Profiting from a Word

Hebrews 4:2 New King James Version

2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

I.               Value It

a.     Creation

Genesis 1:1-3 New King James Version

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

                            i.         From NOTHING God created EVERYTHING in only six days

1.     Heaven and Earth

2.     Light in the midst of Darkness

3.     Skies out of the waters

4.     Earth out of the waters

5.     Plant life yielding seed

6.     Stars, planets, and moons

7.     Living animals

8.     Humanity

b.     Deliverance

Exodus 5:1a New King James Version

5 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go…

Matthew 8:16 New King James Version

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

                            i.         Who is going to tell the Creator of the Universe, “no?”

Matthew 12:29 New King James Version

29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

1.     As His children we don’t negotiate with the enemy. If we have a word, we take what is promised when Holy Spirit tells us its time.

a.     Prodigals, healing, deliverance, breakthrough, etc…

2.     I’m not saying this will be EASY, I’m saying if you don’t give up you will not lose.

c.     Sanctification

John 15:3 New King James Version

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Ephesians 5:26 New King James Version

26 that He might [a]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

                       i.         His word will transform you, it’s a supernatural work that takes place as the word takes root in your heart. You don’t have to do anything except obey when He speaks

d.     Provision

Luke 5:4-7 New King James Version

4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

i.         You be in the same situations, with the same tools, but with a word from the Lord, supernatural provision will arise from the places that previously gave you nothing.

e.     Healing

Luke 7:6-7 & 10 New King James Version

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well [a]who had been sick.

II.           Test It

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 New King James Version

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

a.     Not every word is the word of God

 i.         Let’s be honest, we can’t always determine if a word is from Holy Spirit, the enemy, or our flesh.

b.     How do you test a word?

 i.         Does the word line up with THE WORD?

1.     Is it biblically consistent? Does it violate the principles, nature, or teachings of God?

2.     His voice will never contradict His Word, it may contradict your interpretation of His word, but it will never contradict His word.

ii.         Does GODLY council agree?

1.     Does your leadership agree? Godly council is received from people who are spiritually mature, know you, and know the situation being spoken into.

Proverbs 12:15 New King James Version

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.

Proverbs 19:20-21 New King James Version

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

iii.         Does your spirit bear witness?

1.     Do you have peace?

c.     How do we know if it’s a word from God?

i.         It sounds like Him

John 10:4-5 New King James Version

4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

ii.          You must be able to recognize His voice

1.     Me and my brother opening the front door as kids

II.              Hide It

Psalm 119:11 New King James Version

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.

Luke 2:18-19 New King James Version

18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

a.     Three Reasons to Hide a Word in Your Heart

i.         You must hide it in your heart if you don’t want to sin (miss the mark) or fall short when it comes to His word for you

2 Kings 13:18-19 New King James Version

18 Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”

ii.         Sometimes other people aren’t ready to hear what God is going to do in you

1.     Think Joseph and his brothers

iii.         Sometimes the word needs time to take root in your heart and change your heart in preparation for its fulfillment

 Mark 4:16-17 New King James Version

16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

1.     If you don’t allow it to take root in your heart, the word won’t survive the tribulation or persecution that arises for the word’s sake

III.            Wield It

 1 Timothy 1:18 New King James Version

18 This [a]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

a.     God is faithful, thus if He spoke it, you can count on it. Pray it, declare it, write it down on paper and post it all over your house.

IV.            Let it Bear Fruit

Mark 4:20 New King James Version

20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, [a]accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

a.     Let your life naturally change because of the word of the Lord

b.     If you need to MAKE it happen, it’s not from the Lord

i.         I’m not talking about obedience, I mean you are reasoning your way through how to make it come to pass