These are notes on the sermon, His Word Brings Life And Healing, preached by Pastor Joseph Prince on Sunday, 27 June 2021, at The Star Performing Arts Centre, Singapore. We hope these sermon notes will be an encouragement to you!
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Pastor Prince shares that the Lord has been giving us a revival in His Word for the past few weeks and imparting to us a fresh love for His Word.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
— 1 Peter 1:23 KJV
“Incorruptible” — We are born again of the incorruptible seed of God's Word which lives and abides forever.
We know that we cannot live without food and by the same token, we cannot live without the Word of God (Matt. 4:4)
The Word God is what gave us life in the very beginning. When God made man from the dust of the ground, man had all his features but was lifeless. The breath of God gave life to man in his spirit. That life then permeated his soul, before giving life to his body (Gen. 2:7).
Today, we can see how much life we are enjoying in our bodies by looking at how healthy we are. Being sick in certain parts of our body indicates that there is a lack of life or death has set in.
When we partake of the holy Communion, the Lord wants us to discern that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and removed our sins in His own body, and that by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5). When we don’t discern the Lord’s body that was broken for our health, we are actually submitting ourselves to the law of death that is already released in this world (1 Cor. 11:29–30).
God does not want us to be subject to the condemnation and death that came in when Adam sinned. The first stage of death is constant fatigue and tiredness, followed by sickness and finally death itself. But God's Word gives us life!
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . ”
— 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV
“inspiration of God” — This phrase means “God-breathed” in the Greek translation.
The very breath that gave life to man is the life that we are to live by. As you spend time in the Word of God, the Word is actually resuscitating and reviving your body, causing you to experience the abundance of life that Jesus came to give you (John 10:10).
When we feel despondent or depressed in our minds, it is a sign that death has crept into the area of our emotions. Not only is God against sin, but He is also against death.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
— Romans 8:2 NKJV
God does not want us to fall under the law of sin and death. In order to offset this curse, we simply need to partake of the Lord's Supper in a way worthy of His sacrifice—by remembering and discerning what He has done for us at the cross. The Bible says that the reason many are weak, sick, and die before their time is because they do not receive life by discerning the Lord’s body (1 Corinthians 11:29–30). How then do we receive this life?
It is not about taking the Communion whenever you are sick as though following a formula. This is not effective because everything in the kingdom of God works by faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). The best way to take the Lord’s Supper is to first saturate ourselves with what God’s Word says about it, which fills us with faith before we partake of it.
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
— Proverbs 4:20-22 KJV
“life . . . and health to all their flesh” — The very life that God breathed into us in the beginning is now within the pages of the Bible. When you spend time in God’s Word, it brings life and health not only to your physical body, but your entire being including your spirit and soul.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
— Isaiah 55:9 NKJV
“My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” — God's wisdom is so concentrated and beyond us that we are not able to understand and digest it all at once. That is why He does not give it to us all at once but in bite-size pieces.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,”
— Isaiah 55:10 NKJV
“For as the rain comes down” — If all of God’s wisdom fell on us at the same time, we would not be able to handle it. Yet God is so good and kind that He allows His wisdom to fall like rain or snow. As rain falls on the smallest and most delicate flower, refreshing and nourishing it instead of hurting it, so does God’s wisdom come to us in bite-size portions to bless us instead of overwhelm us.
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
— Isaiah 55:11 NKJV
“It shall not return to Me void . . . it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” — If you are sick in your body, listen to God-breathed words from the Scriptures on healing. The Word of God is likened to a seed as it will always reproduce after itself. Words of healing will reproduce healing in your body. When you receive God’s Word, you are receiving prosperity in the area the Word is speaking about because the Bible says His Word will prosper in the thing for which He sent it.
“For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
— Isaiah 55:12 NKJV
When you spend time in the Word of God, you will experience:
“The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” — Everywhere you go, as you walk with joy and are led forth with peace, important people (represented by the mountains) and people around you (represented by the hills) will clap their hands.
You are a blessing everywhere you go when you are filled with the Word of God (Isa. 55:13). When you receive God’s Word, expect to go out with joy and be led forth with peace!
The Parable of the Sower
Pastor Prince shares the parable told by Jesus in Matthew 13:1–12 to illustrate how we can receive a full, hundred-fold harvest of God’s Word in our lives.
The four types of ground mentioned in this parable are a picture of the four different states of our hearts (our attitudes) that we can have when we receive God’s Word. Of these, only one particular attitude receives the bountiful, hundred-fold harvest from the Word.
When you are hungry for the Word of God, the state of your heart (your attitude) is good ground to receive the seed. Instead of seeking psychology, scientific facts, or the opinions of experts, you will prioritize the Word of the living God! And as you spend time in the Word of God, seeking understanding and crying out for knowledge and wisdom, you will understand the wisdom of God and find the knowledge of the Lord (Prov. 2:1–5). And you will see a great harvest in your life!
What causes us to receive a hundred-fold harvest in our life from God’s Word?
