“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”2— Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God is like water — a universal solvent. Yet it surpasses water, for it can dissolve what water merely flows over. It divides what is naturally indivisible: joint from marrow, soul from spirit. When spoken, it strips the forest bare and causes the deer to give birth (Psalm 29:9). It is the most reliable and logical framework for solving any problem in life. Therefore, in all your getting, get the Word of God.
However, understanding is essential for the Word to produce results. Without it, the Word becomes like seed sown on the wayside — the birds of the air quickly snatch it away. Our Esteemed Father in the Lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God worldwide, emphasized this truth:
“The best thing you can do for yourself is to seek to understand God’s Word more each day. When you make this your priority, you will begin to experience His peace and favor in ways you have never done before.”3— Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Peace and favor are the keys to true prosperity — the very things the world desperately seeks. As children of God, we obtain them through a deep understanding of His Word (see Psalm 73:2-3, 17 — the testimony of David).
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-4, 19) shows that both the Sower and the receiver share responsibility for the fruitfulness of the Word. Just as a good farmer prepares the soil — clearing, irrigating, and fertilizing it — a preacher or teacher must prepare the hearts into which the seed is sown. In Ezekiel 36:25-30, God Himself demonstrated His commitment to making His people receptive to His Word. He declared, “I will”:
- Sprinkle clean water on you to cleanse you from all impurities
- Give you a new heart and a new spirit
- Remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh
- Put My Spirit within you
- Cause you to walk in My statutes and obey My commands
- Save you from all your uncleanness
- Increase the fruit of your land
- Remove the reproach of the nations from you
If God is so concerned about the condition of the heart, we must be equally concerned.
As Sowers (Preachers and Teachers), we must:
- Preach the Word itself, not merely about the Word
- Stir up genuine interest in the hearts of our listeners
- Present the Word in the right dosage, language, and method
- Use technology wisely — avoiding anything distracting or disruptive
- Motivate the audience to study and go deeper into the Scriptures on their own
As Receivers (Listeners and Students), we must:
- Verify the message by comparing it with Scripture
- Meditate on and internalize the Word once proven (Joshua 1:8)
- Speak the Word to ourselves consistently
- Share the Word with others — this reinforces understanding and aids retention
This approach to both giving and receiving the Word requires a deep, intimate connection with God. Both teacher and student must possess a burning love and hunger for the Scriptures. That hunger fuels diligent study and faithful application. A teacher who lacks understanding will teach poorly, and the listeners will struggle to receive — resulting in little or no transformation.
To break up the fallow ground of the heart and go deeper in God, Pastor Adeboye recommends4 that anyone struggling to understand the Word should pray earnestly for:
- A new heart — a heart of flesh and the mind of Christ
- A heart that finds God’s Word interesting and delightful
- A heart that yearns to know God intimately
- A heart that loves to spend time in God’s presence
- The help of the Holy Spirit to translate, interpret, and apply the Word
As we pray these prayers and commit to daily reading of the Scriptures, we will begin to understand and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). May the Lord bless His Word in our hearts and help us to apply it in our everyday life, in Jesus Christ mighty Name, Amen!
1 Pastor E.A. Adeboye. “A Brand New Heart (1&2),” Open Heavens Devotional Handbook (OH),
Redemption City, Nigeria, June 1 & 2, 2026.
2 Scripture taken from NKJV, Copyright ® 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
3 Pastor E.A. Adeboye. OH, June 2, 2026.
