20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
In the city of Ephesus, the Scriptures record that, the Word so mightily grew and prevailed. There had been idolatry and a deep practice of sorcery and witchcraft in that city before Paul and his crew came with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are told that they, preaching the Word, went on by the space of two years, disputing daily in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9-10). Then in verses 11 and 12 of Acts 19, special miracles broke out. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul, such that from his body handkerchiefs or aprons were brought unto the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then in verse 20 of the same chapter, we are told that the Word grew mightily and prevailed. Did you see the trend? The Word was preached, taught, and studied, time and again, until the miraculous broke out, and the Word grew so mightily and prevailed. This is the point that you must not miss: When the Word is preached, it grows, and when it is preached over and over, it grows so mightily and prevails. So, the prevailing Word at Ephesus was not the Written Word, but the preached Word, the spoken Word. When the Word is preached, it prevails. The spoken Word, the preached Word is the prevailing Word.
In the city of Ephesus, the spoken Word prevailed over the vain culture of idolatry and witchcraft that was then dominant in their midst. The spoken Word, the preached Word, can change the culture of a city, a town, a village, a state, a country, a people, a family, a generation, and a community. The active power of the Word is let loose when it is preached. In the same vein, as we preach the gospel of Christ in our neighborhood, we will change their vain culture into kingdom culture. When the Word is spoken in a confession of faith, its active power is let loose to change your world. Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel of Christ preached is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe it. Put the Word in your mouth. Preach it to others, and to yourself. It will change them and you, from glory to glory. The spoken Word is the prevailing Word.
My Solid Front (Confession):
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare that the Word of the Lord is strong on my lips. I speak the Word and it prevails over sense knowledge and everything contrary to God’s kingdom. Amen.
Further Meditation:
Acts 19:9-20; Romans 10:8-15.