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This document provides an overview of a book titled "The Hidden Power of Your Words" by Dr. Christian Harfouche. It discusses how God gave man the unique ability to use words as a powerful tool of expression. Words have the power of life and death. The devil uses words to deceive and blind people, while God uses words to heal, deliver power, and accomplish His will. When God speaks, His words are spirit and life that explode to fulfill His purposes. The light of God's truth and revelation has shone in our hearts, and we are called to let that light shine out to the world through our words.
This document provides an overview of a book titled "The Hidden Power of Your Words" by Dr. Christian Harfouche. It discusses how God gave man the unique ability to use words as a powerful tool of expression. Words have the power of life and death. The devil uses words to deceive and blind people, while God uses words to heal, deliver power, and accomplish His will. When God speaks, His words are spirit and life that explode to fulfill His purposes. The light of God's truth and revelation has shone in our hearts, and we are called to let that light shine out to the world through our words.
This document provides an overview of a book titled "The Hidden Power of Your Words" by Dr. Christian Harfouche. It discusses how God gave man the unique ability to use words as a powerful tool of expression. Words have the power of life and death. The devil uses words to deceive and blind people, while God uses words to heal, deliver power, and accomplish His will. When God speaks, His words are spirit and life that explode to fulfill His purposes. The light of God's truth and revelation has shone in our hearts, and we are called to let that light shine out to the world through our words.
Dr. Christian Harfouche Power House Publishers Pensacola, Florida Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible. Hidden Power of Your Words Published by: Power House Publishers 24 !"ecuti#e Pla$a %d Pensacola, F& '2()4 *+B, )-./'44(-'-0 www.1lobalre#i#al.com Second Printing, June 2000 2opyri1ht 3 ..' by 4r. 2hristian Harfouche 5ll ri1hts reser#ed. %eproduction of te"t in whole or in part without the e"press written consent by the author is not permitted and is unlawful accordin1 to the .6/ United +tates 2opyri1ht 5ct. 2o#er desi1n and boo7 production by: 4B 8 5ssociates 4esi1n 8 4istribution dba 4ouble Blessin1 Productions P. 9. Bo" (26(/, :ulsa, 9; 64(2 www.doubleblessin1.com 2o#er illustration is protected by the .6/ United +tates 2opyri1ht 5ct. 2opyri1ht 3 ..' by 4B 8 5ssociates 4esi1n <roup, *nc. !ditorial 2onsultant: Phyllis =ac7all, Bro7en 5rrow, 97lahoma Printed in the United +tates of 5merica. Contents +peech: =an>s Unique <ift...................................................6 2 <od-Breathed ?ords..........................................................2 ' ?ords 5s ?eapons.............................................................'6 4 :he Perfect =an...................................................................4. ( :he ;eys to the ;in1dom.................................................../( / ?ords at ?or7.....................................................................0' The Hidden Power of Your Words Chapter 1 1 Speech: Man's Unique ift od has deposited in you the ability to release dynamite-filled, power-pac7ed capsules of e"pression that we call @words.@ < :he Bible says, !"et us #a$e #an in our i#a%e& after our li$eness: and let the# ha'e do#inion((((! A<enesis :2/B. <od started off 1i#in1 man dominion o#er the fish of the sea and the fowl of the air, and He ended up 1i#in1 man dominion !o'er all the earth(! :hen the Bible says, !)nd the "ord od for#ed #an of the dust of the %round& and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life* and #an beca#e a li'in% soul! A<enesis 2:6B. !#er since that moment, man7ind has been able to e"press their nature, perception, heart, desire, #ision, and plans through words. :hese words are ali#e, and there is not one person who does not ha#e the ability to use words, unless he or she is physically impaired. ?ords will cause you either to 1o hi1her or to drown deeper. For e"ample, if you>re shipwrec7ed in the ocean, and you see a ship, you can either call out for a lifesa#er or an anchor. ?hate#er you as7 for will be what you 1et. *f you call for an anchor, you will 1o under. ?hyC Because you as7ed for the wron1 thin1D +o <od has 1i#en us the ability to e"press our innermost intentions and desires throu1h a unique, 6 he Hidden Power of Your Words power-pac7ed method called speech. Howe#er, we are responsible for e#ery word we spea7. +esus Warns of !,dle Words! Eesus said, !((( e'er- idle word that #en shall spea$& the- shall %i'e account thereof in the da- of .ud%#ent! A=atthew 2:'/B. :he phrase @idle word@ means a non- producti#e, nonacti#e, ineffecti#e word that does not operate in conFunction with and for the enhancement of the 7in1dom of <od. 5ny word that does not cooperate with <od>s ?ordG any word that does not cooperate with the will of <od for you or the plan of hea#en for your destinyGis idle, non- producti#e, inacti#e, and unemployed. *t means that <od did not send that word. :he Bible says, !He sent his word& and healed the#! APsalm )6:2)B. :he Bible does not say, @<od sent His ?ord and made them sic7,@ or, @He sent His ?ord and beat them up.@ ,o. *f you>#e 1ot a word that beats you up, it was not sent by <od. ?hene#er words are sent by <od, they pac7 powerD Eesus said, !the words that , spea$ unto -ou& the- are spirit, and the- are life" AEohn /:/'B. ?e are told in Pro#erbs 0:2, "Death and life are in the power of the ton%ue(! We Can /now od's Will ?e li#e in an hour when 1reat opportunities ha#e been 1ranted to us, because we 7now more of the will of <od than 2hristians ha#e e#er 7nown before. :here has ne#er been a 1eneration in human history that has had the access to <od>s will that we do today. 0 S!eech" #an$s %ni&ue 'ift <reat men and women of <od in past 1enerations ha#e spo7en forth re#elations from <od, and these re#elations ha#e been preser#ed in boo7s, records, tapes, and #ideotapes, so none of us has an e"cuse for not 7nowin1 what <od>s will is, let alone for not spea7in1 the perfect will of <od for our li#es. <od has 1i#en us the ability to e"press oursel#es throu1h what we say. He has also 1i#en us the ability to bloc7 off, reFect, and not recei#e what we hear. He has e#en 1i#en us the ability to hear His ?ord and not do anythin1 about itD But, than7 <od, He has also 1i#en us the ability to hear the ?ord, belie#e it, declare it, and act on it. 5nd when we do that, we will become the most powerful breed that has e#er e"istedD ?e will become a brand-new breed of men and women, because we ha#e been born a1ain. 0o "on%er Mere Mortals ?e will no lon1er be mere mortals wal7in1 around, blinded by the 1od of this world, for we are brand-new creatures who ha#e been created in 2hrist Eesus unto 1ood wor7s. +econd 2orinthians 4:/, 6 says: 1or od& who co##anded the li%ht to shine out of dar$ness& hath shined in our hearts& to %i'e the li%ht of the $nowled%e of the %lor- of od in the face of +esus Christ( 2ut we ha'e this treasure in earthen 'essels& that the e3cellenc- of the power #a- be of od& and not of us( Eust a few #erses before, the apostle Paul had said: 2ut if our ospel be hid 4if od's Word is hid& if . he Hidden Power of Your Words the words od has spo$en throu%h the prophets are hid5& the- are hid to the# that are lost: ,n who# the %od of this world hath blinded the #inds of the# which belie'e not& lest the li%ht of the %lorious %ospel of Christ& who is the i#a%e of od& should shine unto the#( 6 Corinthians 7:8& 7 ) 9uestion Strai%ht 1ro# the arden of :den :here is one particular diabolical method the de#il usesGand has always usedGto blind the minds of men, and that>s throu1h words. He>ll as7 people e"actly what he as7ed !#e in the <arden of !den: "Hath God said?" He>ll as7 them, How do you (now Eesus is the way to <odC @ He>ll as7, @How do you (now you>re 1oin1 to 1et anythin1 from <odC @ He>ll as7, @How do you (now <od means you when He 1i#es a promiseC @ ,otice this about the de#il: )f *ou ta(e his mouth awa*, *ou$+e ta(en his !ower awa*, He>s a dra1on. He>s 1oin1 to breathe fiery words to you that are nothin1 but lies. He>s a wolf. He>s 1oin1 to use his mouth to de#our the sheep, if he can. He>s as a roarin1 lion see7in1 whom he may de#our. He$s using his mouth to find himse-f a candidate for defeat, +o +atan uses his mouth a1ainst you. 5nd he blinds the minds of people who don>t belie#e. ?hy don>t they belie#eC Because they belie#ed the de#il rather than <od. :hey heard an e#il report and belie#ed it. When od Spea$s *f you belie#e, it>s because you heard a good report and belie#ed it. ?e Fust read in +econd 2orinthians about the ) S!eech" #an$s %ni&ue 'ift <od who commanded the li1ht to shine out of dar7ness. ?e ser#e a commandin1 <odH a <od who spea7s commands. <enesis :' says, !)nd od said, "et there be li%ht: and there was li%ht(! :he ori1inal Hebrew te"t says, !)nd od said& '"et there beco#e li%ht& ' and li%ht beca#e(! :his shows us somethin1. ?hen <od spea7s words, they are spirit and they are lifeD ?hen He sends a capsule of +pirit-filled words, the spirit and life in those words e"plode to carry out His will and His plan. ?e see an e"ample of this in the first chapter of Eohn>s <ospel: ,n the be%innin% was the Word& and the Word was with od& and the Word was od( The sa#e was in the be%innin% with od( )ll thin%s were #ade b- hi#& and without hi# 4the Word5 was not an- thin% #ade that was #ade( ,n hi# was life* and the life was the li%ht of #en( )nd the li%ht shineth in dar$ness* and the dar$ness co#prehended it not( +ohn 1:1;< ?hy couldn>t the dar7ness o#ercome the li1htC ?hen you admit e#en a tiny bit of li1ht into a dar7 place, you can still see. 5ll you need is one candle in a dar7 room and the dar7ness cannot o#ercome it. &i1ht cannot be e"tin1uished by dar7ness, but dar7ness can be blasted by li1htD The "i%ht of the World 5s we read, the Bible says that !od& who co##anded the li%ht to shine((( hath shined in our hearts(! ?hy did <od shine in my heartC ,ot so * could sin1 a little son1 about @:his little li1ht of mineH *>m 1onna let it shine.@
he Hidden Power of Your Words
:hat>s not why He shined. :he li1ht that shined in our hearts is not @that little li1ht, @ because He said, !Ye are the li%ht of the world( ) cit- that is set on an hill cannot be hid! A=atthew (:4B. +o <od is not shinin1 His li1ht in your heart to hide it there, and He>s not puttin1 it in there so men cannot see it. *t>s in your heart, but it>s supposed to shine in the same stren1th, brilliance, and 1lory that a city built on a hill would shine. od's "i%ht Shines Throu%h Words How can we 1et <od>s internal illumination to shine throu1h usC ?e must use the same method <od used to release the life and the li1ht that is in HimGby usin1 the power of words. <od said, !"et there be li%ht&! and there was li1ht. :he de#il 1ets ner#ous e#ery time * 1et ready to spea7. He runs around and wor7s o#ertime before *>#e said a word. He tells people, @4on>t listen to himD@ He whispers in their ears, @False doctrineD@ He says to someone else, @,ot for you.@ ?hy does he do thisC He>s afraid of what *>m 1oin1 to sa*. 5nd if that doesn>t wor7, he messes around with the sound system. *sn>t that the truthC :he de#il 1ets ner#ous because words are not deadH they are a-i+e, :hey are spirit and they are life. +omeone may say, @* don>t belie#e that. * don>t ha#e any power in my words, because <od does not want to help me.@ ?ords ha#e Fust as much power to bind you as <od>s ?ord has to set you free. *n the 9ld :estament, =oses challen1ed the children of *srael, !Choose life! Ablessin1B in 4euteronomy '):.. 2 S!eech" #an$s %ni&ue 'ift The Test of 1aith *n order to choose somethin1 <od is 1oin1 to 1i#e you, you must belie#e somethin1 you ha#en>t seen yet. :hat>s the test of faith. *t>s not a 1reat thin1 for me to belie#e that *>#e 1ot a ministry, but it is a 1reat thin1 to belie#e that the ministry is 1oin1 to 1o beyond what * see in the natural. !0ow faith is the substance of thin%s hoped for& the e'idence of thin%s not seen&! accordin1 to Hebrews :. Faith in the now is the substance, the pin7 slip, the title deed. *t is the tan1ible, #isible assurance that pro#es to me that * already possess what * don>t yet see. :hat means * can be1in to spea7 words that declare, herald, publish, and proclaim what * don>t yet see in the natural. :hat>s where your test of faith is. 4o you want to be #ictorious in <odC +tart bein1 li7e Him. He didn>t say, @?e>re ho!ing li1ht will be,@ or, @&et us try our best to ma7e man in our ima1e.@ ,o, <od s!o(e it, and it stood fast. He !roc-aimed it, and it happenedD od's =eport )bout Your 1uture <od said to you and me, @+ince you>re made in my ima1e and in my li7eness, belie#e my report.@ Ha#e you e#er thou1ht about itC <od>s report is usually set in the future. <od>s report is about a #ictory you ha#e not yet won. <od>s report is about a hea#en you ha#e ne#er #isited. <od>s report is about a prosperity that e"ceeds your present circumstances. <od>s report is about a destiny you ha#e not yet achie#ed. ?hen do you belie#e <od>s reportC ,ot when it happens, but .efore it e#er comes. ?hen do you start tal7in1 itC /efore it e#er happens. :hat demands stren1th, ' he Hidden Power of Your Words because it means you>#e 1ot to ma7e a decision to wal7 and tal7 faith e#en when you don>t fee- li7e it. ?e can e"perience a #ictory in our 2hristian wal7 that will last a lifetime, because it>s not dependent upon a special manifestation or an impartation of the +pirit. *t is <od>s power lin7ed in with your decision that says, @*>m 1oin1 to hold on to my power throu1h words and act in accordance with the ways of <od.@ *f we would ma7e that decision, we would be1in to conquer e#ery area of our life where we are not #ictorious, and our direction will be up, up, up. !#ery day with Eesus would truly be sweeter than the day before. "i'in% in the lor- =eal# *f you ha#e a little li1ht, it>s because you>re choosin1 to hear a little and do a little of what <od says. How do * 7now thatC :he Bible says, !2e -e doers of the word& and not hearers onl-& decei'in% -our own sel'es! AEames :22B. Eames tells us to be doers of what we hear. Psalm .:') says, !The entrance of th- words %i'eth li%ht* it %i'eth understandin% unto the si#ple(! ?hen <od>s ?ord enters my heart, it immediately enli1htens my spirit man and 1i#es me understandin1. *n +econd 2orinthians 4:/ we read, !od((( hath shined in our hearts& to %i'e the li%ht of the $nowled%e of the %lor- of od that shines in the face of +esus Christ(! :hat word @1lory@ refers to the she(inah 1lory, the realm where <od li#es. *f you tune into this dimension, you>#e tuned into the hea#enly realm of <od. ?hen you>re in that realm, anythin1 can happenD Positioned for a Mo'e of od 4 S!eech" #an$s %ni&ue 'ift ?e must learn to position oursel#es for a mo#e of <od. *f we position oursel#es correctly, when the mo#e of <od comes, we will be prepared for it. But if it comes when we>re not ready, we won>t reco1ni$e itD :hrou1hout history, men ha#e failed to discern when the +pirit of <od was mo#in1. +ome men were ri1ht in the middle of a mo#e of <od and somehow mana1ed to miss it e#ery time. :hey were so blinded by the distractions of this world, they were not in tune with what <od was sayin1 to them. We must a--ow the Word of 'od to mo+e us to the !oint of change. :he ?ord of <od says that <od 1a#e us this power, and the e"cellency of it, in earthen #essels. :hat tells me that when <od spea7s, it brin1s li1ht to my heart, and it brin1s understandin1 and 7nowled1e. ?hen that happens, then, it brin1s faith. Wh- od Spea$s To Men Faith comes by hearing. <od doesn>t Fust tal7 to tal7. He tal7s to mo#e men to action. ?e ha#e learned to come to church and hear a sermon. =any in the church are blind and star#in1 to death spiritually, because all they>#e been doin1 is hearin1 and hearin1 and hearin1. *f all you>#e been doin1 is bein1 a hearer of the ?ord, and it hasn>t produced spiritual muscle and stren1th to lead you further in your commitment to <od, you need to ree#aluate the way you recei#e and why you are not chan1in1. <od is raisin1 up a people who are interested in what He sa*s. &et me 1i#e you the bad news first: Iou>ll ne#er amount to anythin1 unless you do it the way <od has called you to do it. *>ll tell you somethin1 else: Iou>ll ne#er ( he Hidden Power of Your Words defeat the de#il unless you do it in <od>s prescribed fashion. 