And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….”
John 1: 14
We have seen how all things began in Genesis and John. I don’t want to be tedious, but as the NT admonishes, saying something again is never a bad thing; it is actually beneficial for our edification and growth.
The word that came out of the mouth of God became Jesus Christ, the son of God, the son of man and this has become the principle of the power of the spoken word. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that this word is alive and powerful. The word that goes forth from the mouth of God, God's word, when spoken, is powerful and will not return to him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and succeed in its purpose. Isaiah 55:1.
There is a principle of confession, but this does not give us the freedom to pick and choose the word we want established. God is the creator of all things. He is the author of His creation. He has written the story. Now, we’re simply privileged to participate in the verbal expression of that story. As Jesus was the express image of the Father, we have been left here on this earth to continue this work. Everything is to flow from Him.
Let’s consider what Jesus said from the following verses in John's Gospel ~
Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. John 8:28
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. John 12:49
Note from these two verses that Jesus expressed unity with the Father. Throughout the gospels we can read the very heart and mind of God as it is expressed through His vessel. The demand for the ‘son of man’ to be fully submitted, in perfect harmony, oneness that ‘if, like Jesus, you see me, you see the Father’ has set the standard for every believer.
Jesus said, whatever you ask the Father in my name, that will I do. This divine alignment, so that we can truly say our words are Jesus’ desire, is required for our words to be effective. Since Jesus is the spoken word of God made flesh, we know the place of our personal submission begins the creative processes of God within us.
Not only do we see the miraculous occurring through the spoken word but we find the very purposes of God articulated as Jesus instructs (the sermon on the mount, parables, corrections, rebukes) and declares the ultimate end of His existence as the son of man. As the author and finisher, there is a beginning and an end to every purpose. There is a time for everything under the sun. There are boundaries set. These words were all seeds sown by the Father, through Jesus, so that we might know the things that have been freely given to us, so we might see, learn, and receive and do.
The demand to see, hear, and understand holds no shortcuts. Another individual's revelation only becomes ours through the same processing that the first received it. Faith is never about what we know (head knowledge) but what we have seen, learned, and received from Him. That’s what shapes us and, in turn, shapes our world.
The diligence required to practice this level of spiritual discipline can be a challenge in our daily lives, but we can never lose sight of God’s desire to speak and create through us. He does this so the word He speaks to us can be spoken through us and become abundant life for not just ourselves but others as well.