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Speaking Faith 8: Why Speaking Faith Works - Part 2

I begin today, where I left off last Sunday – with these words from Scripture:
Jesus says…
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24, NIV.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7, NIV.

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:8, NIV.

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”” Matthew 21:22, NIV.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
John 15:7, NIV.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15, NIV.

The idea of speaking faith is a clear teaching of God’s Word that impacts every area of our lives.

So, we come today to a bit of a crossroads – the choice is before us: Continue on as we have in the past, allowing fear, insecurity and the current opinions of man to come out of our mouths – or to – Ask the Lord to remake us and build in us a vocabulary of faith.


Defined: Speaking Faith is verbally declaring your confidence that what God has already promised will become true in your life!


Last Sunday we looked at the first four of seven reasons why speaking faith works:
1. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it SOWS the SEEDS of God’s Kingdom. – Mark 4:26-29
2. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it causes FAITH to come to all areas of my life! Romans 10:17
3. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it gives you the MIND of Christ! Romans 12:2
4. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it keeps God’s SOLUTION right in front of you! Philippians 4:6-8

And today we are going to look at the next three:

5. SPEAKING FAITH works because it changes your heart.
6. SPEAKING FAITH works because it sets the law of faith into motion.
7. SPEAKING FAITH works because it puts the Angels of God to work on your behalf.


5. SPEAKING FAITH works because it changes your heart. – Proverbs 4:20-23

One of the biggest concerns that all Christians should have is the condition of their heart. The Bible warns tells us that God is all about changing the condition of our heart.

He says in Ezekiel 11:19
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19

And in 36:26…
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

The world gives us hard, cynical, wounded hearts. And God wants to heal your heart and make it soft and pliable to His Spirit again. This is vital because the heart is the place of revelation – the heart is the place where you’ll hear the voice of God speak to you. And if you cannot hear the voice of God, it is a sign that something isn’t right in your heart.

So, Proverbs 4:20-24 says…
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” Proverbs 4:20-24

God is saying to us – SPEAK FAITH – in MY words! Keep my Promises on your tongue! Avoid foolish talk – instead, embrace the Word of Faith – and you will be filled with a ‘wellspring of life’!

When I allow my speech to be filled with the Promises of God – He changes my heart! He keeps me soft and fresh! The more I SPEAK FAITH – the more my heart is receptive to His voice! And the opposite is true – the more I speak FEAR, CONFUSION, ANXIETY, ANGER, DOUBT – ETC., the harder my heart will become, and I will miss what I was created for: To hear God’s voice!

SPEAK FAITH and He’ll soften your heart.

6. SPEAKING FAITH works because it sets the law of faith into motion. – Romans 3:27

Look at Romans 3:27…
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.” Romans 3:27, NKJV

Paul talks about the “Law of Faith”. The Law of Faith is like the Law of Gravity – it works every time it is tried! Jump off a bridge – and the Law of Gravity will work, you can count on it. Begin to SPEAK FAITH – and the Law of Faith will begin to work on your behalf. You start speaking confidence and faith that what God has promised will become your reality – and guess what? It will! Why? Because there is a Law of Faith that is activated by you Speaking Faith!

In 2 Corinthians 4:13 Paul said:
“It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,” 2 Corinthians 4:13, NIV.

That’s how the Law of Faith works: Whatever you believe, you speak. What you speak, you will believe stronger every time you speak it. This process causes faith to develop. You are putting into motion the spirit of faith and the Law of faith!

That’s why we should SPEAK FAITH even when outward circumstances say that it isn’t true in the natural. Some things are true in the Word of God that need to become true in our lives. So, you come up against something that you know God wants to develop in your life – say it’s ‘patience’ – you know that God wants you to become patient. It’s one of the ‘fruits of the Holy Spirit’ in Galatians 5. So, when a situation that you usually respond to with impatience comes along – you SPEAK FAITH and say: “I am filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and I will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, therefore, I’ll be patient in this moment.” And by doing so, the Law of Faith is set into motion.

It works every time it is tried.

And then #7 reason why Speaking Faith works:
7. SPEAKING FAITH works because it puts the Angels of God to work on your behalf. – Hebrews 1:13-14

You do want God’s Angels working on your behalf don’t you? You want them protecting you, guiding you, battling on your behalf. Right?

Check out Hebrews 1:13-14…
“To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:13-14

God sends His angels to serve BELIEVERS as ‘ministering spirits’. Speaking Faith gets their attention. You start to speak God’s Promises, and the Angels of God go to work to make it come to be.

Look at Psalms 103:20…
“Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.”
Psalms 103:20

What do angels do? They do His bidding, they obey His word! Do you get that? When you SPEAK FAITH that God’s Word – His Promises – are going to be accomplished – you are SPEAKING GOD’S WORD – and in doing so, you are giving angels their assignments! They do what He says – and if you are SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD – they will DO it!

I don’t have time to get into a full teaching on Angels today – but – don’t think of them as these cute little winged cherubs playing harps while seated on fluffy white clouds… That’s nonsense! Three times in the book of Revelation angels are described as ‘mighty’ – and one of them is so strong that he is able to throw a huge boulder into the sea, depicting how God will destroy the wicked!

Again, when I SPEAK FAITH in God’s Word, I am putting God’s angels to work on my behalf.

CONCLUSION:

So we come to the conclusion of what I believe is a series of message that taken to heart and applied to real life has monumental implications for our lives.

When you begin to confess faith in God’s Word – through the Spoken Word – you are setting your goals and planting your seeds in the soil of your heart. You are saying to God: “No matter what, I’m going with You. Lead me to the destination of glory!”

It is time for you and I to allow the Holy Spirit of God to develop within us a genuine vocabulary of faith.

Who here needs to SPEAK FAITH? IT’S CROSSROADS TIME.

Speaking Faith 7: Why Speaking Faith Works - Part 1

For seven weeks we’ve been studying and thinking about the concept of SPEAKING FAITH. My goal as your pastor is to help you see the benefits of and begin to practice in your daily life SPEAKING FAITH. Remember – we defined SPEAKING FAITH this way…

Defined: Speaking Faith is verbally declaring your confidence that what God has already promised will become true in your life!

Now, I want to talk with you today about WHY SPEAKING FAITH WORKS. Look at Romans 10:8…

“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:8-11

Notice what Paul says:

1. The word is near. – None of you are too far from God to be able to receive His Word.
2. The word is in your mouth and in your heart – That’s what brings it to life – speaking faith brings revelation to your heart.
3. It is a word of faith. – When you speak God’s Word, you are speaking according to your belief system! Paul says: “confess with you mouth “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead…” Speaking the Word and Believing the Word go hand-in-hand.
4. The word of faith changes things. – “you will be saved.” – You aren’t saved from your sin until you open your mouth and confess what is true about Christ – and as you do, faith is created n your heart!

