Joseph Prince - The Power of God's Word for Health and Life

TOPICS: God's Power, God's Word, Health

All right, let’s go to the Word of God right now. 2 Timothy 3. It says here, «All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness». Today, instruction in righteousness tells us righteousness is a gift in the new covenant. «That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work». All scripture. Say, all scripture. This Word is given by inspiration of God. Inspiration of God is one word in the Greek. It’s one word. Literally, it is God-breathed. The Bible you hold in your hands is God-breathed. The words are God-breathed.

Now this breath of God is the same breath in Genesis 2 when the Bible says that God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Amen. So imagine if you are getting weaker, you are feeling like you don’t have the energy. When you spend time in this Word, even physically, it has an effect on you. Amen. It is the breath of God. God’s breath is in this book. So every time you read this book, it breathes on you. God is breathing on you again. Every Scripture is God-breathed. This is not the word of men. Can I have a good amen?

In Proverbs 4, one of my favorite Scripture, passage of Scripture, «My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are,» what? «Life». Say life. To whom, to whom, to everybody? No, no, no. «To those that find them, And health,» what? Health What? «To all their flesh». You see the word «all their» in the Hebrew is the word col. Col means all your flesh. Many a times, medicine is for a specific area. And then, while it ministers to that area of need in your body, it actually can produce side effects in other areas. But only God’s Word has an effect where it is, when you read it, when you spend time in it, you pay attention according to these instructions, they are life to those that find them and health to all your flesh. To all your flesh. From the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. That’s good news.

And you know what? Again, God’s gifts are always available for all. All right, you don’t have to say, you must get a special version. You must get, you know, must go to this place and get from this special copy and all that. There is no such thing. Amen? I love God. I love the way he makes it practical. Now, the Bible says that the Word of God, every Scripture, say every Scripture, is God-breathed. Now, there is an idea right now that people say things like, you know, people think that the Bible is not relevant. So when I preach, there are preachers who say, when I preach, I don’t use the Bible anymore because people don’t believe the Bible. Well, you know something? You just have to preach the Bible and the Holy Spirit is able to confirm it in their hearts.

I love Billy Graham the way he preached. Billy Graham said, The Bible says, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The Bible says, it’s appointed unto men to die once and after this, the judgment. The Bible says, there is a place called hell. Amen. The Bible says, I love the way he said, the Bible says, the Bible says, the Bible says. Amen. That’s authority right there. Every Scripture, and if you are wondering where we stand, we believe in the verbal inspiration of Scripture. Which means there are even Christians who believe that the ideas in the Bible is inspired, but the words are not. No, we don’t believe that. We believe that every word is inspired. Jesus said, «Think not I am come to destroy the law. I am not come to destroy, I am come to fulfill».

Now that’s what he did. We are not under law because the law has been destroyed. No, we are not under law because Christ fulfilled the law and brought us all under grace. Can I have a good amen? But he says that, I tell you this, not one yod. The smallest, like a comma, the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet is a yod. As small like a comma. Jesus said, not one yod or one tittle. Tittle is the crown in a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Not one yod or one tittle will pass away till all these things be fulfilled. So everything points to Jesus. I’ll give you an example. One time the Pharisees and the Sadducees they came to test Jesus, to tempt him. The Sadducees don’t believe in the Resurrection, the Pharisees, they believe in the Resurrection. But they are sticklers for using the law to condemn people. The strict adherence to the outward form of the law instead of seeing God’s grace and love.

So the Sadducees don’t believe in resurrection. And the two groups came to tempt Jesus. It’s one time they gang up together. They are actually at odds against each other. So they came one time and then the Sadducees questioned Jesus about the Resurrection saying that a man had a wife and then what happened was that there were seven brothers. This man died and then his brother married the wife. And then this man died. And then in heaven one day, whose wife will it be? Something comes from crazy notions. Today people ask the same questions, right? When they want to challenge you. So let me just tell you this. Look at the way Jesus answered. Jesus said these words. «But,» Jesus answered and said, «Concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read».

