The Word of the Lord Grew

In All the World

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In Ephesus, after the magic books were burned, “the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). God’s Word kept spreading, and nothing could stop it.

Two years. Paul taught in Ephesus every day for two years, “so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). Asia was a Roman province with many towns.

Again and again. The book of Acts tells about this many times. In Jerusalem, “the word of God spread” (Acts 6:7). After a hard time for the church, “the word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24). On Paul’s first journey, “the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region” (Acts 13:49).

Grew. The Word itself did not change. It grew because more and more people heard it and believed it.

Prevailed. To prevail means to be strong and win out. In Ephesus, God’s Word was stronger than magic, money and an angry crowd.

A letter to Colosse. Colosse was a town in Asia too. Paul wrote to the believers there. He thanked God for “the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world” (Colossians 1:5-6).

Bringing forth fruit. Paul said the gospel “is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth” (1:6). Fruit here means the good things God grows in people who believe.

Faith and love. Paul had heard of their “faith in Christ Jesus” and their “love for all the saints” (1:4). Their changed lives showed that God’s Word was working.

How it spreads. God’s Word spreads when people tell others, the way Paul did in Ephesus every day. It grows because God Himself is at work.

One person at a time. Paul did not take the Word to every town by himself. The believers in Colosse learned it from a man named Epaphras (Colossians 1:7). One faithful believer can share God’s Word with a whole town.

Louder is not stronger. The crowd in the theater shouted for two hours, and nothing good came of it. God’s Word grew quietly, one heart at a time, and it won.

The same Word. The Word that grew in Ephesus is the same Word we read today. God did not need a new message for each city, and He does not need one for you.

The heart of the Word. The good news at the center of God’s Word is about Jesus. We have all sinned. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and He rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven.

What to do. Thank God that His Word reached you. Then pray for one person who has not heard it yet, and look for a kind way to tell them about Jesus.

In Ephesus, after the magic books were burned, “the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20).

Ischyo (19:20). Prevailed is ischyo (say: is-KHOO-oh), to be strong, to have power and win out. The Word that exposed magic proved stronger than it, and stronger than the riot that followed.

All Asia (19:10). For two years Paul reasoned daily, “so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” From one city, the Word reached a whole province.

Again and again in Acts. In Jerusalem, “the word of God spread” (6:7). After persecution, “the word of God grew and multiplied” (12:24). In Pisidian Antioch, “the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region” (13:49).

Opposition did not stop it. Each time, trouble was near: complaints in Jerusalem (6:1), Peter in prison (12:4), persecution in Antioch (13:50). In Ephesus the riot came right after 19:20. Trouble never meant the Word had failed.

Colosse (Colossians 1:3-5). Colosse was a town in Asia. Paul wrote, “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.”

In all the world (1:5-6). They heard that hope “in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”

Spreading and fruitful. The gospel was reaching new places and changing the people who received it. Faith toward Christ and love toward His people were the fruit.

Through ordinary believers. The Colossians learned the gospel from a man named Epaphras (1:7). The Word reached Colosse through one faithful believer, not through Paul himself.

Mightily, not loudly. The theater crowd was united in noise for two hours and achieved nothing. The Word grew without a riot, one changed life after another, and it prevailed.

The grace at the center. They “knew the grace of God in truth.” The gospel is the news that sinners are forgiven as a gift. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and all who trust Him are made right with God.

Application. The Word that reached Ephesus and Colosse has reached you. Ask whether it is bearing fruit in your life, and pray for the people around you who have not yet heard it.

It Works in You Who Believe

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In Ephesus, God’s Word “grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). Two letters Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica show how God’s Word does its work.

Thessalonica. Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia. Paul told the people there about Jesus, and some of them believed.

They welcomed it. Paul wrote, “when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

God’s Word, not man’s. The people heard Paul’s voice, but they knew the message came from God. The Bible is not just a book of good ideas from people. It is God speaking to us.

It works. God’s Word “also effectively works in you who believe” (2:13). Effectively works means it really does its job. It changes people from the inside.

How it works. God’s Word shows us our sin, tells us about Jesus and helps us trust and obey Him. Little by little, it makes us more like Jesus.

A human voice. Paul was only a man, but he was passing on God’s own message. When a pastor, parent or teacher teaches you the Bible, God’s Word can work in you the same way.

Run swiftly. In his next letter Paul asked, “pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Swiftly means fast.

Be glorified. The Word is glorified when people honor it as God’s Word and believe it.

Not everyone. Paul also asked them to pray “that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith” (3:2). He knew some people would fight against the Word, as the crowd did in Ephesus.

Still running. Even when people opposed it, the Word kept going from city to city. It is still going today.

Every day. God’s Word works a little at a time, the way a plant grows. Keep reading it, even on days when you do not feel anything changing.

The Word about Jesus. God’s Word tells us that we have sinned. It tells us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. When we believe it, God forgives us and gives us new life.

What to do. When you read the Bible, listen to it as God speaking to you. Ask Him to help you believe it and do it, and pray that His Word will spread.

Acts 19:20 tells what God’s Word did in Ephesus. Paul’s letters to Thessalonica show how it works: it is received as God’s Word, it works in those who believe, and it runs on as believers pray.

Received (1 Thessalonians 2:13). “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God.”

Heard from us. The Thessalonians heard the Word through Paul’s voice, yet they recognized it as God’s. The messenger was human; the message was from God.

Without ceasing. Paul thanked God “without ceasing” for the way they received it. Even receiving the Word rightly is a reason to thank God, because it is His work in us.

It works. It is the word of God “which also effectively works in you who believe.” God’s Word is not only true information. It is at work, doing God’s work in the hearts of those who trust it.

Trecho (2 Thessalonians 3:1). “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.” Run is trecho (say: TREH-khoh), the word for a runner in a race. Paul pictured the Word as a runner speeding from city to city.

Glorified. The Word is glorified when people honor it by believing it and when it does its work in them, “just as it is with you.”

Not by force. The Word does not spread by riots or threats. It runs as people hear it, believe it and pass it on.

Resistance (3:2). “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.” Paul did not expect the Word to run without opposition. Ephesus proved it.

The word of the cross. The message that runs and works is the gospel. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Received by faith, it brings forgiveness and new life.

Application. Read Scripture as God’s voice, not as human opinion. Let it work in you, and pray that it will run swiftly where you live.

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