I have had the privilege of
preaching God’s word and seeing His presence move
over and audience and hundreds of listeners respond
to His word. I have also preached
and in humility, emptied the house.
I have watched people stand in the rain and
listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and refuse to
leave until the last word was said and the last
prayer was prayed. I have also to my dismay waited
for people to come to church while it was raining
and hardly anyone arrived.
When God takes a man who makes
himself available to Him and says, “Go and preach in
the power with which I have endowed you,” he will
see great and mighty things happen.
God says, “For My thoughts are
not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
"So will My word be which goes
forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire, And without
succeeding in the matter for which I sent it"
(Isaiah 55:11).
I am convinced after
fifty-seven
years of ministry that the power is not in the
messages, or the messenger, but in the Lord Jesus
Christ. The power is in the Lord.
The true power lies in Christ. “Out of His
mouth goes the sharp two-edged sword” (Rev. 1:16).
God does not deposit a certain
amount of power in man; He retains the power in
Himself. Infinite resources are
found in Him alone. It is only as we make ourselves
available to Him and allow Him to work in and
through us that we see Him do great and mighty
things.
“All power is in Jesus, and
Jesus is with His people,” said Spurgeon. Jesus
said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age” (Matt. 28:20). He is here right now.
The power that brings a person
to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is the Word of
God. It is not our performance,
or imagination, personality, illustrations, or our
creativity. God’s Word is the
source of all power in creation and redemption.
Every sermon and every Bible study are a
waste of words if they are not filled with Christ’s
word. We must have God’s Word and nothing else.
It is not your word; it is God’s Word that
changes the world and raises the dead.
The Holy Spirit takes the
preached word and applies it to the heart.
He melts the soul in repentance and brings a
person to faith in Christ.
C. H. Spurgeon said, “People
are disturbed and troubled by the real gospel:
under the false gospel they can sleep into
destruction. Bring out the sword:
it is made to wound; let it exercise its
salutary sharpness.”
The sword of God’s word cuts at
sin to the very depths of the soul.
"For the word of God is living and active and
sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
far as the division of soul and spirit, of both
joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. And there is no
creature hidden from His sight, but all things are
open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we
have to do" (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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