We saw from the parable that the same seed is sown on all four types of ground but produces different results in each type.
“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
— Mark 4:23–25 NKJV
“what you hear” — Mark emphasizes the importance of what you hear as it is God’s incorruptible seed (His Word) that produces fruit in your life and regenerates it. What are you listening to most of the time? Are you flooding your mind and heart with the news or social media? Or are you taking in God’s Word?
“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
— Luke 8:18 NKJV
“how you hear” — Luke emphasizes how you hear the Word. The Bible says that to whoever has a hearing heart or attitude of wanting to hear God’s Word, more will be given to them. As for those who do not have this hearing heart, even what they already have will be taken away.
“the same measure you use” (Mark 4:24) — The measure of attention you give to the Word is the same measure of harvest you will reap. So if you give thirty-fold attention and focus to the Word, you will get back a thirty-fold benefit, revelation, and harvest from the Word in return.
It is not that it is God's will for you to only receive a thirty-fold harvest. Your harvest depends on your attitude towards the Word. Let’s not be distracted when listening to the Word!
Often, when you are trying to listen to God’s Word, the enemy will try to tell you to catch up on something you’ve put aside such as contacting a friend or replying to a text message. My friend, there are so many things trying to hold you back from hearing God's Word because the devil is so afraid that you will receive it.
Take heed of the measure of attention you are giving to God’s Word. If you give your full attention to it, you will receive a full harvest and abundant fruitfulness!
The Parable of the Growing Seed
And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.”
— Mark 4:26–27 NKJV
“the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how” — Jesus shared another parable of a man who sowed his seed and then went about his normal daily life. As he was doing this, the seed sprouted and grew, though he did not know how.
There are many ways to listen to and receive God's Word. As you are studying or reading God's Word, it is sinking into your heart and sprouting. For people who don’t like to read, there are audiobooks available so you can listen to God’s Word instead of reading it.
My friend, would you prioritize God’s Word in your life? Even though we already know about what God has done for us, we need a fresh revelation each time in order to be able to receive from Him.
“And in His law he meditates day and night.
. . . Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”
— Psalm 1:2b–3 NKJV
“he meditates day and night . . . whatever he does shall prosper” — Meditation on God’s Word is so important because it causes us to hear the Word again and again, bringing a fresh revelation. As you meditate on the Word day by day, you will always be young, vigorous, and whatever you do will prosper.
“he himself does not know how” (Mark 4:27) — As this man is in contact with the Word through hearing, meditating, or reading it, it is sinking into his heart and germinating. God is saying that this man does not need to know or worry about how the seed grows. All he needs to do is make sure he is listening and has a good attitude toward the Word (a hearing heart that seeks to understand the Word). If he has that heart, as he leads his life day to day, God’s Word in his heart will naturally grow, leading to a great harvest.
This is much like how when a woman conceives after receiving seed from a man, she does not need to worry about what her body should do to develop the baby. The seed takes care of itself because the wisdom of God to reproduce another human being is within the seed itself.
On the third day of creation, God brought forth grass, plants, and all the fruit trees bearing seed in themselves reproducing after their own kind (Gen. 1:11–13). All of the trees and plants that we see today are a reproduction of the very first seed that was in the garden of Eden when God first spoke. It is amazing how seeds reproduce themselves!
Pastor Prince shares a story of seeds that were discovered in excavations carried out at King Herod’s palace in Masada in the 1960s. These seeds included Judean date palm seeds that were estimated to be around 2,000 years old. In 2005, these Judean date palm seeds were planted and miraculously began to sprout. The tree was named “Methuselah” and is now being used to pollinate other female palm trees in Israel. This is the power of resurrection contained in a seed!
The Bible says the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, still bring forth fruit in old age, and “shall be fat (vigorous) and flourishing (green)” (Ps. 92:12–14 KJV). Generation after generation, a tree reproduces itself after its own kind. Man’s best invention cannot reproduce itself. Man can modify existing life but there is no one on earth today who can create life. Only God gives life.
The incorruptible life of God’s Word
“And if a part of any such carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it remains clean.”
— Leviticus 11:37 NKJV
“any planting seed . . . remains clean” — A carcass is a picture of corruption and death. If it falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, that seed remains clean. Death and corruption cannot overpower or stop the resurrection life that it is in that seed! The life contained by the seed swallows up death.
Beloved, if you are struggling in any area of your life—whether you are facing a financial lack or health issue—spend time in the Word and saturate yourself with it. Start hearing sermons where the Word of God is being expounded on and the revelation is being unfolded to you. When the Word of God sinks into your heart, you will manifest its harvest in your life!
In Mark 4:35–41, right after sharing the parables of the seeds, Jesus gave His disciples a practical lesson on taking heed of what they hear and how they hear the Word of God.
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great (‘megas’) windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
— Mark 4:35–38 NKJV
“Let us cross over to the other side” — Jesus said these words, yet His disciples did not give much weight to it. To the same measure of weight they gave to His words, that was the same measure to which they received.
