May it please Almighty God to bless us together this evening as we meditate in his holy word. Let's turn to the Gospel of Luke, the fourth chapter, and let's read together verse 32. The Gospel of Luke, chapter four, and reading verse 32. And they were astonished at his doctrine. for his word was with power. It must have been a very wonderful occasion when the people, the multitudes heard the Lord Jesus Christ speak.

Because we can be sure there were no wasted words, We can be sure that every word was true, every word was appropriate. And these words came from the Lord God himself. What an amazing situation that was. And through God's goodness and mercy, we have a record in the Bible of some of those words which were spoken in the situation which existed. And we should therefore be very thankful that God has given us such a record to take into account when we now find ourselves walking on this earth.

And so we're told, and the people, they were astonished. and his doctrine, for his word was with power." Well, it's a good thing when we realize that God's word is with power. Man's word, women's words, may of course sometimes be good and sometimes may be loud, but the great thing is there's only power which belongs to Almighty God. And what a blessing therefore if you and I have heard His Word speaking into our hearts. Not perhaps in a physical sense, a physical noise, but nonetheless God's Word spoken to us. A Word which we don't forget. A Word which God has planted there.

And it's wonderful to realize that God still today, he does come and speak to his people and encourage them. Sometimes in the way that we wouldn't expect, sometimes in places that we wouldn't expect. Because what we know is that God is in every place. And there's nowhere where God is not. Therefore we should not be amongst those who think well God will only speak to me in certain places. God speaks to us when it is his time, when it is his purpose and when he will bring into our hearts that word from himself. And the wonderful thing is that when God speaks to our hearts.

Perhaps it's just like it was with Elijah. Not a great word of noise. It was with Elijah, a still small voice. But nonetheless, that voice was with power. And that's the great blessing that God bestows upon his church. that his word is with power. You may remember Elijah was in the cave's mouth and expecting God to speak through the hurricanes and the storms and the wind but no, it was when it was calm and there was that still small voice which hit the nail right on the head And the Lord said, what doest thou hear, Elijah? Elijah had been greatly blessed just a short while previously with the appearance of that fire on that mount to prove that his God was the God.

And so we must remember these examples for us in the word of God. those examples which come to us now the Lord recorded here in this Gospel of Luke and very similar words in the Gospel of Mark very similar and just a small difference at the end the first part is the same and they were astonished at his doctrine and in Luke we read for his word was with power And in Mark's gospel, the first chapter, verse 22, and the end it says, and he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes. Yes, the word of God is powerful. And it's a good thing if we recognize. Now, before we perhaps go further on that theme, let's just remember that we read this chapter, this fourth chapter, in this Gospel of Luke.

And the first part speaks to us about how the Lord Jesus Christ dealt with the devil. He'd been baptized, the Lord Jesus, and he'd returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. We might think, well, why was that? surely was to prove the reality of those words which he had received. And so he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. It doesn't say he was led by the devil. It tells us he was led by the Spirit. And sometimes we might be surprised at where the Lord leads us.

But of course in this case it was to prove the greatness of God and to show to us how to rebuff the devil when he brings scripture to bear and sometimes we might think well this must be right or remember there were three questions which the devil put to the Lord Jesus and tempted him and in each case the Lord Jesus answered him by scripture, he quoted the word of God. And that's a good example for you and me, as you and I may be tempted in one way or another to perhaps do certain things which we might think were reasonable, and yet you see it's good to know the scriptures and to be able to resist the devil from the word of God.

The devil wasn't able to answer those answers. And we know therefore that when he finished in the devil, when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. It doesn't say he didn't ever tempt him again, but he departed from him for a season. And it's a good testimony for you and me to remember Because without any doubt, we will be tempted. The devil wants to tempt us away from the things of God. He wants to cause us to sin. He wants to cause us to disobey the word of God. And my friends, if we're ignorant of the scripture, we won't have the knowledge of how to resist him. So it's a good consideration to remember the wonderful example that we have in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course that wasn't the only occasion.

As we follow the scripture and we see how Jesus lived his life, it's wonderful to realize how gracious and wonderful was the Saviour. And when you think that here was The Lord God Almighty, none less, was willing to live that life on the earth for those 33 years in order that he might fulfil his father's will and pay that great price of his death. in order to redeem our souls. It's very wonderful, isn't it, to think that God himself left that, his place in glory, where he'd always been from eternity and was willing to come into this sinful world and to pay that price that was required of God the Father to take away all our sins. Well it's a wonderful truth and it's good to meditate upon and to realize how gracious and glorious our God is. Not a little God but a great God.

So here we have these words and they were astonished at his doctrine. Well we weren't there of course but to think that the Lord Jesus Christ knew everything. He knew all the details. the reason that he was caused to come into this world to die that sin atoning death not surprising is it that as he preached and of course we have some of his sermons there's very many words that we don't have and we're told that if all there was a record of everything all the books that are written there wouldn't be room enough for them in the world no it's the gracious glorious God that did so many things, but we have a sufficient evidence in the Word of God to make us astonished. And they were astonished at His doctrine.

