“As the snow and rain that fall from heaven do not return until they have accomplished their purpose, soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life, providing seed to sow and bread to eat. So also will be the word that I speak; it does not return to Me unfulfilled. My word performs My purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.” Isaiah 55:10-11 (TPT)
God is stirring His people to reestablish the authority of His Word. With a huge percentage of “Christians” denying the authority of the word of God, it’s no wonder that so many people are confused. The Bible is not something we can cut and paste. It is not something that we can take what we like or what fits our preferences, and ignore the rest. We must take ALL of the word of God! God is raising up a plumb line!!! This is a “cord with a lead bob attached to one end used to determine perpendicularity.” A plumb line allows builders to erect walls that are true, straight and vertical. Without this alignment, buildings would not stand the test of wind and storms or endure over time!
“I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight.” Amos 7:7 (NLT)
I recently heard that same word used in Isaiah 55 is used in Genesis 1 when God spoke and created. God’s word goes forth and creates! It does not return void. God did not speak to no avail. He didn’t have to speak twice. He spoke and the hovering Holy Spirit immediately responded… CREATION! The Holy Spirit is just waiting for God’s word to be spoken!!!
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
When the word is preached (or taught), it does not return void, meaning it has power to accomplish what God intended for it to accomplish… to create! The word brings alignment with God and this earth. Because it is God’s breathed word, it teaches us what is true and brings correction in our lives. It is our source to live by! We don’t always see the results immediately, but like a seed planted it will come forth in its due time. Do not fret or despise when you don’t see the harvest immediately. In the natural it often takes years for a tree to bear bountiful fruit. The word of God goes into our hearts, and ultimately brings forth a harvest of life if we surrender to it.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
God loves to see His word lifted up and used as our standard for life! Please pray that God would reestablish the plumb line of His word in our city. As pastors look at their preaching calendar for 2021, be asking God to stir them to go deep, both establishing the Bible as our authoritative source of life and then preaching it (not just nice topics). Pray that pastors and churches will have courage to preach the full word, and not just what makes people happy, or comfortable, but what brings freedom from sin, through the cross and Christ’s blood and always points to Jesus. Pray for an increased anointing from the pulpits across our city! Pray for congregations in Athens to be ready to eat the meat from the word of God that is being prepared for them this coming year.
