Provoking the spoken word - daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Tuesday 5 January


TOPIC: PROVOKING THE SPOKEN WORD

MEMORIZE: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1: 20)

READ: 2 Peter 1: 19-21

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Word. You can categorize God’s Word into three: The Written Word (the Bible), the Spoken Word and the Living Word. The Written Word is the word documented. The Bible is no ordinary book. It is the revelation of God to mankind by the Holy Spirit. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1: 21). The Holy Spirit spoke through sanctified vessels and His words were later documented as the Bible. This shows us a link between the Spoken Word and the Written Word. Some skeptics have tried to fault the Bible but it remains faultless. Severe persecution that arose against the church during the dark ages tried to completely wipe out every copy of the Bible, yet it is still with us today because you cannot eradicate God’s Word. What is your relationship with the Bible?

“But he answered and said, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light” and it was so. Occasionally, God speaks. In Acts 13: 2, the Holy Spirit called for Barnabas and Saul to be set apart for a special assignment. Whenever God is present in a gathering, if the atmosphere is conducive for Him, He will speak to His people using any consecrated and willing vessel. Our Lord Jesus says to live the life of faith, you need to know what God is saying at the moment. That means God has a message for you in that particular situation you find yourself. If you can hear what the Spirit is saying concerning an issue and you comply with His instruction, you will emerge victorious. Do you care to know what God is saying about the step you are about to take? There are directions that God is about to give to you, but do you take time to provoke Him to say what should be said? Before the Spirit spoke to prophets and teachers, they provoked the Spoken Word. You can provoke the Spoken Word to come through any of God’s vessels via worship, praise, thanksgiving, fasting or just waiting on Him. What have you done to provoke the Spoken Word?

ACTION POINT: If you fail to obtain the Word you need at the moment, there may be a gap between your present and future.