Now, this is one example of the impact of speaking faith. Paul uses this teaching to show how salvation is the result of speaking faith. But, speaking faith also impacts other areas of life – like health, relationships, finances, ministry and a myriad of other life issues.

Have you begun to speak faith to your finances? How about your health? How about your relationships? Or business dealings?

The cynic in us stands back and says: “How can what comes out of my mouth affect my financial condition? How can what I say determine health or relationships?”

Let me pose another question: “Do you believe that you will one day go to Heaven based upon your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Why do you believe that? – Because you have confessed your faith in Christ as the Savior of the World! The words of faith you spoke changed your eternal destiny.

Now, if you can believe that- can’t you believe that SPEAKING FAITH can impact these other lesser areas of life?

I want to show you today and next Sunday – SEVEN reasons why SPEAKING FAITH works.

1. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it SOWS the SEEDS of God’s Kingdom. – Mark 4:26-29

“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn--first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”” Mark 4:26-29

When you SPEAK FAITH in God’s Word – you are sowing seeds. Just as a farmer prepares for the harvest by planting seeds in the springtime, when you SPEAK FAITH in God’s Word, you are planting the seeds of harvest into your life.

Now, it is important that you realize – God’s doesn’t SOW the seeds, He simply provides them. The Word of God is the SEED that needs to be sown into your life. God expects you to SPEAK FAITH and to sow the seeds that He has provided.

So, what you confess with your mouth is of vital importance to you. If God said it, it is an established truth, but that truth will not necessarily be manifested or harvested in your life, unless you sow into your heart.

When I take what God has promised, SPEAK FAITH that His Promises will be true in my life, than the ground is prepared for harvest. The ground is my heart. Faith only works in the heart, for the heart is the place of revelation. When I SPEAK FAITH, God’s Kingdom is being established in my heart, and my life becomes a place where He can fulfill His promises!

SPEAK FAITH works because it sows the seeds of God’s Kingdom.

2. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it causes FAITH to come to all areas of my life! Romans 10:17

When you SPEAK FAITH, you are setting the goal by sowing seeds that the Kingdom of God will come to you! It is your words of faith that cause faith to come!

Romans 10:17 says…
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17, NKJV.

Notice that this verse doesn’t say: “Faith comes by having heard…” – No, it says ‘faith comes by hearing…” – and the implication is this: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing, and hearing…” – In other words, faith is built into every area of your life through a repeated process of taking God’s Word and Promises to heart!

One day, you need to take God’s Promises to Heart regarding your salvation. The next day take it to heart regarding your relationships, then regarding your finances – over time, as you SPEAK FAITH to these various areas of life, there will be FAITH residing in every area of you.

Now, I don’t know about you – but that gives me a great sense of joy and a present experience of Hope!

Remember we looked at Hebrews 11:1:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1, NKJV.

Faith connects the already spoken Promises of God with the Future Hope. And what kind of faith is it that does this? A “NOW” faith. Faith that is being SPOKEN and PURSUED today.

Do you know why TITHING is such a major hurdle for Christians to conquer? Because it requires NOW FAITH. The enemy says: “If you tithe, you’ll not have enough.” God says: “I will meet all your needs according to my riches in glory through Christ Jesus!” And when you SPEAK FAITH and say: “YES” to the Lord – He comes through!

SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it causes FAITH to come to all areas of my life!

3. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it gives you the MIND of Christ! Romans 12:2

When you came to Christ – He forgives you all of your sin, He guarantees your inheritance and He gives you the Holy Spirit to live within. But, you and I still have defective ways of thinking. Ephesians 4:18 says that our minds have been “darkened in understanding” and 1 Corinthians 13 says:

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11, NIV.

The putting off of childish ways requires that we do what Romans 12:2 says…

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2

We need to have our thinking straightened out – utterly transformed.
As you being to SPEAK FAITH – God transforms your way of thinking. You begin to says what God has said, and over time, you’ll begin to THINK LIKE God thinks.

2 Corinthians 2:16 says: “We have the mind of Christ.” – And as we SPEAK FAITH, He changes our ways of thinking.

I’ve addressed this before – and I’ll do it again: Most people struggle with FEAR. We are constantly in FEAR of this or that – and this FEAR is a STRONGHOLD of the enemy in our lives! When you begin to SPEAK FAITH in God’s Word concerning FEAR – the stronghold will be broken!



What does God’s Word says about fear?
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” 1 John 4:18

Do we believe it? Then let’s SPEAK FAITH!

“God, I take you at your Word. I will not be afraid, because I am loved. You love me with a perfect love. You love me with a perfect love. Therefore, FEAR – you must leave! Spirit of Fear, in the Name of Jesus Christ – leave! I will live a life of CONFIDENCE AND FAITH, because the God Who Made Me, Loves Me! This I believe! This I cling to! This is what I will live! In Jesus’ Name – Amen!”

You see what just happened? You SPEAK FAITH – and it changed your thinking!
SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it gives you the MIND of Christ!

Here’s a fourth reason that SPEAK FAITH works…
4. SPEAKING FAITH WORKS because it keeps God’s SOLUTION right in front of you! Philippians 4:6-8

You see, we get focused on the problem – and then the problem takes center stage! You don’t want that – you want to change your focus to God’s Solution. Far too many Christians pray the problem instead of praying the solution!

Look at Philippians 4:6ff
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:6-8

Why do we get anxious? Because we forget that God is still in control. So what is the solution? SPEAK FAITH – and wait for the Lord to grant you His peace. And as you are Speaking Faith – focus on that which is TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, ADMIRABLE, EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY! In fact – this is so important – Paul gives a command: “Think about such things!”

When I think about those things – when I SPEAK FAITH that truth, nobility, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things are going to take place in my life – I begin to see differently – rather than focusing on the problem, His Holy Spirit begins to work in me, and the SOLUTION becomes clearer and clearer.

CONCLUSION:
I SAID that we were going to look at seven reasons why SPEAK FAITH works – and we are – but not all today…

I want to conclude with a quick look at some of JESUS’ words concerning this:

Look at Mark 11:24… Jesus says…
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24, NIV.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7, NIV.

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:8, NIV.

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”” Matthew 21:22, NIV.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
John 15:7, NIV.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15, NIV.

If you want to ignore the clear teaching of scripture – and continue to live a life of defeat, sickness, lousy relationships and held captive by fear – you are coming to the wrong church. For one of the things that God is doing in this church is CHANGING us to become a people who SPEAK FAITH.