5ll He>s tryin1 to do is impart stren1th. 5ll He>s 1oin1 to do is 1i#e you the ?ord. 5ll He>s 1oin1 to do is tell you His report. *t ta7es stren1th to belie#e what <od is sayin1. *t ta7es commitment to appropriate it into our hearts. 5nd it ta7es a decision that says, @*>m 1oin1 to do what <od says to do in His ?ord. *>m 1oin1 to fi1ht the 1ood fi1ht of faith, and * will win.@ 5 day is comin1 when <od>s law and His ?ord will be the only thin1s spo7en on planet !arth. *t>s not here yet, but there is comin1 a day when <od puts His 7in1dom on planet !arth, and Eesus 2hrist>s 2hurch, His ?ord, and His will, will rule and rei1n. Until then, we are en1a1ed in a battle that is fou1ht with words. +esus Spea$s With )uthorit- :he Bible says that Eesus spo7e with authority: !((( for with authorit- co##andeth he e'en the e'il spirits& and the- do obe- hi#! A=ar7 :26B. Eesus had authority in His words, and He still doesD ?hy didn>t Eesus telepathically @thin7 the de#il away@C ?hy didn>t He Fust thin7 the de#il outC Because it does not matter what you fee- in your heart, or what your intentions are, or what you thin7 you>re 1oin1 to do for <od some day. Unless you unleash the spirit and the power that>s in you and tri11er it throu1h your words, it won>t create an e"plosion in your life. +omeone will say, @?ell, <od 7nows that * lo#e Him in my heart, and *>m Fust a heart-praiser.@ +tart praisin1 Him out loud. +tart 1i#in1 Him 1lory. / S!eech" #an$s %ni&ue 'ift Unless you release the spirit and power that>s in you, it won>t create a spiritual e"plosion around you. :he Bible instructs us to ta7e !the sword of the Spirit& which is the word of od! A!phesians /:6B. Eesus spo7e, and the de#ils obeyed. ?e reco1ni$e that the 7in1dom of <od is with !ower, don>t we, and we notice that the apostle Paul said, !)nd #- speech and #- preachin% was not with enticin% words of #an's wisdo#& but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" A 2orinthians 2:4B. Paul didn>t use enticin1 words of man>s wisdom. ?hat 7ind of speech and what 7ind of preachin1 did Paul useC He brou1ht forth the demonstration of the +pirit and of power. :hat tells me that 'od$s S!irit and !ower are in0ected into the words we s!ea( .* the ins!iration of the Ho-* S!irit. The Hidden Power of Your Words :hat tells me that the de#il is terrified of man>s <od- 1i#en ability to release words. Powerfu- words come out of *ou -i(e a missi-e that heads straight for its target and hits the .u--$s1e*e in the (ingdom of dar(ness, Iou ou1ht to be ready to pull the tri11er on e#ery lie the de#il brin1s a1ainst you. ?hen the de#il questions, @Hath <od saidC @ you should reply, !The pro#ises of od are -ea and a#en for hi# that belie'es&! andG.oom Gtri11er those words ri1ht into the heart of hellD <od 1a#e you power. :hat power won>t wor7 in spite of you, and it won>t wor7 automatically. :hat power will only wor7 when you use the abilities <od placed within you in the be1innin1, in creation. :he 1reatest of these abilities is the ability to decide direction and destiny in life. =an>s freewill is the 1reatest 1ift 1i#en to him by <od. 6 he Hidden Power of Your Words Your >estin-: Your >ecision 4o you want to be miserableC 4o you want to ha#e a pity-party and be depressed, oppressed, re1ressed, or obsessedC <o ahead. Iou may. *t>s your pri#ile1e. <od 1a#e it to you. He put within you the ability to choose. Iou can choose to be where#er you want to be. Iou can be the @tail@ if you want to, but *>m 1oin1 to be the @head@ A4euteronomy 20:'BD Iou can li#e in the outs7irts, in the shallow waters, if you want to, but there are people who ha#e plun1ed into the deep waters. Iou can li#e on the hillside if you want to, but there are those who ha#e climbed the hi1h mountains in <od. Iou can soar with the win1s of tur7eys, but there are some who ha#e decided to soar with the win1s of ea1les. :hey are part of the 1eneration that won>t settle for partial commitment to <od. *n other words, you>#e 1ot a <od-1i#en ri1ht to decide how far you>ll 1o and what direction you>ll 1o, and e#en <od can>t #iolate that decision. *f you want to 1o the ri1ht way, you must position yourself by how you thin7 and what you spea7. Paul 1a#e :imothy some ad#ice about this in +econd :imothy ':(: )nd that fro# a child thou hast $nown the hol- scriptures& which are able to #a$e thee wise unto sal'ation throu%h faith which is in Christ +esus( ?hat does that meanC Paul is tellin1 :imothy, !Since -ou were a child -ou ha'e $nown the hol- scriptures& which are able to #a$e -ou wise throu%h faith(! Paul didn>t say that the +criptures had made :imothy wiseH he said they were a.-e to ma7e him wise. 0 S!eech" #an$s %ni&ue 'ift Mi3in% the Word With 1aith :hat means you can hear a sermon but lea#e the church Fust as wea7 spiritually as when you entered. :hat means you can hear me, 1o home and debate whether or not * match up to your fa#orite preacher, and still be on the same le#el you were before. Unless you mi" what you>re hearin1 with faith, it>s almost better that you didn>t hear the ?ordD :he Bible says, !the word preached did not profit the#& not being mixed with faith in the# that heard it! AHebrews 4:2B. :he ?ord will brin1 faith with it. Howe#er, there is a way that people can recei#e the ?ord of <od but not recei#e the faith of the ?ord. HowC :he ?ord will always brin1 a responsibility with it. People can reFect that responsibility. ?hen <od spea7s to you, He 1i#es you a responsibility. ?hen He says, @Iou>re my child,@ He>s sayin1, @Iou>re committed to =e.@ 5nd when He says, @Iou>re the li1ht, @ He>s sayin1, @,ow you>re 1oin1 to shine as a witness.@ :hat>s a commitment. +o if we choose to recei#e one part of the ?ord and say, @Ies, *>m a li1ht, but *>m a silent li1ht,@ we>re not mi"in1 the ?ord with faith. ?e must decide to mi" what we hear with faith so we can perform it. . Chapter 6 6 od;2reathed Words )ll scripture is %i'en b- inspiration of od& and is profitable for doctrine& for reproof& for correction& for instruction in ri%hteousness: That the #an of od #a- be perfect& thorou%hl- furnished unto all %ood wor$s( 6 Ti#oth- 8:1?& 1@ hat word @+cripture@ is the <ree7 word gramma. *t means @letters of the alphabet@ or @words.@ <od is sayin1 throu1h Paul, @5ll the 1rammas of <od, from the alphas all the way throu1h the ome1as, are the words of <od...@ : :he Bible, howe#er, is not called @the words of <od@H it is called @the ?ord of <od,@ because <od put a messa1e in His Bible, and that messa1e is one word to man7ind. *t is one form of word, one 7ind of spirit: the +pirit of <od. 5nd that messa1e is one 7ind of report: a 1ood report. *t may come in the form of many words, but it>s one report, and it>s a 1ood report. :he Bible says that the 1rammas of <odGthe alphas throu1h the ome1as, His alphabet, His inspired utterance, His wordsGare 'od1.reathed. %emember, in <enesis :2/ we saw where <od said, !"et us #a$e #an in our i#a%e&! and in <enesis 2:6 the Bible says, !)nd the "ord od for#ed #an of the dust of the %round& and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life...." 5nd in Eohn :4 it says of Eesus, the ?ord, !,n hi# was 2 he Hidden Power of Your Words life* and the life was the li%ht of #en(! :his means the breath of life is in e#ery word of +cripture we e#er hear. Words That )re )li'e Ha#e you e#er tried to tal7 while you>re inhalin1C <o ahead and say @halleluFah@ and inhale at the same time. ?ords ha#e been desi1ned by <od to carry with them breath and life. ?hen words come out of you, part of your humanity 1oes with themH the authority <od 1a#e you to operate on planet !arth 1oes out with those words. :hey>re .reathed. 5s you>re breathin1 the same words <od breathed into you, both you and <od are breathin1 throu1h you. 5nd when both you and <od are breathin1, somethin1 will happenD 5ll of <od>s words, all +cripture, is <od-breathed, so there is the e"hale of the Holy +pirit in the Bible. ?hat does that meanC :he words of the Bible are a-i+e, :hey are breath. :hey are life. :hey are 2oe. :hey will char1e you up with the life of <odD ((( the letter $illeth& but the spirit %i'eth life( 6Corinthians 8:? :he +pirit what3 !i'eth life(! :hat tells me that <od ne#er sends His ?ord unless it is filled with part of His +pirit. 5s a matter of fact, His ?ord is ali#e. Eust because it>s printed with in7 on paper does not ma7e it dead. 2reathin% What od Has 2reathed ?hen you read <od>s ?ord with the eyes of faith, you encounter the +pirit of the ?ord, which is ali#e beyond the pa1es. Iou can fold up the Bible, but you can ne#er fold up the ;in1 of 7in1s and the &ord of lords. He>s ali#e 22 'od1/reathed Words and well, and He>s amon1 His people, in His 2hurch. :herefore, when * put His words in my mouth and spea7 them, not only am * breathin1 out what * choose to belie#e in life, but * am breathin1 out what <od has breathed, sanctioned, anointed, and sent to deli#er His people. He said in *saiah: 1or as the rain co#eth down& and the snow fro# hea'en((( so shall #- word be that %oeth forth out of #- #outh: it shall not return unto #e 'oid& but it shall acco#plish that which , please& and it shall prosper in the thin% whereto , sent it ,saiah <<:1A& 11 Iou see, <od breathed it, it came into the earth realm, and now His ?ord is ali#e and at wor7 in the hearts of people, tryin1 to 1et us to let 1o of the limits of the natural and 1o on a Fourney in <od>s ?ord into the destiny He foretold and intended for us. :hat destiny is 2hristli7enessH it>s to be li7e Eesus. "ife for the Spirit Man Eesus told +atan, !Man shall not li'e b- bread alone& but b- e'er- word that proceedeth out of the #outh of od! A=atthew 4:4B. ?e find in this #erse that the words that proceed out of <od>s mouth carry life, and they can cause your spirit man to li#eD ?hen you hear <od>s words, your spirit man can be char1ed and can li#e by the stren1th of the words that proceed out of the mouth of <od. :hat word @<od-breathed,@ which is interpreted as @inspiration@ in +econd :imothy ':/, is the word theonustos. heo means <od, and nustos comes from the word !neuma, which is @breath@ or @spirit.@ +o e#ery word <od spea7s is literally breathed by <odD 2' he Hidden Power of Your Words :he +cripture 1oes on to say that when you mi" <od>s words with faith AHebrews 4:2B, you>ll recei#e the life and breath of <od into your life. 5nd when you do, you can become a man or a woman of <od who is perfect and !thorou%hl- furnished unto all %ood wor$s(! :hat word @thorou1hly@ is the word e4arteso, @to furnish@ or @to equip fully.@ ?hen the ?ord accomplishes full equippin1 in you, you will do the wor7s of 2hrist. Christ's Presence in the Word :his is where we>#e been missin1 it. ?e>#e been hearin1 the ?ord of <od, but failin1 to recei#e the breath, life, ener1y, force, character, and entity of Eesus 2hristG His !ersona- !resence in the Word. *f you fail to recei#e that with the messa1e you>re hearin1, you will fail to recei#e the ability to do His wor7s in that moment in time. ?hat are His wor7sC %aisin1 the dead, healin1 the sic7, castin1 out de#ils, cleansin1 the lepers, unstoppin1 deaf ears, openin1 blinded eyes, turnin1 sinners to <od, cursin1 the fi1 trees, mo#in1 the mountains, wal7in1 on waterGthese are His wor7s. Unless we recei#e the breath, the life, and the +pirit in what He says, we won>t be transformed into His ima1e and be able to do His wor7s. +o one thin1 we need to do is not only hear what <od is sayin1, but hear it in our s!irit man, mi" it with faith, and let it li#e. )s$ What You Will Eesus said this in Eohn (:6, and *>#e paraphrased it for moderm readers as follows: @*f you li#e in my word, and 24 'od1/reathed Words my word li#es in youGnot on the shelf, not in the study, not in the tape dec7, not at the church, not in your wife, nor in your husbandGyou may as7 whate#er you will, and it shall be done for you.@ )n other words, if *ou !osition *ourse-f to fit the criteria of 'od, He can ne+er den* the answer to what *ou !ra* for. 4on>t tell anyone, @<od is choosin1 not to answer me.@ :hat simply re#eals the fact that the ?ord is not yet li#in1 in you. ?hyC Because if we position oursel#es accordin1 to Eesus, and His ?ord li#es in us, we will as7 what we will and it sha-- be done for us. He didn>t say @maybe,@ He didn>t say @sometimes,@ and He didn>t say it @could.@ He said it 5sha--5 be done. od Wants to Ma$e You an )lienB Iou see, <od is tryin1 to ma7e you an alien, and you won>t let HimD *f the 2hurch of today would let <od ha#e His way, we>d scare the world to the altarD :he world would start to see people who ha#e fire in their eyes, a 1low about them, miracles in their hands, and a positi#e report in their mouth. :hey>d see people who are water-wal7ers, mountain-mo#ers, dead men-raisers, miracle-wor7ersH people who are full of !.o- unspea$able and full of %lor-(! :he Bible says, !The people that do $now their od shall be stron%& and do e3ploits! A4aniel :'2B. How do we 7now our <odC By 7nowin1 how He tal7s, what He says, and what He wants. ?e let His ?ord do in us what He sent it to do. 4o you 7now what <od sent His ?ord to do in youC :o produce the life of our resurrected &ord and =aster, for anythin1 short of the life of the resurrected &ord and =aster is puttin1 limits on <od. 2( he Hidden Power of Your Words :hat tells me that we ou1ht to start chan1in1 ri1ht now, because His ?ord didn>t come to tantali$e our intellectH it came to chan1e us. 5nd <od said, @*>m not ta7in1 that ?ord bac7. *t is not 1oin1 to return unto =e #oid.@ 4o you 7now what the word @#oid@ meansC *t means @empty.@ +o <od is sayin1, @=y ?ord is not returnin1 emptyD @ +o <od spo7e His ?ord re1ardin1 you and me, and His ?ord has come into our li#es. *t will not lea#e us alone. *t will continue to inspire, correct, repro#e, and rebu7e us until we say yes to the ?ord of <od and ta7e the limits off <od. :hen, suddenly, <od>s ?ord will be1in to acti#ely produce in us 2hrist who is ali#e and well in His 2hurch. ?hen this happens, the world will see a people who ha#e let 1o of the limits of the natural and ha#e stepped into <od>s realm of di#ine manifestationD :he ?ord is not 1oin1 to return #oid. *t is 1oin1 to produce in us what <od sent it to produce. od's Word 2rin%s Understandin% ,ow loo7 at Hebrews :': !Throu%h faith we understand((((! %emember, the ?ord of <od brin1s -ight, it 1i#es understanding, and <od shined in our hearts to 1i#e us !the li%ht of the knowledge of the %lor- of od in the face of +esus Christ(! +omeone will say, @?ell, you ne#er 7now what <od is 1oin1 to do.@ Iou ou1ht to wal7 in the li1ht, then, because when we wal7 in the li1ht as Eesus is the li1ht, we ha#e fellowship or understandin1 one with another A Eohn :6B. *n Eohn 2/ 'od1/reathed Words (:(, Eesus said, @* no lon1er call you ser#ants, because a ser#ant doesn>t 7now what his master is doin1. * call you friends, because *>m 1oin1 to tell you what *>m doin1.@ Iou can 7now what <od is 1oin1 to doD *f you ne#er 7now what <od is doin1, chan1e roads and 1et in the li1ht so His ?ord can brin1 you understandin1. How can you understand <od>s waysC Iou can only understand throu1h faith. :hat means you ha#e to .e-ie+e you understand before you e#er understand. 5nd that means that you ha#e to belie#e that <od directs you before He e#er directs you, because you recei#e from <od throu1h faith. +ome will say, @<od ne#er tells me what to do. * wish He>d tell me what to do.@ :hat>s ri1ht, and He won>t tell you, either, because in order for <od to direct you, He>s 1ot to 1et your report, or what you belie#e, on the subFect. *f you tell Him, @* belie#e Iou don>t direct me, @ <od will say, @* second that.@ People come up to me all the time after * preach and teach, and say, @Prophet, * need a word. Pray for me for direction.@ :hey want me to prophesy o#er them what they ou1ht to do. But the Bible says, !The steps of a ri%hteous #an are ordered of the "ord! APsalm '6:2'B. :hat means, if * want to be directed of the &ord, *>#e 1ot to belie#e first that *>m the ri1hteousness of <od in 2hrist Eesus. 5nd if * am, and if <od is no respecter of persons, * will ha#e direction, whether or not * see it yet. :herefore, when the de#il comes to you and says, @Iou don>t ha#e any directionD @ Fust tell him, @4e#il, * don>t need any direction to whip youD *>m 1oin1 to win, standin1 ri1ht where *>m at.@ 26 he Hidden Power of Your Words 1ro# ,n'isible to Cisible How were the natural, tan1ible thin1s createdC *>m referrin1 to the uni#erse, the stars, and the earth itselfG man7ind, animals, an1els. How were they createdC :he Bible says: Throu%h faith we understand that the worlds were fra#ed b- the word of od& so that thin%s which are seen were not #ade of thin%s which do appear( Hebrews 11:8 5nd that means they were made by the ?ord of <od, or by the words that <od spo7e. +ome will ar1ue, @?ell, 1et out of the Bible. <et out of that thin1 about hearin1 <od and tal7in1 about what <od says. :hat>s all fine and 1ood, but 1et down to earth.