousness of the inner workings of God's grace, which will in turn, influence our Christian outlooks, our thought patterns and mindset, our plans, our desires and expectations from God and the "right living" perspective of the Christian life. Secondly, we should practice the act of applying the Word to every aspect of our lives and every situation we encounter in life. That's how to walk by faith.

Many a time, it will make no sense to the natural mind when we decide to action the Word in any given situation, but we must always bear in mind that the Word is quick and powerful in effects. For instance, we can't actually see with the natural eyes, what happens in the realm of the spirit when we speak the Word of God concerning any matter or issues, and therefore, it means that we must build our faith strong by meditating on the Word of God often, so we can keep our faith alive when we declare the Word. When we put the Word to work by speaking forth what we desire to see, faith demands that we do not look at undesirable things which seem to be present at that moment, but at the expectations we have spoken into being, although they are not yet seen. To that effect, 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

In addition, Romans 4:17 (CEB) says, "As it is written: I have appointed you to be the father of many nations. So Abraham is our father in the eyes of God in whom he had faith, the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that don't exist into existence." Always remember that God addressed Abraham as the father of many nations long before he had an offspring which was a promise from God, and this denotes that God calls things that don't exist, as being real, ahead of their existence or before they begin to exist. In the same manner, without believing in the unseen and putting the Word to work, faith will remain absent in our Christian life. Therefore, calling things that are not as though they are, in line with God's Word, is the proof of the ever growing faith walk with God, and the Word will definitely manifest in our lives as we stay thankful after speaking it forth.

Therefore, it doesn't matter what the situation looks like or the kind of challenge you have in your life, as long as you believe in the efficacy of God's Word, which has an unfailing character. Once you put the Word to work, remain strong in faith, giving glory to God. For the Bible says, "Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what God had promised, he was able also to perform" (Romans 4:20-21 KJV). For the vast nature of efficacy of the Word, Stay tuned for part 6. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Acts 27:25; Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 1:1; 1 John 5:4.

Exuberant Declaration: I have faith in God and in the efficacy of the Word. Therefore, every expectation I speak forth comes to pass and it is exactly as I have been told by God, in the pages of the Scripture. Hallelujah!