“Every word of God proves true” – Proverbs 30:5
The power in these words is incredible. It affirms everything we stand for and believe in. If we put our faith and trust in Him, His word will always prove to be true. It is also a tough concept to embrace because it requires much faith. In order to fully embrace this promise, we have to live in a world that is beyond our wildest imagination, own lifetimes, and our own concept of how God brings His promises to fruition.
Every word He speaks proves true or His reputation is on the line. Whenever something happens that contradicts what we believe to be the will of God, are we to question His will or determine whether we were right in how we heard Him? God is either infallible or He is not God at all. In the days of Abraham, He needed to make a covenant with the man and He is said to have had no one higher to hold Him accountable to the covenant so He swore by Himself (Genesis 15). What a concept!
Even God saw it fit to be accountable to someone to be held to the promise He made to Abraham. As we waltz through scripture, we see Him speak numerous times of His infallible word and His promises that must be fulfilled. He is God after all, and He has the power to do everything and anything. He chooses what’s good and right for us and He promises that ‘every good and perfect gift only comes from Him’ (James 1:17).
The lingering question tends to be how do we know and discover His will? How do we know for sure that we’re walking in His will? I say there are 3 ways to confirm that a word is from God.
- It is something you hear or know from personal pursuits, desires, prayers, or life experiences. We all have those things that live in our hearts. We have dreams and ambitions that have always been with us and we cannot shake them no matter what. Many of those are God dreams planted in our hearts. However, some dreams may not be from God and here is where the litmus test comes in. ___________________________________________________________
- Does it line up with the Word of God? Any dream, vision, or desire that does not line up with the word of God is not from God. Period. Of course we don’t need to have an exactly similar biblical story but we have to see how this thing we carry brings glory to God in the end. He is always interest in His name being glorified, magnified, and exalted above all things. If the word of God does not support our dream, vision, or idea, then God probably doesn’t either. ____________________________________________________________
- Does it build up or edify the body of Christ? God is always interested in using us as vessels that not only bring glory to His name but also edify and build up His body, the church. If the word God places on your heart is only for you, only serving you, only edifying you, only growing you, then it might not be from God. We test the word, the promise, and the will of God based on this simple concept, does it serve His people? This goes back to the other simple scripture; “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 22:37-39, NIV). In loving God, we commit to do His will but in loving our neighbor, we commit to God’s will, working through our lives, serving our neighbor.
Every word of God does prove true. Our job is to make sure that it is truly a word from God and not just our imagination, desire, or personal pursuit. Then doing all that we can to ensure that God’s glory and man’s benefit is reaped out of it.
Nelson Masinde 