GOD’S PREVAILING WORD

“So the WORD of the LORD grew mightily and PREVAILED” – Acts 19:20

It is a treasured experience to encounter the Power of GOD’S PREVAILING WORD: “So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). The Word of God believed on and declared will always prevail, prosper, bring life, and produce divine results. Paul the apostle had been consistently releasing the Living Word: “And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (v.10). This resulted in God working “unusual miracles by the hands of Paul” (v.11). In contrast, the exorcists who tried to trivialize God’s Word in spiritual warfare witnessed a situation in which the evil spirit “overpowered them, and prevailed against them” (v.16). When people fail to live or walk in alignment with God’s Word, evil prevails against them!

In the case of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, it took the Word of God to prevail against the Devil (Lk.4: 1-13). Jesus kept quoting the Word when He said “It is written”. Only those who know what written can declare what is written. So, we must give attention to God’s Word and hide it in our hearts, so we’ll have a prevailing word for every season: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). The wise man also counsels: “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings” (Pro.4:20).

God’s Word had been prevailing from the time of the Early Church: “Then the Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). And neither God nor His Word is a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). His Word had prevailed in Peter’s ministry as it now did in Paul’s. What a contrast: Herod “was eaten by worms and died. But the Word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:23b-24). God’s Word never fails on its commanded assignment: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa.55:11). His Word is unstoppable, timely and ever dynamic: “He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly” (Psa.147:15).

The Word of God has existed from eternity past and will continue to exist forever in the future: “Forever O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psa.119:89). Isaiah complements the validity of God’s Word thus: “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isa.40:8). Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself made the following tremendous claims: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mt. 24:35)  In Matthew 5:18 He says, “till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Indeed, the Word of God is Jesus Christ Himself (Jh.1: 1-14). This means that every word of scripture as revealed is Christ being revealed. 

All Scriptures contain in them the authority of Christ Himself. God’s Word, in essence, possesses the power to prevail against all opposing forces that may confront us. His Word turns things around to our favour: “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer.23:29). When life seems to be frustrating, speak the Word and the mountain shall melt before you as wax melts before fire. His Word can change any unpleasant situation and cause us to leap with Joy. There is power in His spoken Word because the Person and dignity of Jesus is brought to play on every matter. As God’s Word fills our hearts, we shall prevail over all adverse circumstances of life in the name of Jesus.