In doing some historical study of the Azusa Street Revival and the life of William Seymour, the leading minister of the revival, I discovered several Pentecostal denominations came out of that revival. In following that “rabbit trail”, there is one large denomination in particular that doctrinally believes everything that we do except for one thing: Under the heading of divine healing, “Officially, the denomination rejects the view that healing is caused or influenced by “positive confession”, a belief found in prosperity theology and Word of Faith teachings.”
I believe the Holy Spirit had this “catch” in my spirit so that I could teach on this some to help us understand the importance and power of our words.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NKJV (19) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (20) that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
What constitutes a blessing or a curse? Words. Not only do we make the choice between the two but we actually make the choice between words of blessing on our lives or words of cursing on our lives.
Proverbs 18:20-21 AMPC (20) A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. (21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. [Mat 12:37]
Hebrews 11:3 AMP (3) By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3 TPT Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen.
Our world is framed by the words that we speak.
Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV (26) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (27) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 2:7 NKJV (7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (speaking spirit)
From the website: torahisteachinghome.wordpress.com:
Adam; Mankind/Human Beings became speaking spirits. Every living being, is created, with the purpose and potential of speaking in the spirit to the Spirit of GOD.
Literal interpretations never bring this fact to the forefront. They remain flat and incomprehensible to our spirit. As a consequence, we generally read, teach and hear the bible as a lovely fairy tale, rather than as a sacred text, given for the purpose of conveying spiritual matters.
Our logical, rational mind can easily hold a conversation with the literal. However, our spirit man needs to engage the Spirit of GOD in every message presented in the text.
The first language, of mankind, was intended to be the language of the spirit. Whatever our individual native languages are, they are secondary to the spiritual language of GOD.
The Breath of GOD was breathed into Adam. An impartation of the Spirit of GOD. By this means, Adam is created a speaking spirit, in the image and likeness of the Speaking Spirit of GOD.
Jesus gave us some insight on how this works:
Matthew 12:31-37 AMP (31) Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven. (32) And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Spirit, the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in this world and age or in the world and age to come. (33) Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit. (34) You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. (35) The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. (36) But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. (37) For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
Other references to the importance of our words from Proverbs:
Proverbs 12:14 AMPC (14) From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hands shall come back to him [as a harvest].
Proverbs 13:3 NKJV (3) He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 15:4 NKJV (4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 18:7 NKJV (7) A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 21:23 NKJV (23) Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
We are not called to be reporters; we are called to be forecasters.
I believe one of the most important times that we need to watch what we say is during our times of adversity, times of hardship. Anybody can be positive and say the right things when everything is going great. But how we respond in the adversities of life will either make you or break you.
What you say in the midst of your difficulties will have a great impact on how long you stay in those difficulties.
When times get tough, human nature is to want to talk about the problem, complain to all of our friends and family about how hard life is. Satan will do his best to pressure you to keep you talking about your situation because he knows that as long as you talk about the situation and circumstances, you will keep perpetuating them in your life by your words.
Remember, when you face adversity, don’t give in to the temptation to murmur and complain. Pray the prayer of faith and speak words of faith and victory.
God desires for us to get into agreement with Him and speak the same thing that He speaks.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV (12) 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.
Revelation 1:13-16 NKJV (13) and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. (14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; (15) His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; (16) He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Notes from Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner:
The phrase “two-edged” is taken from the Greek word distomos and is unquestionably one of the oddest words in the entire New Testament. Why is it so odd? Because it is a compound of the word di, meaning two, and the word stomos, which is the Greek word for one’s mouth. Thus, when these two words are compounded into one (distomos), they describe something that is two-mouthed! Don’t you agree that this seems a little strange? So why would the Bible refer to the Word of God repeatedly as a “two-edged sword” or, literally, a “two-mouthed sword”?
Ephesians 6:10-17 NKJV (10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The word for “word” in verse 17 is not the normal word “logos” but rather “rhema” of God. This is the spoken Word of God.
The Word of God does not become the sword of the Spirit for you until it is spoken from your mouth.
Faith always begins where the will of God is known.
