How The Word Becomes Effectual

Overcoming Defeat

Journey Into The Promised Land

Acts 2:1–19 (CSB)

PENTECOST

2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. ³They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. ⁴Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. ⁶When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), ¹¹Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” ¹²They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

PETER’S SERMON

¹⁴Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. ¹⁶On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷And it will be in the last days, says God,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all people;

then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

¹⁸I will even pour out my Spirit

on my servants in those days, both men and women

and they will prophesy.

¹⁹I will display wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below:

blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

Why would anyone say prayers if they really didn’t want their prayers answered? Simply because they are going through a form of self-imposed spiritual obligation.

“Lord, deliver me from cigarettes!” How many times that prayer has been prayed from an insincere heart that really doesn’t want to give up cigarettes. Record the difference in the tone of their prayer from the time that they are just paying lip service to the habit until the time they pray after the doctor tells them that they have lung cancer and there is nothing medical science can do for them. Now we hear a prayer from the depths of their being. Now they begin to search out the Word of God to really stand upon.

We have often heard the phrase, “God answers prayer.” It would be more correctly stated that “God answers fervent prayer that is based upon His Word.” Take the example in the Book of Acts. The Apostles are all gathered together praying that Peter will be delivered from prison. Suddenly, a knock comes at the door.

“Who is there?”

“It’s me, Peter! Let me in.”

“Please don’t disturb us right now. We are in the middle of a very important prayer meeting.”

They had a hard time accepting the fact that their prayers were answered. I believe that Peter was delivered from prison as a result of his own prayers and petition to God, for with stocks on his feet in that cold, clammy dungeon his prayer had far more fire in it than the sequestered believers in their prayer closet.

The most powerful words in the Scriptures are, “Thus saith the Lord.” There is a stamp of divine intervention when we stand upon the Word of God, claim the promises that it contains, and declare, “Thus saith the Lord.” The Bible tells us that “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent” (Numbers 23:19).

What do we mean when we say “stand upon the Word?” Does it mean to take the Bible and place your hand upon it? Of course not! It means that the promises that are written in God’s Word are also written in our heart, and only when it is transferred from the parchment to the tablets of our heart and mind does that Word become effectual for our lives.

Make this declaration:

The Word of God is being transferred from the parchment pages to the tablets of my heart and mind. The Word is becoming effectual in my life.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

How The Word Becomes Effectual – 7/13

Overcoming Defeat

Journey Into The Promised Land