For His Word was with power. Power belongeth unto God. Not something that you and I can produce. Not something that anybody else can produce. but the power belongs to Almighty God. And sometimes he uses his servants to preach the gospel and the word comes with power from on high. And that's exceedingly humbling for those who preach and most glorious for those who receive it.

And so what a mercy it is to know that still today God's Word is with power. And so may it be a blessing to us and may we recognize the wonder of it and look into our hearts to see if we can discern occasions when God's Word has come to us in power. Power from on high, not natural power, not a naturally loud voice, Remember what we said about Elijah, the still small voice, but nonetheless with power. Because the power means that the word enters into our hearts.

And what a blessing when that is so. We can remember the wonderful example we have in the Bible of the centurion. The centurion had a need and we can read about that in the 8th chapter in Matthew where the Lord speaks there and instructs us in these things and it's good just to remember what occurred on that occasion. And Jesus was asked to heal, come and heal this person. And he come, and Jesus was entered into Capernaum.

They came unto him a centurion, beseeching him and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home, sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. And he goes on to say, for I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, And I say to this man, go and he goeth. And to another, come and he cometh. And to my servant, do this and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to them that followed, verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Well, that's a good example for us to bear in mind as we journey on. You see, he was willing to hear God's Word and to obey it and to follow it. Yes, he didn't demand some great revelation of natural power. He was willing to listen and to obey the Word of Almighty God.

Well, God's given us these examples in his Word to remember, and we should be very thankful they are there. And then also, we can read in the Thessalonians, as the Apostle Paul writes, and it's good that we have these examples to encourage us And the apostle Paul tells us, for this cause also, thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us. You see, isn't that good? If God gives us grace to receive his word, not to argue, not to disagree, but to receive his word. He received it, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. The effectual word of God, when God speaks his word, we should not then argue about it, because perhaps it didn't follow the pattern that we'd expected. God's ways are higher than our ways. God knows the end from the beginning. God knows what's planned in your life and my life. And we don't know.

And we should be very thankful to realize that we have a God who does speak his word and tells us and instructs us what we should do and what we should say and to not part from it. So we can be thankful, can't we, that we have such a God. who is so kind and gracious. And if you actually pause and just think of this, how good the Lord is. He knows how frail we are. He knows how sinful we are.

And therefore he comes alongside us and sometimes takes us by our hand and leads us on safely. doesn't leave us to our own way but takes us and leads us and is kind and gracious to us what a kind and gracious God we have so we have this word and they were astonished at his doctrine for his word was with power what a mercy it is if God therefore has revealed himself to us in this way and you look back in our lives Perhaps we can remember, perhaps one occasion, when God has spoken to us and we realise that word had an effect upon us.

And perhaps it hasn't left us. Perhaps we think about it. Perhaps it comes back to us. Perhaps it strengthens us. Perhaps it encourages us. Perhaps it corrects us. Whatever it is, how wonderful it is to realise that God speaks to us with power from on high.

And then the Apostle Peter. We know that Peter was quite volatile sometimes in the way that he acted, but he did know the fear of God. He did desire to do that which was right and in his Epistle and especially the first epistle in the first chapter we read about how God came and Instructed him and blessed him and he tells us this being born again not of corruptible seed But of incorruptible that means that the seed of life that God gives to us is from His Word. His Word is incorruptible by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. See, God's Word doesn't go out of date. God's Word doesn't change. God's Word is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What a mercy it is then to recognize this, for his word was with power. Yes, and Peter knew his word was with power. It came to Peter, didn't it? Corrected poor old Peter when he fell so sadly, when he was so strong in his own mind that he would never deny the Lord, even if he were willing to die for him. And in a very short time, there he was denying his Lord with oaths and curses. And what did he say?

Kept by the power of God. His word is so true. And you and I today walk only that way. We cannot keep ourselves. We should never underestimate the power of Satan and his temptation. And poor Peter had to learn that very painfully. but he was able to declare, yes, kept by the power of God, through grace, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. And what a mercy if you and I in our little lives have heard that word, and it's come to us, and it's touched our heart, so that we are kept by his power. Kept from doing those things which perhaps our nature wants to do, but the power of God's keeps us. And we recognise his love toward us in those things.

He hasn't left us. He hasn't forsaken us. He could have cast us away, couldn't he? Many times. If you and I look into our lives we can see many reasons why God could have cast us away. As the Bible describes it as a cumbra of the ground. No worth. And God in his mercy. Because he's loved us with an everlasting love. He brings his word to our heart. And that word comes and abides. And that word is with power. What a blessing then. What a mercy. We don't have to only refer to the New Testament. We can refer to the Old Testament. We can refer to the experiences of the apostle Paul, sorry, the apostle David, sorry, the God's servant David. And David was wonderfully favoured with God, and yet David left to himself. We know how sadly he fell. And yet you see, God blessed him with repentance.

