The Impartation of Life Through the Word

I. Life comes from the Spirit not the physical realm. (Genesis 2:7; Hebrews 11:2)

A. It is the spirit that animates the body not the reverse. (James 1:26)

B. The Word of God is the means of impartation of the Spirit and life. (Acts 10:44)

While Peter yet spoke these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Ps. 107:20)

But say in a word and my servant shall be healed. (Luke 7:7)

II. Understanding the nature and purpose of impartation.

A. To enable you to do what you could not do without God's help. (Numbers 11:24-25)

And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him (Moses), and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and did not cease.

B. To strengthen you with spiritual power in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16-20).

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

C. To enable you to work miracles. (Acts 6:8)

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

D. To give you uncommon wisdom. (Acts 6:10)

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

III. Conditions for receiving the Spirit through the word

A. Generally there are three conditions for the one speaking.

1. An anointed messenger or one with beautiful feet. (Romans 10:14-15)

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

2. An anointed message. (Jeremiah 23: 16-18)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

3. An anointed mission. (Jeremiah 23:21-22, 26)

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

B. There are three requirements for the one hearing the word.

1. Must possess an eagerness and expectation to hear from God. (Acts 17:11)

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things.

2. Must believe they are hearing from God through the messenger. (Thessalonians 2:13)

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

3. You must obey what you have heard "NOW!" (Psalms 95:7; 2 Corinthians 6:2)

Today if ye will hear his voice harden not your heart as in the day of temptation.

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God must believe.