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?
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?
posted by Doug Love at 7:21 PM
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