The Spirit And The Word

Sermon: The Spirit and the Word

Scripture Reference

Genesis 1:1-2 (KJV): 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Introduction

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. The Spirit of God hovered over the waters of an earth that was without form and void. The Spirit of God moved over His new creation in anticipation of its potential.

As His Spirit moved over His creation, He began to form and shape it into a creation that was acceptable. God spent the next six days speaking to the unformed and void cosmos.

“God Said”

In Genesis chapter 1, the phrase “God said” is used ten times. It is important to note that God did not speak from a distance but was present before His creation as He spoke order into the chaos.

By His words, light came forth before a sun was even shining.

By His words in verse 9, boundaries were placed on the waters, and the dry land appeared as the waters receded.

“Breathed Into Man”

On the sixth day, God formed man from the dust of the ground. The very one who spoke to things that were not, as though they were, breathed into man, and man became a living soul.

The Spirit and the Word

Our Genesis would not have happened without the moving of the Spirit of God. Along with the Word of God, there would have been no man, no dry land, no light, and no life.

Because the Spirit and the Word were present, life sprang forth, and chaos became order at the command of God. As we go through the scriptures, we see this pattern repeated as the unseen God reveals Himself to His creation.

Ezekiel 37: The Valley of Dry Bones

In Ezekiel chapter 37, the man of God was led by the Spirit into a valley of bones. The Spirit caused him to walk among the valley of dry bones until God asked him, “Can these bones live?” to which Ezekiel replied, “Thou knowest.”

Ezekiel 37:4-6 (KJV): 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

As Ezekiel spoke the word of the Lord:

There was a noise and a shaking as the valley of bones recognized the words of their Creator.

The bones came together, each to its rightful place, fulfilling the word of the Lord as the breath of life entered back into them.

The Spirit and the Word

This would not have been possible without both the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Provision, order, and life come through the Spirit and the Word. Without them, things remain void and in chaos.

Ezekiel 36: A New Heart and Spirit

In Ezekiel 36, the chapter preceding the account of the valley of dry bones, God promised to sanctify His holy name and the house of Israel:

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (KJV): God would give them a new heart and a new spirit. He would place His Spirit within them and cause them to obey His statutes and judgments.

Once again, through the Spirit and the Word, God provided a means for provision, order, and life.

Acts 2: The Spiritual Fulfillment

In Acts chapter 2, we see the spiritual fulfillment of a principle established from the foundation of the world. Up to this point, the Spirit and the Word:

Called dry land to appear out of the water.

Gave Israel great victories.

Brought a valley of dry bones back to life.

One Place, One Accord

In Acts 2, 120 believers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting for the promise of the Father. As they gathered in one place, in one accord, their only desire was to wait upon the Spirit of God.

Suddenly, there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. It filled the house where they were sitting.

Other Tongues

In an instant, the Spirit of God was present, not from a distance but filling each of them with the gift of the Holy Ghost. They began to speak in other tongues, not by their own will, but as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Witness of the Spirit

The Spirit was present, and the Word was made manifest. All the people in Jerusalem heard it. This time, the Word spoke to the salvation of mankind as the Holy Ghost testified of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation.

Peter’s Message

Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, preached of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By the power and authority of the Holy Ghost, he preached life to the men and women present.

Peter preached:

Repentance.

Remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ.

The gift of eternal life.

The Need for the Spirit and the Word

Without the Spirit and the Word, there is no provision, no peace, and no order. Scripture says, “Any man that has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”

The same God who said, “Let there be light,” also said, “Come unto me, all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This Holy Ghost is that rest, that peace, the promise of eternal life, hope everlasting, the earnest of our inheritance, and the promise of salvation and redemption in Christ Jesus.

By the Word, the invisible Spirit is seen by all men as we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV): 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.