WHY? Because we want to have the abundant life that Christ promised.

Speaking Faith 6: Faith in Action - part two

We are – at varying levels – people of faith. In a variety of ways, we come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

For many of us, our faith began as act of the intellect. We examined the facts – and the conclusion was obvious.

For some of us, our faith came through personal crisis. Something really bad happened – and we cried out in desperation hoping that there really was Someone out there. And He met you at your point of need.

Whether you come to Christ through the intellect or through crisis – spiritual maturity means that faith has practical application in real life. I’m talking about faith in action.

Now, look at an example of faith in action – in Matthew 8:5ff…
“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralysed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith… (skip down to verse 13) Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.” Matthew 8:5-10, 13

• Imagine this man – a Centurion: A Roman – not a Jew - officer ruling over 100 soldiers.
• One of his servants – someone who he apparently cared a great deal about is paralysed and in serious pain.
• He tells Jesus of the man’s plight – and Jesus says: “I will go and heal him.” – No uncertainty in Jesus’ words. Notice the phrasing: “I will” – this is His choice and decision. “I will GO and HEAL..” – This will be the result. The servant will no longer be suffering and sick. He will be able to walk, jump, dance, skip and do it all with great joy!
• But the Centurion interrupts with the most amazing statement: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

What does this reveal about the Centurion?
- Humility
- Absolute faith in Christ’s ability
- Understanding of authority structures


This is important if you desire to speak faith:
1. Speaking faith is not speaking ARROGANTLY.
2. Speaking faith is speaking CONFIDENTLY that Christ is able.
3. Speaking faith understands the AUTHORITY Christ possesses.

Now – look again at Jesus’ response: “When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith… (skip down to verse 13) Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.”
-The Centurion ‘astonished’ Christ with his faith!
-Christ determined to do just as the Centurion spoke!
-The servant was healed – immediately!

Now that is an example of faith. Is there anyone in the house today that desires this kind of faith?

Turn to Matthew 15:22 Putting your faith into action pleases Christ!
“A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:22-28

Again we see a non-Jew exhibiting amazing faith. Why does she believe? Because she has seen Christ at work – His authority is evident! Her daughter is demon-possessed and needs help. But Jesus won’t help her because His ministry is first to the Jews – but she responds to Him with incredible faith – she won’t be put off – “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” And Jesus can’t put her off any longer – why? Because ‘you have great faith!’ And the daughter was healed.

Do you need Christ to intervene in your life? Are there struggles that you cannot overcome? Are there problems that need solutions?

• Speak faith. Speak faith that Christ will act on your behalf.
• Take the promises of God, apply them to your life – and confidently express your faith that He will come through for you.

Last week we covered these two issues:
1. START WHERE YOU ARE – 1 Peter 2:2-3
2. GROW IN YOUR EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S PROMISES – Psalms 1

Today I want to address these two issues:
3. Speaking Faith means watching your mouth.
4. Speaking Faith means saying and doing what God has spoken.

3. SPEAKING FAITH MEANS WATCHING YOUR MOUTH.
Most of us would be absolutely in shock is someone were to secretly record our voices for one day. The amount of negativity, cynicism, critical words and fear that we express is amazing.

Jesus said: “The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean’.” Matthew 15:18

IF you will just listen to people for awhile – you can easily see the condition of their heart. How? By their words.

Many people are afraid. Listen to each other. Listen to yourself. See how many times we say things like…
• “I’m afraid that…”
• “My biggest fear is…”
• “I’m worried about…”

God wants you to stop living in fear. He wants you to speak faith.

In the Old Testament there was a man named Job. Job was afraid. Job expressed a spirit of fear -
“What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”” Job 3:25, 26

Job had a highly develop spirit of fear that was ruining his life. Notice he says: “What I feared, has come upon me…” Isn’t that usually the case? The very thing you fear is exactly what happens! It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy! If I speak fear, uncertainty, anxiety – I will reap the same! We must resist fear in the same way we resist the devil.

Do you walk in fear? It is an evil spirit. It is a demon. Fear is not from God and it is not your friend! Some people cling to fear as if it helped them. They really get close to their fear. They feed it, they pet it, they treat like a friend. NO! Fear is of Satan. Fear isn’t from God. Now – you know I’m not talking about the fear you’d feel if you were falling off the cliff at the Grand Canyon!

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7, KJV

The Greek word for fear is “deliah” – which is very similar to the Hebrew word “Delilah” – Delilah was the mistress of Samson – who as a tool of Satan cut off Samson’s hair – eliminating his strength. The Hebrew meaning for ‘Delilah’ is ‘feeble, or that which cuts off strength’

When you are walking in fear, anxiety, worry – you are walking in feebleness, weakness and impotence. That’s why I say that if you are filled with fear – you have a demonic spirit that needs to be addressed!

Let’s do it now: Pray this prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, I come to you in faith. I am asking you to free me from all spirits of fear. I now break off the power that fear has held in my life. I confess that YOU, Lord Jesus are my life. And that you don’t give fear, instead you give power, you give love and you give me a sound mind. And in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the Love of Christ and in the mind of Christ, I now rebuke any spirits of fear and demand that – you must leave me, now, once and for all! I break off your power through the power of the Risen Christ! And I am being set free – even now! Praise the Lord! Amen!

Now – if the spirit of fear tries to come back – you just keep praying this prayer until your deliverance is complete and final!

Changing from critical, negative, faith-denying vocabulary to a positive, hope-filled, faith vocabulary takes time. I still find myself speaking the very words that I hate – expressing criticism when I really want to build up. That’s why I need the grace of God. He forgives and forgives and forgives – all the while it is His desire to change me.

Speaking faith means keeping watch over your mouth. Just because you can say it – doesn’t mean it needs to be said.

1 Peter 4:11 says: “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.”

The next step in putting your faith into action is –
5. SPEAKING FAITH MEANS SAYING AND DOING WHAT GOD HAS SPOKEN.

Turn to Deuteronomy 28:1ff
“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” Deut. 28:1-6

Is there anyone here today that would like to experience the blessings that are listed in this passage?

These blessings don’t come automatically – there is a very large word that begins the text: “IF” And the “If” is followed by instructions:
1. Fully obey the Lord
2. Carefully follow all His commands

Now, the King James Version puts verse 1 this way:
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:” Deuteronomy 28:1, KJV.

Hearken diligently – “to hear intelligently the sound of the Lord” – In other words, God is SPEAKING to you – listen and perceive what He is saying and what He is expecting of you! Now – how are you going to HEAR WITH SOUND the voice of the Lord today? SPEAK what He has said!

