Today I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “For the Word of God Is Alive.” As we live our lives, the words of our mouths are very important. One Korean proverb says, “Sow the wind and reap a whirlwind.” It means that you give a little but receive several times worse than what you gave. Our spoken words are also the same. Those who have at one time experienced a domestic dispute between husband and wife know quite well that one critical word toward the spouse will be met with more harsh words. As a result, during their conversation, criticism will grow into a giant snowball. The hurt from sharp words is much deeper than that by a sword. Therefore, to maintain a good relationship with other people, we must be cautious with our spoken words. Good and encouraging words will bring benefit and happiness to not only those who listen to them, but also to those who speak them. Proverbs 18:20 says, “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.” The Modern Bible translates this verse into “Many times people can be satisfied with timely words.” It is similar to another Korean proverb which says, “Good words cost nought.” When we treat others with good words, we all can be happy together. Therefore, in order to live a happy life, we must use our words well. Then, what do we need to do to use our words well? We need to know the power of the word of God first. And we need to apply the Word when we speak in our daily lives. We usually call it the Word of God, but in the Bible, the Creator is called the Word. The Creator is the God who created all things in the Universe, but God is called the Word. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” All things in the heavens and the earth were created with God’s Word. When we listen to the Word of God, faith will overflow within us. Genesis 12:3-4 says, “‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” Here the Bible says, “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him.” Abram could leave his hometown in which he had lived for 75 years because of faith that the Word of God gave him. D. L. Moody, a well-known evangelist, testified that he thought that God would approach him like lightening and thunder, to give him faith, but there was no thunder at all no matter how long he waited. Then one day, after he read Romans 10:17 which says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ,” his faith began to grow as he meditated on the Word of God. When we read the Word of God and it begins to work within our hearts, we will be changed. As the Word of God is living and active, when we listen to His Word, our faith will grow within our hearts. Psalm 33:6-9 says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” All visible things are created by the Word of God, it is written in the Bible. God has given us the Bible so we must realize how important we are positioned in this world by God as He has committed the Word of God to us. God loves each one of us so dearly that He commits His own Word to us to create accordingly. In this manner, God is with us and moreover, Jesus was also clothed in human flesh to manifest Himself among us. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Through Jesus God created all things and makes us see and understand who He is. The Word is God’s heart. To understand His heart, we must seek His Word first. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The Word of God is not dead. It is written in the Bible, but it is living and active. Hebrews 13:6-8 says, “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ Remember your leaders, who spoke the Word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Jesus forgave us yesterday and even today He forgives us; the Lord healed the sick yesterday and even today He heals the sick by His power. The Lord cast out the devil yesterday, but even today He will drive out the devil when we pray with faith. Yesterday the Lord solved our problems and even today He solves our problems. Jesus guided His people yesterday and today He still says, “I am the way! I have the way to solve your problem.” Therefore, we must keep in mind that Jesus Christ is the God who came to earth in human flesh for us. We should not read the Bible, the Word of God, to gain knowledge only. The Word of God has been given to us to change us. It would not be effective if we just memorize the Word of God without changing. D. L. Moody said that the Bible is not for information but for change. The Bible is not a book for us to accumulate knowledge. It is the Word of the living God and has the power to change our lives. When we read the Word of God in fear and anxiety, we will have courage and peace of mind. When people read the Word of God in despair, they will have a dream and hope. When we have hard problems, we can be changed and our own circumstances will be changed through the Word of God. The Word of God is the source of our dreams. All of us have great or small dreams. Then we can receive our dream when we read the Bible. The Word of God always gives us dreams and visions. Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” God gives us desire first, which becomes our dream. God works through our dream. When the Word of God is given to us, it makes our faith grow. “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’" You should say to yourself, “How can I not have the Word of God?” You must read and study the Word of God so you can have faith. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” When we read and study the Word of Christ, He will give us faith in our hearts. The Word of God gives us faith and then faith will become a motivating force to accomplish our dream. Therefore, we should always read and meditate on the Word of God and believe what it allows us to believe and move forward. Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” Even the Spirit of healing comes through the Word of God. Isaiah 55:11 says, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” The Word that comes through the Lord’s mouth has this mighty power in it. For example, God worked through Moses’ mouth. Exodus 14:15-16 says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.’” Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. If God did it Himself, it would have been much better. Why did He tell Moses to do it? Even today it would be much better if God does it on His own. Yet God prefers speaking through you to doing it Himself. He could bring any change directly, but He wants to bring changes and miracles through you. It is because God considers you that important. On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."