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?

An Introduction to Speaking Faith

The Bible says:
”If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” James 1:26

“Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell… but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.” James 3:5-6, 8-9

What comes out of your mouth – is a reflection of what is happening in your heart.

You can either speak in agreement with what God has said – or you can speak in agreement with what the words of Satan and the flesh. What your say with your mouth has power – and impacts the results of your life!

Last year we began to learn about developing a vocabulary of praise! Learning to open your mouth and express your praise to the Lord. It was hard at first – maybe it still is – but opening your mouth in praise to God is one sign that you are moving forward in your spiritual development.

This year, God would have us learn about the power of speaking faith into our day-to-day life and circumstances.

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

So, because God has promised:
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

Then speaking faith is verbally declaring: “I will not worry or be anxious because God is in me and He is greater than my enemy!”

Or, because God has promised:
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Then speaking faith is verbally declaring: “I will not worry and fret about my needs, because I am trusting in the promise of God to meet those needs in the riches of Jesus!”

You see – speaking takes the promises of God and applies them to real life. What God has promised, He will fulfill. Period.

And what does God expect of you? He expects you to exhibit FAITH that He will keep His word.

I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO EXHIBIT FAITH?
Turn to Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1, KJV.

God’s word says – faith is being sure of what we hope for – that which is not yet seen.

What do we HOPE for? We hope for the promises of God to be fulfilled in our lives. God has promised – hundreds of wonderful blessings for those who love Him. But hope is always FUTURE oriented.

When did God make the promises that we hope for? In the past. The promises of God are already made. The promises of God are already spoken. God’s will is His Word and His Word is His will. Did you know that the word “Testament” – as in New Testament – means “will” as in “Last Will”. So, the New Testament is the last will and testament of Jesus. The New Testament spells out the promises of God to all who will place their trust in Him. God has already made clear His promises. It isn’t a matter of what God is going to do someday. It is a matter of us receiving what He has already done. The promises of God have been made – and they are done. They are complete. Which is why – in His last moments of clarity on the Cross, Jesus cried out… “It is finished!” – Jesus said that because the promise of God has been made. It is a done deal.

So, if you look at the little timeline in your notes – you’ll see on the far left the PROMISES OF GOD. They have already been made. They have already been spoken. And on the far right of the timeline you’ll see the word “HOPE” referring to the future tense expectation of receiving the already spoken promises of God. But, there is a blank space in the middle – the place of the Present.

What connects the Promises of God with the future Hope?
Look at Hebrews 11:1 again…
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1, KJV.

FAITH is the connection. I want you to write the word “Faith” under the word “present”.

Take the first three words of Hebrews 11:1 – and we seen something rather startling: Faith is surrounded by two present-tense words: NOW & IS. If faith is not now, it is not faith.

II. Developing a NOW FAITH
Let me put it this way:
Faith is taking your HOPE in the PROMISES of God and experiencing them in the PRESENT TENSE.

So, when I speak faith – what I am really doing is combining my HOPE with spoken promises of God – and making them alive in my life today!

How does this work?

First of all – you’ve got to understand that FAITH IS A LAW.
FAITH IS A LAW.

Check out Romans 3:27…
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Romans 3:27, 28, KJV.

Paul says: You cannot be saved by the law of works. Salvation is brought about by the law of faith. In other words: God has established a way of doing something. Do you want to experience salvation? FAITH is the way. It is the only way. It is a law. So, righteousness comes through the law of faith.

Gravity is a law. It works all the time. You never have to wonder about gravity. And you can’t opt out of gravity – it is mandatory.

Faith is also a law. It works all the time. If you place your faith in God – righteousness will be the result. But unlike gravity, faith is optional. You can either choose faith – or choose unfaith.

FAITH WORKS, BUT IT MUST BE DEVELOPED.

Say you read the Word of God and He makes a promise: For instance – Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5, 6

You’ve got to develop that trust over time. As you see God come through for you – over and over and over again – as you place increased trust in Him – you are being developed.