Remember what I spoke with you about how to get the Word of God into your heart? Speak it – and let your heart receive it through your inner ear! God Word – spoken in your mouth – goes directly to your inner spirit- the place of revelation!

And then – DO what He has said. You cannot short-change the importance of obedience if you want blessings from God. God created you to function and to live in a certain fashion – and then He revealed His plans for you – He showed you how to live so that your life will be healthy, strong, balanced and fruitful. His commands are all about you living in such a way.

If you are living in disobedience to the Word of God – do not expect blessing.

The Bible tells us… “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8

If you want to move into the flow of God’s blessing – repent. And then do what He has said.

We live in an age where ‘tolerance’ is the official religion. We tolerate anything – except for those who have the courage to stand up for righteousness and truth!

Say you go to the Doctor and the Doctor is into tolerance. You need to change Doctors! Because if you have cancer – you need to be told and you need a plan to get well. So, you can’t have some weak-wristed wimp of a Doctor who refuses to call it what it is: CANCER.

A lot of churches and pastors have become tolerant. They welcome anyone, but they don’t call people to change their lives, to repent of their sin. Folks: Unconfessed sin is cancer. It will kill you. Don’t think you can live a lifestyle that is rebellious against God and have it work out okay for you – it won’t! Sin is a killer. And if you are going to enter into the flow of God’s blessing – you’ve got to repent.

God isn’t into tolerance. In fact, He has never tolerated sin. He loves sinners, but He hates sin. And His love for sinners – cost His Son His life. And if you want the blessing of God – repent.

And – just like we prayed a deliverance prayer – I want to lead you in a prayer of repentance. Let the Holy Spirit guide you…

Lord Jesus, I’m here to repent of my disobedience. I’ve been living as if I was in charge, and I am terribly sorry. I repent right now of _____________________________. I don’t want that to be a part of my life any longer and I ask that you’ll empower me through the Holy Spirit to gain victory over it. Cleanse me with your blood, restore me to right relationship with you. And fill me with your power in the Holy Spirit. I now choose to be fully obedient to your Word and plans for my life. Thank you! Amen.

CONCLUSION: Today is a day to speak faith. To put your faith into action. Some of you need to speak faith by going to a loved one and asking for forgiveness. Others of you need to speak faith by repenting of a sinful behavior. Some of us need to speak faith by turning away from being sharp tongued and critical and asking the Holy Spirit to fill us with His language!

Whatever it is – God’s blessing awaits all who will live their faith.

Speak faith. Speak faith that Christ will act on your behalf. Take the promises of God, apply them to your life – and confidently express your faith that He will come through for you.

Speaking Faith 5: Faith in Action - part one

What if...
1. You never had to worry about money, possessions, or your job again?

YOU DON’T! Look at the back of your bulletin – God has promised to supply every need we have.
Philippians 4:19 says:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Every need will be met as you pursue Christ Jesus! Stop worrying – start putting your faith into action.

What if...
2. You never had to fall prey to temptation again?

YOU DON’T! God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation.

God says… “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

What if...
3. You never had to worry that you aren’t ‘good enough’ for God?

YOU DON’T! God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us.

God says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no-one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9

The key to these “What if’s” becoming your REALITY is learning to take God at His Word – and speaking your faith with confidence!

Another way of saying this is: You’ll only experience the promises of God in your life as you first believe that they are true, and second voice your confidence in Him.

I want to talk with you today and next Sunday about putting your faith into action. Specifically, I want to show you a way of progression in speaking faith.

So, for the past several weeks I’ve sought to lay down a solid biblical foundation as to why SPEAKING FAITH – verbally – is vital for your spiritual development. I’ve shown you evidences in the Bible of Speaking Faith in Action. I’ve also shown you what happens when we speak FEAR, INSECURITY or DOUBT. Today, I want to give you some tools to grow in Speaking Faith.

1. START WHERE YOU ARE – 1 Peter 2:2-3

Spiritual growth and development is very similar in some ways to the development we see in human beings.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:2, 3

You start on milk – the basics, the simpler truths – why? So that you can “grow up in your salvation.”

But, then – God doesn’t want you to stay a spiritual baby – he expects you to mature.

“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…” Hebrews 5:13-6:1a

Notice how one gets mature: ‘who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil…’

How? Be getting the Word into your heart and mind.

According to the Barna Research Group – in a 2000 survey of evangelical believers – only 53% of born again believers read the Bible on a weekly basis.

Yet, we spend dozens of hours listening to worldly teaching from talk radio, TV, musicians and educators.

Is it any wonder that so many of you are struggling spiritually.

It’s time to grow – and you cannot grow unless you get a healthy diet of spiritual food! I want to challenge you to take the list of promises on the back of today’s bulletin and spend a little bit of time –
every day studying them – and then as you study them, SPEAK FAITH.


Most people when they come to Jesus are pretty messed up. Messed up by sin of all sorts: Sexual sin, false religions, character defects. But, God cleans you up and heals you. You simply cannot walk with God and not get healed.

The Prophet Isaiah spoke in Isaiah 61:1-3 what became the mission statement of Jesus:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3

Notice what happens: God heals you to establish you as an ‘…oak of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor…”

Now what do we know about oak trees? They last a long, long time. They are firmly planted. They are able to withstand the seasons of life.

God says: Start where you are – and let me heal you – and as I heal you, I will PLANT you firmly to show off my glory to all around you!

Today – you start where you are. Do you have ‘some’ faith? Yes or no.

Then let me tell you:
Your Faith + God’s Word + Time = Change

So many times, we want God to work – and we want it NOW! – Folks: That’s immaturity talking. Spiritual growth and experiencing God’s Promises take time.

Do you realize that when Isaiah spoke the prophecy concerning the coming of Christ – it was 750 years before Christ actually did?

Give up the idea that God is a MICROWAVE God. God works according to His time frame.

• When God chooses to grow a mushroom – He takes three days.
• When He chooses to grow an oak tree – He takes 100 years.
• The only question is: Spiritually speaking: Do you want to be a mushroom or an oak tree?

But, when you’ll speak faith in what God has promised, and allow God the time to fulfill His Word, the change your desire will become reality.

Your marriage that seems stuck in the mud – can become free and clear!
Your financial condition can go from RED to BLACK and then to GREEN!
Your habits that are killing you – can be killed off!

Your faith + God’s Word + Time = Change

Start where you are. Baby. Toddler. Pre-Schooler, Child, Adolescent or Young Adult – but don’t stop unto…
“…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15

Start where you are… and

2. GROW IN YOUR EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S PROMISES – Psalms 1

Experiencing God’s Promises involves a number of measurable steps. Let’s look at Psalms 1

“1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3

If you are going to grow in your experience of God’s Promises – first you must

• Stop listening to other voices. – v. 1
‘blessed is the man who DOES NOT walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers…”

You’ll never experience God’s promises if you are listening to the lies of God’s enemies! You’ve got to make a choice: GOD or LIARS.

