THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER TO GUIDE OUR LIVES

A PRAYER TO CONTROL THINKING AND SPEAKING

MISAPPLICATIONS of SPEAKING IN FAITH

The doctrine of the spoken word is revealed as a key concept of Biblical wisdom. It is expressed from Job to David, to Solomon's Proverbs, and is restated by the Lord Jesus and his apostles. The impact of the words we speak, not only reflect an individual's character but engage deeper spiritual things. While we who believe are being transformed into the image and characteristics of the Lord Jesus we should take on his attributes.  We know that the spoken word has an impact of authority in this world. This world is the domain of spiritual forces both for good or evil, who react to our words of faith. The unholy spiritual powers in heavenly places are equally mindful of our words. Our spoken words must be consistent to establish our identity as a redeemed soul. The "double minded person" (James 1:8 and 4:8) has not yet gained mastery over negative words that can affect their daily lives and relationships. The words of the double minded vary as the wind. Their speech may range from positive expressions that are faith-filled to ungodly utterances and negative or profane words that are contrary to what God says about our identity in Him. We know that our spiritual enemy, Lucifer, is the father of lies and deceit. He desires that anyone speak words of UNBELIEF not affirming the knowledge of truth. There is no deceit or variability of any kind in the almighty.

     Words of faith should echo the promises of God. God's promises overshadow and supercede the apparent realities of this world, though reason and observation may argue contrarywise. The spiritual impact  of words which come from our own mouths is a sadly neglected area of knowledge. Words affirm and regulate our spiritual well being and grow our faith. The unredeemed person has "misused his tongue" all of his life. They regularly speaks words that are lies or that brutalize others, even members of their own family. The new birth brings the power of the Holy Spirit by whom we begin to get the tongue back under control and working for our soul's betterment. It may be necessary to undo the accumulated seeds of negativity that we planted with words of unbelief or profanity. This usually occurs as we come to God for repentance from years of profanity uttered in ignorance. The "new man" has a heavenly priest who can be petitioned to help to remove the seeds of evil words that they no longer bear fruit thereafter.

     I think there are many Christians who are unaware of any kind of spiritual consequences to words that come out of their mouths. Of course there are social and emotional consequences as people react to the words of others. Scripture is filled with reference to words, the tongue and speaking. Speaking is the source of both blessing and cursing. There can be neither a blessing nor a curse if it were not for the fact that words have power of a spiritual kind. The patriarchs of the Old Covenant spoke blessings to their children, these blessings carried power and were tied inextricably to the future and destiny of those receiving it.  In the book of Proverbs alone there are more than forty verses that describe the power of words or the tongue. I will share several of the more important ones in just a moment. Why are words powerful? Why are words Spiritual? Why do our words guide our lives and our potentiality to walk in Faith? I will share some of my thoughts and insights which I believe to be supported by Scripture.

     God has spoken things into being.  Jesus is the "Word of God" that was spoken and that abides forever. Those things spoken by the Lord will all come to pass. While we are created after His image and likeness, we are not with our words able to create realities separate from God's purpose and creation. We can by words affirm our belief and faith in His divine promises as a faithful adopted son or daughter. Those who teach that we are co-equal to God the creator are expressing a doctrine which moves close to  occult, demonic practices.

     Jesus said, "the words that I speak are Spirit and they are life." Jesus taught many things about words, including the fact that we will hear the words we have spoken preserved eternally and give account for them in the judgment. We're taught to let our yes's be "yes" and our no's simply "no" as anything else touches on sin. Jesus also taught that words mark our spiritual treasure house: When we speak we give evidence to the stuff which we have within us (our hearts.) Luke 6:45 an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. In other words, our words reflect our thought and values held in life.

 James, the half-brother of Christ and an apostle, gives a lengthy dissertation on the power of the tongue to do good and evil, he says that though the tongue is small it has the power to rule and guide our lives even as a ship is guided by a rudder. James also advises that one well should not bring out two kinds of water, poisoned and sweet.

