Not Returning Void
God’s Word is a creative force. It has been that way forever. His Word is no different now than when “God said ‘let there be
light’ and there was light.’” (Genesis 1:3) In the first chapter of Genesis, “God said…” appears 10 times. His Word always
created whatever He said, AND IT WAS GOOD. When used properly, God’s Word goes forth into the world and creates what it
is intended to create. 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. (Isaiah 55:11) His spoken Word goes forth
and does not return until it prospers, or fulfills His intended purpose.
Ahh! Now we unlock a “mystery”! Genesis 1:27 states, “…God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created
him; male and female He created them.” Man lost that image when he sinned in the Garden of Eden, but if we believe in the
completed, redemptive work of Calvary, we are now “born again” into His image. …His divine power has given to us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue… (2 Peter 1:3) That means
that we have everything we need to be like Him: to think, speak and act like Him AND to achieve the same results. The
question is: how do we effectively use God’s Word like He wants us to, and use it properly so that it creates what we need in
our lives?
First, we must be in agreement with God’s will for His Word to create what we want. If what we want doesn’t line up with God’
s will, our use of the Word will be unfruitful. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) No matter how important something might seem to us or to the rest of mankind, if it is not part of
HIS riches, His Word will not produce it. We must transform our thinking to line up with what is truly important to God. That will
always include the Love commandment, “Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind’” (Matthew 22:37); and the Great Commission, “And he said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16:15).
Second, it is crucial for us to ask in faith, believing that what we are asking is possible for God and that He is willing to do it for
us. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6). If we doubt God’s authority over this world or his grace toward us, we inhibit
the effectiveness of His power to create change in the world and bring change to our lives. I know it seems difficult to believe
any Christian would doubt God’s authority, but it does happen. More commonly, the “believer” questions their “worthiness”, or
rather, God’s willingness to give grace. God’s love is unconditional – that means no conditions or actions will change it. If you
repent, you are forgiven every time, and you have GRACE with Him to in order to get your prayers answered. (Read the Book of
First John).
Third, patience, patience, and more patience – OH! Did we mention patience? The word patience is mentioned 33 times in
the New Testament; “hurry” isn’t mentioned once! (Luke 8:15): But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having
heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. God’s time table is very different from our
earthly schedule. No matter how fast we “desperately” need something, God’s way of doing things always operates in seed-
time-and harvest.
Volumes have been written about how to get prayers answered, but it “boils down” to these three steps: knowing God’s will,
receiving by faith, waiting in patience. Now, before we think “we will have streets of gold by tomorrow morning”, understand
that our minds have to be renewed by learning in God’s Word, God’s M.O. (mode of operation), so these principles will have
their full effect. Proper prayer life, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, a lifestyle of holiness, knowledge of powerful praise and
intimate worship, Word-time, Throne-time, etc., are vital to the process of achieving the “mystery” of effectively applying God’s
Word so that it creates His desired result, and does not return void.
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Love In Christ,
Gregory & Linda Emler
