Do the words you say matter? Are words just words or is it possible that what you say has an affect on the quality of your life? What if everything you said came to pass? Would you be more careful about what you say? If you were held accountable for every little thing you say, would you choose your words more carefully?
A “word” is that by which we convey our thoughts; it’s the medium of communication with others. But is that it? They’re just words? Or do the words we speak have power and force to bring about that which we speak?
Now before your spiritual discernment alarms start going off, I’m not going to advocate the “name-it-and-claim-it” ideology of the prosperity gospel preached in so many of today’s non-denominational community of faith type churches. They teach a licentious, disobedient, superficial invocation of Jesus’ name in hopes that the very mention of His name will imbue their recitation of vain affirmations with power for self advancement and glory.
No, what I’m talking about is, what can we learn from the word of God about how we should govern the things we say? What does the Bible say about the words we speak in the normal application of faith on a daily basis?
Matthew 12:34-37 King James Version (KJV)
34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
The words we speak pour out from the storehouse, or repository of words that have been instilled in our hearts, those things which we truly believe. They have power to bring forth either good things or bad things according to whether or not they are good faith filled words in accordance with God’s will or evil words of fear and doubt. Even those “idle words”, the casual things we say in unguarded moments when we’re not choosing our words carefully matter, for it is often then that our true inner thoughts and beliefs are exposed.
Notice it says, we shall give account for every idle word in the day of judgment. When is the day of judgment for us, the house of God?
1 Peter 4:17 King James Version (KJV)
17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
“For the time is come” means “Now!” We are being held accountable NOW!
In Mark chapter 11, after Jesus had cursed the fig tree for not bringing forth any fruit, the next day He again explains about the power of words spoken from the heart.
Mark 11:22-24 King James Version (KJV)
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.Whosoever shall say and whatsoever he saith; if you truly believe and do not doubt in your heart then through faith in God, it shall come to pass.
We’ve learned that, “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6)
Faith is always belief in something or someone. In this case God. Faith is inextricably tied to belief. In fact, the Greek word for belief (pisteuō) is derived from the Greek word for faith (pistis).
That belief, that faith, must be in the heart and it is sent forth through the words we speak. Whether you say that you can’t do something or you say that you can do it, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, (Php 4:13) either way, you are correct! According to your faith be it unto you. (Matt 9:29)
That belief, that faith, must be in the heart and it is sent forth through the words we speak. Whether you say that you can’t do something or you say that you can do it, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, (Php 4:13) either way, you are correct! According to your faith be it unto you. (Matt 9:29)
That which is spoken from the heart brings forth either good or evil. So we need to be certain that that which is in our heart is good.
How do we make sure that the words we speak are words of faith? By putting God’s word into our minds and hearts. How does that work?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)
Words are like seeds that convey thoughts. Those thoughts are planted in the garden of the mind whether they be the good seed of God’s word or the evil seed of the Accuser.
Words are like seeds that convey thoughts. Those thoughts are planted in the garden of the mind whether they be the good seed of God’s word or the evil seed of the Accuser.
A thought, if dwelled on long enough, becomes an imagination, a visualization of what you've been thinking. If you hold that in your mind long enough or often enough it becomes a stronghold, a part of you, taken to heart. In other words, it becomes a part of your belief system, you’ve settled on it and you have submitted your will to the thought. The things you say about that topic from then on must be congruent with your belief system; otherwise your conscience will bother you. We as Christians we must strive therefore, to make certain that our thoughts are consistent with the knowledge of God in obedience to Christ in order to fill our hearts, our storehouses, with faith.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 King James Version (KJV)
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we need to guard our minds and examine every thought carefully before allowing it to reside there long enough to become a part of us and enter our hearts. We need to train our minds to accept or reject thoughts according to what it knows about the Word of God. Cast out every thought that is against the knowledge of God and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Thoughts become imaginations and imaginations become strongholds and strongholds control your life. The Holy Bible tells us we can pull these down. In other words, we can change our belief system.
If you can put a correct thought in your mind, study that thought, meditate on that thought, long enough to become an imagination and become a stronghold, according to God's word, then that word will become a part of you and be stored in your heart. It will come out of your mouth and you will direct your path according to God's word and bring forth good things.
What is the “weapon of our warfare”? Of all the items in the Ephesians 6 list of the whole armor of God only one is a weapon – the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God! Through our words we can pull down strongholds that are inconsistent with God’s word, our own strongholds as well as those of others we come in contact with, that is if our words fall on good ground. (Luke 8:15) That’s how change is brought about.
Satan knows there is power in your words too so he tries to get you to confess fear, doubt, and unbelief through his deceit and lies. When we are deceived by the evil one, it tears down what God is trying to build in us, the spiritual temple of God, (1Cor 3:16) and does so by the very words we speak.
We need to control the words that come forth out of our mouths and bring them into obedience to the Word of God, which is God's spiritual law, His will, if we are to walk with God. But if we confess words contrary to the word of God, that is words of fear, doubt and unbelief, then Satan can use them to accuse us before the Father.
We need to control the words that come forth out of our mouths and bring them into obedience to the Word of God, which is God's spiritual law, His will, if we are to walk with God. But if we confess words contrary to the word of God, that is words of fear, doubt and unbelief, then Satan can use them to accuse us before the Father.
Revelation 12:10 King James Version (KJV)
10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
When you’re accused of something, what are you accused of? It can only be for one of two things – something you did or something you said!
Let’s not give him anything to accuse us of. Our words are sown from the heart and good or bad, they go forth and we reap what we sow. God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal 6:7) We need to bring our thoughts and words into obedience to Christ if we are to have the mind of Christ. (Php 2:5)
We are now sons of God (1John 3:2), in training to be like God. Let’s see what God has to say about the words He speaks and therefore what we can expect of our words should we attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Php 3:11) and become perfect even as He is perfect? (Matt 5:48)
Isaiah 55:6-11 - English Standard Version (ESV)
6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Our words do have an affect on our lives. When you start to believe that what you say will come to pass, then you will be more cognizant of what you’re saying and you will choose your words more carefully. Make your thoughts consistent with God’s thoughts by bringing them into captivity and obedience to Christ. Fill your heart with God’s word continually so that when you speak, it will be based on His word of truth, spirit and life and not on the deceit and lies of the Accuser. Remember, our day of judgment is now and we will be held accountable for every idle word. The words we speak will not return empty. Make sure they are God’s words of faith.
Video - HERE
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For further study see - The Word of His Power (3-part series plus Proverbs & Psalms Supplement)
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