     Solomon, called the wisest man, included more than 35 proverbs dealing with the power of words. It is clear that words have a large part to control not only our faith but our life of prayer. Have you wondered about silent prayer versus spoken prayer. This is a very important understanding that is not taught enough in the church. The words we speak have the power to change life and circumstances; the words we think are merely meditations. Yes, God speaks to us in the meditations of our heart; and yes, God hears the meditations of our thoughts. Scripture tells us that God knows our hearts and our thoughts. It also teaches that thoughts are not sin, but when our thoughts become words and actions based upon evil thoughts, this constitutes sin. (Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.) This means that he had thoughts which were like ours, temptations which are like ours, but he did not give place to these but cast them down. In his worst temptations Jesus actually addressed Satan, "Get thee behind me Satan!" or, "It is written, you shall not put the Lord thy God to the test!" Spoken word brought the power of God into action against these circumstances.

We see in the gospels how Jesus ministered by speaking words. Now we do not see many people in churches speaking words like Jesus did, I wonder why? Paul said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." This means we should pray and speak like Jesus. How did Jesus minister? Jesus spoke to diseases. He spoke to demons afflicting many people. He spoke to the fig tree and it responded; he spoke to the wind and it responded. Jesus by speaking took direct authority over the condition or situation. Jesus did not ask God to fix things for him he himself took action with the Words and the authority which the Father had given him. Jesus obviously prayed in a different way that you and I have learned to pray. Jesus heard and saw in prayer, he ministered with words and with authority. Words spoken in the world have power to minister good. Salvation comes to a believer by speaking aloud from the belief of the his heart. John 12:50 - - And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. John 5:19: So Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.


DOMINION THEOLOGY, LITTLE GOD THEOLOGY AND OTHER MISAPPLICATIONS

     While the notion of speaking the Word and agreement with the Word is clearly an application of a life of faith, it is clear that some in the Word of Faith movement have followed a path that is not biblical. We can not create something out of nothing as God, the creator, originally formed all things that are in existance. We can not force God to fetch and perform any way we want. God remains in control and his will will control the ultimate outcome. The heart of man is desparately wicked and to give us full authority to fulfil the lusts of the flesh and to have things our way would be to give a believer "over to witchcraft." The realm of the occult can produce some manifested outcomes by the use of creative visualization and declarations but this kind of action gives the activity over to the realm of the adversary. 
 

A COVENANT IS FORGED IN WORDS: WORDS ESTABLISH A COVENANT AND WORDS INDICATE ASSENT TO THE COVENANT.

"And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless." -- Gen 44:10

GOD SETS FORTH THE COVENANT
WE ACCEPT AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OF HIS COVENANT
"And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window." -- Josh 2:21

THE MOUTH EXPRESSES WHAT WE HAVE FED OUR SPIRIT IN OUR MEDITATIONS
     "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." ( Matthew 12:34-36)
 

JESUS EXPLAINS HOW WORDS ARE SPIRIT: BUT THE SPIRIT MUST BE THE LIFE OF GOD'S SPIRIT NOT SATAN'S SPIRIT (A SPIRIT OF DESTRUCTION)
     "It is the spirit that quickened; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." -- John 6:63

JESUS SPOKE AS HE SUBMITTED TO GOD'S VOICE WITHIN
 

     Below you will find some of the dozens of Scriptures which address words, lips
or the tongue of speech. This is ancient and foundational wisdom.
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (-- John 14:10)

The Book of Proverbs Is Filled with references to WORDS, LIPS, TONGUE

"A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence."

(-- Proverbs 13:2 )

"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." (-- Proverbs 13:3 )

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

(-- Proverbs 18:21)

"The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth." (-- Proverbs 10:20 )

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

(-- Proverbs 15:2 )

"He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool." (-- Proverbs 10:18 )

"For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips." (-- Proverbs 8:7")

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing forward or perverse in them." (-- Proverbs 8:8)

"In the multitude of words there wanted not sin: but he that refrained his lips is wise." (-- Proverbs 10:19 )