@ !arth was created because <od spo7e, and Eesus said that mountains would be mo#ed because a man will spea7 to them: !((( whosoe'er shall sa- to this #ountain(((! A=ar7 :2'B. Wh- >o You 1ace DbstaclesE 4o you 7now why mountains are hereC +o 2hristians can mo#e them. :hat>s ri1ht. ?hy do you run into obstaclesC Because you>re more than a conqueror. ?hy is there an enemyC Because he>s 1oin1 to become <od>s footstool. :he de#il is here to be wal7ed on by the 2hurch, bound up by belie#ers, and cast out by Holy <host fol7s. *t puts a little fun into this spiritual race 7nowin1 that. :he other day, someone said to me, @?ell, * tried to do what you said. * told the de#il to 1et off my bac7, but he wouldn>t listen.@ 20 'od1/reathed Words 9f course, he>s not 1oin1 to listen. 4o you thin7 he wants to 1i#e up bein1 carried around on a 2hristian>s bac7C *>d rather be carried by a 2hristian than by anyone else, and so would the de#il. But <od ne#er said, @2arry the de#il on your bac7, and then tell him to 1et off.@ <od said, @?al7 on himD@ &i7e the man told me, @Brother, Fust 7eep on doin1 what you>re doin1, and <od will 7eep on anointin1 you.@ He added, @%emember, li7e 9ral %oberts said, ><reater is He that>s in you than he that is in the world.>@ Dnl- Scripture ,s :ffecti'e How many of you 7now that 9ral %oberts did not come up with that statementC He didn>t ori1inate !reater is He that is in -ou than he that is in the world(! *t>s a Bible #erse from First Eohn 4:4. *t will ne#er wor7 for me if 9ral %oberts said itH howe#er, it wi-- wor7 for me if <od showed it to 9ral %oberts, and he repeated it, and it is the immo#able, unsha7able, eternal ?ord of <od. :hen * can count on it, for it is true, as the actual #erse reads, that !((( %reater is he that is in -ou& than he that is in the world(! ?hyC Because <od said it, and His words are life and truthH and throu1h faith * can understand their reality. 9n the other hand, if * belie#e somethin1 that came to me secondhandGsomethin1 created throu1h a preacher>s fleshly de#isin1Ghow am * 1oin1 to be able to use that a1ainst the de#ilC *t>s not +cripture, and it won>t wor7. od's Words Hold the Uni'erse To%ether :he Bible says, !Who bein% the bri%htness of His %lor-&! spea7in1 of Eesus, !and the e3press i#a%e of his person& and upholdin% all thin%s b- the word of his 2. he Hidden Power of Your Words power(((! AHebrews :'B. 4id you 7now the whole uni#erse is still 1lued to1etherC <ra#ity is still wor7in1, and the balance of the uni#erse is still acti#e, because e#erythin1 is 1lued by in#isible, <od-breathed words that He spo7e * don>t 7now how many $illions of years a1o. *f you could 7ill <od>s ?ord, you could blow up the uni#erseGbut, of course, you can>t 7ill <od>s ?ord. :he Bible says that <od ma1nified His ?ord abo#e His name APsalm '0:2B. His ?ord is in a realm of its own. *t>s ali#e, it operates in you and me, and it brin1s di#ine chan1e. ?e become carriers of e"plosi#e power, because we are carriers of words that 1i#e 1lory to the ;in1 of 7in1s and the &ord of lords. hese words are going to .-ow u! the de+i-, Pa- )ttention to od M- son& attend to #- words* incline thine ear unto #- sa-in%s( "et the# not depart fro# thine e-es* $eep the# in the #idst of thine heart( 1or the- are life unto those that find the#& and health to all their flesh( Pro'erbs 7:6A;66 ,otice what <od is sayin1 to us: @5ttend to my words.@ Pay attention to them.@*ncline your ear to them.@ Hear them.@&et them not depart from your eyes.@ &oo7 at the promises of <od.@;eep them in the midst of your heart.@ Hide them in your spirit man. ?hy is <od sayin1 that we should do all these thin1sC Because it>s important for our triumph in the earth realm. ') 'od1/reathed Words *t>s imperati#e that we embrace the life that is in <od>s ?ord. *f we do, we>ll be founded on a stron1 foundation, and the Bible says that the de#il will ha#e no place in us AEohn 4:')H !phesians 4:26B. Sinnin% )%ainst od &oo7 a1ain at the phrase, !$eep the# in the #idst of thine heart(! %emember, the Bible says, !Th- word ha'e , hid in #ine heart& that , #i%ht not sin a%ainst thee! APsalm .:B. ?hyC Because His ?ord is a-i+e in our heart. ,ow let me e"plain somethin1 to you. ?hen we thin7 of sinnin1 a1ainst <od, we automatically thin7 of brea7in1 the :en 2ommandments, or we thin7 of a sin li7e theft, murder, adultery, bac7bitin1, hatred, #ariance, or whate#er. But <od said if we will hide His ?ord in our hearts, we won>t sin a1ainst Him. ?hyC Because anythin1 that>s a #iolation of what <od said is sinnin1 a1ainst <od. ?e also read where the Bible said that <od>s words are life and health to all your flesh APro#erbs 4:22B. +ome people complain, @* always 1et sic7. *>m Fust sic7ly, and * don>t understand it. * wish <od would heal me.@ :hat>s sinnin1 a1ainst <od, because if the ?ord was hid in my heart, when * open my mouth, the confession that>s 1oin1 to come out of my mouth is, !2- His stripes , was healed! A Peter 2:24B. *t doesn>t matter how * feelH *>m not 1oin1 to sin a1ainst <od. +o if * feel wea7, *>m not 1oin1 to run around sayin1, @*>m so wea7.@ *nstead, *>m 1oin1 to say, !)s #- da-s are& so shall #- stren%th be! A4euteronomy '':2(B, because that>s what <od>s ?ord in my heart is. ' he Hidden Power of Your Words +ome of us ha#e been hidin1 the wron1 word in our heart, li7e, !The thin% which , %reatl- feared has co#e upon #e! AEob ':2(B. :hat>s the wron1 wordD =i%htl- >i'idin% the Word of Truth *nstead, we need to hide words in our hearts that pro#en men and women of <od spea7 by the inspiration of the Holy +pirit, because the Bible says, !Stud- to shew th-self appro'ed unto od& a wor$#an that needeth not to be asha#ed& ri%htl- di'idin% the word of truth! A2 :imothy 2:(B. ?e need to di#ide what the de#il and the flesh said from what <od said. 4on>t quote the de#ilH quote <od. 4on>t quote the fleshH quote <od. :here are many thin1s in the Bible that were truly said, and they are a truth, but they are not the truth. 6 truth will not set you free. Eesus said, !Ye shall $now the truth, and the truth shall #a$e -ou free! AEohn 0:'2B. ,ot a truth. Iou say, @?ell, * don>t want to lie, so when * ha#e a headache, *>m 1oin1 to say * ha#e a headache.@ How many ha#e e#er thou1ht thatC Ies, it is a fact that you are ha#in1 a headache, but the truth says, !2- His stripes -ou were healed(! ?hat are you 1oin1 to belie#eG a truth, or the truthC Iou say, @?ell, *>m ha#in1 wron1 thou1hts and feelin1s. :hey don>t resemble Eesus, they don>t resemble the fruit of the +pirit, and *>m not 1oin1 to lie about ha#in1 them.@ :hat is a fact: Iou are ha#in1 wron1 thou1hts, and you are feelin1 thin1s that don>t resemble the fruit of the +piritH but the truth is, you>re the ri1hteousness of <od in 2hrist Eesus, and the truth is, you ha+e the mind of 2hrist '2 'od1/reathed Words APhilippians 2:(B. Iou may say, @*>m confused.@ :hat is a fact. Iou may be e"periencin1 the natural symptoms of confusion, but your spiritual position in <od is, <od is not the author of confusion A 2orinthians 4:''B. 5nd the truth in <od is, !Thou wilt $eep hi# in perfect peace& whose #ind is sta-ed on thee(((! A*saiah 2/:'B. Wal$ )bo'e Your >ifficulties +o, instead of sayin1 what you feel in the natural, you ou1ht to say what you belie#e by faith. ?hen you 1rasp that truth, you>ll wal7 abo#e and not beneath your difficulties. Eesus told the Father& !1ather& , than$ thee that thou hast heard #e( )nd , $now that thou hearest #e alwa-s(((! AEohn :4, 42B. But when we as7 2hristians, @4oes <od always hear youC @ they mumble, @?ell, * ho!e so.@ Eesus said that if we as7 anythin1 in His name, He hears us. :hat>s what Eesus said. * didn>t say it. @?ell, brother, * don>t want to lie and say <od always hears me when He doesn$t.5 @?ell, why doesn>t HeC@ @* don>t 7now.@ *>ll tell you why. *t>s because you>re sayin1 He doesn>t. Iou>re choosin1 to belie#e past historyGhow it>s been for you in your life until nowGinstead of doin1 what the apostle Paul said: ((( this one thin% , do& for%ettin% those thin%s which are behind& and reachin% forth unto those thin%s which are before& '' he Hidden Power of Your Words , press toward the #ar$ for the priFe of the hi%h callin% of od in Christ +esus( Philippians 8:18& 17 1indin% and Spea$in% od's Word +o *>m 1oin1 to hide <od>s ?ord in my heart, and *>m 1oin1 to spea7 it. ?hen * do, <od>s ?ord is 1oin1 to 1o to wor7. :he &ord said if * put His ?ord in my heart, 7eep it before my eyes, attend to it, and incline my ears to it, it would be life to those that find it and health to all their flesh. ,otice, howe#er, that *>#e 1ot to find the words before they become life and health to me. * thou1ht it was easy to find <od>s ?ord. * thou1ht you Fust opened the Bible and found it, but that>s not so. Iou can open the Bible and read it, but that doesn>t mean you>#e found <od>s ?ord. Iou can come to church and hear it, but that doesn>t mean you>#e found it. Iou can e#en memori$e it and quote it, but that doesn>t mean you>#e found <od>s ?ord. Iou as7, @How do * 7now when *>#e found itC@ 4on>t worry. ?hen you find it, you>ll 7now. *t won>t matter to you then what happensH you will ha#e the assurance that <od>s will is 1oin1 to be done in your life. :his is what happens when you find <od>s ?ord: 5s you hear it, that ?ord ceases to be simply a lesson or a messa1e you are e"posed to. 9nce you recei#e it in your heart and allow its unlimited e"pression, it becomes ali#e and e"presses itself throu1h youD +o when you recei#e <od>s ?ord, you>ll 7now itD Iou 7new it when you recei#ed <od>s ?ord concernin1 sal#ation, didn>t youC Iou 7new that you 7new that you '4 'od1/reathed Words 7new that when you said the sinner>s prayer, you were 1oin1 to 1et sa#ed, didn>t youC Iou didn>t come to the altar and say, @* ho!e <od hears me when * say the sinner>s prayer.@ ,o, you were thorou1hly con#inced that you had found His ?ord about sal#ation, and you 7new that all you had to do was belie#e in your heart and confess with your mouth, and you would be sa#ed. ?ho 1uaranteed that this would happenC Iou found <od>s ?ord. :he Bible says that <od>s words are !life unto those that find the#& and health to all their flesh(! :he Bible says, !/eep th- heart with all dili%ence* for out of it are the issues of life! APro#erbs 4:2'B. uard Your Heart <uard your heart with stron1 dili1ence and commitment. 4on>t allow forei1n elements, such as lies or spiritual influences of the enemy, to trouble your heart. <uard it from the words and the thou1hts of the de#il, because <od intends it to be a #essel of honor. <od intends that the issues of life should pour out of your heart. How are the issues of life e"pressed throu1h youC hrough words. 9ut of your heart the issues of life are e"pressed. *f * spo7e ten thousand words in ton1ues, it mi1ht bless you, and it would bless meGbut ton1ues can>t e"press the issues of life. Eesus said, !He that belie'eth on #e& as the scripture hath said& out of his bell- shall flow ri'ers of li'in% water! AEohn 6:'0B. :he words of <od are 1oin1 to be1in to pour forth out of <od>s people. :hese words will resemble missiles, darts, '( he Hidden Power of Your Words and weapons of war. :hey will hit thin1s in the +pirit. :hey will hit the ad#ersaryD :he de#il is 1oin1 to try to shoot a fiery dart at you, but <od said you can quench a-- his fiery dartsD :a7e up the sword of the +pirit and slash the enemy, because the truth sets <od>s people free. ) Pra-er 7ather, ) than( You for *our words and for *our !erfect wi-- for m* -ife. ) choose to recei+e and .e-ie+e *our words, and to mi4 them with faith. ) .e-ie+e now in what You$+e done, .ut ) a-so .e-ie+e in what You$re going to do. ) than( You for m* 0ourne*, m* +ictor*, m* !romotion, m* hea-ing, and m* !ros!erit*. ) than( You for the mind of Christ, the words of 'od, c-ear direction, steadfastness, sta.i-it*, strength, c-arit*, and wisdom. ) than( You for the fruit of the S!irit, the gifts of the Ho-* S!irit, the armor of 'od, the 8ame of Jesus, and the .-ood of the 9am.. ) than( You that )$m the winner, and that ) can do a-- things through Christ which strengthens me, which means ) can do a-- things through *our -i+ing Word. 9ord, s!ea(, and as You s!ea(, )$-- .e changed. Your Word wi-- not fa-- on deaf ears, on dr* -and, or on !arched -and, .ut it wi-- fa-- on good soi-, and it wi-- .e -odged dee! in m* heart. )$-- hide it, and ) won$t sin against You. )$-- s!ea( the re!ort of the 9ord, and .e-ie+e that )$-- !ossess m* -and of !romise. here is no giant .ig enough to sto! me. here is no de+i-, no .att-e, no mountain, no cha--enge, no o.stac-e, no hardshi!, no -imit that wi-- ho-d me .ac(. ) am going a-- the wa*, for greater is He that is in me than he that is in the wor-d. 6men. '/ Chapter 8 8 Words )s Weapons hen man7ind spea7s, whether on behalf of <od or on behalf of the de#il, those words pac7 power. ? ?hyC Because <od has in#ested authority, power, and ability in words. !#er since <od breathed into man the breath of life, man recei#ed authority and power that could be released throu1h him in the form of words. !#en the unre1enerate, unsa#ed indi#idual who is not +pirit filled has within his soulish ma7eup, Fust because he is human, a certain amount of power. Iou can see this in the ,ew 51e =o#ement, in the cults, and in satanism with its curses. ?hen you #isit 5frican nations, you find that they ta7e curses #ery seriously. :hey 7now that people can spea7 words that are char1ed with human, soulish power and then are infused with demonic forceGand that is 7nown as witchcraft. 9n the other hand, <od chose to redeem a people who will accept redemption, to deli#er a people who will accept deli#erance, and Eesus promised, !,'# %oin% to fill -ou with power& after that the Hol- host is co#e upon -ou! A5cts :0B. :hat power He 1a#e us is e"pressed and released when we spea7 the report of the &ord. ?e can belie#e it, meditate on it, 7eep it before our eyes, bide it in our heart, and then spea7 itH and those words will come out of our bein1 as weapons of battle that will slay the enemy as well as shape our circumstances and allow them to line up with <od>s will and purpose. '6 he Hidden Power of Your Words +ustified b- Your Words Eesus said in =atthew 2:'6, !1or b- th- words thou shalt be .ustified& and b- th- words thou shall be conde#ned(! Eustification is not an automatic condition that operates in spite of your decisions. *n other words, * can>t decide to be condemned and be Fustified. * can>t decide to be defeated and be Fustified. * can>t decide to be a castaway and be Fustified. * can>t approach the throne of <od and say, @<od, * 7now Iou>#e ne#er heard me before, and chances are, Iou>re not 1oin1 to hear me a1ain,@ and be Fustified. *t doesn>t wor7 automatically. * ha#e to be Fustified the way Eesus said: .* words. He didn>t say by your spouse>s words or your pastor>s words. He said, !2- thy words thou shalt be .ustified& and b- thy words thou shalt be conde#ned(! :hat tells me that the &ord left the final decision to us. For e"ample, <od told the children of *srael, !, call hea'en and earth to record this da- a%ainst -ou& that , ha'e set before -ou life and death& blessin% and cursin%: therefore choose life(((! A4euteronomy '):.B. ?e should be li7e Eoshua, who said, !)s for #e and #- house& we shall ser'e the "ord(! How many see power in those wordsC @?ell, Eoshua, how do you (now you>re 1oin1 to ser#e the &ordC ?hat if you bac7slideC@ ?e, li7e Eoshua, can answer that we>re not of those who draw bac7H we>re of those who belie#e, to the sa#in1 of our souls. How do we 7nowC Because that>s the way it isH that>s what we decided. 9ur words can become a Fustifyin1, redeemin1, '0 Words 6s Wea!ons deli#erin1 factor in our mouth that enables us to wal7 a life of constant transformation before <od. ) 2i% Proble#: ) 2i% Mouth =any people, howe#er, ha#e a bi1 problem they cannot o#ercome, and that problem is their bi1 mouth. :he reason it>s a bi1 problem is, instead of yieldin1 it to a bi1 <od, they yield it to a little de#il. :hey>re always spea7in1 ne1ati#ely, statin1 how hard e#erythin1 is, and their words snare them. :he Bible says, !Thou art snared with the words of th- #outh& thou art ta$en with the words of th- #outh! APro#erbs /:2B. :he Bible says, !((( the #outh of the upri%ht shall deli'er the#! APro#erbs 2:/B, and, !