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.
”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.
posted by Doug Love at 8:50 AM
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