The Transforming Power of Practicing God’s Word
One of the most exciting and rewarding things about working in marriage restoration ministry is the opportunity to witness the transformation and changes God makes in the hearts and lives of the men and women He brings to FAMM. Seeing the awesome transforming power of Jesus Christ at work really is an amazing and incredible experience, especially since most are pretty lost and in a great deal of pain and distress when they first come to the ministry. But they’re just like the rest of us; foolish builders who built our homes and families, even our lives on sinking sand. Instead of building them on a foundation of solid rock by putting the words from Jesus into practice, we heard His words and didn’t take them to heart, much less put them into practice. So our lives became a living testimony of the truth and reliability of God’s Word, as found in Matthew 7:24-27
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Since Luke 6:46 introduces the parable of “The Wise and Foolish Builders” with “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?, our goal is to focus on putting the Word of God into practice so we can reap the bounty of it’s harvest in our lives; particularly in the restoration of our marriages and families by rebuilding them on The Solid Rock; Jesus Christ! Unfortunately, when we hear the Word and don’t PRACTICE the Word, we are deceived, which James 1:21-25 makes pretty clear by warning Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
So the good news is that we can change our situations and circumstances by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and the transforming power of His Word as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, families and lives. God is certainly true to His Word and He is more than able to bring it all to pass and HE WILL bring the restoration of our marriages to completion too if we just put our faith and confidence in Him and the power and truth of His Word as we PUT it into practice! So the following verses confirm that the completion of everything we want and stand for is possible through faith in Jesus Christ and in obedience to His Word:
Acts 3:16 – By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
James 2:22 – You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
1 John 2:5-6 – But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
What a wonderful blessing it is to know exactly what Paul meant in Philippians 1:4-6, when he wrote In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because it reminds me in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. The Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful men and women in this ministry, so I can’t help feeling like a proud mother many times when I see the personal growth of our members, especially as they so sincerely minister to each other and reap the benefits and blessings of the transforming power of practicing God’s Word. Be blessed and encouraged! GOD NEVER FAILS!!!
Oh my, I am so excited! This is such a confirmation of a word a fellow christian (who knows that I am standing) sent me this morning. She is not a close friend and we talk maybe once a year, but she sometimes sends me a word or scripture. God has been speaking to me about getting into His Word and using it, standing on it, believing it, meditating on it. Seeing the Word as a supernatural entity working with God and His Holy Spirit. I just knew as I read my friends message that it would tie in with what was posted today! And I was not disappointed.
“When His Word comes upon us, it will be tested. just as the paint on porcelain will be brushed off if it has not passed through the furnace…But if the paint has been burned into the porcelain, it CANNOT be removed even if it is washed with water. How many doctrines can so easily be ‘brushed’ off in peoples lives! Only by the Grace of God can these doctrines (Word of God) be made fast and secure as He burns them, as it were, into us by trials and revelation. God WILL work time and time again until His Word becomes that which has been deeply worked into our lives. Then we ourselves become that word. Through the discipline and revelation of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is inwrought into one’s life until he becomes that very Word.
I have started memorizing scripture and can really feel how the Lord is changing me from the inside out, enabling me to walk out in faith…..
Jeni X