((( the ton%ue of the wise is health! APro#erbs 2:0B. ?hyC Because such people yield their membersGin this case, their ton1uesG as instruments of ri1hteousness to <od. *f Eesus tau1ht that what * say will either Fustify or condemn me, *>m 1oin1 to say what Fustifies me. When Ton%ues =ise Up )%ainst You *saiah (4:6 says, !0o weapon that is for#ed a%ainst thee shall prosper* and e'er- ton%ue that shall rise a%ainst thee in .ud%#ent thou shalt conde#n( This is the herita%e of the ser'ants of the "ord& and their ri%hteousness is of #e& saith the "ord(! &isten to what <od Fust said: @*t does not matter what 7ind of weapon the de#il forms a1ainst you. *t does not matter how stron1 that weapon loo7s. 5s a matter of fact, it does not matter what 7ind of ton1ue rises up a1ainst you.@ :hat tells me that the &ord associates demonic '. he Hidden Power of Your Words weapons with words. :hat tells me that <od is sayin1, @?hat the de#il uses as weapons are curses and words he spea7s a1ainst <od>s law and <od>s plan for your life.@ The >e'il's >ia%nosis &et me 1i#e you an e"ample. 5 belie#er starts to 1et symptoms in her body. +he feels pain, she feels wea7, and she starts ha#in1 ne1ati#e thou1hts that say, @Iou shall die and not li#e.@ A:hat>s a weapon the de#il launched.B :his sister then 1oes to some educated man who speciali$es in 1uesswor7, and he also tells her, @Iou shall die and not li#e.@ 5 woman li7e this came to one of my meetin1s in the =idwest. +he had to be carried up to the altar by se#eral men. +he had a bowel disease that had paraly$ed her lower e"tremities. +he couldn>t wal7, and she was in e"cruciatin1 pain. * as7ed, @?hat>s wron1C @ +he told me, and * as7ed, @?hat did your doctors sayC@ @*t>s incurable, @ she replied. Hea'en's >ia%nosis How many 7now that was a ton1ue that rose up a1ainst herC How many 7now that was a weapon that the de#il formed a1ainst herC * said to the con1re1ation, @How many of you want to hear hea+en$s diagnosis3 *t is, '2- His stripes -ou were healedB@> ?hen * laid hands on her, she shot off li7e she>d been shot out of a cannon. * said, @%unD@ +he started runnin1 all o#er that church Ghealed instantly by the power of <od, for !no weapon 4) Words 6s Wea!ons for#ed a%ainst -ou shall prosper(! :he &ord is raisin1 up people who refuse to repeat, bro7er, carry, or deli#er messa1es He didn>t send. :hey refuse to carry their own opinions, the de#il>s plans, their s7eptical friends> opinions, or anythin1 else that <od didn>t send. :hey will only carry the ?ord of the &ord, and they choose to condemn e#ery ton1ue that rises a1ainst themG because their ri1hteousness is of <od. ?hy can>t the de#il condemn themC Because your own words will either Fustify you or condemn you. !=eturn to Sender! *f the de#il can>t 1et your ton1ue to wor7 for him, he can>t 1et his @pac7a1es@Ghis destructi#e weapons, his fiery dartsGdeli#ered to you. 5fter a while, he 1ets the pac7a1e bac7. 9n it you>#e written, @2ancerG%eturn to +enderD@ Iou didn>t cooperate. +o when you start to feel a symptom, don>t say, @*>m catchin1 the Hon1 ;on1 flu. *>m under the weather. *>m comin1 down with somethin1.@ *t>s ridiculous for someone to say, @*>m comin1 down with somethin1@ when they don>t e#en 7now what it is, yet they belie#e it. :he de#il will accommodate them. He>ll say, @Ies, we ha#e any number of thin1s here for you to come down with. ?hich do you preferC@ He>s li7e the announcer who comes on tele#ision and says, @4o you ha#e hay fe#erC ?ould you li7e toC@ *f we would not yield our lips, our ton1ue, our words, or our thou1ht life to what the de#il wants us to spea7, we would be Fustified by what we spea7 on behalf of <od. 4 he Hidden Power of Your Words The >e'il's Subtle )ttac$s :hat>s why, when a ton1ue rises a1ainst you, you can condemn it. :he ton1ue is not risin1 a1ainst you and tellin1 you an ob#ious messa1e of contradictionH it>s comin1 to you in a thou1ht form that says, @Iou>re sure tired, and your body is actin1 a little stran1e. Iou should ha#e that chec7ed.@ :he de#il will come to you and say, @Iou 7now, it doesn>t loo7 li7e your finances are shapin1 up, and it doesn>t loo7 li7e there is any way out in the natural.@ He will come to you and say, @<od must not be pleased with where you areH that>s why you>re in the situation you>re in.@ :hat ton1ue is not 1oin1 to come a1ainst you in a #isible, clearly discernible way. *t>s 1oin1 to be subtle about what it says to you. :he only way you can condemn that ton1ue and resist that weapon is by Fustifyin1 yourself in the si1ht of <od through what *ou choose to !ut in *our mouth. When )ttac$s Co#e ?hen symptoms come, * say, @By His stripes * was healed.@ ?hen the de#il comes a1ainst me throu1h financial lac7, * quote Philippians 4:.: @=y <od shall supply all of my need accordin1 to His riches in 1lory by 2hrist Eesus.@ ?hen * seem to be facin1 a 1reat battle, * claim First Eohn 4:4: !reater is He that is in #e than he that is in the world(! *n this way, * Fustify myself in the si1ht of <od by puttin1 His word to wor7 in my life, rather than by puttin1 the word of the de#il to wor7 in my life. Both sources carry power. :he de#il>s power is 42 Words 6s Wea!ons borrowed and stolen. <od>s power, throu1h Eesus 2hrist, was 1ained in conquest. ?hen Eesus came into the earth as a man anointed by the Holy +pirit, He defeated the de#il. 5fter His crucifi"ion, He went down into the lower parts of the earth, and He didn>t come up a1ain empty-handedD :he Bible says, !)nd ha'in% spoiled principalities and powers& he #ade a show of the# openl-& triu#phin% o'er the# in it! A2olossians 2:(B. He rose a1ain with the 7eys of death, hell, and the 1ra#e, and said, !)ll power is %i'en unto #e in hea'en and in earth! A=atthew 20:0B. Power D'er the :ne#-B :hen He said, !2ehold& , %i'e unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions& and o'er all the power of the ene#-& and nothin% shall b- an- #eans hurt you" A&u7e ):.B. &et>s 1o bac7 to the promise in *saiah (4:!0o weapon that is for#ed a%ainst you shall prosper(! ?hy isn>t it 1oin1 to hurt youC /ecause *ou$re not gi+ing it *our tongue. ?hat if the apostle Paul, ri1ht after the sna7e bit him, had complained, @=y <od, * sur#i#ed that shipwrec7, but now *>m 1oin1 to die of sna7e biteD @ How many 7now he would ha#e dropped deadC But Paul shoo7 the sna7e bac7 into the fire. He 1a#e no place to the de#il. 5nd that>s the 7ind of people <od is raisin1 upGa people who won>t 1i#e the de#il a place in their life. Don$t -et the de+i- ta-( out of *our mouth. +ome people say, @?ell, *>m Fust not adequate. *>m so wea7. * don>t ha#e any wisdom. * don>t ha#e your 7ind of faith. <od 7nows 4' he Hidden Power of Your Words how * amH He made me li7e this.@ ,o, He didn>tD 5nd He>s wor7in1 o#ertime to try to chan1e you. But e#ery time you come to church and the ?ord of <od cleanses and Fustifies you, and you shout, @HalleluFah,@ and then you wal7 outside and hit a battle, you immediately start bindin1 and snarin1 yourself by what *ou sa*. =edee#ed 1ro# the Curse <alatians ':', 4 says: Christ hath redee#ed us fro# the curse of the law& bein% #ade a curse for us: for it is written& Cursed is e'er- one that han%eth on a tree: That the blessin% of )braha# #i%ht co#e on the entiles throu%h +esus Christ* that we #i%ht recei'e the pro#ise of the Spirit throu%h faith( ?e>#e heard teachin1 that amplified and emphasi$ed what the curse of the law is, ha#en>t weC ?e reali$e that the curse of the law is death, po#erty, sic7ness, and fallin1 short of the 1lory of <od. But here * want to show you a curse that Paul li7ened to carryin1 a dead body on your bac7. He said in %omans 6:24, !D wretched #an that , a#B who shall deli'er #e fro# the bod- of this deathE ! Here Paul described what it was li7e to try to be ri1hteous, but to fall short of itH to e#er attempt, but ne#er achie#eH to e#er stri#e, but ne#er reach the 1oal. Iou see, the 9ld :estament pro#ed one thin1: !)ll ha'e sinned& and co#e short of the %lor- of od(! *t pro#ed that all our ri1hteousness is as filthy ra1s. <od established this law, which was a ri1hteous and perfect lawH a law that said, @*f you perform this law fully, 44 Words 6s Wea!ons you will reap the rewards of bein1 what the &ord declared was ri1hteous.@ Iet not one person on planet !arth could perform this law fully, because !)ll ha'e sinned& and co#e short of the %lor- of od! A%omans ':2'B. :he law said, !He that doeth the# #ust li'e b- the#(! *n other words, you don>t start the race of life as ri1hteousH howe#er, if by chance you should 7eep e#ery Fot and tittle of the law and finish the race without brea7in1 one commandment, you>re pronounced ri1hteous. The Worst Curse :he problem was: ,o one e#er finished the race of life without brea7in1 a commandment. :hat>s the curse, and that>s the worst curse you could ha#e: the curse of e#er needin1 a 4eli#ererD Howe#er, in <alatians ':', 4, the Bible says that Eesus 2hrist has redeemed us from that curseD :he only 9ne who 7ept the totality of the law was the 9ne who spo7e the law into e"istence in the first placeG Eesus 2hristGand no one can reach <od without 1oin1 throu1h 2hrist. !#ery word that <od spo7e in the law was desi1ned to be a blessin1, but it turned out to be a curse. ?hyC Because if you couldn>t 7eep it, it couldn>t bless you. *f you couldn>t perform it, it couldn>t ma7e you ri1hteous. *f you couldn>t fulfill all of it, it couldn>t 1uarantee <od>s blessin1s and abundance in your life. "i'in% on Credit :herefore, each of the 9ld :estament saints li#ed on @credit,@ loo7in1 forward to the comin1 4eli#erer who would deli#er them and chan1e their hearts so they would then be clean from the inside out, instead of attemptin1 to 4( he Hidden Power of Your Words clean themsel#es up from the outside in. Here in <alatians, <od says that He has redeemed us from that curse throu1h Eesus> death on the cross. Eesus was made a curse for us, !for it is written& Cursed is e'er- one that han%eth on a tree! A<alatians ':'B. ?hy did Eesus redeem us from the curseC +o the blessin1s of 5braham could be ours. ,otice, howe#er, that Eesus is not going to redeem you from the curse someday in the sweet bye-and-bye. 2hrist hathGpast tenseGdeli#ered us from the curse of the law. :hat means we don>t ha#e to li#e under a curseH we can li#e under a blessin1D 5nd what is a curseC *t>s a word, a ton1ue, a messa1e, a report that condemns. "i'in% Under the 2lessin% ?hat is a blessin1C *t>s a word, a ton1ue, a messa1e, a report that 0ustifies. ?hen it Fustifies, it can brin1 all the resources <od has and 1i#e them to you freely and liberally. ?hyC Iou>re Fustified. <od couldn>t bypass you if He triedD You$re a !erfect candidate for answered !ra*er. Iou>re a perfect candidate for His promises to be made real in your life. ,o one is in a better condition to be healed than you. ,o one is in a better condition to be wealthy and blessed than you. ,o oneD But you>#e 1ot to allow <od>s ?ord to appropriate the blessin1s of 5braham for your life. ?atch how it happens: !((( that we #i%ht recei'e the pro#ise of the Spirit through faith A<alatians ':4B. ?hen the +pirit comes, * recei#e Him by faith, and then He be1ins to inspire me with the ?ord of <od. *>#e 1ot to use that faith to spea7 <od>s ?ord into my life, because by my words * am Fustified. 4/ Words 6s Wea!ons +ome ha#e said, @*>m Fust a sinner. * ha#e a problem with lust. =y problem is my fleshG* can>t 7eep my flesh under.@ +how me a person who tal7s li7e that, and *>ll show you a person who>s 1ot a problem with lust. +how me a person who tal7s about depression all the time, and *>ll show you a depressed person. ?hyC Because .* their words the* are condemned. :hey>re pronouncin1 a condemnation on themsel#es rather than a blessin1. 1rustration to 1reedo# Paul was yan7in1 his hair out in frustration under the 9ld :estament 4ispensation when he declared in %omans 6:24, !D wretched #an that , a#B who shall deli'er #e fro# the bod- of this deathE! But then in %omans 0: he says, !There is therefore now no conde#nation to the# which are in Christ +esus& who wal$ not after the flesh& but after the Spirit(! ?hy is there no condemnation for themC Because they can 7eep their mouthGand with their words they are not condemnedH they are Fustified. :hey belie#e that 2hrist has destroyed the curse, so the curse cannot operate on belie#ers who ha#e chosen to put the ?ord of <od in their heart and life. :he Bible says, !There shall no e'il befall thee& neither shall an- pla%ue co#e ni%h th- dwellin%! APsalm .:)B. ?hen a pla1ue is 1oin1 around loo7in1 for a candidate to de#our, and it sees a Bible-belie#in1 child of <od who chooses to put the ?ord of <od in his mouth, the pla1ue says, @?e>d better not try to 1o near that houseD@ :he pla1ue 7nows what is 1oin1 to happen: :he belie#er is 1oin1 to rise up and say, @,o, * choose blessin1D@ 46 he Hidden Power of Your Words ?hen you operate in that realm, the whole earth can be in drou1ht, but it will rain in your bac7 yard. :he whole earth can be in famine, but your apple tree will bear. 5 little boy can say, @5ll *>#e 1ot are a couple of fishes,@ but you>ll multiply them. The >ouble;Minded Man :hat>s the 7ind of new breed <od is raisin1 upH not wea7 people who are tossed about with e#ery wind of doctrine. +uch people are double minded. :hey>re blessed on +unday mornin1 but down and out by =onday ni1ht. 5s Eames wrote: "et not that #an thin$ that he shall recei'e an- thin% of the "ord( ) double #inded #an is unstable in all his wa-s( +a#es 1:@& G 4ouble mindedness manifests with a double testimony. 4o you 7now what a double ton1ue isC 5 serpent. :he words we spea7 with our mouth are powerful. :he reason our ministry is where it is today is because we belie#ed what <od said about it, and we put that in our mouth and refused to embrace any report that was contrary to <od>s perfect plan for us. 40 Chapter 7 7 The Perfect Man M- brethren& be not #an- #asters& $nowin% that we shall recei'e the %reater conde#nation( 1or in #an- thin%s we offend all( ,f an- #an offend not in word& the sa#e is a perfect #an& and able also to bridle the whole bod-( 2ehold& we put bits in the horses' #ouths& that the- #a- obe- us* and we turn about their whole bod-( +a#es 8:1;8 onsider what Eames Fust said. He said, !,n #an- thin%s we offend( 2ut if a #an could #ana%e not to offend in word& that #an is a perfect #an& and that #an is a #ature #an who is able to bridle the whole bod-(! 2 ?hat is an offense to <odC Juotin1 anythin1 He didn>t say. :his means that some preachers> sermons are an offense to <odD <od didn>t 1i#e them the outline, let alone the sermon. For e"ample, they 1et up and say, @?ell, +o-and-so 1ot healed of cancer, but <od too7 him with a heart attac7.@ :hat>s an offense to <od. But <od said if we could mana1e not to offend in what we say, we are mature and perfect in His si1ht. ,ot only that, but we are able to bridle our whole body. ) =ebellious !House!E =ost 2hristians li#e their whole life tryin1 to bridle their body. :hey thin7 they li#e in a monstrous, rebellious, 4. he Hidden Power of Your Words ready-to-sin, ready-to-step-out-of-line @house@ that can>t stand the presence of <od. 5nd they thin7 that @bridlin1 your body@ means that when you want to sin, you Fust don>t do it. Iou control your mind, pray in ton1ues, and wor7 o#ertime to try to li#e for <od. But how many of you 7now that you don>t bridle the horse because he>s a .ad animalH you bridle the horse because he>s a good animal. Iou bridle him because you>re 1oin1 to ride him. He>s 1oin1 to cooperate with you and ta7e you where#er you want to 1o. :hus, you don>t bridle him to cripple himH you bridle him to direct him, so he will carry you where you intend to 1o. !ood Horse-B! <od said if you would put His ?ord in your mouth, you>d stop ha#in1 a spirited body that buc7s and 7ic7s e#ery time <od tries to 1et it to 1o somewhere. *f you>d put His ?ord in your mouth re1ardin1 yourself, your body would be a @1ood horsey@ that would ta7e you where <od is leadin1 you. Iou don>t want to ride a horse that you>#e 1ot to beat o#er the head and fi1ht to rein him left or ri1ht, to stop, and to bac7 up. ,o, you want to ride a horse that responds to a loose rein, because once that horse and you become friends, you can wor7 to1ether. :hat>s what <od said about your body. He said, @*f you put the ri1ht word in your mouth, your body won>t ha#e a problem layin1 hands on the sic7. Iour body won>t ha#e a problem belie#in1 in Eesus, ser#in1 Him, and standin1 a1ainst the wiles of the de#il.@ () he Perfect #an When Thou%hts 2eco#e Words Your !ro.-em, howe+er, has not .een *our .od*: it has .een *our tongue, Iour problem results from the wron1 influence in#adin1 your mind in the form of thou1hts, and in your ma7in1 the wron1 decision to put them in your mouth. :he Bible says, !What co#es out of the heart of a #an defiles a #an&! so the body becomes defiled. Iou say, @?e>re 1oin1 to pray for the sic7 o#er here,@ and your body says, @But * Fust don>t feel li7e it.