I tell you this, I believe that most of our problems is because we have not read. How many times in the Bible, Jesus said, have you not read? Have you not read? Do you not know the Scriptures that say? Amen. When the devil came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus answered with, It is written, it is written, it is written. And he is the Son of God. And yet he used the word, «it is written,» not it is spoken. Many a time, people don’t read the Bible so they don’t know the truth. «What was spoken to you by God saying,» Now this is God speaking to Moses at the burning bush. «'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at his teaching».

Now, how does that answer the question? Is there resurrection of the dead? He says that have you not read in the Bible? It says, God says, «I am the God of Abraham». Notice everything that he says hinges on this word, am. I am. God did not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have lived in the past. But God did not say, I was their God. God says, I am their God. In other words, they are still alive somewhere in heaven and I am still their God. Anokhi Elohe Avika, «I am the God of your father» at the burning bush. Elohe Avraham, Elohe Yishak, ve Elohe Yaakov. I am. Just one word in the Hebrew, one word here. I am. Jesus argues from the Word of God based on just one word. And none of the Sadducees or the Pharisees says, hey, you’re arguing from one word.

Don’t you know the Bible is poetic expression? You cannot argue from a word. No, the Word of God, every word is inspired. God did not say, I was. God says Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is still alive and I am their God. I am their God. Are you with me so far? Look at the Apostle Paul when he wrote the book of Galatians. He argued from this. You know, the Jewish people say that we are the seed of Abraham and Paul says, yes, no doubt you are the physical descendants of Abraham. But God has a seed and when God gave promises to Abraham and his seed, this is what God says, «Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds, ' as of plural, many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed, ' who is Christ».

He argues from one letter now. Hello? Seeds is plural with an S. Seed is singular. An argument from a letter. And who is that Seed? Christ. In other words, all of us inherit the blessings of Abraham. Because the Bible says, if you believe in Christ, you are Abraham’s seed. Are you listening people? An argument based on one letter. That’s why we believe in the verbal inspiration of Scripture. Can I have a good amen. And when you spend time in the Word, whether you have a daily devotional, I recommend my daily devotional because I know what I teach. Amen. But there are many good daily devotional. But if you do a daily devotional, look at the passage of Scripture and read it up.

When I have my Bible and I write down in my Bible, I can just turn around and I see Revelations here. I’m looking at this verse but I see the verse over here. And something that speaks to me. You know, like, it’s nothing like the hard copy here. I just tell you what I do, okay? I have a white margin Bible. That means on the sides here is a white margin for me to write down my own notes. There are a lot of Bibles out there with other people’s, other scholars' notes. But again, some scholars, to tell you the truth, some of them are biased against healing. Some are biased against the gifts of the Spirit. So they are not true in those areas. They will say that the gifts have ceased.

So I like to allow God to speak to me. Amen. So I have my own notes on the side. So let me give you an example of my white margin Bible. Actually, when I wrote this down, it has cancellation and all that. It’s very bad handwriting so forgive me. I want to show you this. But when I wrote it, I didn’t expect I would be using it. It was my own consumption. So this is very personal, okay, so don’t laugh. There you laugh. I haven’t shown you, you laugh already. Okay, this is my Bible. White Margin Bible. So there’s a white margin on the side, right? So chapter 6 says, «…on that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the Chronicles, and they were read before the king». I want to show you some practical handles on how to study the Word of God.

So that night, the king could not sleep. So can you see what I wrote? «When we cannot sleep, while in the night seasons of our life, take God’s book of records». How many know there’s a memorial here? David killing Goliath and a lot of memorials. And then when you can’t sleep, not only in the night seasons, when you’re going through a bad season, a trial, that’s called the night season. But literally, you can’t sleep at night, read the Bible. Amen. And read God’s book of chronicles, maybe even the book of Chronicles. There’s a book of Chronicles. And read it. There’s a cancellation down there. So we will see Jesus. Number one, in the Bible, we want to see Jesus.

