God’s Faithfulness in Honouring His Word

Text: Isaiah 55:10-11
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

There is power in the Word of God. The power and effect of God’s Word can never be cancelled, wished away, annulled or made void. The Word of God will either bring a spiritual life to those who receive it or just condemnation to those who reject it. The Bible is full of events or happenings that attest to God’s faithfulness in bringing to pass what he has promised. The promises of God can be categorised into two broad spectra: blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Lev 26:1-13, 14-46; Deut 28:1-14, 15-68).

The life and history of God’s people are under the operation of blessing or cursing (Deut 11:26-29). God set before His people, the children of Israel the choice of receiving a blessing or a curse. If they lived in obedience to God’s Word and remained separated from sin of the surrounding nation, then God’s blessings would come on them (Deut 28:1-14). Conversely, if they conformed to the ways of the ungodly, God’s curse would come upon them and overtake them (Deut 28:15-68). God told Israel in Deut 28:63 that as He rejoiced over them to do them good, and to multiply them; in like manner He will rejoice over them to destroy them, and to bring them to nought and pluck them from off the land that they are about to possess. The afore-mentioned are God’s warning in His Word which unfortunately, Israel for most part did not take seriously. Oftentimes, they adopted the ways of the unbelievers, thereby falling upon God’s curse and judgement.
God’s plan to continually bless His people based on His Word cannot be cancelled. His miracles of healing, setting the captives free and raising the dead is incontrovertible. However, it is part of God’s miracles as seen in the Bible to bring judgement upon ungodly individuals e.g. Elymas (Acts 13:8-11) and Herod (Acts 12:20-23). Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11, is an example of a miraculous judgement against sin within the church. Just like He was faithful in harshly striking down Ananias and Sapphira in order to reveal His hatred for all deceit and dishonesty in the kingdom of God, so will He be just in bringing judgement in the church for her abominable sins, deceit about our relationship with Christ, our work for Him and the extent of our ministry.

The Bible says in Rev 21:8 that the fearful (those who fear the disapproval and threat of people more than they value their loyalty to Christ and the truth of His Word and/or those whose personal safety and status on earth mean more to them than their faithfulness to God) and the unbelieving (former believers in Christ, who because of unbelief and disobedience were overcome by various sins), and the abominable (those who profess Christ but practise evil), and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Conclusion
God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, and today and forever (Heb13:. The choice God placed before Israel of old, He places before New Testament believers. He places before us life and death; righteousness and wickedness; good and evil; the narrow way and the wide road; fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh; spiritual mind and the carnal mind. The Word of God portrays God’s dichotomy. His Word embodies His very character. His Word is living, active, piercing, discerning, sharp and two-edged. On the one hand, His Word brings healing and life to those who submit to Him through faith (obedience); on the other hand, His Word pronounces judgement on those who disregard Him.

If we abhor sin, follow Christ and seek to serve Him continually, then His blessing and power will be ours. If we depart from God and His righteous ways, we will lose God’s presence, help and covenant protection.
Unto which aspect of His Word are you yielded? Unto obedience that leads to life or unto disobedience that brings death and eternal damnation? The choice is yours to make.

He, who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

God bless you.