You’ve also got to develop your choices of you go to for understanding – as you turn away from fleshly thinking and turn towards God’s way of thinking – He’ll show you the superiority of His ways – you are being developed.

You’ve also got to develop your awareness of His presence – and as you do, He directs your life and you won’t be running all over like a rat in a maze. Your paths will be focused and strength.

This is FAITH DEVELOPMENT. And that’s why – we need to cling to the beauty of James 1:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4, NIV

Just as muscles are developed by resistance, faith is developed by struggle. Stop griping and complaining and begin to SPEAK FAITH into your struggles.

You start where you are – and SPEAK FAITH – anticipating that God will indeed come through!

Why is it important to SPEAK faith? Why can’t I just THINK faith?

Turn to Romans 10:17…
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17, NIV

How does Faith come? By hearing the word of Christ! And how does one hear? By SPEAKING!

FAITH is a spiritual force – and when it is spoken out of your mouth, faith comes more quickly.

As we read earlier – in James – the ability to control the tongue is a vital part of our walk with Christ – and your ability to use your tongue to declare your faith enables the Holy Spirit to work more powerfully in your life!

To hear your own voice – declaring your faith – builds your faith. To say – in the midst of challenging circumstances: “I will not fear, for God is with me. I will not be afraid, because greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world. I will not give up, because I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” These words build your faith. They also tell the enemy where you stand. And they also bring encouragement to those around you.

Words matter. The spoken word matters.

When God saw darkness, He spoke “Light, be” – and light was. That was God SPEAKING FAITH into darkness. For God – in His faith – saw light, and then He spoke words that made His faith become reality.

FAITH MEANS THAT BELIEVING IS SEEING.
We’ve all heard the expression: “seeing is believing” – but for the Christian it is just the opposite – “BELIEVING IS SEEING” – for FAITH sees beyond the present tense and into the fullness of what God has promised. Faith is like a radar system on a jet airliner. The pilots in a jet airplane do not need to be able to see out the front window – the radar guides them through the storm to safety. Faith looks beyond and through the present troubles and leads you home to safety.

Now, look again at Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1, KJV.

I want you to notice a key word in this text. It is the word ‘things’. Faith is confidence that the things God has promised will come to be. There are ‘things’ you need in life in order to live. Things like food, water, housing – and in places like this – cars, insurance, etc.

Now, some people have gotten very uptight when you begin to talk about God and things. Usually people react at one of two points on the pendulum –

• One side those who say: “God isn’t a cosmic Santa Claus. How dare you use God to get stuff!”
• And the other side those who say: “Name it, and claim it. Prosperity is your divine right.”

I’m here to say that God has lots to say about ‘things’ and that He expects us to appropriate our faith for those things that are needed in our lives.

2 Peter 1:3 says…
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" 2 Peter 1:3, KJV.

God says: “I will – through my power – provide you with ALL THINGS that are needed for life and godliness – through your knowledge of Me!”

In other words – your faith plays a huge part in receiving from the Lord those things you need!

Now – let me say this: God does not say: “Walk over to that multi-million dollar house in upper Alta Loma, lay your hands on it and claim it in Jesus Name.”

But at the same time He does say I will… ‘meet all your needs according to’ my ‘glorious riches in Christ Jesus.’

You speak faith to what God has spoken. If God has promised, you speak faith to it. And you don’t wait until you can see it – for that wouldn’t be faith. Let me give you this important definition:

“Faith is seeing in the Spirit what the Word promised, when it is not yet revealed in the natural.”

That’s why Jesus said:
"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

CONCLUSION:
If God promised it, speak faith to it. And it will be done.

As believers – we have a choice to make:
• We can either speak the Word of God – and have our faith increased, or…
• We can speak the words of the devil, or the problem – and have our faith decreased and our fears increased.

The best way for hope to become reality is to speak words of faith that are based upon the promises of God. We need a change of vocabulary.