As a college student, I noted that there seemed to be such injustice and inequality in the world, and I wanted to be part of the solution to these societal ills. However, the more I studied, the more confused I got as to what the solution should be: travel overseas on a mission program to help build orphanages in another country? join up with a local food bank and concentrate my services there? get involved with a political campaign? work for a government social services program? But how could I allocate time to each of these well-meaning causes and have a positive impact? Wasn’t there just one thing I could do that would positively affect society and bring stability to the cultures of the world?
Thankfully, I found out that there was one thing with the power to change lives and entire cultures: God’s Word.
Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
After becoming a born-again believer, I decided to concentrate my efforts to bring the truth of God’s Word to all who want to know.
John 17:17:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Our lives can have a positive effect on those beyond our immediate circle of family and friends. The Word we know and live as born-again believers has a positive influence on society at large.
Isaiah 33:6:
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear [reverence, respect] of the Lord is his treasure.
These words were true when the Prophet Isaiah wrote them more than two thousand years ago, and they are still true today. The knowledge and practical application of God’s Word brings stability to individuals and to whole societies.
During Jesus Christ’s ministry, he sent out seventy of his disciples in pairs on a special assignment to preach and teach the Word in cities and places to which he himself would later come and preach. He gave them very specific instructions, but the heart was to heal and to share about the Kingdom of God. When the seventy returned, this was their report.
Luke 10:17,18:
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
And he [Jesus] said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Their time of speaking the Word had a positive effect because they were defeating the adversary, Satan, the Devil.
In the years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, the newly born-again disciples moved out from the Jerusalem area to preach the good news to all who would hear. One of these disciples, Philip, went to a city of Samaria, which had been in a sad condition. Many people were possessed with unclean spirits; others were weakened of limb and lame in the feet. But when Philip preached Christ unto them, they gave heed to what he spoke and there were miraculous deliverances, resulting in great joy in the whole city.
Acts 8:5-8:
Then Philip went down to the [a] city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
Part of the reason for the problems in the city was that a man named Simon had been operating devil spirits and bewitching the people for a long time. But after Philip came and preached, not only did the people believe and get born again, but so did Simon. The whole society was positively affected by the Word of God preached and taught by one man.
Another example is seen in Acts 19. The Apostle Paul came to Ephesus and found some disciples there who had been previously witnessed to and led into the new birth by Apollos. Paul led them into the manifestation of the gift of holy spirit, and then these twelve men and their households, along with Paul, spearheaded a movement of speaking the Word of the Lord. They spoke so consistently and boldly that in two years and three months all those who dwelt in Asia (currently known as Asia Minor) heard God’s Word.
Acts 19:7-10:
And all the men were about twelve.
And he [Paul] went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews [Judeans] and Greeks.
Their efforts produced a powerful, positive effect on that society.
Acts 19:11,12,20:
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
The main reason a society is positively affected by believers speaking the Word is that the spoken Word has an effect in the spiritual realm. It defeats our adversary, the Devil, who is the true cause of all societal ills.
I John 4:4:
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Here is another major reason that speaking the Word has such a positive effect: it educates people as to the true will of God so they can change their behavior to line up with the Word. As Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, the Founding President of The Way International, once wrote:
…To alter any situation in our society there must be a sufficient number of people who want it altered, who care enough about a given issue to make the sacrifices necessary to bring about change. The first step in all social change is a strong public opinion, the education of the public mind.
When we speak forth the truth of God’s Word boldly and consistently, we are educating the public mind on what God truly desires for His people and for society.
Let’s bring the knowledge and wisdom of God’s Word to our societies, offering them the stability only God can provide.
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