@ Iou say, @?ell, *>m 1oin1 to read the ?ord toni1ht,@ and your body does not want to cooperate. *nstead, it snoresD ?hyC Because you>#e been feedin1 it the wron1 report. o achie+e *our destin* in 'od, *ou must !ut 'od$s Word in *our mouth. When the Ton%ue >efiles Eames continues his teachin1 in Eames ':/: )nd the ton%ue is a fire& a world of iniquit-* so is the ton%ue a#on% our #e#bers& that it defileth the whole bod-& and setteth on fire the course of nature* and it is set on fire of hell( &oo7 at what the Holy +pirit has chosen to re#eal to us here: :he ton1ue can be a world of iniquity, and it can defile the whole body by what we say. +o if spea7in1 offenses will defi-e your body, spea7in1 truth will 0ustif* you. :he #erse 1oes on to say that the ton1ue will set on fire @the course of nature,@ which means the cycle of life. :his e"plains why some of you are runnin1 into problems you prophesied on yourself in the past. ( he Hidden Power of Your Words People wal7 around in the desert, ne#er enterin1 into the Promised &and, because they>#e chosen to spea7 the wron1 words. :hey are always predictin1 what mi1ht 1o wron1. 4o you do thisC 4o you say, @* wonder what will 1o wron1 ne"tC@ 5re you always tal7in1 about the de#il, sayin1, @:he de#il is comin1 a1ainst me real stron1. Iou>#e 1ot to pray for meD@ :hat word will set on fire the course of nature, and you>ll find your life bein1 consumed with the fire of your own ma7in1D Controllin% the Ton%ue *n this third chapter of Eames, the ton1ue is li7ened to the bit we put in horses> mouths, to the helms that 1uide ships, and to the little fires that 7indle and become 1reat fires. &et>s e"amine these three thin1s. First of all, a lar1e ship is tossed by winds and buffeted by storms. ,e#ertheless, it doesn>t matter how stron1 the wind is, or how fierce the stormH if you 7now how to use the rudder, you can steer that ship in the ri1ht direction, to safety. <od is sayin1, @&earn to use this helm.@ ?hyC +o the ship of your life will 1o upstream. Iou don>t want to 1o downstreamH you want to 1o upstream. &et me as7 you this question: *n case of a shipwrec7, would you rather be left holdin1 onto the helm, or holdin1 onto the shipC Iour choice should be to hold onto the ship, because it is more important. :he same thin1 applies to our body and our life. <od is only interested in our words because He wants to direct our life in the ri1ht course. ?e>#e 1ot it turned around: ?e thin7 it>s a formula. (2 he Perfect #an ?e thin7 we>#e 1ot to ma7e sure we spea7 somethin1 a hundred times or a thousand times before it e#er happens, but that>s not what <od is sayin1. He>s sayin1, @*>#e called you. *>#e chosen you. 5nd now you>re already sa#ed, already deli#ered, and already my ri1hteousness. But in order for you to 1o where *>m sendin1 you, you>#e 1ot to use the bitH you>#e 1ot to use the rudderH you>#e 1ot to use your ton1ue the ri1ht way.@ The Poisonous Ton%ue ?e read that the ton1ue can set on fire the course of nature. Eames writes further in #erses 6 and 0: 1or e'er- $ind of beasts& and of birds& and of serpents& and of thin%s in the sea& is ta#ed& and has been ta#ed of #an$ind: 2ut the ton%ue can no #an ta#e* it is an unrul- e'il& full of deadl- poison( 4o you reali$e that if the ton1ue is full of poison, it>s only full of poison when you>re spea7in1 words of poisonC *t>s only full of poison when you>re spea7in1 a word other than the Word of 'od. But when you>re spea7in1 the ?ord and the report of the ?ord, it>s not so, because the Holy +pirit will inspire and use your mouth to 1lorify Him. ,ow loo7 what happens in #erse .: Therewith bless we od& e'en the 1ather* and therewith curse we #en& which are #ade after the si#ilitude of od( &et me show you what a curse is. ?hen Eesus wal7ed to the barren fi1 tree, He didn>t say, @* curse you, fi1 tree.@ ,o, He said, !0o #an eat fruit of thee hereafter for e'er! A=ar7 :4B. *n other words, He simply made a statement (' he Hidden Power of Your Words appropriatin1 the faith of <od. :he ne"t day, Peter e"claimed, !"oo$ how quic$l- the fi% tree -ou cursed has witheredB! :he men of Bible days 7new what a curse was. 6 curse was an aggressi+e negati+e dec-aration that !roc-aimed what wou-d .e. ?e who are li#in1 under the ,ew :estament dispensation don>t curse men. *n other words, we don>t spea7 ne1ati#ely a1ainst menH we spea7 ne1ati#ely only a1ainst the de#il. )ppropriatin% the 1aith of od ?hyC Because the spirit of pain can be told, @Iou>re not 1oin1 to torment me anymore.@ :he spirit of suicide can be told, @<et out of this house, and ne#er come here a1ain.@ :he spirit of insanity can be told, @Iou ha#e run in this family before, but you will not run in this family anymore.@ 'od has gi+en us the a.i-it* to s!ea( .o-d statements of faith that wi-- carr* out His !ower through words. ?hen Peter commented, !"oo$ how quic$l- the tree -ou cursed has withered&! Eesus responded: Ha'e faith in od( 1or 'eril- , sa- unto -ou& That whosoe'er shall sa- to this #ountain& 2e thou re#o'ed& and be thou cast into the sea* and shall not doubt in his heart& but shall belie'e that those thin%s which he saith shall co#e to pass 4or belie'e in his own words5& he shall ha'e whatsoe'er he saith( Mar$ 11:66& 68 1acin% Your Mountain <od wants you to do somethin1 about the @mountain@ (4 he Perfect #an you face in your life. ?hat if a man stands in front of the mountain he faces and says, @*>m about to tal7 to the mountain any minute now, and when * do, watch it mo#e. But, boy, it>s a .ig mountain. &oo7 at how bi1 this mountain isD :his mountain is so bi1, when it mo#es it>s 1oin1 to ma7e a bi1 show. 2ome to thin7 of it, this mountain is so bi1, it>s ne#er been mo#ed before...@ ?hat if he be1ins to meditate on how bi1 his mountain isC *f he does, he>ll end up with a different messa1e in his mouth: @:his mountain is so bi1, we>#e 1ot to 1o around it. *n fact, we>ll need an1els to carry us o#er itD@ People li7e this ma1nify their own mountain, or problem, with their own words. +omethin1 can start out as a little pebble, but before you>#e finished tal7in1 about it, there>s nothin1 else in your life but that bi1 mountain. Iou>#e ma1nified it with your own words. :he Bible says you can cause the ton1ue to be full of deadly poison when you spea7 the wron1 words with it. Iou can bless the Father with it, or you can curse men which are made in the li7eness of <od with it. %emember, a curse is an a11ressi#e statement which should only be used a1ainst the de#il or circumstances, not men. ) Hidden Curse Unfortunately, you don>t ha#e to say, @* curse you@ to curse a personH you can simply say, @?atch herGshe>ll ma7e the same mista7es a1ain. +he always blows it, and she>ll blow it a1ain. ?atch himGhe>s tryin1 to do somethin1 for <od, but he>ll ne#er prosper. He>s 1oin1 under.@ ?e don>t e#en reali$e what we>re doin1 when we say thin1s li7e this. :hen we 1o and rally support a1ainst these people we>#e cursed by sayin1, @+ister, *>m Fust tellin1 you this (( he Hidden Power of Your Words because * want you to help me pray for +o-and-so. +he>s ha#in1 stru11les.@ ?omen come up to me on the platform and say, @* want you to pray for my husband. He>s sittin1 o#er there. He didn>t want to come up, and he>s ha#in1 trouble.@ * want to say, @Ies, he has a bi1 problem standin1 in front of me ri1ht now.@ ?hen people rally support a1ainst someone by 1ossipin1 about him, that person has to belie#e <od ten times harder because his friends and relati#es are @cursin1@ him by what they say. People e#en curse themsel#esD @!#er since * recei#ed Eesus, the de#il won>t lea#e me alone,@ someone will complain. *t>s a curseD How to Hed%e Your "ife Unless we decide to embrace <od>s perfect will, we>re only 1oin1 to 1et partial ministry or partial deli#erance, always pic7in1 up our old @ba11a1e@ of unbelief a1ain. Howe#er, if we put the ?ord of the &ord in our heart and our mouth, we>ll ha#e <od>s best operatin1 on our behalf. !cclesiastes ):0 says, !He that di%%est a pit shall fall into it* and whoso brea$eth an hed%e& a serpent shall bite hi#(! Iou can @hed1e@ your life and 1arrison it around by cooperatin1 with <od>s ?ord. :his should be your confession: )$m strong in the 9ord and in the !ower of His might. )$+e got the armor of 'od on, and m* ange-s wor( o+ertime. )$m a winner. 'od a-wa*s -eads me to +ictor*. ) stand on 'od$s Word. ) am not mo+ed .* circumstances. ) don$t go .* what ) see. ) .e-ie+e the Word of 'od. )$m not going to charge Him foo-ish-*: )$m going to !ut His Word in m* mouth. )$m not (/ he Perfect #an going to forget His .enefits. He forgi+es a-- m* ini&uities, hea-s a-- m* diseases, and then He satisfies m* mouth with good things so m* *outh is renewed -i(e the eag-es$. How to Co#bat Pre#ature )%in% People at 4) years of a1e are 1ettin1 old. Iou>#e 1ot no business 1ettin1 old at 4). 5 wron1 confession is: @* must be 1ettin1 old, ha-ha. :his body isn>t what it used to be. =y memory is slippin1. * can>t remember li7e * used to.@ :his is a curse. ?hen 2aleb was 0( he said, !)s #- stren%th was& so it is now(! ?hy was thisC Because 2aleb didn>t spend his time in the desert 1ripin1 about how he had missed out on enterin1 the land of promise. He spent his life in the desert sayin1, @?hen all of you doubters die, *>m 1oin1 o#er Eordan, and *>m 1oin1 to possess the landD@ 5nd he did Fust thatD Put 'od$s .-essings in *our mouth, and the*$-- find a wa* to *our heart. 2lessin%s and Cursin%s &et>s see what else Eames has to say on the power of the ton1ue: Therewith bless we od& e'en the 1ather* and therewith curse we #en& which are #ade after the si#ilitude of od( Dut of the sa#e #outh proceedeth blessin% and cursin%( M- brethren& these thin%s ou%ht not so to be( +a#es 8:H& 1A ?hy notC Because both blessin1 and cursin1 ha#e power. ?e must understand that what we sa*, whether (6 he Hidden Power of Your Words blessin1 or cursin1, pac7s power. :hat>s why all the patriarchs laid hands on their children and .-essed them with corn, wine, sheep, cattle, and prophesied a destiny of blessin1s o#er their li#es. Words ha+e !ower. :his is what <od said about the 2hurch: !, will bless the# that bless thee& and curse hi# that curseth thee(((! A<enesis 2:'H <alatians ':4B. People spea7 a1ainst the 2hurch and 2hristians, sayin1 we>re not 1oin1 to ma7e it, we>re a bunch of fla7es, and so forth. ?hen they do this, they>re cursin1 themsel#es by what they spea7, because <od is 1oin1 to fi1ht for His people. 2itter Water or SweetE 4on>t let your mouth become a fountain for @bitter water,@ as Eames describes it. %eali$e you>#e 1ot power in you, and <od put it there. :his power will wor7 by your simply a1reein1 with what <od says with your words. >oth a fountain send forth at the sa#e place sweet water and bitterE Can the fi% tree& #- brethren& bear oli'e berriesE either a 'ine& fi%sE so can no fountain both -ield salt water and fresh( +a#es 8:11& 16 ?hat is Eames sayin1C He>s sayin1, @*f you are a ri1hteous man or woman, choose to relay your identity by a 1ood messa1e. &et your words spea7 loudly on <od>s behalf.@ :he day will come when ordinary, e#eryday, +pirit- filled, Bible-belie#in1 2hristians will do 1reater miracles than Eesus did two thousand years a1o. 5nd you>re probably one of those 2hristiansD (0 he Perfect #an @?ell, * am one of them.@ :hen do what you>re told. ?ith our words we bind the de#il. ?ith our words we release <od>s will. ?ith our words we bind circumstances that <od didn>t send. ?ith our words we>re 1oin1 to 1et souls sa#ed. ?ith our words we>re 1oin1 to 1et the sic7 healed. 5nd with a shout, we>re 1oin1 to 1et the dead raisedGbecause <od has in#ested His 1lory in the heart of His childrenD The /e- to =i%ht Standin% :his is the 7ey to ri1ht standin1 with <od, found in the Boo7 of :itus. Unto the pure all thin%s are pure: but unto the# that are defiled and unbelie'in% is nothin% pure: but e'en their #ind and conscience is defiled( The- profess that the- $now od* but in wor$s the- den- hi#& bein% abo#inable& and disobedient& and unto e'er- %ood wor$ reprobate( Titus 1:1<& 1? &et>s loo7 at this passa1e more closely.!Unto the pure all thin%s are pure(! ?ho are the pureC :he Bible says that we purify our souls by obeyin1 the truth. :he Bible says to cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. Positionally, purity of heart is a free 1ift Eesus 1a#e. ?e didn>t ha#e to do anythin1 to earn it. ?hen we recei#ed Eesus and belie#ed in the blood, we were pure instantly. ?hy, then, is <od sayin1 some are pure and some are defiledC Eust because you are positionally pure does not mean you>re (ee!ing yourself pure by what you say. By your words you are condemned, and by your words you are Fustified, and the Bible says the ton1ue can defile the (. he Hidden Power of Your Words whole body. What the Pure Sa- !To the pure& all thin%s are pure(! :hat means the pure tal7 purity. :he pure tal7 about how wonderful it is to be washed in the blood. :he pure tal7 about how wonderful it is to be friends with <od. :he pure say, !od is #- Helper( , will not fear(! :he pure bra1 on <od. :he pure reali$e the 1ift they ha#e, and they allow it to be in their heart and mouth. ?hat is this 1iftC *t is the word of faith which we preach. :he pure allow the ?ord to capti#ate their mouth. 9n the other hand, the defiled and the unbelie#in1 ha#e defiled their own life by what they put in their mouth. ?hen people who are sa#ed and washed by the blood spea7 words contrary to what <od has to say, it can stain and affect the 1arments they>re wearin1, because they are yieldin1 their conscience, mind, and ton1ue to the wron1 inspiration, and the words they spea7 end up defilin1 them. 4o you thin7 you can tal7 any way you li7e and stay free from bein1 defiledC Iou can>t. :he only way to stay free is, !You shall $now the truth& and the truth shall #a$e -ou free(! Put the truth into *our mouth, ?e Fust read in #erse (, !((( but unto the# that are defiled and unbelie'in% is nothin% pure(! ?hy are they defiled and unbelie#in1C Because they>re tal7in1 unbelief all the time. *f they would tal7 the ?ord, it would brin1 faith, because faith comes by hearin1 the ?ord. Wh- You're "osin% Your Stren%th ?hen you tal7 about what the de#il is doin1 and how /) he Perfect #an hard your life is, you will find your stren1th drainin1 out of you. ?hen you start e"aminin1 secular news reports, you will find yourself losin1 stren1th. ?hen you 1et around the wron1 person and let him or her tal7 lon1 enou1h, you will find yourself drained and losin1 stren1th. :here is nothin1 pure in the unbelie#in1 and the defiled. :heir mind and their conscience is defiled. *nstead of yieldin1 themsel#es to the ?ord of <od and bein1 transformed by the renewin1 of their mind, they>re yieldin1 themsel#es to the word of the de#il and lettin1 their mind be capti#ated by a spirit of doubt and unbelief. Paul wrote to :imothy, !1or od hath not %i'en us a spirit of fear* but of power& and of lo'e& and of a sound #ind! A2 :imothy :6B. Eesus said, !0ow -e are clean throu%h the word which , ha'e spo$en unto -ou! AEohn (:'B. :he ?ord can and will cleanse you, and <od tells us to 7eep oursel#es clean in this way. The Word =e#ains 5s you read this boo7, there is a spiritual force present with you that can transform you and remain with you e#ery day of your life. :hat force is the ?ord of <od. ,o one can steal the ?ord you ha#e learnedH it>s there to stay in your life. 5s an e"ercise in hidin1 <od>s ?ord in your heart, read Psalm . as follows, notin1 that personal pronouns were substituted throu1hout, to ma7e the Psalm more personal to you. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the #ost Hi%h shall abide under the shadow of the )l#i%ht-( / he Hidden Power of Your Words , will sa- of the "ord& He is #- refu%e and #- fortress: #- od* in hi# will , trust( Surel- he shall deli'er #e fro# the snare of the fowler& and fro# the noiso#e pestilence( He shall co'er #e with his feathers& and under his win%s shall , trust: his truth shall be #- shield and buc$ler( , shall not be afraid for the terror b- ni%ht* nor for the arrow that flieth b- da-* 0or for the pestilence that wal$eth in dar$ness* nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonda-( ) thousand shall fall at #- side& and ten thousand at #- ri%ht hand* but it shall not co#e ni%h #e( Dnl- with #- e-es shall , behold and see the reward of the wic$ed( 2ecause , ha'e #ade the "ord& which is #- refu%e& e'en the #ost Hi%h& #- habitation* There shall no e'il befall #e& neither shall an- pla%ue co#e ni%h #- dwellin%( 1or he shall %i'e his an%els char%e o'er #e& to $eep #e in all #- wa-s( The- shall bear #e up in their hands& lest , dash #- foot a%ainst a stone( , shall tread upon the lion and adder the -oun% lion and the dra%on shall , tra#ple under feet 2ecause , ha'e set #- lo'e upon hi#& therefore will he deli'er #e: he will set #e on hi%h& because , ha'e $nown his na#e( , shall call upon hi#& and he will answer #e* he will be with #e in trouble* he will deli'er #e& and honour #e( With lon% life will he satisf- #e& and shew #e his sal'ation( Psal# H1 /2 he Perfect #an ) Word of 2lessin% )n the 8ame of Jesus Christ, the King of (ings and the 9ord of -ords, ) !ronounce o+er *our -ife a word of .