The word

“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh” (Eph. 2:16,17).

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17).

When Jesus preaches via prophets, the spirit “speaketh expressly”. But, His testimony isn’t limited to the spoken word. His word must entail much more. Much of heaven’s spoken communications, even from the Son of God, entered the ears, but went no further.

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.…

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.…

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.” (Matt. 13:9,12,14).

“When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 

Yet hath he not root in himself.” (Matt. 13:19-21).

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11).

Without argument, the spoken word and the word sensed aurally, is a most effective and powerful. But, the greatest aspect of “the word” is not communicated via the movement of mouth for the eardrum or the movement of pen in hand for the pupil of the eye. Not in the clashing of the natural world, as Elijah expected, but in the indications sensed within the mind, does God speak. The word does not manifest by photons bouncing off ink or by sound’s vibrations in the air. But rather the real word exists in the thoughts of the heart of sender and receiver. The scientific research should inquire, What does the word do in the human mind?

The mind is where the word of truth, the Spirit comes into play. The intellect, the soul, the conscience, all in the frontal lobe or the heart/spirit, is where, and by what means, judging takes place—our judgment of God’s righteousness and His judgment of our righteousness. Therefore, it is in the heart/spirit that the Spirit is most involved. In “the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter” (Rom. 2:29) or any other post-Eden invention.

It is the heart and spirit that God’s Spirit can convict and humble, and thus He can discern who are His true children. The word working in concepts that together originate only from the Father through Christ, the conceptualizations of truth taking place in the mind, is recreating His Edenic  race, as Jesus revealed. “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20,21).

So preaching is essential. Studying is essential. The audible and visual are important. But, we must remember that neither the spoken or written word is the whole “word” by which the Spirit works. They are simply the holy receptacles, the anointed repositories for the Spirit to abide in and to work through. Crucifying truth, the Spirit’s convicting energy, is where the power of God dwells, rather than in fancy linotype or cursive handwriting or fluff stuffed in theatrical eloquence.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. ” (1Cor. 1:17-21).

There can be a correct place for stimulating the senses with such beauty. God appreciates the beautiful. But, we should never mistake essence and substance for the cosmetic and optional.

But, the ministering spirits and, more so, God Himself through Christ, deal in truth, as They merge Their Spirit with ours. When that occurs, only truth is utilized, which is the stuff of speech and letters, in His actual work of creation and redemption. He dispenses with speech and letters, which articulate the truth, the actual communicated stuff of speech and letters. Truth entering within minds being remade in God’s image, is where the Spirit is, and is what the Spirit is.

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63).

As seen in the parallelism of Gabriel’s explanation, the Holy Spirit of the Most High is the quickening “power of the Highest” (Luke 1:35) working in conjunction with the “Son of the Highest” (vs. 32). “One God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1Cor. 8:6). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:6). “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36). And the Spirit is God’s powerful means for working with the “creature [‘creation’]” (Rom. 8:20-22), whether in the angelic, or human, or animal mind.

“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 

Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? 

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 

With Him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding. 

Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.” (Job 12:7-14).

“And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?... Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day?” (Num. 22:28,30).

The Spirit is also God’s powerful means for working in, or on the molecules of inanimate nature. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being”, “Of whom are all things, and we in Him”. (Acts 17:28; 1Cor. 8:6). Even there we see the work of God’s Spirit through His word.

“God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Matt. 3:9).

 “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40).

The Word of Wisdom was our Creator. Thus, the Son who was “in the beginning with God”, is “I Wisdom”, who was “One brought up with Him [God]: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men.” (Prov. 8:30,31).

“When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.” (Prov. 8:24,25).

The word is the automatic response when Creator meets creature, the deliberate actions taking place from the sovereign Creator in and through and upon His dominion, animate and inanimate.

“Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things?” (Isa. 48:13,14).

The Spirit in the divine word works intellectually, spiritually, physically, chemically, molecularly, atomically, sub-atomically. The Spirit-word, works in the vacuum of inter- and intra-galaxic space, as well as between subatomic particles. The Spirit of God, the word of God, works in the covalent bonds of atoms and in the gravitational forces between stars. Nothing of creation escapes the control and upholding by His word, His Spirit.

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath [ruach, “Spirit”] of His mouth.” (Psa. 33:6). “Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit [ruach], they are created: and Thou renewest the face of the earth.” (Psa. 104:30). “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit [ruach]? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?” (Psa. 139:7).

His word works in inanimate spiritual natures of men to quicken, or animate, them. He is our Creator and Redeemer; thus we know His Spirit. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Eph. 2:1,5).

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2Cor. 3:17). Christ’s Spirit is that divine word of truth, which comes down to us through Moses or Paul, from inspired kings and prophets, and other “able ministers” (2Co 3:6) and which, placed in a willing soul rather than a veiled, blinded soul, works salvation. The word of truth, aglow by the Spirit, has the principle of life, for “the spirit giveth life.” (2Co 3:6).

But, the unregenerate mind and uncircumcised mouth speak words that are not life-giving, such as came from the visitors to Job. Their words are “idle” (Matt. 12:36) words, Christless words, loveless words, solely “of the letter” and void of the Spirit. And “the letter [without the Spirit] killeth” (2Cor. 3:6). It doesn’t “save life”, but destroys it (Luke 6:9). In spite of all their preaching, they will be judged “workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27).

There is substance and power in God’s word. “He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not My word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:28,29).