Romans 10:17
Does it say "by an exposition" or "by a quotation of the Scripture?" No.
It says "by the Word of Christ."
Many sermons are preached in which Scriptures are quoted; yet they do not generate much faith in people's hearts. What really counts is a person who is filled with God's Word and anointed by that Word; then when he speaks forth, the Spirit of God makes a living Word of God real to the people.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by that Word of God: "by the Word of Christ."
This was the way they preached in New Testament times. There is no question about it; the book of Acts is very careful to express exactly what happened.
The apostle Paul would go and so speak a Word from God that churches were born; and then they would begin to speak Words from the Lord.
Acts 4 relates that Peter and John were arrested after healing the Lame man at the temple gate. They had returned and were praying, when the were threatened and told that they could no longer preach in the name of Jesus.
"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond~servants may speak Thy Word with all confidence, while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the Name of Thy holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they had were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the Word of God with boldness."
Acts 4:29-31
They wanted to speak the Word of the Lord with all confidence. Their whole objective was to speak the Word of God. They did not desire an anointing upon human wisdom, but an anointing from God to speak His Word.
That is what we should seek to do too. If someone gets up and preaches a marvelous sermon and the people say, "My isn't he a wonderful preacher?" he has failed miserably.
But if they listen and then say, "That was a Word from God," he has succeeded. That is the goal. Do not try to impress anyone with yourself; try to speak a Word from God.
The sixth chapter of Acts tells that seven men served the tables for the widows in the daily ministry of the food. It is interesting to note that from the word "service" we have the word "deacon"; so a deacon is literally the servant of the church.
"It is not desirable for us to neglect the Word of God in order to serve tables" (to "deacon" tables).
Acts 6:2
"But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry (service) of the Word."
Acts 6:4
The word ministry is the same as "service." It is a play on words. They chose seven men to service the tables while they went to wait on God and service the Word.
They wanted to take care of the widows, yet the best menu that was being served in those days in Jerusalem was not the food that was being put on the tables. "While they are busy serving," the disciples said,"we are going to minister forth. We are God's waiters, serving the Word of God to people."
That is what people receive in a real New Testament Church- course by course. The Word of the Lord is served in a prophetic course. There is singing with beautiful songs coming forth, as Scripture describes: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
Colossians 3:16
Then the ministry of the Word is set before the people to teach them. Some may not like it, but that is all that is being served- The Word of God. And you will grow thereby.
And many of those who practiced magic brought their books (books of magic and the occult) together and began burning them in the sight of all; and thy counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver (fifty thousand Greek drachmas; a drachma was approximately a day's wages). So the Word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
Acts19:19-20
They spoke the Word and then the Word began growing. What did that mean? Do you think that it meant that the Bible started expanding?
No. That living Word was in them.
Paul wrote:
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.
II Corinthians 3:2-3.
That is what we are- a Bible that is increasing.
The great Bible of the Kingdom is increasing because the living Word of God comes to your heart and is beginning to take over. As you speak the Word, you find that it continues to grow and expand.
The number who publish that Word will be exceedingly great. This is what God wants you to have; it is what He is proclaiming. To be an oracle of God, to have God speak through you, is the greatest privilege in the world.
It is better to be one who hems and haws when speaking a Word from God than to be the most eloquent orator in the world. To speak for God is a wonderful privilege.
Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you (they did not just preach, they spoke the Word of God); and considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.
Hebrews 13:7-8
That is the way the early Church remembered it.
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