“asleep on a pillow” — Jesus was sound asleep at the back of the boat in the midst of the great storm because when He said, “Let us cross over to the other side,” He believed that what He said would surely happen.
When you meditate on God’s Word and the storm around you begins to grow stronger, this is similar to the parable in Matthew 13 where trouble arises because of the Word. The enemy wants to steal the Word from your heart, and with it, the joy, peace, and faith that it brings.
The disciples were panicking because they were not meditating on Jesus’ words or giving the due measure that His Word deserved. The storm they were caught in was likely one to be truly afraid of in the natural (they were experienced fishermen and yet they could not handle it). Yet the storm didn't faze Jesus since He had already spoken that they would all cross over to the other side. Jesus didn't wake up because of the storm but because of the cry of His disciples whom He loved (Mark 4:38–39).
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand (‘suniémi’) it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”
— Matthew 13:19 NKJV
“understand” — The word “understand” here is the Greek word “suniémi,” which means “to put two and two together.” It implies wisdom in understanding God’s Word. God gives us all this “suniémi” type of wisdom and understanding. When the disciples saw the mighty storm, they were not able to put two and two together regarding Jesus’ words about crossing to the other side.
My friend, it is important for you to guard your ear and eye gates as it is through what you hear and what you see that things are able to enter your heart. The enemy is always putting out words to replace God's Word in your heart.
It is not good for you to be always saturated with social media all day and looking at words that can poison your heart and your attitude, or cause discouragement to come in. Looking at social media or the news now and then is fine, but if you are filling your mind with negative things all day and not spending time in God’s Word, it is no wonder that the fruits they produce are despondency, misery, and stress instead of joy and peace.
Give God’s Word honor and priority. You can even put your Bible around your house so that it’s in sight and you can pick it up to read anytime and anywhere. As you do this, you are releasing the seed of God’s Word in your life and it is growing.
Pastor Prince encourages parents to share the Word of God with their children.
You may think your young children have no heart yet for the things of God, but they are actually receiving and experiencing the presence of God much more than you realize.
You can share nuggets of the Word with your children in the midst of daily life. They may not appear to be listening, but most of the time they are actually receiving it and the Word is penetrating into the deepest recesses of their heart. With time, it sprouts and brings forth fruit in their lives. Pastor Prince shares a personal story of how he has seen this to be true in his son Justin’s life.
Let God's Word have the power! It is not about your persuasion or the words you use, but it is simply about the Word. Your sharing does not need to be long. Simply share little teachings with them that you find interesting.
Pastor Prince shares two things that parents need to do with their children for successful Christian parenting:
Both are necessary. When you play with them without praying with them, God’s Word is not dropped into their hearts. When you pray with them without playing with them, children can become angry as they grow older because they may feel that all you want is to demand a certain “Christian” way of living from them.
Beloved, would you prioritize God's Word from now on knowing that everything that you want in your life comes by the Word of God that you receive? It may not germinate immediately, but in the days to come, you will see it. The growth is not by your persuasion, wisdom, or labor, but the seed itself produces life (Mark 4:28–29).
Pastor Prince prays for people with the following conditions:
Heavenly Father, I thank You that Christ died on the cross for my sins and that you raised Him from the dead and I was justified in Him. I thank you, Father, that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior. I thank You that from now on my life is a life of favor, holiness, and righteousness with You. I thank You, Father God, that You have given me an overcoming life, a victorious life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This coming week, the Lord bless you with the blessings of Ephesians 1 and the blessings of Deuteronomy 28. May they all manifest in your life this week. The Lord keep you and your loved ones, protect you from the COVID-19 virus, from every sickness and disease, from every danger and harm. The Lord keep you from the power of the evil one through His blood. The Lord make His face to shine on you, be favorable to you. May you experience the favor of God everywhere you go this week and may you always be, through the grace of God, at the right place at the right time. The Lord lift up His countenance on you and your loved ones and grant to you and yours His shalom peace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Is there an area of defeat in your life you haven’t been seeing a breakthrough in, no matter how hard you’ve been trying to turn things around?
Friend, the Lord has made things easy for you. When it comes to that area of unfruitfulness in your life—whether it is your family life, relationships, marriage, career, finances, ministry, or mental and emotional wellbeing—the answer to seeing a great harvest of breakthroughs and blessings is found in receiving the seed of God’s Word in your heart.
Just as a man who scatters seed on the ground sees it sprout and grow without knowing how it happens (Mark 4:27), so you will see the seed of God’s Word germinate and bear fruit in your life without needing to worry about how it will happen.
This week, how do you receive God’s life-bringing, fruit-bearing Word in your heart?
We hope these sermon notes blessed you! If they did, we encourage you to get the sermon and allow the Lord to speak to you personally as you watch or listen to it.
© Copyright JosephPrince.com 2021
These sermon notes were taken by volunteers during the service. They are not a verbatim representation of the sermon.
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