Author: Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

«For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope»(Jeremiah, 29:11)

I just want to tell you one important thing today; this might apply to just one, two or three people, but it is worth mentioning: if you have been filling your heart with God’s Word for a long time and have been guarding your heart, but you do not yet see the results or fruit, it means God is putting in you a very deep and solid foundation, because He is going to raise a strong and important structure.

«He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction» (Psalm, 107:20).

God’s Word is able to radically change your life. And it is wonderful! We can’t even imagine and fully grasp what a tremendous power is contained in God’s Word! It does not matter what circumstances surround you today and what people are saying or doing against you. It often happens that the closest people hurt us and it affects us deeply.

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James, 1:21).

For the Word of God to be implanted in you, you must ‘lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness’. If you are mad at everybody then you won’t be able to hear and comprehend the Word; you will read it, but it won’t work in your life. The process of engrafting requires a special treatment, protection in order to preserve the tree from infection. The same can be said about a human heart, – it must be protected from wickedness so that the Word of God could be planted and then bring forth fruit – the fruit of salvation.

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James, 1:21).

This is a very profound verse of Scripture that must be considered and closely examined. But I would like to draw your attention to several points. Here the Bible talks about the implanted Word which saves our souls. It resembles the process of engrafting a branch of tree into another tree, after which these trees become one, since they have the same root system. The implanted Word must be one with me. God wants His Word to be planted in my heart so that the Word and I become one because it is only then will the word be able save my soul.

«A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks» (Luke, 6:45).

Some people continually blame others and their hearts are full of negative things, fear, insecurities. The reason is that they have allowed these things to enter their hearts and settle in. Whatever you let in, the same things also goes out.

The Word of God that you keep in your heart will save you! In hard times, when people rise against you with slander and when all the circumstances seem to be against you, only the Word of God that you have in your heart will save you. That is why we say that God’s Word is our support system. It is like a bearing wall in a building. If you take it down, the building will collapse. A bearing wall carries the weight.

God wants His people to know His Word – the truth which sets us free from lies and sin. The Bibles says that Jesus came to give us life – life in abundance. God’s life is contained in His Word. God’s wisdom and might is contained in His Word! God wants you to realise what great treasure there is for you in His Word. This treasure is not comparable with any silver or gold. God’s Word – it is a jewel beyond price, everlasting, and it brings health, answers and solutions.

In order for life to flow from us, we need to first be filled with this life. Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. Receiving Christ as your Lord and Saviour, we accept His life itself within us. But this life has to be constantly strengthened within us, and it is possible when we are filled with the Word of God. You yourself determine what you fulfil your heart with – the Word of God or this world’s system of values, holiness or sin, faith or fear. The Word of God brings faith, strength, and health into our lives. Walking in holiness allows us to see the manifestation of God’s power in our lives. Faith in God, based on the Word of God, connects us with God and His possibilities.

«My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life» (Proverbs, 4:20-23).
Based on this Scripture, we can argue that the course of your life, my destiny or yours should not depend on somebody else but on ourselves. You must take charge of your life and destiny!

We mostly think that our destiny is determined by other people or how they act toward us. Or we think that destiny depends on the circumstances that surround us or things that happen around us. But it is not true, and God does not think that way! God knows that the circumstances in your life won’t define your life. What people do or do not do to you cannot determine your life. Your destiny is defined by where your heart is. Thus, God tells us that we have to guard our hearts with all diligence.