Amazed - how freely we throw this word about, but are we actually "amazed" when we use it. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines amazed as "to fill with wonder." I wonder, as we sing "I stand all amazed" if we truly are filled with wonder. Do you still your heart in awe and admiration of God as you sing the lyrics, or is it a mere cliché, an over used phrase that doesn't even pique your attention anymore?
In the Greek the word for amazed is thambos. Thambos according to the Strongs concordance is to render immovable. When was the last time you were amazed - rendered immovable by the things of God? I like to think of amazed or thambos as a spiritual winding. Like being winded, being amazed knocks the breath out of you, it insists you pause and take interest.
In Luke chapter four Jesus enters Nazareth and preaches to the people, even casting out demons. The people of Nazareth didn't necessarily agree with what Jesus was saying, but the power behind his word left them amazed - thambos. Did this mean that all turned to Him and followed Him - No. In fact many wished to kill Him by throwing Him down a hill. However, they could not deny in their hearts the wonder they felt.
We are offered this same power that Jesus had to amaze, dumbfound or render people spiritually immovable when we speak His words. Sometimes when we feel our city is calling out to throw us down the hill by banning us from street preaching or giving out flyers, that we are having no effect. However, we must remember that if we are speaking His word it does not return void. You don't know how many people you have rendered immovable in the spirit. You don't know how many people's hearts were softened by the life giving words you spoke.
The amazing power of Christ comes to us through His Spirit. In order to speak like Jesus with power, it is not so much what we say, but whether or not we say it by the Spirit. Before doing anything that requires power in word, we need to ensure that God's Spirit is with us and ask Him to give us utterance.
Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Go, and let the people you speak to be amazed.