-essing. ) dec-are that *ou are .-essed and not cursed. ) dec-are that *ou are free and not .ound. ) !ronounce that *ou are hea-ed and not sic(, 0o*fu- and not aff-icted, an o+ercomer and not defeated, strong and not wea(. ) dec-are that *our mind is not in confusion, .ut *ou ha+e the mind of Christ. ) dec-are that *our !ra*ers ha+e not .een neg-ected, .ut 'od is at wor( to answer *ou. ) dec-are that the 9ord is e+er !resent, and He is a source of he-! in time of need. ) decree now, in Jesus$ 8ame, that e+er* dee!1!-anted root that has .een the resu-t of a word curse, a negati+e dec-aration that men ha+e s!o(en o+er *ou, doctrine, re-igion, or fa-se inter!retation of the Word, e+er* word that *ou ma* ha+e s!o(en o+er *ourse-f, e+er* idea that the de+i- ma* ha+e !ut into *our mind, is u!rooted in the 8ame of Jesus. ) re-ease the !ro!er se-f1image into *our mind, .ecause our image is Jesus, who is the image of 'od. 6nd the Word sa*s that we can -oo( unto Him with an o!en face, and we can .e changed into the same image, from g-or* to g-or*, )n the 8ame of Jesus Christ, the Son of 'od, ) re-ease on *our -ife the fu--ness of His +isitation, a dou.-e !ortion of His anointing. 6nd in the 8ame of Jesus, ) dec-are that *our -ife wi-- .e changed from this moment on. You are a warrior. You are +ictorious. You are more than a con&ueror. )n Jesus$ 8ame, ) .rea( off *ou e+er*thing that has hindered and -imited *ou, and ) re-ease *ou in the 8ame of the 9ord, that /' he Hidden Power of Your Words *our se-f1image wi-- rise into the -i(eness of Jesus, and the 'reater ;ne wi-- .egin to manifest, for *ou are not going under in defeat, and *ou are not unwanted. You ha+e come to Him, and He wi-- not cast *ou out. he 9ord is going to ho-d *our hands u! in +ictor*, strength is going to .e a!!ro!riated into *our -ife, *ou are going to de-ight in the 9ord, and He is going to gi+e *ou the desires of *our heart, /4 Chapter < < The /e-s to the /in%do# ) #an's bell- shall be satisfied with the fruit of his #outh* and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled( >eath and life are in the power of the ton%ue: and the- that lo'e it shall eat the fruit thereof( Pro'erbs 1G:6A& 61 otice, a man>s belly is not only filled in the naturalH it is also filled spiritually. ?hat is bein1 discussed here is not the food part of your bellyGthe part you feed with natural breadGbut the part you feed by the ?ord of <od. , :he Bible tells us, !The spirit of #an is the candle of the "ord& searchin% all the inward parts of the bell-! APro#erbs 2):26B. By !the spirit of #an&! <od is referrin1 to the hidden man of the heart. What *ou sa* wi-- either star+e or feed *our s!irit man. ?hen you run around sayin1, @*>m wea7,@ your spirit man will respond. ?hen you run around sayin1, @*>m a sinner,@ your spirit man will respond. ?hen you run around sayin1, @* don>t 7now what *>m 1oin1 to doH *>m so confused,@ your spirit man will respond. Satisfaction and Content#ent Can 2e Yours 9n the other hand, our te"t says that your belly will be satisfied by the fruit of your lips. :hat means internal satisfaction and contentment is not only the by-product of your hearin1 the ?ordH it>s the by-product of your puttin1 the ?ord in your mouth. /( he Hidden Power of Your Words :he phrase !with the increase of his lips shall he be filled! means this: For you to o#erflow with <od>s blessin1 to the point where you>#e 1ot Foy, stren1th, steadfastness, and stabilityGwhere you are an o#ercomer, ha#e authority, and the de#il fears you and can>t touch youGyou>#e 1ot to fill not only your heart with the ?ord of <od, but your mouth as well. :hen, as the ?ord o#erflows out of you, it will be1in to affect your body. ,eurosur1eons ha#e disco#ered that there is a portion of the brain that adheres to what you spea7. :herefore, when you say, @* am wea7,@ that part of your brain will hear the command 1i#en to it by your will, and throu1h your authorityH and that central part of your brain will, in turn, send a messa1e to the rest of your body, tellin1 it to respond to the confession you 1a#e it with your own mouth. 5lthou1h neurosur1eons are disco#erin1 this today, <od said it thousands of years a1o: !>eath and life are in the power of the ton%ue: and the- that lo'e it 4spea$in% of life5 shall eat the fruit thereof(! 5s we stated earlier, some people>s bi1 problems are the by-product of their bi1 mouthsD "ine Up Your Words With the Word <od brin1s life into your heartH howe#er, that life will ne#er e"plode into the rest of your ma7eupGtransformin1 your mind, stren1thenin1 your soul, healin1 your body, and directin1 the course of your life properlyGunless you be1in to line up what you>re sayin1 with the ?ord of <od. ,ow loo7 at Pro#erbs (:': !) #err- heart #a$eth a cheerful countenance* but b- sorrow of the heart the spirit is bro$en(! ,otice what is bein1 said here: !) #err- heart #a$eth a cheerful countenance(! ?hat does that // he Ke*s to the Kingdom meanC *t means if your heart is ri1ht with <od, your face will show it. *t means you can>t help but be affected e"ternally by how <od affected you internally. Iou can>t help it, because when your heart is happy, your countenance will be Foyous. How to Ma$e Your Heart Happ- 4o you 7now how to ma7e your heart happyC :he Bible says, !Trust in the "ord with all -our heart(! Iour heart will ne#er be at peace, be stron1, or be without trouble unless you ha#e made the decision to trust in the &ord. 5nd your heart will ne#er trust in the &ord unless you>#e made the decision to act on the ?ord of <od. Ies, you can hear the ?ord, but if you ha#en>t made the decision to act on it, your heart will still be troubled. Eesus said, !"et not -our heart be troubled((((! :hat means, the moment * hear the ?ord and say, @Ies, *>m a doer of the ?ordG*>m 1oin1 to do it, *>m 1oin1 to act on it, *>m 1oin1 to trust in it, <od is my source@G*>#e trusted Him with all my heart. 5nd when * do, my heart is happy. ?hyC Because it>s heard 1ood news. 4o you 7now the Bible is 1ood newsC :he Bible is 1ood news, so when * open it and read it, it tells me 1ood thin1s. <ood thin1s, in turn, reflect li1ht on my spirit man, my heart, and my heart responds with Foy to 1ood news. 5nd when my heart responds with Foy to 1ood news, my faith 1ets affected. +o it is true: !) #err- heart #a$eth a cheerful countenance* but b- sorrow of the heart the spirit is bro$en(! People Who Won't Hope /6 he Hidden Power of Your Words Ha#e you e#er met people who won>t e#en hopeC Ha#e you e#er met people who say, @?ell, * Fust don>t want to be disappointed a1ain@C ?hat happened to themC :heir spirit was bro7en. But don>t blame it on <od, and don>t e#en blame it on the de#il. ?hy do people lose their confidence, their faith, their commitment, and their spiritual @punch@ in <odC *t>s as Pro#erbs (:' says, !b- sorrow of the heart the spirit is bro$en(! ?hen a person chooses to hear a pessimistic report rather than <od>s optimistic report, that person will consequently end up with a bro7en spirit. Because his spirit will sorrow, his heart will sorrow. 5nd not only will his faith lose its shine and its FoyH his spirit will e#entually be bro7en. :he result is a person wal7in1 around li7e a $ombie. Iou can>t 1et him to act on any of the ?ord of <od. The "iberatin% /nowled%e of the Truth :he Bible says there is a 1roup of people who will be e#er learnin1, but will ne#er be able to come to the 7nowled1e of the truth. ?hat is !the $nowled%e of the truth!C :he 7nowled1e of the truth is simply that you don>t ha#e to wait another day to 1et the #ictory into your life. :he 7nowled1e of the truth is simple: *f you hear it and .e-ie+e it, that settles it. ?hat you hear will 1i#e you the power to perform. ,ow loo7 at Pro#erbs (:(: !)ll the da-s of the afflicted are e'il* but he that is of a #err- heart hath a continual feast(! :his is awesomeD ?hat does the afflicted sa*3 :he afflicted says, @?ell, if my days weren>t e#il, * wouldn>t be afflicted.@ /0 he Ke*s to the Kingdom The Proble# With )ffliction :he Bible says, @:he reason his days are e#il is because he>s afflicted.@ ?hy are his days e#ilC Because he>s runnin1 around tal7in1 @5ffliction, affliction, affliction, affliction.@ :hat>s why he 7eeps runnin1 into e#il days. 5nd he says, @?ell, if <od would Fust ta7e away the e#il days, * wouldn>t be afflicted.@ But <od says, @*f you>d stop bein1 afflicted, you>d o#ercome the e#il days.@ Ies, the Bible does say, !Man- are the afflictions of the ri%hteous(((! APsalm '4:.B, but it ne#er says, @&et the ri1hteous be afflicted, @ @&et the ri1hteous tal7 affliction,@ or @&et the ri1hteous put affliction on their lips.@ *nstead, it says, !but the "ord deli'ereth hi# out of the# all(! +o the ri1hteous will 1o throu1h affliction, but <od is not sayin1, @5ffliction, affliction, affliction@H He>s sayin1, @4eli#erance, deli#erance, deli#eranceD Kictory, #ictory, #ictoryD@ Because <od says that, the ri1hteous passes throu1h an e#il day only to end up in a bri1hter day.!2ut the path of the .ust is as the shinin% li%ht& that shineth #ore and #ore unto the perfect da-! APro#erbs 4:0B. +o *>m not statin1 you won>t run into trouble, but that trouble will be a steppin1 stone to brea7throu1hs. *>m not statin1 you won>t run into obstacles, but those obstacles will be a steppin1 stone to brea7throu1hs. What a Pessi#ist Sa-s :he &ord says, @4on>t put affliction in your mouth.@ ?hyC :he afflicted will li#e all his days in e#il .ecause he$s ta-(ing e+i-. He>s 1i#in1 the e#il one power and dominion o#er his life to 7eep afflictin1 him by what he>s puttin1 in his mouth. /. he Hidden Power of Your Words He>s a pessimist. He>s the one who says, @*f anythin1 can 1o wron1, it willD @ He>s the one who says, @=y <od, what>s 1oin1 to 1o wron1 ne4t35 He>s the one who says, @<od ne#er answers my prayer.@ He>s the one who says, @* can>t wait to 1o to hea#en, because it>s sure been hell down hereD@ He>s that 1uy. 5#oid him. His days are e#il because he>s afflicted. But loo7 a1ain at the man described in Pro#erbs (:(: !(((he that is of a #err- heart hath a continual feast(! He does, doesn>t heC *n the natural, people will say, @9f course he>s happy, because he>s ha#in1 a feast all the time.@ ) Happ- 1east ,oD He>s happy all the time .ecause he$s choosing to feast on the Word of 'od. :hat>s what the Bible says. ?e Fust read it in our te"t, that a man>s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth. ?hy is he ha#in1 a feastC Because he>s feedin1 on the ?ord of <od. ?hat is in his mouth is a 1ood report. He>s sayin1, @HalleluFah,@ and his heart is reFoicin1. :he ?ord of <odGwhich is spirit and lifeGis 1oin1 into his spirit man and freein1 him when affliction comes and he feels li7e he wants to spea7 the circumstances. *nstead, he says no to the circumstances and spea7s the ?ord of <od. *t shoots out of his mouth li7e a weapon of war, burstin1 e#ery yo7e, because the anointin1 destroys the yo7e. People say, @*>m 1oin1 to 1et e"cited when * 1et a brea7throu1h,@ but <od says, @?hen you 1et e"cited about my ?ord, a brea7throu1h is ine#itable.@ +ome say, @?ell, *>m 1oin1 to ser#e <od when * ha#e more time,@ but <od says, @+er#e =e now, with the time you ha#e, and *>ll 1i#e you more time to ser#e =e later.@ 6) he Ke*s to the Kingdom %e#erse the order. @?ell, if thin1s would start 1oin1 ri1ht, *>d 1et happy.@ But <od says, @*f you>d 1et happy about the ?ord of <od rather than thin1s, thin1s will line up with the ?ord of <od.@ *n other words, as Eesus said, !See$ -e first the $in%do# of od& and his ri%hteousness* and all these thin%s shall be added unto -ou! A=atthew /:''B. ) Health- Ton%ue :he Bible says, !) #err- heart doeth %ood li$e a mediine" APro#erbs 6:22B. ?hyC Because !the ton%ue of the wise is health" APro#erbs 2:0B, and because <od !sent His Word and healed the#! APsalm )6:2)B. :herefore, when a person meditates on what <od says, his heart will 1et happy about the ?ord of <od, and he will put the ?ord in his mouth and spea7 it. 5nd when he does, it will be health to all his bein1. :here are people who are sic7 because of what they sa*. :hey ha#e ulcers because of how they tal7. :here are people whose serious diseases came upon them because they #iolated such simple principles in <od>s ?ord as, !"et not -our heart be troubled(((! AEohn 4:B. :hey would not lean on <od with all their heart. :hey allowed their heart to be tormented, and they stayed up ni1hts, worryin1 and meditatin1 about their @mountain@ rather than loo7in1 to the <od who mo#es mountains. :hey said, @&oo7 how bi1 the mountain isD@ and the more they tal7ed abut it, the sic7er their inner man 1ot. 5nd the sic7er their inner man 1ot, the more afflicted their body 1ot. Before they 7new it, they were tormented by a disease they brou1ht on themsel#es throu1h the words they 6 he Hidden Power of Your Words spo7e. :hat>s why the Bible says, !) #err- Ior happ-J heart doeth %ood li$e a #edicine(! Your =i%ht to 2e Sic$ and Miserable +ome will say, @9h, lea#e me alone. * ha#e e#ery ri1ht to be madD@ :hen you also ha#e e#ery ri1ht to be sic(, e#ery ri1ht to be aff-icted, e#ery ri1ht to be tormented, e#ery ri1ht to be defeated, e#ery ri1ht to go .ro(e, and e#ery ri1ht to fa-- by the waysideGbecause you can>t #iolate what <od said and end up #ictorious. ,othin1 happens by chance. :hat>s why Eesus did not say, @Iou>re luc7y.@ He said, @Iou>re .-essed.5 :hat means @fortunate and to be en#ied.@ +ome people around me 1et en#ious of the thin1s <od does for me, but what He does for me is biblical. ?hen you be1in to in#est in what <od said and to build on the roc7, thin1s line up and wor7 out for you. Because your friends ha#en>t made the same sacrifice and decision to 1o <od>s way, they yield throu1h their wea7ness to the spirit that influences en#y. <uard yourself by what you say, because your words are filled with the power of 5lmi1hty <odD od's Winnin% Principle First Peter ':) is #ery si1nificant: 1or he that will lo'e life& and see %ood da-s& let hi# refrain his ton%ue fro# e'il& and his lips that the- spea$ no %uile( 5t first 1lance, this #erse may seem superficial. But if you loo7 at it a1ain, you will find the principle that <od 62 he Ke*s to the Kingdom wo#e throu1hout the 9ld and ,ew 2o#enants. :his is what He is literally sayin1 in #erse ): !,f -ou lo'e life and -ou want to see %ood da-s 4both are future conditions5& -ou ou%ht to refrain -our ton%ue now fro# e'il and -our lips now that the- spea$ no %uile(! :he primary causes of deaths amon1 our teena1ed population are dru1- and alcohol-related accidents. ?hyC :eena1ers don>t lo#e life. ?hy notC Because the modern world has conditioned them to belie#e that life is not worthy to be lo#ed. :he lyrics of roc7 music ha#e tau1ht them that death is better than life. :his messa1e has been repeated in the e#il reports they ha#e heard, in the loose and rebellious lifestyles their parents li#ed in the >/)s, and in their peers> insistence that dru1s and alcohol are the best ways to escape reality and the seemin1ly insurmountable problems in their youn1 li#es. Ies, reality can stress you if you let it. %eality can wei1h you down and brea7 you down if you let it. *f you don>t wal7 by the authority of Eesus 2hrist, there is no #ictory in the world. :hat>s why Eesus said to His disciples, !((( be of %ood cheer* ! ha"e o"erome the world" AEohn /:''B. ?hen Eesus said those words, He had not yet o#ercome the worldGbut notice He used the past tense: !, ha"e o"erome the world(! He had not yet 1one to the cross. 4id you 7now He went to the cross by faithC He said, !, could as$ #- 1ather ri%ht now for twel'e le%ions of an%els& and the- would deli'er #e! A=atthew 2/:('B. He had not yet 1one to the 1ra#eGand until that time, no one had been resurrected from the 1ra#e in a 1lorified body He was doin1 it all by faith. 6' he Hidden Power of Your Words :he Bible says that Eesus was !the author and finisher of our faith* who for the .o- that was set before hi# endured the cross(((! AHebrews 2:2B. +o Eesus had to fi1ht the 1ood fi1ht of faith the way we fi1ht itD The Power of Words ?hy, then, would He say, !be of %ood cheer* , ha'e o'erco#e the world!C Because Eesus was well aware of the power of words, and He was continually settin1 His life in motion in accordance with what <od said. Eesus didn>t e#en fi1ht the de#il without the ?ord of <od. *nstead, He told him repeatedly, @*t is written... it is written... it is written.