Practically speaking – who are the voices that you listen to? Think about them as people: Are they people with a God centered world-view? Or, are they simply worldly people with a man-centered world-view.

Second…
• Start a process of discovery into God’s word – vs. 2
‘But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night…”

An intentional plan to gain knowledge of what God has spoken is absolutely vital.

Do you know God’s promises concerning your children? Your marriage? Your sense of joy and peace? Do you know what God says about finances and provision? Can you immediately think of specific scriptures that deal with each of these issues? If you cannot – don’t you think it is time for change in YOU?

The promises on the back of this bulletin – did you already know them? If not – great – you know them now. And if you are really sharp, you’ll go home and study the Promises – perhaps you spend a little time all week in study and prayer over these promises.

You see, in order to grow – you’ve got to all God’s Word into your heart.

“…be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Get into the Word. Turn off the noise. And tune into His voice.

And thirdly, Psalms 1 says to us in verse 3

3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

• Spiritual prosperity comes to those who experience God’s Promises – vs. 3

God says: “Get My Promises into your life – and I will establish you, I will make sure your needs are met, and I will see to it that prosperity comes to you!”

Jesus put it this way: “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10 Message

Far too many people are going through life without understanding this vital truth: Speaking Faith in God’s Promises leads to an Abundant Life in Christ!

CONCLUSION:

Turn to 2 Corinthians 4:16ff

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands (skip to v. 5) Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1, 5-7

God says to you today: “Don’t lose heart – things can change! Fix your attention on me – I will show you the eternal perspective! Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and live confidently that one day, your faith will become sight!”

Isn’t it time for you to move from wherever you are – to the place of God’s blessing?

The key is learning to take God at His Word – and speaking your faith with confidence!

Next week I’m going to continue this message by talking with you about the importance of watching what comes out of your mouth and secondly how action has to follow speaking.

It’s time to start taking your faith and putting it into action.

You start where you are at – and you grow in your experience of God’s promises.

Speaking Faith 4: God Blesses Those Who Believe

How you ever been telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but the person you were talking with wouldn’t believe you?

And then, no matter how hard you try to convince them that you are telling the truth, they simply won’t believe in your words? And it is even worse when the person you are talking with is someone that you love and you genuinely care about.

It’s very frustrating.

For all of eternity – God has spoken the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – because He is the Truth and He cannot lie – yet, many times, people that He loves and genuinely cares about – will not choose to believe that what He is saying is true.

Let me tell you something: GOD REALLY LIKES IT WHEN YOU BELIEVE HIM AT HIS WORD. In fact…
GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

In fact, in Hebrews 11:6 we read:
“…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

We’ve mixed up what God wants – we think God wants us to BE GOOD, to BE PERFECT – when if fact, being perfect is impossible – what God wants us for us is to simply BELIEVE HIM at His Word. He wants us to live a life of speaking faith – believing that what He has promised will come to be true in ourlives!

We’ve been considering how God wants us to learn to SPEAK FAITH – and once again – here’s the definition:

Defined: Speaking Faith is verbally declaring your confidence that what God has already promised will become true in your life!

Today I want to share with you one of the amazing benefits that come to you as you speak faith.

Abraham was old – his wife was old. They were without children. But like last week when we read of Zechariah and Elizabeth receiving a word from God that they would indeed have a child – God promises not only to give Abraham and Sarah a child – He promised that he’d have so many descendants that they would be too many to count!
And in verse Genesis 15:6 we read:
“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6, NIV.

It’s important that you get the importance of that last sentence: ‘faith made him right with God’

The benefit of belief is that God gives you ‘righteousness’ – you are made right with God because you choose to believe! Because you speak faith – you and God are right with each other!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ‘BE RIGHT WITH GOD’?
Two things:
1. RESTORED to right relationship with God. Sin caused us to be cut off from God. By placing your faith in what God has said through His Son Jesus, you relationship with God is restored.

2. LIVING IN AGREEMENT with God. When you learn to take God at His Word and demonstrate your faith by speaking faith – you are living in agreement with what God has said and what He is going to do. It is as if you are standing alongside of God and saying: “YES” to whatever His Word says and to whatever His plans are!

RESTORED: THE BLESSING OF BEING RIGHT WITH GOD – ROMANS 10:9-10

How do I get right with God? Through faith.

Romans 10:9-10 illustrates this powerfully:
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9, 10

The miracle of salvation happens when you open your mouth – expressing what is true in your heart a singular truth: “Jesus is Lord! He rose from the grave by the power of God!” – and when we do this – God promises to make you ‘right with Him’ – not by your efforts or works – but by the miracle of FAITH!

LIVING IN AGREEMENT: THE BLESSING OF BELIEVING THE PROMISES OF GOD – ROMANS 4:18-22

Turn to Romans 4:18-22
Again we look at our friend Abraham.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.””
Romans 4:18-22, NIV

• SPEAKING FAITH IS PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN THE PROPER PLACE. V. 18, 20-21

Look again at vs. 18… and see that God made a promise to Abraham that became his hope:
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

What was the promise? That Abraham would become the father of many nations.

What did this mean? That Abraham and his wife Sarah would give birth to sons, who would multiply and become great numbers of descendents.

Notice that this promise was given ‘against all hope’ – why – because their circumstances indicated that they would remain childless.

Vs. 19 says… tells us that…
• SPEAKING FAITH IS AVOIDING HAVING MISPLACED HOPE. V. 19

“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.”

Abraham could have had misplaced hope: ‘his body’ – in other words, he could have sought to self-fulfill the promise through the normal means of procreation. In fact, he did by making a child with Sarah’s maid Hagar – which was in direct violation to what God had said. And the child born to Hagar was named “Ismael” and he is the father of the Arab peoples. What is so cool about this is that even though Abraham had momentary lapse of faith, he kept coming back to what was promised.

When we misplace our hope it is a sign that our faith is struggling. We cannot make what God has promised happened through self-efforts! If we can, we don’t need God!

Many times our biggest disappointments with God really aren’t with Him – they are our misplaced hopes that are masquerading as ‘faith’. Did you hear about they guy who mortgaged his house to buy $100,000 worth of lottery tickets – because ‘God told me to’ – that’s misplaced hope.

But we can also misplace our hope by saying: “when I get the raise…” – or ‘when I’m done with school’ – or – ‘when I get married…’ – or – ‘when I retire’

Hope that is in the things of the flesh will always disappoint. But Speaking Faith helps you avoid that. Why? Because speaking faith is taking the Word of God and using that as the basis of hope.