Now who is Jesus in the book of Esther? Mordecai. Mordecai is the leader of the Jews and he is the one that God used to deliver the people of Israel. So Mordecai, literally his name is Little Man as opposed to Haman, the Prime Minister, right? Who is the illustrious one. The prime minister of the king, who was hell-bent on killing the Jews. And after this, the king realized that Mordecai actually saved his life. Mordecai heard two guys, his bodyguards, actually plan to kill him, kill the king. And Mordecai heard about it, told someone who told the king and they had those two arrested and killed. And the record of Mordecai was written in the book of Chronicles but he was never rewarded.

So during this time when he can’t sleep, he asked for the book of Chronicles to be read to him and it came to the part where Mordecai did this for the king and the king says, what has been done for this man? And it says here, I say that because of that, they say that nothing has been done for him and the king says, you know what? Tomorrow, put him on my best horse, like his best Ferrari, you know what I’m saying? All right, put my clothes on him and march him down the street and say, such a man will be honored. This is how the king honors such a man, all right? So I write down there, «And will remember to give him the honor, give Jesus in other words, the honor and dignity that he deserves».

Now I wrote this down, «A sleepless night plus reading the book equals turn around». Everything hinges on this. Everything hinges on this part. So when I wrote it down, honestly, I didn’t plan to preach on it, right? But as I was preparing myself, I felt the Lord tell me to tell you because you are my flock, in a sense. I’m your under shepherd. Amen. I think the flock should copy the pastor. Amen. Have your own Bible that you can write your notes. Every time you have a pen ready to stand by and you have a white margin Bible and you just read the Word and every time God shows you is something, it’s your own revelation. So you know, the pen down there is faith in God, isn’t it? You’re telling God, I know you will speak to me. And then you start writing down and you never know in the future how many times those notes of yours were minister to you.

How many felt you were ministered by this evening? All right, and that’s a sermon by itself. A sleepless night plus reading the book equals what? Turn around. Everything in the story hinges on this. Everything in the story hinges on this. So I know some of you literally cannot sleep. Literally at night. Amen? Why not literally read? Amen? Get up, read, read the Word. Can I have a good amen? Praise the Lord. So I just want to tell you that the Word of God is such a precious word. It unveils Jesus Christ, that’s number one. And I just want to tell you that that’s how lives are transformed. Can I have a good amen? I want to read to you a testimony right now from this lady in Germany. She says, this came in this year.

I was diagnosed with streptococcus infection, a bacteria that causes disorders such as streptococcus pneumonia and bloodstream infection. And I experienced unbearable pain in my head, hands, and feet. I visited multiple hospitals 14 times within two years and was prescribed antibiotics and other heavy medication. The fever would go away for a while but not the pain. Then I was given morphine because no other pain killers would help me. After two years of treatment with no results, the doctors told me they could not help me anymore. I lost all hope. At that time, I was told I was sick because God was either teaching me a lesson or it was a consequence of the sins I had committed. Year by year, my morphine dosage increased until I reached the maximum dose. I was addicted to morphine and could not lead a normal life.

Eight years ago, I went to a rehabilitation center but stopped after 14 days as I could not stand the terrible withdrawal symptoms. The doctors explained to me that because morphine is a synthetic drug, the drug withdrawal symptoms would be painful and take longer to go away. Five years later, someone came to our church and told us to be wary of a preacher on TV called Joseph Prince. This was in Germany. So by the way, we are also on in Germany, okay? Intrigued, this always happens. Intrigued, I started watching Pastor Prince’s sermons secretly with much caution and skepticism. So I should thank the preacher, whoever it is. Danke. But the more I watched the sermons, the more hopeful and free I became.

