7 Supernatural Realities Activated by God’s Voice That Will Heal, Prune & Empower
Excerpted from Removing the Sting of Death.
God speaks to us through the Scriptures.
He is able to pull something completely out of its exegetical context and speak to our hearts according to our present need. It doesn’t mean we build doctrine around it. It means that God has spoken. We know He has because life is released whenever He speaks. Become aware of His presence, and you will know when He speaks.
Some people will say, “I don’t hear God’s voice, but I do sense His peace.” That is His voice. Remember, He is the Word of God, so when He is acknowledged or recognized in any way, He has spoken. Our problem is we only want to hear Him speak English, when sometimes He is speaking to our hearts in a way we don’t initially recognize because we can’t repeat what He said. Sometimes He speaks to our spirit, and it may take some time to recognize the meaning of the moment. To me, this is wonderful. Because it means He is always speaking. And like Jesus said, when you appear before governmental leaders, don’t worry about what to say ahead of time. It will be given to you in that hour (see Matthew 10:18-20).
The Effects of the Word
I am always surprised by believers who seek counsel from friends or leaders before going to the Word of God. It’s not that counsel is bad. Seeking godly counsel is wise. But the living Word is with us always, and He has great things to say. And only God can enable us to do whatever He says to do. Godly counsel will only be good because it has its roots in the Scriptures. I think if we remained more conscious of the effects of God’s Word, we’d be more likely to position ourselves to receive the benefits.
The following are a few of the effects of God’s voice, His Word. It’s not a complete list, but it represents the basics well.
Creates
In the very beginning, we see that God spoke the worlds into being. He said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. His Word creates. It is the life-giving force of the Father. When He speaks to our hearts, He creates something of Himself in us. Even faith, without which we cannot please God, comes from His voice. (See Romans 10:17.)
Heals
When Jesus spoke to the centurion about his servant who was dying, He said, “Go your way, your servant lives.” It had to be spoken. And he was healed. Perhaps the clearest verse on this theme is Psalm 107:20, “He sent His word and healed them.” God’s Word, His voice, overrides any sickness or disease and establishes His rule in its place. And there is no disease in the Kingdom of God. And that includes the healing of the heart, which is often overlooked in the healing ministry. In Acts 3 when the lame man was healed, he walked, he leaped, and he praised God. He walked because he was physically healed. He leaped because he was emotionally healed. And he praised God because he was spiritually healed. God makes the whole package available.
Prunes/Corrects
We have been created and designed to bear fruit that brings glory to God. The fruit is what represents our relationship to God and the power of the good news of the gospel. He prunes and disciplines us to enable us to fulfill our design and purpose: fruitfulness. Jesus addresses this in John 15:
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (John 15:2-3 NKJV).
The word clean is the same word as prune. The Amplified Bible Classic Edition makes it clearer:
You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you] (John 15:3 AMPC).
When Jesus speaks to a yielded heart, He trims back what is unnecessary.
Divides
This is similar to pruning, in that it brings us to maturity and fruitfulness. But instead of cutting away as pruning does, the Word of God in this context reveals the nature and source of what is happening in our inner world: thoughts, ambitions, desires, and goals. The Word of God helps us see and think clearly, enabling us to choose the better over the good and the superior over the inferior. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) helps us to see this more clearly:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The motives of our heart become exposed, and the intention and plan of God for us becomes established through the Word of God. Sometimes, while in pain, I partner with a lie that needs to be repented of. To ignore it is not okay, as it will raise its ugly head at another time. Confess and forsake it, as God speaks to expose what will hinder us and divide it from us through repentance.
Saves
Salvation comes through the Word of God. The gospel must be declared. The word salvation refers to “sins being forgiven, our bodies being healed, and our lives being delivered from torment.” Jesus administered the triune salvation: spirit, soul, and body. But imagine now the Word of God as that which gives life: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18 NKJV). In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus is called the firstfruits of those who have died. He was raised from the dead, never to die again. The Word of God brings us forth, through its saving power, to also be firstfruits of His creation: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21 NKJV). The Amplified Bible Classic Edition makes this clearer:
So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls (James 1:21 AMPC).
The Word of God is able to save us—spirit, soul, and body.
Equips and Enables
The law requires, but grace enables. The gospel is the Word of His grace, enabling us to do what God commands. His voice and His abiding presence make it possible for us to succeed. “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me” (Ezekiel 2:1-2 NKJV). If ever there was a verse that illustrated how grace works, it would be this passage out of Ezekiel. God commanded him to stand and then stood him on his feet. The Holy Spirit accomplished it in and through him. Don’t be put off by the fact that this illustration is found in Ezekiel, as there are many glimpses of grace throughout the Old Testament.
Bears His Nature
In one of the key parables, Jesus taught that His Word was a seed. The kind of soil (people’s hearts and their condition) determined the effectiveness of the seed. The Word itself bore fruit to the glory of God. What is interesting to note is that if I plant one kernel of corn and it bears an ear of corn, all 300+ kernels of corn will have the exact DNA as the original. Jesus is the One who fell into the ground and died, bringing forth fruit after its kind. This is a unique illustration of how when we are born again, we are a new creation, carrying God’s nature. This enables us to illustrate who He is in this world through both character and power.
Facing Our Need
Sometimes what we need the most is what we desire the least. We remain powerful people when we choose to pursue what we need, instead of any wayward desires that come to the surface. Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) says it best, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” A good word is greater than depression and demolishes it in its tracks. The willingness to hear and receive a good word is critical for our advancement.
During our times of loss and sorrow, we often become anxious or are drowning in sorrow. What we need is a good word. And there is no better word than one that comes from the Father and has all of Heaven backing it up. We must humble ourselves and go to His Word, recognizing our need, acknowledging our weakness, and receive from Him. A good word changes everything, and all of His words are good. As best as you know how, slow down enough to hear Him.
