The Power of the Divine Word

In the story of creation in the Book of Genesis, the expression “And God said …” is significant. It denotes the authority and creative power embodied in the word that comes out of the mouth of God. He spoke, and nonexistence came into existence; nothingness became a palpable reality. What incredible power there is in the divine word of God! 

Throughout the Bible, the powerful manifestation of God’s Word is clear to see, like in Hebrews 4:12.  God’s Word was powerful then and it is just as powerful today. I know this is true, not simply because I have unfailing faith in the Bible, but also because of the many times I have witnessed the unbelievable power of God’s Word as I have ministered in West Africa. One particular example comes to mind: the radical transformation of two young men who were headed toward a dangerous future. 

I was in my car returning from a teaching session at the Full Gospel Bible Institute, located in the city of Bamenda, Cameroon. At that time, the Islamic sect called Boko Haram was terrorizing the region, having decimated villages in Nigeria, Chad, and northern Cameroon.

As I drove through a great forest, two young men sprang from the bush. Both looked to be around seventeen years old—and they were heavily armed. One of them stood in the middle of the road, waving his hand; the other was standing at the edge of the road ready to shoot. I stopped my car, and the two young people came to each side of my car. 

With respect, I said hello to the young man closest to me. I was surprised to receive nothing in return but a disturbing silence. His face was tattooed in black, and all he did was stare at me with his cold, red eyes. It was the most horrible face I’ve seen in my life. 

After a few seconds one of the young men broke the silence with a hello, preceded by a deep sigh. When I asked how I could help him, he answered by saying, “Drop us in the next town.” Without hesitation, I invited them to get into the car. A terrifying silence lingered in the car during the journey until I decided to break it. 

As usual, I had a few scripture resources in my car, so I offered a copy of the material to each young man. I noticed that they started reading them, so after letting them enjoy their reading, I engaged in a conversation with them. They were surprisingly open to the talk. Even more surprising was that after we spent some time discussing the gospel, these two young men agreed to give their lives to Christ! I stopped my car, invited them to confess Christ, and prayed for them. I then directed them to a church in the nearby town.

I inquired a few months later and was filled with joy to learn that these two young men were baptized and were now committed participants in the church. What an incredible manifestation of the power of God’s Word! 

Our efforts to sow God’s Word into the lives of young people and children are not in vain. They bear fruit and always will, because God’s Word is always relevant. It has incredible power. So let’s continue to sow it—and sow it even more!

Prayer Request 

· There is a growing number of children in the churches of Lomé, Togo. Some churches report that children make up as much as 65 percent of their congregations! Please pray that these children are discipled and grow deep roots in the Word.