Originally published on Signs of the Times – March 8, 1910, Pg. 3

In the first chapter of Genesis we read the record of the creation, and as a part of the record, these words, “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

The word “moved” comes from a Hebrew word, “to flutter,” or “brood.” It gives us the idea of energy, of vibratory power, of life-producing impulse.

“By the Word of the Lord,” we are told, “were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “The breath of His mouth” is but another expression for the Spirit of God; and in this poetic repetition we find that the Word states the work and the Spirit supplies the energy. Or as another scripture gives it, His Word “it hath commanded, and His Spirit it hath gathered them.” Or as Christ formulated it, “The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” In the book of Job we read, “By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens.”

At creation, when God said, “Let there be light,” there was light; perfect obedience on the part of nature in responding to the perfect Word of God. “He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:9. In a similar manner when Daniel, weak, without strength, and without bread, as the record reads, stood before the angel, “then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. And he said, 0 man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.” Dan. 10: 18, 19.

The Mighty Word

This is always the operation of the Word of God. THE MIGHT OF GOD RESIDES IN THAT WORD, and WHEN OBEYED THERE IS IN THAT WORD ALL THE POWER, all the might necessary to carry out that Word. Consequently when God says, “Be joyful and rejoice evermore,” in the command is the power to make it true. All it needs on our part is faith to obey it. As Paul says, “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2. And this is the law of its operation.

Of God’s Word, the following statement is made: He “calleth those things which be not as tho they were.” God can do this and yet not lie, for the simple reason that when He calls a thing which is not as tho it were, it immediately obeys and is all that He said of it. GOD’S COMMANDMENTS MAKES TRUE THE THINGS HE COMMANDS. Everything that God wills is contained in His Word, and when the Word speaks that thing, that thing then must exist. THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION. GOD REFUSES TO INVADE THE WILL OF MAN. He allows every man to choose for himself whether the Word shall prevail in his life or not; therefore it is necessary for you and me to say the power of God’s Word shall operate in the life or not. If you say it shall, then it will, for all power in heaven and earth is back of it; yes, is in it, to make it prevail, to make it be indeed exactly what it is, everywhere and always the almighty Word of God.

Not a Theory

And so when Christ entered the upper chamber, and breathed upon His disciples, and said, “Peace be unto you,” it was something more than a mere formality. He was giving a peace not as the world gives, but a condition of mind’ that the world could neither give nor take away; and “great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

THE WORD NOT ONLY GAVE EXISTENCE TO THE WORLD, BUT IT STILL MAINTAINS THE WORLD; it still upholds it. Heb. 1:3. And this world will stand until the time when God’s Word shall shake the heavens and the earth, and that shaking will remove everything that is not in accordance with the pure Word of God. Heb. 12:26-29. When that great shaking takes place, the assurance to the believer is that there shall remain a kingdom which can not be shaken, a kingdom that can not be moved ; and the consolation to the Christian is as stated in the Word, “Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that can not be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well pleasing to God with reverence and awe.” Verse 28.

“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” THIS IS THE POWER which is for every child that trusts in the Lord. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD; IT IS THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT. It is the power that built this world; it is the power that still upholds this world; it is the power that will bring in the new kingdom, the everlasting inheritance; and it is this same power that immortalizes God’s children, and causes them who do the will of God to abide forever.