That’s why I say that genuine speaking faith is a properly placed hope. Look at verse 18 and 20-21…

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

This is properly placed hope: Not to look at temporary circumstances as the final answer – but to cling to the Promises of the Eternal God as the final answer.
Many of you are facing difficult circumstances – but they are not the final answer. Your problems are but for a season. They will go away. What matters is Who you are placing your hope in. Maturing Christians are learning to speak faith that God’s Word will be fulfilled in their own lives – regardless of temporal circumstances that seem to suggest otherwise.
HOW DO I GET INTO THE FLOW OF THE BLESSING? ROMANS 10:8

Now, look at Romans 10:8 to learn how to speak faith:
“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:” Romans 10:8, NIV.

The word ‘it’ in the first part of that verse refers to ‘faith’. And this verse tells us about the process of learning to speak faith.

First of all realize that…
• The Word is Near You

You can appropriate God’s Word – it isn’t far away. It’s always available. 24/7 – God’s Word is right next to you.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”” Romans 10:17, 18, NIV.

God’s Word is evident in the reality of the Christian message that can be found anywhere you turn. It isn’t hard to hear the truth of the Word in our culture – if you are looking for it! It’s on TV, it’s in books, it’s available on the Radio, your can buy CD’s or download podcasts containing the Word.

You may think that you are a million miles away from where you are supposed to be spiritually – but God’s Word is near – open your eyes. Open your heart. Open your ears. The Word is near.

Jesus said… “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:23, KJV

There isn’t anyone who cannot receive the word of God – it’s right here. I’m speaking it. Right now. You can move forward into entirely new arenas of faith and relationship with Christ!

The Word is near. RECEIVE. You want to move into the flow of God’s blessings? The Word is near. RECEIVE!

Secondly,
• The Word is in Your Mouth

This is where faith takes off and becomes reality for you. Open your mouth – take God’s Word, speak it in your life, your situation, your workplace, your family.

Do you remember last Sunday when we talked about how the spoken Word of God has spiritual life force in them!?

Jesus said: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63

Open your mouth and speak God’s Word. For a number of weeks, I’ve been teaching about the vitality of speaking faith – but I cannot speak faith for you. In order to move into the flow of the blessing of God – you must make the choice to open wide your mouth and begin to speak faith.

Do you know why I encourage you to be responsive to the Word of God as I preach? Not because I am looking for cheerleaders to encourage me on – although it does encourage me, but because when I know that when you open your mouth and learn to speak faith – you will take off into maturity in Christ!

The institutional church has taught us to be silent. But the living Christ invites you to open your mouths with faith! Speak faith.

Speak faith – and invite the life force of the spirit to be activated in your life!

And thirdly, we read in verse 8 that…
• The Word is in Your Heart

When you Speak Faith – your inner ear hears it, and brings revelation of truth to your heart or spirit. The Spoken Word of God creates faith in your innermost self. Speaking Faith takes God’s Word and Promises and internalizes them. You take His Word and make it your own! Your faith becomes real and vital. Alive and powerful.

This enables you to move into the flow of God’s blessing.

And when the Word is in your heart, it silences the other voices that are vying for your attention. You are able to do battle with your enemies with authority – just like Jesus did when the devil was tempting Him in the wilderness – because the Word was on Jesus’ heart – He was able to respond with confidence, and defeat His enemy. And when you speak faith – you are telling you enemy exactly where you stand. You are declaring your intentions to be a person of genuine faith. You are making your stand. You are putting satan on notice that you and God are a force to be reckoned with!

CONCLUSION: GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO BELIEVE!
AS you learn to speak faith – you’ll move into the flow of His blessing!

So, what does Speaking Faith say? How about this…
“Jesus, you aren’t here physically, but Your Word has been given. So I’ll take You at Your Word, I will believe that what You’ve promised, will be accomplished. My hope is in what You’ve said will be!”

And Romans 10:9-10 are the first evidence of faith.
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9, 10, NIV.

But this isn’t just for those who are making first-time commitments to Christ – this has great meaning to all Christians. Look at the last word of verse 10: what is it? SAVED.

Paul is saying: “as you confess your agreement with God’s Word that Christ is indeed LORD, the result will be you’ll experience ‘salvation’.

The word for salvation is ‘soteria’ – which means… deliverance, preservation, healing and wholeness.

When you speak faith – salvation comes to your life. Firstly, you are made right with God. Your eternal destiny is secured. Then, God begins to clean you up. He will deliver you from your enemies, sinful strongholds. Your life will be preserved in order to accomplish His purposes. And He will heal you and make you whole.

I’ve done enough teaching for today. Let’s apply this.

God is telling the truth. Believe Him at His Word, and enter the flow of His blessing!

Speaking faith creates the possibility of you experiencing the fullness of salvation.

Identify an area of your life that needs…

• Deliverance
• Preservation
• Healing
• To be made whole

Now, what has God promised concerning these issues?

Find a promise of God – and begin to speak faith to that promise. Believe God at His Word – speak it aloud – over and over again – and watch God begin to save that area of your life!

Speaking Faith 3: RESPONDING to God's Word

Introduction: Turn to Luke 1

Words are powerful when they are spoken out of your mouth because they carry spiritual forces. That’s right – they carry spiritual forces. Words have the power to build up, or tear down. Words have power to bless, or to curse. Words have the power to create or destroy. Words have the power to create faith or to cause fear.

Jesus said in John 6:63… “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63

In spoken words there is a spiritual life force!

When I speak faith – I am creating a spiritual life force that changes my life!

God’s Word says…
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

You became spiritually alive when your confessed faith in Christ as Lord! Your words had a spiritual life force.

And the opposite is true: Many people are creating spiritual death through the words that come out of their mouths! If I speak hate – I’m going to receive hate! If I speak doubt, I’m going to live a life of doubt! If I speak confusion, I’ll be confused!

This is why God wants you and I to learn from Him and to mature in our ability and willingness to SPEAK FAITH.

Defined: Speaking Faith is verbally declaring your confidence that what God has already promised will become true in your life!



Let me put it this way: “What my mouth expresses is evidence of what my soul expects!”

• If I express faith and confidence that God is good, and that He will bless my life – that is evidence of what is going on in my inner life with Him!
• If I express doubt and fear about my future, with words of negativity and insecurity – that too is evidence of what is going on in my inner life with Him!

What comes out of my mouth is a reflection of what is happening in my inner life with God!

The Apostle Paul has been called a great many things: The Greatest Apostle, the Greatest Missionary, A Great Writer – but, before he became any of these things, he was one self-righteous messed up dude.