Finally, God’s grace completely changed my Christian life. It was a revelation for me to learn that there is now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah! Since then, I would watch Pastor Prince’s sermons twice a day. I would also partake of the Lord’s Supper regularly, believing that by his stripes I was healed. I have also been confessing that I am the righteousness of God in Christ daily. Since last year, after almost 18 years, just like the woman in the Bible, 18 years, bowed down. After almost 18 years, I have been set free from morphine addiction and pain. This was completely effortless and I experienced no withdrawal symptoms. Hallelujah! To God be the glory!

That brings me to the next thing when you study the Bible, you have to, the Bible says, study to show thyself self approved unto God rightly dividing the Word. You have to rightly divide the Word. When you read the Old Testament, be very careful especially, when you read the Old Testament, there are some direct laws. I know there are a lot of stories we love in the Old Testament but there are also laws down there. The laws, listen carefully, the laws itself must be interpreted in the light of the new covenant. We must rightly divide the Word of God. Can I have a good amen?

We are no more under law, we are under grace. The law demands, grace supplies, all right? When they didn’t obey the law, they died. Under grace, you don’t die. Under grace, in fact, you turn around and you learn to confess, «I’m the righteous of God in Christ». You learn to look to Jesus alone. And guess what? What comes back to you is much more than what you have lost. Listen, law condemns the best of us, grace saves the worst of us. We have to rightly divide the Word of God, okay? Now, usually when you read the Gospels, people think, well, the Gospels is all grace. Yes, Jesus is full of grace and truth. But Jesus said right at the end of 3/12 years' ministry, «I have many things to say unto you, but you’re not yet able to receive. But when the Holy Spirit comes, he will guide you into all truth».

That tells us that Paul’s teachings are not Paul’s teachings. Paul’s teachings are the teachings of the heavenly Christ, the glorified Christ at the Father’s right hand through Apostle Paul. And that’s why Paul, when you read the book of Pauline Revelation as well as all the Peter, and all the John, and all that in New Testament, these are not the words of man, it’s the words of God. Now I’m not saying Old Testament is not relevant. Old Testament is very relevant. I showed you last week about «thou shalt not muzzle the ox,» how to interpret that, right? Remember that?

For example, for the benefit of this message, so that it is inclusive in this message. For example, in 1 Corinthians 9, it’s amazing. Paul looks at this law and Paul says, «It is written in the law of Moses,» in Deuteronomy. «You shall not muzzle an ox while it threads out the grain». So there’s a law there, so this is the Old Testament, right? So are we to read the Old Testament? Yes! There’s a benefit there. So when you read the Old Testament, it says, «Don’t muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain».

Why do they muzzle the ox? They don’t want the ox to eat the grain. You should not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. «Is it oxen God is concerned about»? The question is asked, when Paul looks at this law, you should not muzzle an ox that threads out the grain, he says, is God concerned about oxen? What do you think? Is God concerned about oxen? No, more than that. So listen to this. This is the purpose of Scripture even in the Old Testament. «Or does God say it altogether for our sakes»? Underline that, «Altogether».

Altogether means all the Scriptures. God writes it or documents it for our sake. So that, «Those who plow should plow in hope. Those who thresh in hope should be partakers of this hope». And the last verse says, «If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things»? So Paul is saying that the ox there is a minister of God’s Word. Amen. He should be amply rewarded. That’s also in Timothy. 1 Timothy says the same verse, «Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain».

And a quotation from Jesus in the Gospels. «Let the laborer be worthy of his wages». Jesus quoted that. That’s from Jesus. And then he says, «Let the elders who rule well be worthy of double pay especially those who labor in the word and doctrine,» all based on one Old Testament Scripture. Amen? So this is amazing that all Scripture is written for our benefit. Number one, all Scripture is written to unveil Christ. Number two, it is not for the oxen or the animals. God prioritizes you first. People are the priority. Amen. Can I have a good amen?