@ He didn>t say, @* thin7 * heard it somewhere@H He said, @*t is writtenD@ :hat means He read the Boo7. He 7new what it said. :he second maFor cause of teena1ed deaths is suicide. ?hyC :hey don>t lo#e life. Iou can>t lo#e life and 7ill yourself. *f you li#e by the ?ord of <od, you>re ha#in1 too much fun to dieD *t>s fun to beat the de#il up. *t>s fun to wal7 in di#ine health. *t>s fun to be happy. *t>s fun to be a 2hristian. *t>s fun to be +pirit filled. *t>s fun to be a winner. *t>s fun to ser#e Eesus. *t>s fun to be the head and not the tail. *t>s fun to be the repairer of the breach. Iou>re ha#in1 too much fun to dieD The >e'il's )ncient Weapon ?hy are teena1ers 7illin1 themsel#esC 5s we noted earlier, the lyrics of roc7 music are seducin1 some of them to commit suicide. here is !ower in wordsGsomethin1 the de#il has 7nown and capitali$ed on since the <arden of !den. 64 he Ke*s to the Kingdom 5s a matter of fact, he capitali$ed on the power of words e#en before the 1arden, because the Bible says his tail drew a third of the an1els of hea#en into rebellion a1ainst <od A%e#elation 2:4B. He must ha#e preached a sermon to them, sayin1, @* will be li7e the =ost Hi1h. Follow meD@ ?ords ha#e been in e"istence from the creation and e#en before, and the forces of both li1ht and dar7ness ha#e both used them. *n the <arden of !den, +atan taunted 5dam and !#e with his words" !Hath od saidE! and those words caused man to fall. !#ery human bein1 on earth today is e"periencin1 the fall that those few words in the 1arden produced. Words, &oo7 a1ain at First Peter ':): 1or he that will lo'e life 4in the future5& and see %ood da-s 4that he hasn't seen -et5& let hi# refrain his ton%ue 4now5 fro# e'il& and his lips 4now5 that the- spea$ no %uile(! Creatin% Your World Throu%h Words ,o one commits to di#orce Fust li7e that. ,o one becomes an alcoholic Fust li7e that. ,o one 7ills someone Fust li7e that. ,o one commits suicide Fust li7e that. :hey>#e been set up throu1hout the course of their life to act in error by what the* said. :hey started early on by sayin1, @Boy, life is the pits. :his is hell. * 1uess that>s my cross to bear.@ +ome people tal7 about the cross more than the resurrection.@?ell, you 7now, *>m carryin1 bi1 burdens,@ they si1h. *f you 7eep tal7in1 about your burdens, this attitude will 1row and fester in you. Before you 7now it, you won>t 6( he Hidden Power of Your Words li7e life. Iou>ll wa7e up one mornin1 and thin7 that the world is 1ettin1 1rayer e#ery day. 5ll the color seems to ha#e 1one out of the world, and it doesn>t loo7 the same to you anymore. &ife used to be a play1round to youH now it>s a battlefieldGcreated .* *our own words. @?ell, the fi1ht is hard, brother. Pray for me so * can hold on.@ *f you 7eep tal7in1 li7e that, my prayers won>t do you any 1ood. *t>s li7e sayin1, @<rease my 1rip.@ >on't =ent Your Ton%ue to the >e'il Howe#er, if you want to lo#e life, notice what Eesus said in Eohn ):), !The thief co#eth not& but for to steal& and to $ill& and to destro-: , a# co#e that the- #i%ht ha'e life& and that the- #i%ht ha'e it #ore abundantl-(! :he de#il will try to steal <od>s ?ord by ta7in1 it out of your mouth and insertin1 another word there. He will try to ta7e a 1ood report out of your mouth and replace it with a wron1 report. ?hyC Because he 7nows he>ll abort <od>s will in your life if he succeeds. 4on>t put your ton1ue up for rentD Eust say, @,o #acanciesD@ ?hether you end up lo#in1 or hatin1 life, or seein1 1ood or e#il days in the future depends on whether you refrain your ton1ue now from e#il and your lips now that they spea7 no 1uile. ?hat is e#ilC 5nythin1 that the ?ord doesn>t say. :he most subtle reli1ious phrase could be a stench in the nostrils of <od. *t could loo7 perfectly proper, yet it still could be a stench in the nostrils of <od if it>s not sanctioned by the li#in1 ?ord of <od. 6/ he Ke*s to the Kingdom Ca#oufla%ed in )n%els' Win%s !#il, you see, is not necessarily a hideous creature that we can all discern without hesitation. !#il can come camoufla1ed in an1els> win1s. :he Bible warns us a1ainst: ((( false apostles& deceitful wor$ers& transfor#in% the#sel'es into the apostles of Christ( )nd no #ar'el* for Satan hi#self is transfor#ed into an an%el of li%ht( 6 Corinthians 11:18& 17 +ome will ar1ue, @* belie#e <od. * trust Him.@ Iou>#e 1ot to ha#e wisdom, too, and learn to discern spiritual thin1s. *f you lo#e life and want to see 1ood days, then, refrain your ton1ue from e#ilGand don>t put 1uile in your mouth. <uile is anythin1 that>s not the truth. :herefore, if you put the truth in your mouth, you shall 7now the truth, and the truth shall ma7e you free. 5nd you shall be free from e#ery weapon the de#il can use a1ainst you. 2e a ood Steward of Your Words %emember, the Bible says that we shall all appear before the Eud1ment +eat of 2hrist. ?e are 1oin1 to 1i#e an account of the thin1s done in our body, accordin1 to +econd 2orinthians (:). 5nd in =atthew 2:'/, Eesus said that we are also 1oin1 to 1i#e an account of e#ery idle word that we spea7D 2an you see the need for 1ood stewardship o#er how we tal7C *t is important not only how our messa1e reflects the ?ord of <od, but also how it reflects the ri1ht spirit. ?hat does that meanC Paul says, ma7e sure you>re 66 he Hidden Power of Your Words spea7in1 by the ri1ht spiritD We ha'in% the same spirit of faith& accordin% as it is written& , ha'e belie'ed& and therefore ha'e , spo$en* we also belie'e& and therefore spea$( 6 Corinthians 7:18 ?hen you are spea7in1 by the same spirit of faith, you are 1oin1 to spea7 words of faith in <od. Iou are 1oin1 to spea7 confidence in <od. Iou are not 1oin1 to spea7 a ha$y, uncertain messa1e. Iou are not 1oin1 to act as if you don>t 7now where you are 1oin1. Iou are not 1oin1 to belie#e in a mysterious <od no one can second 1uess, or a <od you can>t count on to help you. Spea$in% b- the Spirit of 1aith ?hen you spea7 by the same spirit of faith, you>re spea7in1 about a <od who said out of His own mouthG which cannot lieG!, will ne'er lea'e thee& nor forsa$e thee((( lo& , a# with -ou alwa-! AHebrews ':(H =atthew 20:2)B. Eesus said, !1ear not(! Iou can count on <od. He will ne#er disappoint you. 5nd since He is with you all the time, you ha#e nothin1 to fear. ;now what <od>s function is when He is with you. +uppose you had a friend who said, @*>m with you,@ but when you 1ot in a fi1ht, he Fust stood there and said, @4on>t worryH *>m with you@Gand he watched your opponent beat you upD :he ne"t time you fou1ht, you>d discoura1e your so- called friend>s presence. Iou>d say to him, @:han7s #ery much, but *>d rather not ha#e you here this time, so you won>t ha#e anythin1 to tal7 about.@ 60 he Ke*s to the Kingdom <od isn>t li7e your fic7le friend. He>s not with you Fust to stand by idly and watch you 1et beaten up by your problemsH He>s there to do somethin1 about them. He says, @4on>t fear. 2ount on =e to do somethin1 about your circumstances e#ery time you encounter difficulties. 2ount on =eD@ 2eware of H-perfaithE +omeone will ar1ue, @* appreciate thatGit>s wonderful Gbut, of course, * don>t want to 1et into hyperfaith. * lo#e the faith messa1e, but of course we>#e 1ot to steer clear of that h*!erfaith stuff.@ * loo7ed up @hyper@ in the dictionary, and it defined it as @e"treme, o#erabundant.@ Iou can>t 1et hyper enou1h for <od, halleluFahD Iou can>t 1o too far for <odD *n fact, you can>t 1o far enough for <odD :hat>s li7e sayin1, @4on>t trust in <od too much. 4on>t 1et hyperfaith to where you ha#e an o#erabundant, e"treme trust in the &ord.@ How many 7now some bac7slidden, lu7ewarm theolo1ian came up with that statementC ,e#er base your theolo1y on mere circumstances. Iou demand, @*>#e tried faith before, and it didn>t wor7, so * left it alone. ?hy didn>t it wor7C@ <o to the ?ord and find out. Iou can>t build your life on an old cliche. :he Bible assures us that the &ord is !a friend that stic$eth closer than a brother! APro#erbs 0:24B. Iou may safely trust in the &ord with all of your heartD od's Master Plan People say, @?ell, you ne#er 7now what <od is 1oin1 6. he Hidden Power of Your Words to do.@ *>ll tell you what He>s 1oin1 to do: He>s 1oin1 to help His people, and He>s 1oin1 to build a 2hurch that the 1ates of hell shall not, cannot, will not pre#ail a1ainst. Eesus told His disciples in =atthew /:0: ((( , will build #- church& and the %ates of hell shall not pre'ail a%ainst it( ?hat is Eesus tellin1 us hereC He is sayin1, @*f Iou will let =e build you, *>ll ma7e you so stron1, you won>t fear the 1ates of hell. Iou will be built by <od. 5nd when the enemy attac7s you, hell can>t o#ercome you, because when * build somethin1, * build it ri1htD @ :hen, in =atthew /:., Eesus said: #nd ! will gi"e unto thee the keys of the kingdom of hea"en: and whatsoe'er thou shalt bind 4or disallow5 on earth shall be bound 4or disallowed5 in hea'en: and whatsoe'er thou shalt loose 4or allow5 on earth& shall be loosed 4or allowed5 in hea'en( Usin% Words to 2ind and "oose 4o you 7now how to bindC 4o you 7now you use your lips, your words, to bindC Eesus said, @*>m 1i#in1 you the 7eys that release the 7in1dom of <od and its in#adin1 force in the earthGand those (e*s )$m !utting in *our mouth. Iou bind and say no, and it>s so. Iou loose it and say yes, and it>s so.@ Iou can find all the laws for bindin1 and loosin1 in the ?ord of <od, and you can also find the faith needed to do it correctly by hearing the ?ord of <od. *f someone hears an unbelie#in1 minister say from the pulpit, @+ome of you are 1oin1 to ha#e a heart attac7, 0) he Ke*s to the Kingdom because sometimes it>s <od will that you be sic7,@ that person is not 1oin1 to ha#e the ri1ht 7ind of faith to stand a1ainst such a lie from the de#il. But not e#eryone falls for such words of unbelief, and these are the winners who are comin1 on the sceneD 0 Chapter ? ? Words at Wor$ )nd as +esus passed b-& he saw a #an which was blind fro# his birth( )nd his disciples as$ed hi#& sa-in%& Master& who did sin& this #an& or his parents& that he was born blindE +esus answered& 0either hath this #an sinned& nor his parents: but that the wor$s of od should be #ade #anifest in hi#( , #ust wor$ the wor$s of hi# that sent #e& while it is da-: the ni%ht co#eth& when no #an can wor$( )s lon% as , a# in the world& , a# the li%ht of the world( +ohn H:1;< et>s set the scene here: 5s the disciples were out wal7in1 with the &ord one day, they passed a man who had been blind from birth. & :here are certain conditions, such as blindness, that ha#e been around for a lon1 time, and if they continue to 1o unchec7ed and unchallen1ed, they will continue to be a stron1holdH they will ne#er chan1e. 5s they wal7ed past the blind man, the disciples turned and as7ed Eesus, !Who sinnedKthis #an or his parentsKthat he was born blindE! :hey didn>t say @that@ man, so they must ha#e been ri1ht ne"t to the man when they as7ed the question. He was born blind, but he wasn>t born deaf, so he could hear what the disciples were sayin1. ?hat does that ha#e to do with anythin1C 4on>t for1et, words are #ery 0' he Hidden Power of Your Words important. Eesus said, @Be careful what you hear. 4on>t 1i#e e#erythin1 a hearin1 ear.@ +ometimes you can>t 7eep from hearin1 certain thin1s, but that doesn>t mean you ha#e to 1i#e them @a hearin1 ear.@ :his means, don>t 1et too impressed when the de#il is tal7in1 pessimism, s7epticism, and all those other thin1s he li7es to peddle. 4on>t say politely, @9h, is that soC@ Who SinnedE :he disciples as7ed a common question: !>id this #an sin& or did his parents sin& that he was born blindE! But how could you sin .efore you were born and consequently be struc7 blindC :here was a prominent theolo1y in those days that not only tau1ht correctly that the sins of the father are transferred to the son, but also tau1ht incorrectly that a person could sin while in his mother>s womb. *f you come from an un1odly family bac71round, the de#il will try to attach onto you the habits, diseases, sic7nesses, po#erty spirits, and anythin1 else he can from your e#il forbears. @?hat should * do about itC@ Eust say, @4e#il, *>m a brand-new creature. *>m part of a new family now. 2ancer doesn>t run in this family. Hi1h blood pressure doesn>t run in this family. Po#erty doesn>t run in this family. *nsanity doesn>t run in this family.@ By sayin1 this, you terminate that family wea7ness. ,t's Ti#e to Throw )wa- Your !=eli%ion! * want you to 1et the picture: :his blind man was around crowds all his life, and e#er since he was an infant 04 Words at Wor( he heard people whisperin1, @* wonder who sinned, this blind boy or his parentsC <od is tryin1 to teach them somethin1. * wonder why he>s in that predicamentC 9h, well, <od mo#es in mysterious ways....@ :hat erroneous theolo1y was the stron1hold of the de#il in the blind man>s life. :here are theolo1ical stron1holds in many 2hristians> li#es today, too. +ome 2hristians need to throw away their @reli1ion@D :hey would 1et happy if they did. @?ho did sin, this man or his parentsC@ *n the ori1inal <ree7, there is no di#ision of #ersesH you don>t stop at #erse ' and then start #erse 4. Iou read the passa1e this way: !+esus answered& 0either hath this #an sinned& nor his parents: but that the wor$s of od should be #ade #anifest in hi#( , #ust wor$ the wor$s of hi# that sent #e((((! &ater translators were the ones who chose to di#ide this passa1e into separate #erses, chan1in1 its meanin1. :hen some theolo1ians decided, @+ee, Eesus said, >,either has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the wor7s of <od should be made manifest in him.>@ :hey added, @+ometimes the wor7 of <od is to be born blind.@ 4o you 7now what that tells meC :he blind are leadin1 the blind, because that>s not what Eesus saidD He said, @,o, this man did not sin, and neither did his parents sinH .ut so that the wor(s of 'od wou-d .e made manifest in him, ) must do the wor(s of him that sent me.5 ?hat was Eesus tal7in1 aboutC :he openin1 of blinded eyes was the wor7 of <odD :he wor7in1 of miracles was the wor7 of <odD od's Words 2rin% 1aith 0( he Hidden Power of Your Words :he blind man, for the first time in his life, heard words that were sent .* 'od. He was sittin1 by the roadside, and he couldn>t see, but he could hear. He heard some men as7 a rabbi, @4id this blind man sin, or did his parents sinC ?hy is he blindC@ 5nd then he heard the rabbi reply, @,o, this man did not sinH neither did his parents.@ Ho!e s!rang u! in his heart. He thou1ht, @?hatD 4o you mean to tell me *>m not blind because <od is tryin1 to teach me somethin1C 4o you mean *>m not stru11lin1 to ma7e ends meet because <od wants to 7eep me humbleC 4o you mean the circumstances *>m in ri1ht now are not sanctioned, ordained, and appointed by <odC@ he moment *ou get a gri! on rea-it*, ho!e wi-- s!ring u! in *ou, Iour hands will no lon1er be tied. Iou may be in an e#il day, but you don>t ha#e to li#e there for the rest of your life. Iou may be in a time of need, but it>s not 1oin1 to continue li7e that for the rest of your life. Iou may be encounterin1 affliction or resistance, but the &ord will deli#er you out of all of those situations. Set 1ree b- the Truth :he first step in the blind man>s healin1 was that he heard the truth. ?hat was the truthC *t came to him in the form of words. Eesus said, @,o, he did not sinH neither did his parents sin.@ :he man>s faith spran1 up. He felt better about himself. !#er since he could remember, he felt li7e somethin1 was wron1 with him. He felt li7e <od held somethin1 a1ainst him. He felt li7e the &ord chose to ma7e him a blind be11ar because He was displeased with him. But now, for the first time in his life, he was e"cited. 0/ Words at Wor( He hadn>t e#en heard about miracles. He hadn>t e#en heard about what Eesus wanted to do for him. But the moment he heard that neither he nor his parents had sinned, he felt better about himself. :hat tells me it>s important to hear the truth about yourself. Howe#er, that doesn>t mean you should pray li7e this: @?ell, <od, Iou 7now *>m a nobody, and in all the humility * can muster, * Fust want Iou to 7now that * understand that Iou don>t ha#e to answer my prayer. But if Iou see fit, in your di#ine so#erei1nty to inter#ene, here am *.@ <od says, @*>m not e#en listenin1, if you>re ta7in1 that attitude.@ :he truth is, you are a somebody. Eesus redeemed youD He bou1ht all of us nobodies bac7 and be1an to wor7 on us to transform us into His ima1e. +o it>s not up to <od to decide whether or not He wants to answer youH it>s up to you, in the way you approach Him. *f you don>t belie#e in Him, He can>t answer you. *f you don>t belie#e He will, He can>t. Ies, sometimes He>ll #iolate the normal order and inter#eneGsometimes you>ll see the so#erei1nty of <odG but you won>t see it e#ery day, and you can>t be sure that <od will e"ercise His so#erei1nty in e#ery situation. 