Romans 10:17 NKJV (17) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing the Word of God is what drives out those question marks in our thinking that can hinder our faith.
So, our faith is fed, grows and is increased by hearing and understanding the Word of God. Hearing what? What God has said about your situation or about you.
Let’s take a look at how faith is built:
Hebrews 11:1 AMP (1) NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
We must start with the foundation of hope. When we say that faith comes by hearing the Word, it is implied that hope also comes and it actually comes first.
The Word of God first produces hope in the heart of a person.
Hope = Expectation (Greek Dictionary)
So, we start with an expectation that God is going to heal us.
In the Amplified, notice it says that faith is the confirmation or the title deed of the things that we hope for. Faith becomes the proof that what we are expecting is already ours, whether we see it or not.
So, our faith takes those things that we are expecting to happen and creates ownership of those things now, not in the future.
Faith always takes ownership of that which is expected.
How do you build your capacity for great faith?
Joshua 1:8 NKJV (8) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Four Keys to building strong faith in God’s Word:
- Find what the Word says about your situation.
- Meditate in the scriptures from God’s Word.
- Speak God’s Word.
- Act on God’s Word.
We need to understand there is a difference between speaking God’s Word out of faith like God does and speaking God’s Word unto faith where we are speaking and getting the Word into our hearts.
Sometimes we need to speak the Word of God as mentioned in Joshua 1:8 so that we get the Word into our hearts. This is a confession UNTO faith.
God created us to be able to hear our own words and build a capacity to believe them in our hearts.
Here is why this is so important:
If you do not understand the importance of speaking God’s Word, you will never be able to overcome the incredible power of doubt.
Anytime you begin to trust God, the enemy will come at your mind to manipulate your imagination to see your life going different from what God has said. The best way to get a handle on your thoughts and imagination is through the power of speaking God’s word.
But then there are times when you speak forth your faith and you know that faith is in your heart and that which you have spoken is done in the Name of Jesus!
Hebrews 4:14 NKJV (14) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 10:23 NKJV (23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
How does this faith process work?
Mark 11:12-14 NKJV (12) Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. (13) And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. (14) In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.
Mark 11:19-24 NKJV (19) When evening had come, He went out of the city. (20) Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. (21) And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” (22) So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. (23) For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (24) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Notice Jesus came to the fig tree and desired fruit from it. It had none so Jesus cursed the fig tree saying, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
There was nothing that visibly changed immediately with the fig tree or else the disciples, especially Peter would have pointed it out. He said the words and then simply went on about His business.
They conduct their business in Jerusalem and are on their way out of the city and passed by the fig tree. There was still no visible change or else again, the disciples would have said something about it. This did not phase Jesus at all.
They go back to Bethany and spend the night and then head back to Jerusalem again. This time they passed by the fig tree and there was change because they noticed it. They noticed it but Peter is the only one that said anything about it.
Notice the fig tree dried up from the roots. This is the same as will happen with anything that we are using our faith on. The moment that you begin attending to the Word of God, the Word goes to work on the root of the problem, not the external things that you can see. If it were to address the leaves only, then the root would still be there and then it could grow back.
The key is not to quit when you don’t see the immediate results.
Just know that as you are speaking the Word, it is working in you and on the situation just like that weed killer.
Some people believe that it is enough for you to have the Word of God in your heart.
Our relationship with Jesus is begun with not only what we believe in our hearts but also what we say with our mouths.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV (9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Look at Abraham and what he did until the manifestation came:
Romans 4:16-21 NKJV (16) Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (17) (as it is written, “I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”) in the presence of Him whom he believed–God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; (18) who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” (19) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. (20) He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, (21) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Notice Abraham was not in the necessary physical condition to bear children but He was fully persuaded of the promise of God and considered not his own body being dead.
Notice God calls those things which be not as though they were. He does not call those things which are as though they are not. To call those things which are as though they are not, is a lie.
We must remember that faith in God’s Word is not denying the circumstances of our lives and pretend that they do not exist.
Psalms 112:1-8 NKJV (1) Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. (2) His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. (3) Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. (4) Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. (5) A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. (6) Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. (7) He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. (8) His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.