His word, God's word, came to David through the prophet who spoke to him and that word went right home into his heart. What a mercy when God therefore speaks his word, that word to David was with power, changed him, self-righteous he was, trying to hide his sin, and then he had to come and make a clean breast of it. and a confession before his God. Well, what a mercy that is. And he tells us in Psalm 62, God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God.

Power that changed David. changed his views, made him willing to bow down before God, made him willing to repent of his sin. What a mercy it is when God, through his word, through his power, gives us that grace to bow down before God and to repent of our sins. Repent doesn't come naturally, because we're proud beings, satisfied with our lives but what a mercy when God shows us just as he did Peter and caused him to say those words kept by the power of God and so David was left to fall also and was able to come and to repent of his sins and find that forgiveness and he was able to say against thee, thee only have I sinned Yes, before a holy God, you and I cannot stand. We have to bow down and acknowledge this great God.

God has spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God. And so what a blessing in our lives today if we know his word with power to our hearts. That power which has caused us to change our views, to change our desires, and to set our hearts and our affections upon things above. And then, in Ecclesiastes, we read these words. Solomon wrote them, a man given much wisdom from Almighty God. And we're told this, where the word of a king is, there is power. Well, my friends, we have King Jesus.

And surely, the power of his word should have a tremendous effect upon us. To realize what he did. Where the word of a king is, there is power. And who may say unto him, what doest thou? God does that which is right and good. What a mercy when you and I are brought before him and are willing to bow down before a holy God.

We have to get rid of all our own thoughts, our own ways. if they are in any way against the will of Almighty God. Remember those glorious words, and he led them forth by the right way. God doesn't make any mistakes. God didn't make any mistakes with Solomon, didn't make any mistakes with David, didn't make any mistakes with Peter, and my friends, he doesn't make any mistakes with you and me.

Isn't that wonderful to think that this is the great, kind and gracious God? And yet as we come back and think of the beginning of this verse where the apostle says, and they were astonished at his doctrine. Sometimes we may be astonished at the way that Almighty God deals with us.

In love to our souls, He's not a hard taskmaster. He takes us in hand. He leads us by the hand and continues to be with us right through our life. He doesn't bring us towards the end and then leaves us and says, well, the last bit you've got to get on by yourself. No, he takes us and brings us safely home to glory.

Oh how wonderful it is to think this is the God that by his grace we adore. We adore him because of his mercy, because of his grace, because of his love towards such unworthy sinners. How wonderful it is, isn't it? To think that we have this kind and gracious God who still today comes and speaks his word with power.

And that word, my friends, when it emanates from God, you and I can't stand against it because there is power with it. And we bow down and we acknowledge The Lord, it is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth him good. Again, don't forget, God doesn't make any mistakes.

And what a blessing it is when in that path, he brings us into that great blessing of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, our life on this earth is not a life that we should think we can choose ourselves what we do but God leads us and God teaches us and how wonderful it is to think that he brings us into fellowship with himself that's a great and glorious truth it's a wonderful doctrine to think that God Almighty looks upon his fallen flock and remembers them And it gives them that grace to walk with Him, and to suffer with Him, and to enjoy fellowship with His sufferings. You know, you may think that's a strange statement, to enjoy it, but it is true, because we have the evidence that God is dealing with us as His children. His children. He hasn't ditched us. He hasn't said, well, you failed so many times. I'm not going to deal with you anymore. Our God is full of compassion. He remembers that we are dust.

How great is our God. And so as we journey on, we may indeed be astonished at his doctrine, astonished at his mercy toward us. But what a blessing it is if we understand the fulfillment of this great word, for his word was with power. And he, as the verse in Mark tells us, he taught them as one that had authority. When God speaks, we may recognize the authority. It's God that's speaking, it's not man. It's God that's speaking.

What a blessing He gives you and me grace to bow down before Him and acknowledge He is our Lord and Master. It's very wonderful and very humbling to recognise the mercy and goodness of our God. And so here we have this account in the Gospel of Luke and of Mark also. telling us this great truth. The Lord went about speaking, doing miracles, but the great truth was the people were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was with power. My friends, it's still today with power. God's word is with power.

And how wonderful it is therefore in your life and my life, if we have the evidence of the infinite mercy of God, who has come to us, sometimes unexpectedly, and speaks his word into our heart with power. We may go in the strength of that word for many days. We may go in the strength of that word all our life to realise that almighty God none less has been gracious and mindful of us and come to us in our lowest states. Sometimes perhaps when we were far off, just like that parable of that man who went away and spent all his money in writer's living until that great occasion when he began to be in want.

The work of God. How wonderful if you and I know that. We begin to be in want. Perhaps in our life, there's been a change. God's caused us to be in want. He's come to us, he's touched our heart, and he's directed us to the mercy and love of Almighty God.

Well, may God instruct us, and may God bless us, We may remember the words of Peter when he tells us, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. Everything else will pass away. God's word will remain forever, for his honour and for his glory. Amen.