Did They Speak the Words of God?
Today, there are many “Christians” who proclaim that they speak the Words of God, yet when they utter His Words nothing happens!
How and why is this?
This was never the case with the Apostles of Jesus Christ including the Apostle Paul.
Such was never the situation with the true Church of God!!
Paul’s trip to Rome was in progress. He was on his fourth missionary expedition. Now, the ship that he was in was destined for shipwreck.
“But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;” (Acts 27:27).
However, as they sailed the Mediterranean Sea, because Julius, the Centurion, and the owner of the ship ignored Paul’s counsel, they experienced difficulties at sea, (Acts 27:11, 21).
As a precaution, the seamen employed an ancient but efficient method to test the depth of the water under the ship.
They utilized “sounding“.
So, they “sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.” (Acts 27:28).
“Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day” (Acts 27:29).
How do You React to Problems – Do You Speak the Word?
As usual, if the fear of the Lord God is not in us, we will react fearfully and afraid in the face of difficult and hostile situations.
Such was the case with the seamen on the ship that Apostle Paul was in!
“And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under [color] as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,” (Acts 27:30).
But as a perceptive Christian-warrior, Apostle Paul recognized such behavior which demonstrates a lack of faith in God and he addressed it instantly.
As a result, he speaks the Words of God to the Centurion and soldiers.
He says, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31).
They believed these words of Paul because what they did next revealed the contents of their hearts.
“Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off” (Acts 27:32).
Nevertheless, what could we learn about the Word of God and Christian fasting in particular from Apostle Paul’s next statement below?
“And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing” (Acts 27:33).
What Could we Learn About Christian Fasting From Apostle Paul?
The Holy Bible is like a novel for we could read it from cover to cover and enjoy it.
But it’s not a figment of someone’s imagination. It’s a microscope. Each verse provides an insight into the mind of the Lord God.
But, if we collate different and related verses on the same topic and dissect them correctly, then we will know the mind of Christ and we could speak the Words of God; however, if not the result is contradiction and confusion.
Subsequently, when we arrive at Christian fasting, the Scripture above presents a different kind of fasting to us.
When the world fast it modifies the Christian fast for it eats and or drinks.
But when Christians fast, we take or have “nothing” (Acts 27:33).
Any time we eat or drink while executing our Christian fast we break it.
And if we do so, we will never see or realize the motive for the fasting!!
Brethren, fast as Christians. You will realize all that you fasted about.
“Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you” (Acts27:34).
What Does it Mean to Speak the Words of God?
So, Paul broke his fast by blessing his food and then eating it.
“And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat” (Acts 27:35).
However, Apostle Paul’s statement concerning the future is of great interest to me!
Because by it, he differentiates himself from all the other passengers and he supplies hope to all.
He offers faith in God. He speaks the Words of God to them.
Paul prophesies, “for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you” (Acts27:34).
By this statement, we will know whether or not he is a true servant of God, who speaks on His behalf.
“Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat” (Acts 27:36).
Now, there were two hundred seventy-six passengers on board this ship.
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls” (Acts 27:37).
Add up all the numbers that Dr. Luke provides and we shall arrive at the total head-count.
What is the Importance of this Number?
A score is twenty. Therefore, “threescore” is sixty.
As a result, two hundred plus sixty plus sixteen total two hundred seventy-six (200+60+16=276) (Acts 27:37).
Apostle Paul had pronounced that all 276 people on board the ship will be safe.
He testified that the ship and its cargo will be destroyed, but everyone will get to land safely.
“And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea” (Acts 27:38).
This is how Christians discern what it means to speak the words of God (Deuteronomy 18:21).
All that such a person shall speak on a topic will come true. If it comes true, God speaks through such a person.
However, if it does not, such a one speaks “presumptuously” and the Lord God never spoke to the same (Deuteronomy 18:22).
“And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship” (Acts 27:39).
Christians Speaking the Word of God With Boldness
“And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, ... hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore” (Acts 27:40).
“And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; [but] the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves” (Acts 27:41).
Anytime a prophet speaks the Words of God, hell will move against them.
That’s the spirit we observe in the next Scripture below that desires to “kill the prisoners”.
“And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape” (Acts 27:42).
If that had happened, God’s word through Apostle Paul could never come true.
But our good Lord God made provisions for Paul and us. He gave him favor with Julius.
“But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land” (Acts 27:43).
We don’t need the whole world to be on our side. Sometimes, as we go through life’s problems, we only need one person whose heart God has touched, to aid us!
We need people who will speak the Words of God with boldness.
When We Speak the Words of God We Are Doing This!
One will be adequate. God will equip him or her will hope and all the resources we need for the moment.
But we must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! He never fails!!
“And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land” (Acts 27:44).
Finally, Apostle Paul, boldly pronounced as a man-of-God that everybody on board the distressed ship will make it to land safely.
And they all did, but not before they faced the intervention of the Devil.
Anytime the Lord speaks a word into our hearts immediately the Devil appears to steal it, (Mark 4:15).
Therefore, be vigilant. Protect your heart. Allow the word of God to grow in it.
Nourish and cherish it by instantly dismissing all things contrary to it (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).
Embrace only what the Bible says.
Additionally, we nurture the true words of God by pondering on them. And don’t forget to memorize them.
In closing, never neglect to speak the Words of God and then do them, for this will guard our hearts and produce a one hundred percent return on the Words of God in them.
As a result, our faith in the Lord God will increase. It will grow! Increase your faith in Jesus Christ today.
