One Word From God
“One Word from God” is a phrase I often hear said. Many people just need “One Word from God” to see everything change. Yet that is rarely how things actually happen.
2017 was a year for expansion. God spoke so clearly to Claire and myself about His plan to grow the church, our personal ministry and our leadership team. We were so excited about that word and the possibilities that it spoke about. That “One Word from God” was “Reach” and we began to dream, to see new visions, to open our hearts to new ideas, even to preach about that Word.
We sense that there is so much power in “One Word from God”. Yet, in order to see that specific Word from God become reality in our lives some things had to change … we needed to gain wisdom from God, our faith needed to grow. James 1:5 tells us to ask God for wisdom whenever we can’t see what is happening or don’t understand how to achieve whatever God is saying. God added revelation to that Word, giving us a further Word “Sharp” that has become our Word for 2018.
The Bible shows us that God gave Abraham “One Word from God” that took over 25 years to be fulfilled. But the delay was not due to God’s unwillingness but Abraham and Sarah’s level of faith. God was so determined to bless them that He spoke to them repeatedly, helping them to grow in faith, working with them in order to see them receive.
As we read through Genesis we follow Abraham’s journey of faith as God speaks to him again and again, repeating His promises until Abraham’s faith has grown enough to actually receive the promise … a son. It seems that Abraham needed around seven encounters with God to see that “One Word from God” become a reality.
- Acts 7:2 God speaks to Abraham in Mesopotamia and Abraham’s whole family start the journey as Terah (Abraham’s father) responds to that Word. But they get stuck in Haran.
- Genesis 12:1 God repeats His Word and Abraham restarts the journey after the death of his father.
- Genesis 12:7 God appears at the great tree at Moreh at Shechem to tell Abraham the land belongs to his offspring.
- Genesis 13:14 God spoke again to Abraham after Lot left, telling him to walk throughout the land.
- Genesis 15:1 God appeared to Abraham after he rescued Lot. Something significant happened here as God records “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”. Abraham is now able to have a son, Ishmael.
- Genesis 17:1 God appeared to Abraham after Hagar bore his first son to correct his thinking. God expands the promises, making a covenant, instituting circumcision, changing both Abraham and Sarah’s names and making it clear that the promise is to be fulfilled though Sarah, his wife.
- Genesis 18:1-15 God appeared again and spoke that Sarah would have a child within a year. Finally the fulfilment!
Romans 10:17 tells us that “Faith comes from hearing the Word”. That word “hearing” is a continuous word not a one-off event, more like “hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing”. Which brings me back to us as a church and the Bible Reading Plan.
We started the Bible Reading Plan in response to that “One Word from God” knowing that as a church we needed to increase our faith and also get in sync, both with God and one another. To sharpen our hearing and to encourage one another’s faith.
With all of us leading such busy lives it can be hard to remember to take the time to listen to God. It can be so hard to be sure we are even hearing God. Yet every time we read the bible we hear His voice, His promises and receive His Life. The issue is always whether we take the time to listen. Yet it is so dangerous to proceed without a Word.
The Bible Reading Plan is a direct response to this. We need one another to encourage, to spur us on and also to confirm what God is speaking. Taking time consistently, letting that become a daily routine becomes so much easier when we know others are doing the same.
Plus sharing our understanding helps us think through what God spoke and put that revelation into our own words so that others can also understand. Doing so brings sharpness to our hearing and clarity to our own hearts (Philemon 1:6)
Deuteronomy 6:6 in the Amplified Classic Bible tells us to “whet and sharpen” the Word. “Whet” means to take time, making consistent deliberate movements with a special tool to gradual produce a razor-sharp edge. The Reading Plan is that tool.
So, we are encouraging everyone to read the weekly blog which has background information to help and points to the major themes, to see how the early church grew in faith and wisdom facing the same challenges we face today.
Remember … Matthew 18:19 says that “if any two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven”. Share your revelations with someone and agree together in prayer. God wants to fulfil His Word to us. 2018 is going to be a significant year.
Author Spotlight
Alan Morton