Philippians 3 says…
“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more...” Philippians 3:4

Prior to coming to Christ, he really thought that he was hot stuff.

But, verse 7 says…
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Philippians 3:7

What changed him?

The Word.
“through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

He was set free from himself by the Spirit of life! The Word of Christ came to him, he spoke faith – and everything changed!

You can be changed as well. You can take God at His Word – speak faith – and change your destiny!

Your marriage can be healed.
Your heart can be mended.
Your language can be purified.
Your financial condition can be transformed.

How? The Word.

Colossian 3 says to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Colossians 3:16

If I am allowing Christ’s Word to get into my heart and spirit – it will change me – and it will change what comes out of my mouth. Again – let me say: “What my mouth expresses is evidence of what my soul expects!”

I want to spend a few minutes showing you two different responses to God’s Word. One is a man named Zechariah, and the other is Mary, the mother of Jesus. There stories are both found in Luke 1.

The Example of Zechariah – Luke 1:5-24, 57-79

Read v. 5-12

“5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well on in years. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshippers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.” Luke 1:5-12

• Zechariah was a priest married to Elizabeth
• They were both upright before God
• They had no children, and were very old – so they weren’t likely to
• But an Angel of the Lord visits Zechariah while he is ministering in the Temple

Read vs. 13-17

“13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the dis-obedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”” Luke 1:13-17

• The angel reassures Zechariah – ‘don’t be afraid, your prayers have been heard’
• A child will be born to your wife – a son!
• He will be a delight to all, great in God’s eyes and filled with the Holy Spirit from birth
• God’s people will be restored as a result of this boy

Now – STOP! What is the proper response to this news!? FAITH, CONFIDENCE, JOY! What God has spoken will come to be!

However – read on… v. 18

“Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.”” Luke 1:18

• Zechariah’s response: DOUBT, DISBELIEF, DESIRING PROOF! He is unwilling to speak faith and to believe that God can do the impossible! He wants a sign.


NOW – look at vs. 19
“19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”” Luke 1:19, 20

• “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, I’ve been sent with this message…” – You don’t need a sign – I am the sign!
• And because you have spoken unfaith – you will be silent until the promises are fulfilled!

God took action to make sure that Zechariah didn’t continue to speak unbelief. There are many things that God desires to do in your lives, but unless you get in agreement with God on them by speaking faith, many of those very good things will never come to pass! Some things will happen whether you believe them or not. Jesus is coming back – it doesn’t matter if you believe it, it will happen. But, there are some things that your unbelief will change. When it comes to the promises of God and entering into the provisions that God has made, then your words spoken in unbelief can change what comes to you. You can actually change it for the better, or change it for the worse.

God silences Zechariah so that his unbelief wouldn’t spread. It is far better to remain silent, than to speak words of disbelief.

Now, months go by, the baby is born and look at verse 62…

“62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.” Luke 1:62-64

After everything happened, just as God had promised, and after they named the boy ‘John’, just as God had instructed, and Zechariah was now in complete agreement with God’s Word, then and only then is Zechariah’s voice restored to him!

Now, let’s take a look at Mary.

The Example of Mary – Luke 1:26-56

Look at vs. 26…

“26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.”” Luke 1:26-33

• The same angel comes to Mary
• He pronounces favor upon her.
• And he announces that she too will give birth to a son – the son of the Most High.

Now, look at verse 34… Here’s Mary response:
“34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”” Luke 1:34

Mary’s response isn’t disbelief – in fact the Greek makes the statement more like this: “Since this is to be, how will it happen?” In other words, Mary accepts this as being from God, expresses faith that it is from God, and simply wants to know the mechanics of it.

She speaks faith.

And the Angel responds… vs. 35
“35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”” Luke 1:35-37

The Angels tells Mary ‘how’ and says: “Nothing is impossible with God!” Something we skeptical people need to be reminded of!

And now look at Mary’s final response in verse 38…
“38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38

Mary speaks faith. She is confident that the Word of the Lord will be – regardless of her circumstances. She stands upon what God has spoken, not upon what is evident in the natural world. “Because God says I am going to have a child – without the usual means of doing so – so be it! That’s good enough for me.”

Beloved: That is speaking faith. And this is what we need to learn to do.

In spoken words there is a spiritual life force! When I speak faith – I am creating a spiritual life force that changes my life!

IN WHAT AREA OF MY LIFE DO I NEED TO BELIEVE GOD’S WORD?
(see Promises on back of bulletin)

• RELATIONAL DIFFICULTIES?
What does God’s Word say to us when we are having relational problems? He says just the opposite of what the world says. The world says: “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” But God’s Word says…
“…love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:35-37

If you are going to believe God’s Word concerning your relationships, you need to get busy loving those who have hurt you. You need to do good to those who would harm you. You need to forgive those who have hurt you. You need to stop judging them with your words – and instead you need to begin to speak blessings upon them.

This is a supernatural act that requires faith. You cannot love your enemies in the flesh. You need the Holy Spirit to transform your heart. And He only operates in an arena of faith. If God says – “Forgive” – You speak faith and you say: “I will forgive, because God says I’ll be forgiven when I do so!” And you do it – over and over and over again – until the act of forgiveness changes your heart!


• FINANCIAL NEEDS?
What does God say about my financial needs? He says just the opposite of what the world says. The world says: “Hold on to everything you get! Don’t let go of anything!”

But God says…
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”” Luke 6:38

If you are going to believe God’s Word concerning your finances, you will tithe. You will let go of the need to control and the need to grip everything you have tightly in your hands – and you will tithe. Don’t say you are believing God’s Word about your finances if you aren’t obeying God’s Word!

This is a supernatural act that requires faith. You cannot give generously in the flesh. You need the Holy Spirit to transform your heart as it relates to money. Because God says ‘give’ – Faith says: “I will give generously, consistently and faithfully.” And then you actually write that check – week after week after week – until the act of giving changes your heart. And then the blessings flow.

• ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM WITH LANGUAGE?
Perhaps you find yourself cursing when you’d really rather bless? Yelling, when you’d rather be gentle. Being critical – and later regretting it. God can transform your language.

Zephaniah 3:9 says…
“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” Zephaniah 3:9

God will purify your language. How, by baptizing you in the Holy Spirit. Over and again in the book of Acts we see people getting baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit – and one of the signs that accompanied their baptism was the ability to pray in new tongues!

When God baptized me in the Holy Spirit, He gave me a prayer language. Because of the joy of my prayer language, I earnestly desire to pray much more frequently than prior to my baptism experience.