5fter all, the Bible says, !The .ust shall li'e b- faith(! ?hen you approach <od, bear in mind that He 1i#es freely and 1enerously to all. He is not a respecter of persons. He will 1i#e to e#eryone who approaches Him in faith. ?hen you 7now that, and when you 7now the 7ind of nature <od has, you will 7now the 7inds of thin1s <od does. The "i%ht of the World 06 he Hidden Power of Your Words Eesus said, !2ut that the wor$s of od should be #ade #anifest in hi# 4the blind #an5& , #ust wor$ the wor$s of hi# that sent #e while it is da-* the ni%ht co#eth when no #an can wor$( )s lon% as , a# in the world& , a# the li%ht of the world(! &ater, Eesus said that *ou are the li1ht of the world. ?hyC Because He is no lon1er in the world bodilyH He is in the world throu1h the Body of 2hrist. :his means He is now in the world throu1h us, so we ha#e become the li1ht of the world. :he Bible says, !"et -our li%ht so shine before #en& that the- #a- see -our wor$s& and %lorif- -our 1ather which is in hea'en! A=atthew (:/B. ?hat is the li1htC :he li1ht is the ?ord of <od, because !The entrance of th- words %i'eth li%ht! APsalm .:')B. ?hat is the result of li1htC :he wor7s of <od. ?hen you hear and belie#e the ?ord, you>ll do the wor7s. ?hen you hear the ?ord, it brin1s the li1ht. ?hen the li1ht comes, it brin1s the stren1th. 5nd when the stren1th comes, you do the wor7. So#eone Sent the =abbi ,ow, the blind man was sittin1 there listenin1 to what was 1oin1 on around him. :he first thin1 he heard was that neither he nor his parents had sinned. :he second thin1 he heard from Eesus was, !)s lon% as , a# in the world& , a# the li%ht of the world( , #ust wor$ the wor$s of hi# that sent #e& while it is da-(! 5nother thin1 this blind man heard for the first time was that someone sent this rabbi to do somethin1 about his condition. * as7 people, @4o you belie#e <od sent me here to heal youC@ 00 Words at Wor( +ome say, @Ies.@ +ome say, @* hope so.@ 5nd some say, @* pray to <od He did.@ :hat really doesn>t ma7e any sense. *t doesn>t matter how lon1 you pray to <od about it, because if He didn>t send me, He didn>tH and if He did, He did. =ecei'e the Prophet Correctl- * as7 people this question because it>s #ery important what people belie#e about the ministry 1ift. For e"ample, if you don>t recei#e a prophet in the way he should be recei#ed, he will Fust 7ic7 the dust off his feet and wal7 off. ?here is he 1oin1C +omeplace where they will recei#e him correctlyD :he #alue and trust we put in what <od said and the person He has anointed may determine whether or not He will #isit us. %emember, Eesus pointed out that there were many widows in *srael in the days of the prophet !liFah, but <od sent him to someone who wasn>t e#en a Eew. :hen He reminded the people that there were many lepers in the days of the prophet !lisha, but <od only sent ,aaman the +yrian to him for healin1 A&u7e 4:2(-26B. ?hen the blind man heard a sermon for the first time in his life, he heard the words, @Feel better about yourself. :he 9ne who sent =e, sent =e to do His wor7s.@ 5nd he 7new one thin1: He wasn>t blind because <od did it to himH his blindness was not the wor7 of <od. He also 7new that there was someone in the world who was the li1ht of the world, and he was sent by someone else to do the wor7s of that someone. :herefore, the blind man concluded, if blindness was not the wor7 of <od, and he was not in sin, this rabbi must be 1ettin1 ready to do somethin1 about his blindnessD 0. he Hidden Power of Your Words 4o you see how faith spran1 up in the man>s heartC 5nd he 1ot it through words. He 1ot it because he heard. A+ome people @hear@ but ne#er hear. < ,ow loo7 at what Eesus did ne"t in Eohn .: When he had thus spo$en& he spat on the %round& and #ade cla- of the spittle& and he anointed the e-es of the blind #an with the cla-& )nd said unto hi#& o& wash in the pool of Siloa#& Iwhich is b- interpretation& SentJ(((( +ohn H:?& @ &et>s stop here and remember what He had said earlier: !, #ust wor$ the wor$s of hi# that sent #e while it is da-((( )s lon% as , a# in the world& , a# the li%ht of the world(! ?hat was that spittin1 soundC :he blind man was sittin1 there thin7in1, @* didn>t sin. =y parents didn>t sin. =y blindness is not the wor7 of <od. :his man was sent by someone to do his wor7s. He>s the li1ht of the worldG but now * hear spittin1.@ 0o uarantee of Healin% Faith was sprin1in1 up in the blind man. :his rabbi was 1ettin1 ready to do somethin1. He put mud on the blind man>s eyes and said, !o& wash in the pool of Siloa#! Athe pool called @+ent@B. ?hy didn>t Eesus tell him, @Iou>re 1oin1 to come bac7 seein1@C Because there was no 1uarantee he was 1oin1 to come bac7 seein1D )t a-- de!ended on how the .-ind man recei+ed the !ro!het. %emember the cleansin1 of the ten lepersC ?hy did only one come bac7 to Eesus to 1i#e than7sC ?hy did Eesus continually tell people, !Your faith has #ade -ou whole* .) Words at Wor( %o and be healed of -our pla%ue(! Eust because you 1ot healed does not mean you are 1oin1 to 7eep your healin1. Iou must ma7e a decision to lay hold on what <od said and not let the de#il or the circumstances of life steal it from you. Eesus 1a#e the blind man this messa1e in a roundabout way He told him, @*>m the li1ht of the world. *>m here to do the wor7s of him that sent me while it is day.@ 5nd He spat on the 1round and put it on his eyes. *t doesn>t ta7e a 1enius to fi1ure out that His whole sermon had to do with the man>s blind eyes. Steppin% ,nto a >ifferent =eal# :his 7nowled1e is reality, and it will ma7e winners out of us. * don>t 7now about you, but *>m 1oin1 to step into a different realm in the spirit e#ery day with Eesus. *>m 1oin1 to open blinded eyes more than * e#er ha#e before. *>m 1oin1 to open deaf ears more than * e#er ha#e before. he .-ind man$s hea-ing a-- started with words. Eesus said, @5s lon1 as *>m here, *>m 1oin1 to do somethin1.@ He spat on the 1round, and put mud on the man>s eyes. :he blind man was probably thin7in1, @,ow where is the pool of +iloamC @ *>m sure it was quite a distance from where they were. ?hy didn>t Eesus Fust say, @9penD@ Because sometimes you need to be 1i#en adequate time to meditate on what you ha#e heard. 5s this blind man was 1oin1 to the pool, what was he thin7in1 aboutC !#ery word that Eesus had spo7en to him was bein1 rehearsed in e#ery part of his bein1, all the way to the pool. @* didn>t sin. =y parents didn>t sin. *>m not blind . he Hidden Power of Your Words because it>s the wor7 of <od. * heard someone who was sent by someone else to do the wor7s of that someone. He put somethin1 on my eyes and told me to wash at the pool. =aybe this man was sent by <od to open my eyesD@ 2an you see the blind man>s train of thou1htC @?ho sent you to the poolC@ @+omeone who was sent by someone else.@ @?hat did He tell you to doC@ @<o wash in the pool.@ @?hat>s the name of the poolC@ @+ent.@ @?ho sent youC@ @+omeone who said * didn>t sin.@ @?hat else did He sayC@ @=y parents didn>t sin.@ @?hat else did He sayC@ @=y blindness is not the wor7 of <od.@ @?hat else did He sayC@ @He>s 1oin1 to do the wor7 of <od.@ @:hen what did He doC@ @Put mud on my eyes.@ @?hat did He tell you to doC@ @He sent me.@ @?hereC@ @:o the pool called >+ent.>@ Words 2rin% 1aith .2 Words at Wor( ?hat inspired that messa1e of faith in himC Words. Words. Words. 5s he thou1ht on the words of Eesus all the way to the pool, power, hope, and faith rose up on the inside of him. * belie#e that before he e#en 1ot to the pool, he thou1ht, @?ait a minuteD ?ait a minuteD * didn>t sin... and my parents didn>t sin... so * didn>t deser#e to be born blind. :his is not the wor7 of <od... *>#e been hearin1 lies all alon1. +omeone told me he came to do the wor7s of him that sent him... then he sent me to the pool called >+ent.> =y e*es are going to .e o!ened, .ecause He$s the -ight of the wor-d, ) don$t ha+e to .e .-ind,5 5nd when he 1ot to the pool, his faith was so hi1h, the moment he put water on his eyes, he was ready to see. ?hyC /ecause he had heard words that were !ower !ac(ed and charged. But the prophet of <od had ne#er said to him, @<o wash, and you are 1oin1 to come bac7 seein1.@ Eesus ne#er said that to himD Choosin% To 2elie'e +7epticism has been around for thousands of years. :he s7eptics are still sayin1, @?ell, the preacher told me to do such-and-suchG.ut it didn$t ha!!en,5 :he ?ord is ali#e. *f that blind man had chosen to belie#e a lie, he would ha#e ruined Eesus> reputation. He could ha#e 1one to that pool, washed, and returned blind Gunchan1edGsayin1, @* didn>t belie#e Iou in the first placeD@ :he story would ha#e spread far and wide. ?ho 1ets the blame for failure in the li#es of people who hear the ?ord of <odC :he preacherD .' he Hidden Power of Your Words People ne#er admit, @* didn>t belie#e the ?ord.@ *nstead, they point to the preacher and say, @Iou said if * 1a#e, it would be 1i#en to me, and it didn>t happen. Iou said if * belie#ed <od, * would be healed, but *>m still sic7. Iou said... you said... you saidD@ Eesus is wise. He 7new that the sower sows the seed, which is the ?ord, but He also 7new that only 2( percent of what was sown would fall on 1ood soil and 1row. *n His parable on the subFect, He tau1ht that some of the seed would fall on hard 1round, some would be burned up, and some would be cho7ed by weeds, or stolen. +o He said, !He that hath an ear to hear& let hi# hear(! ?hat was He tal7in1 aboutC He 7new there were some who would not hear with a readiness to percei#e and act on what they had heard. ?hat did He recommend we do with such fallow 1roundC He said, @Brea7 up your fallow 1round.@ ?e can>t say our heart is hard because <od made us that way. ?e must prepare our heart for a #isitation of <od. :hen we can all be 1ood 1round. >e#andin% Correspondin% )ction ?hen Eesus told the blind man, @<o wash,@ He did not say, @<o and you>ll come bac7 seein1@G.ecause it was u! to the condition of the man$s heart, readiness, and wi--ingness to act on the Word to !ro+ide him with the mirac-e. ?hy send a blind man on a wal7C ?hy demand of him correspondin1 actionC +ometimes * stand in the pulpit and tell sic7 people, @+hout >1lory>D@ :hey won>t do it, because 2hristians want miracles ser#ed to them on a sil#er platter. :hey want to come to <od>s restaurant, but they don>t .4 Words at Wor( want Him to spread a table before them. :hey e"pect Him to tie the nap7in around their nec7, cut their food for them, place it in their mouth, mo#e their Faw up and down so they can chew it, and then force them to swallowD *t>s the truth. ?hat happens is, the &ord be1ins to demand of us a correspondin1 action. ?hyC He>s tryin1 to 1et us to be blessed. 6 corres!onding action wi-- a-wa*s !ut us in a !-ace where we$re candidates to .e .-essed. ?e say, @<i#e <od praise,@ but people won>t do it. ?hat they>re sayin1, without really sayin1 it, is, @=y heart is not in a place where *>m 1oin1 to respond to what *>m hearin1. *>m Fust here doin1 the >reli1ious> thin1. *>m supposed to come to church, so *>#e come.@ 1eedin% the Word :he &ord as7ed Peter, @4o you lo#e =eC@ @Ies.@ @:hen feed my sheep.@ ?hat was Peter supposed to feed usC he Word. :hat meant he was to do the spea7in1, and the words which are literal spirit food, would 1o out to feed the lambs of <od. :he ?ord of <od would produce the stren1th and the power of <od in us, because <od>s power is in His ?ord. *t would produce <od>s authority throu1h us .* what we said. Howe#er, we can short-circuit it Fust li7e that. ?e can bloc7 <od>s power out of our life by yieldin1 our ton1ue to the wron1 source. *f you belie#e that the ?ord of <od is ali#e, if you lo#e life, and if you want to see 1ood days, you must be1in to spea7 the ri1ht thin1 now. .( he Hidden Power of Your Words :hen you will be1in to belie#e in a bri1hter day. Iou will be1in to belie#e in a #ictorious destiny. Iou will belie#e, meditate, and thin7 on <od>s 1oodness and pro#ision. :he Bible calls it not only pro#ision, but benefit: !2less the "ord& D #- soul& and for%et not all his benefits! APsalm )':2B. How od ,nhabits Dur Praises :he Bible also says that <od inhabits the praises of His people APsalm 22:'B. ?e always interpreted this as meanin1 con1re1ational praise. ?e lift up our hands in church and be1in to praise the &ord, and we say, !od inhabits Ior li'es and dwells with and is enthroned uponJ the praises of His people(! But do you 7now what praise isC *t>s literally @to bra1 on someone.@ :hat>s what praise isD *f * were to praise you, * would tell you you>re wonderful and you>re the 1reatest. :hat>s praise. %emember, the Bible says there are some people who lo#e the praise of men more than the praise of <od. ?hat is the praiseC :he upliftin1. Praise doesn>t happen only in church. &et me show you where praise can be found. +uppose * run into a wall, and the de#il says, @&oo7 how .ig this wall isD@ * tell him, @=y <od is bi11er than this wall. <reater is He that is in me that he that is in this wall. :his wall is not e#en worthy of worryin1 about. :his wall is 1ettin1 ready to be blasted out of the way, because *>m a winner, not a loser. =y <od is with me always, and He>s leadin1 me throu1hD@ =eleasin% od's Power ./ Words at Wor( :hat>s praise. <od inhabits that praiseD :hese words of praise release <od>s power out of the inside of me. 5nd the more *>m con#inced of my words, the quic7er that wall shrin7s, falls, splits, crumbles, and disappearsD +uppose * am wal7in1 throu1h a desert, and someone says to me, @?e all 1o throu1h desert e"periences. *>m in a desert e"perience in my own life.@ But * be1in to say, @=y <od ma7es a 1arden out of the desert, and when * pass throu1h the #alley of the shadow of death, * will fear no e#il. ?hen * pass throu1h the #alley of Baca, *>m 1oin1 to ma7e it a well APsalm 04:/B. *>m a #oice cryin1 in the wilderness, and He ma7es the desert to bloom.@ When Praise ,s Warfare ?hat am * doin1C Praisin1 <od. Praise is easy when e#erythin1 is 1oin1 1ood, but !raise is warfare when e+er*thing is going wrong. :his is what happens: 5s you be1in to tal7 ApraiseB, <od inhabits your praises, and He be1ins to pour out of you. he f-ood that$s in *our .e--* .egins to f-ood the desert. Before you 7now it, the desert chan1es. *t be1ins to bloom, halleluFahD +o you praise <od by what you say about Him, and you release His power throu1h you by your confidence in Him. !Cast not awa- therefore -our confidence& which hath %reat reco#pence of reward&! Hebrews ):'( says. :hen the Bible teaches us in <alatians /:., !((( in due season we shall reap& if we faint not(! :he Bible says that Eesus endured the cross for the Foy that was set before Him: "oo$in% unto +esus& the author and finisher of our faith* who for the .o- that was set before hi# endured .6 he Hidden Power of Your Words the cross& despisin% the sha#e& and is set down at the ri%ht hand of the throne of od( Hebrews 16:6 :he Bible teaches us to !la- aside e'er- wei%ht& and the sin which doth so easil- beset us& and let us run with patience the race that is set before us! AHebrews 2:B. ?e are to !consider hi# that endured such contradiction of sinners a%ainst hi#self& lest -e be wearied and faint in -our #inds! AHebrews 2:'B. >on't 1aint in Your MouthB :he moment you faint in your mind, you will faint in *our mouth, 5nd the moment you faint in your mouth, you will release death and cursin1 rather than life and blessin1. :he problem will come throu1h what you consider. *f you consider the problem, you will faint in your mind, and you will ta-( the !ro.-em. 9n the other hand, if you consider <od, you will be stren1thened in your mind, and you will ta-( the answer. Iou won>t consider the lac7H you will consider the Pro#ider. Iou won>t consider the circumstanceH you will consider the <od of the circumstance. Iou won>t consider the hardshipH you will consider the winner and the o#ercomer. *t>s all in what you consider. *f you 7eep meditatin1 on the ?ord of <od and belie#in1 and trustin1 in the ?ord of <od, you will ha#e stren1th in your mind, and life will come forth out of your mouth. :he Bible says that you will learn to lo#e life, and you will see 1ood days. .0 9ther boo7s by 4r. 2hristian Harfouche 6uthorit* ;+er the Powers of Dar(ness Doing the )m!ossi.-e How to =ecei+e Your #irac-e 9i+ing ;n he Cutting >dge he #irac-e #inistr* of the Pro!het he Si-+er, he 'o-d, and he '-or* he S!irit 'uide For orders or more information contact: 2hristian Harfouche =inistries 24 !"ecuti#e Pla$a %d. Pensacola, F& '2()4 A0()B 4.4-.6( 9r #isit our website: www.1lobalre#i#al.com