Message Notes

Shangri La
51st Anniversary Service

INTRODUCTION

1. The Word of God in the 1st Century Church

a) Historically noted

b) It was a central theme in the Book of Acts

2. The Commitment of the Apostles

a) Preaching

b) Teaching

c) They did not cease to preach about the Lord Jesus   (Acts 5:42)

A SHORT LIST OF NOTATIONS CONCERNING THE WORD OF GOD

1. The Jerusalem Church

a) “They spoke the word of God with boldness”   (Acts 4:31c)

b) “We will give ourselves continually to prayer
And the ministry of the word”   (Acts 6:4)

2. The Diaspora Church

a) Those who were scattered   (Acts 8:4a)

b) They preached the word of God   (Acts 8:4b)

3. The Samaritan Church

a) Philip “preached Christ to them”   (Acts 8:5)

b) Apostles Peter and John
“Preached the word of the LORD”   (Acts 8:25)

4. Reaching Gentiles I (Peter’s ministry to Cornelius)

a) “The word which God sent to the children of Israel”   (Acts 10:36a)

b) That word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea   (Acts 10:37a)

c) The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word   (Acts 10:44)

d) The word of God grew and multiplied   (Acts 12:24)

5. Reaching Gentiles II   (Paul’s ministry)

a) At Salamis

“They preached the word of God”   Acts 13:5

b) At Antioch, Pisidia

“The Gentiles… were glad
And glorified the word of the Lord”   Acts 13:48

c) Spread of the word

“And the word of the Lord was
Being spread throughout all the region”   Acts 13:49

d) At Corinth

“Teaching the word of God among them”   Acts 18:11

e) At Ephesus

At the school of Tyrannus
“All who dwelt in Asia heard the word
Of the Lord Jesus”   (Acts 19:10)

6. Significant observations

a) “The word of God grew and multiplied”   (Acts 12:24)

b) “The word of the Lord grew mightily
And prevailed”   (Acts 19:20)

THEOLOGY OF THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:8-11

1. The word of God represents

a) His thoughts

b) His ways

c) They are far higher than Man’s thoughts and ways

2. The Word of God has tremendous power

a) It will not return to Him void

b) It will accomplish what He has been pleased to plan

c) It will prosper in the thing that God has planned

CONCLUSION

1. Recognition of the Place of God’s word

2. Realisation of the Power of His words

3. Renewal of commitment to the Word of God

a) To read it faithfully

b) To relate to it consciously

c) To rejoice in the word of God