But, I couldn’t have this experience, until I made the decision to believe God at His Word and begin to speak, trusting that He would provide the words as I opened my mouth in faith.

God’s Word says:
“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” Psalms 81:10

Only as we take God at His Word, open our mouths and speak – will this wonderful gift be poured out into our lives. But, as we do – He will transform our language into something that is truly beautiful to His ears!

BELIEVING GOD – AND SPEAKING FAITH – REGARDLESS OF WHAT ARENA OF LIFE YOU ARE APPLYING IT TO - IS A DECISION.

When God speaks – we must decide: Is His Word trustworthy? Is He able to do what He said?

Zechariah expressed doubt – and paid the price.
Mary expressed faith – and enjoyed the blessing.

Jesus said… “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63

I choose the spirit life.

Speaking Faith 2: The Power of the Spoken Word

Most people underestimate the power of the spoken word. But we do so at our own peril.

I want you to understand that the words that come out of your mouth have power to create reality!

• When you speak fear – fear is the result!
• When you speak faith – God shows up!

Words have power.

During the darkest, meanest days of World War II, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill rallied the troops and the people with a speech that concluded with this oft quoted statement: “Never, never, never give up!” Many people credit this speech with turning the tide against Hitler.

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood at the eastern side of the Brandenburg gate of the Berlin Wall and gave a speech that contained 2703 words – but the most famous of those words changed the world when he said: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

Words have power.

And they have even more power when they are spoken in faith. As believers, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to develop a vocabulary of faith within us. Last week, I defined SPEAKING FAITH this way:

Defined: Speaking Faith is verbally declaring your confidence that what God has already promised will become true in your life!

Now, I want you to look at the first example of SPEAKING FAITH in the Bible:
In Genesis 1 – we read…
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3

What was the reality prior to the spoken word of God?
• The Spirit of God was there
• The water was there
• The formless earth was there
• Heaven was there
• Darkness was there

But nothing happened until God spoke.

“And God said… ‘let there be light’ – and there was light!

The spoken word of God created the reality of light. God looked and all He saw in the natural realm was darkness, but God SPOKE FAITH into the darkness, and light is the result!

• Just as in 1:6 God says ‘let there be sky’ and there was sky.
• And in 1:9 God says ‘let there be land’ – and there was land.
• And in 1:11 God says ‘let there be plants’ – and there was plants.
• And in 1:14 God says ‘let there be sun, moon and stars’ and there was sun, moon and stars!
• And in 1:20 God says ‘let there be fish & birds’ – and there were fish and birds.
• And in 1:24 God says ‘let there be animals’ – and there were animals.
• And in 1:26 God says ‘let us make man in our image’ – and there we were!

God spoke faith – and what He said, became reality. His words have creative power – for God. When you learn to speak God’s Word in faith, God’s promises will become reality.

And when you speak other words – words that do not have their origin in God – they have power for evil! The childhood phrase: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Is simply not true! Words have the power to kill!

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

One of the big problems facing us that we spend a great deal of time undoing out faith and life in Christ with the words that come out of our mouths.

• We speak negativity.
• We speak critically.
• We speak sarcastically – and according the God’s Word – it’s killing us!

God’s Word says that ‘the tongue has the power of life and death…’ – and it’s time for us to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our tongues!

1 Corinthians 13:11 says…
“It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT

We’ve learned how to talk from our family, our friends, our culture – and now is the time for us to learn how to talk from God.

WHY SPEAKING FAITH WORKS

In Joshua 1, God is giving instructions to Joshua – who is the new leader of Israel after Moses’ death. He tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, to walk in the knowledge that God will never leave him or forsake Him – and then in verse 8, He says:
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

Here’s the specifics of His instructions:

1. Speak God’s Word!
2. Think about God’s Word!
3. Do what God’s Word says!

And what will the results be? ‘you will be prosperous and successful!’

This is what Jesus was talking about when He said…
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” John 8:32
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 and

Why does speaking faith work? Because you are speaking the very promises of God – and God’s Word leads to prosperity, success, life and freedom!

The words you speak affect YOU more than anyone else. The person who is cursing someone, using God’s name in vain, or walking in negativity and sarcasm is hurting themselves far more than anyone else. In fact, these words bring curses upon them.

It’s time to let God change our vocabulary.

Why Jesus Had Great Faith – John 12:47-50
Jesus did some pretty amazing things – healed the sick, cast out demons, faced down those with great power – He even raised the dead. All of these things He did through faith.

Why did Jesus have such great faith? Because He spoke the Word of God.

“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:47-50

Jesus spoke only what He heard His Father say. When He spoke, faith was the result. For speaking faith enabled God’s Word to get into His Spirit. And when God’s Word gets into your spirit, faith is the result.

You all know what Jesus did in the face of Satan’s temptations – He responded to temptation with the Spoken Word of God! In Matthew 4:3ff…

“The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Matthew 4:3-11, NIV.

Jesus took God’s Word – spoke it – and faith became reality!

HOW DO I LEARN TO SPEAK FAITH?

Turn to 1 Peter 1:23
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23

How were we born again? By the imperishable promise of the Word of God! He said:
“As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”” Romans 10:11

Law of Faith: God’s Word is an imperishable seed.

What God has promised – the seed – will produce fruit – the harvest!

If you are going to learn to speak faith, you have to learn the principle of Seedtime and Harvest! You cannot have a harvest without planting. When you plant faith – by speaking God’s Word – the possibility of harvest is created!

So, to learn to Speak Faith, you must take the Seed of God’s Word and begin to plant it.

Now – look at Mark 4:26…
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn--first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” Mark 4:26-28

This, Jesus says, is the nature of God’s kingdom. Seed that – once planted – produces harvest.

And in Luke 17:21, Jesus says:
“For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 NKJV

Where is God’s Kingdom? Inside You by faith!

God’s Word is the spiritual power that operates in your spirit. As you SPEAK FAITH, the Seed takes root – and God’s Word begins to function in power to produce fruit.

So, you learn to Speak Faith by taking God’s Promises, searching them in the Spirit, and taking appropriate promises to your situation – and applying them by SPEAKING THEM.

Philippians 4:19 says…
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

What does this verse mean?

• Any and all needs that you have – God will meet.
• How can you know this? – Because He has glorious riches.
• And how do those glorious riches get put into your hands? – In Christ Jesus!

So, in simpler terms – you can have all your needs met, by the glorious riches that God possesses – through your intimate love relationship of faith in Christ Jesus!

CONCLUSION:
The spoken word of faith is powerful – it brings life!
The spoken word of faith is powerful – it brings freedom!
The spoken word of faith is powerful – it brings resources!

It’s time to allow God to mature you.
“It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT

Who will speak faith here today?