(Joshua 10:12) So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped until the Israelites won a victory over the Amorites. We usually pray a pleading prayer. “Please answer my prayer. Please make this happen.” However, God tells us not to pray like that. When you pray earnestly and have faith as small as a mustard seed, you should pray a commanding prayer, “It shall be done!” over your circumstances and destiny. “My business! Be prosperous! You disease, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Be gone! Sorrow must leave me alone! Only joy occupies my heart!” We must pray a commanding prayer. It also belongs to prayer. We should not pray, “Give me this! Please make it happen like that!” When Moses asked God, “God, please divide the sea now! Let our people walk through it!” He answered, “No way! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and command, ‘You Red Sea, go away!’” “Why don’t You do it Yourself? Why do You ask me to do it?” “Be quiet and do it as you are told to do.” God will tell you the same thing. When you are in difficulty with hard problems, don’t say, “Please give me this or that,” but raise your head and turn against your problems and say with boldness, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you problems, be gone! Be solved right now!” You should repeat it a hundred times! The more you command it, the more powerful your prayer will be. To illustrate, one of the deaconess in our church went to the hospital for an operation on her brain. I went to pray for her at the hospital. “Sister, as you enter the operation room. You must have a strong desire to survive. And do what I told you to do while you are conscious: ‘You brain cancer, be gone!’ Repeat these words even tens of thousands of times.” She went to the operation room and we waved our hands through the window and kept saying, “You cancer, be gone! In the name of Jesus, I cast you out cancer!” Then her doctor came to me and said, “I don’t know what you, pastor, said to her, but she keeps saying something. It disturbs me so much that I can’t operate on her. Please ask to her to be quiet!” So I asked her to stop saying it. Her operation was a success! God really trusts us! I bless you in the name of the Lord that you not only plead with God but also command in His name even with a little faith! Why does God give you the Bible? Does He say, “You don’t need to know,”? Then why did He give the Bible to us? God wants us to know His will through the Bible and act before Him. Nowadays Korea holds a series of hearings on political corruption, but most witnesses keep saying, “I don’t know anything about it.” You know, when God asks you, “What does the Bible mean?” You say, “I don’t know.” “You should command according to the promises of the Bible.” “I can’t do it.” Then why would God commit it to those witnesses who keep saying, “I don’t know,”? God desires us to work together with Him. He keeps saying, “Let us walk together.” God allows us to have the Bible as a present because He wants us to read it and meditate on it to understand God’s will in it; We are told to rely on it and pray and command according to it. Then a great change will come to our life and we will be changed wholly. We must fully realize the power of creation in the Bible. Today God gives us the Bible as a gift, but many Christians never use this mighty power of the Word and struggle hard in their lives. The Word of God keeps being accomplished as it is written. When the Word of God comes out of our mouths from our hearts, it will become a great energy to work miracles for us. Pastor Charles, H. Spurgeon encourages us to use all the promises of God in the Bible. Those precious promises of God in the Bible aren’t given to us as a feast for the eye. They are given to us for a great use. Don’t treat God’s promises as antiques in the museum but take them as the source of comfort. Every day the source of power of comfort will overflow from the Word of God. We must read the Word of God every day and meditate on it and apply it to our daily lives to enjoy its benefits. God’s will for us manifests in Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” How does God guide our steps? Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” The Word of God is leading our steps like a lamp and a light. We can find God’s will for us in the Bible. Therefore, we must always come close to the Word of God and live a miraculous life accordingly. The Bible is the Word of God. From the Bible, we can know the will of God and His heart. The entirety of our problems are already written in the Bible directly or indirectly. When we accept God’s wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, and power in our hearts, we can walk following the brilliant light of God. God wants for us that we may enjoy good health and that all may go well with us, even as our soul is getting along well. God has already made all grace abound to us, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work. However, He also tells us to pray to Him and boldly command to participate in His work. When Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Then He rebuked His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" It would have been better if His disciples had gathered together and said, “Why does this wind disturb us as we escort our Lord Jesus? Quiet! Be still!” They lost half the power of their prayer. Today I want to test you right there. “This suffering must go away from me!” Maybe some suffering is given for our benefit so we can’t rebuke all the sufferings. Let us rebuke the demons. “You demons, I command you in the name of Jesus, ‘Be gone!’” You did a good job. “God, let me be free from the oppression of the devil!” And then you can rebuke the devil with a loud voice. “Go away from me!” Then your heart will become refreshed and calm. Anyway we are God’s children and He has given us the secret book through which He presides over all things in heaven and on earth. Unbelievers are unable to understand these things. When Nicodemus visited Jesus at night and confessed his ignorance about the secret of the kingdom of God, Jesus said, “Only those who are born spiritually can understand the Bible. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Unbelievers are totally unable to understand the truth in the Bible. However, Christians can understand that God the Father gives it for them to live a successful life on earth until they go to heaven. Therefore we can open a way to experience great miracles of God along with future generations by studying the Word of God.