The Power of the Tongue
Stick and Stones (Part II)
Mastering your Mouth, Mind, and Methods! (Part III)
God’s Promises and Your Performance (Part IV)
Vocabulary Change = Life Change (Part V)
From Weaklings to Warriors! (Part VI)
God’s Blessings are tied to Our Speech (Part VII)
The Power of the Tongue (top of page)
(Prov 18:21 MSG) Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit–you choose.
The last name of God we investigated was Elohim (The Creator God). We saw how God looked at darkness and simply said, “Let there be Light” and there was light. He looked at the waters and said, “Let dry land appear” and it was so. God looked at the bare land and said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed” and it was so. Later on God created man in His image and Adam began to do what God did. Adam did in the earth what God did for the earth. Adam looked at a big animal and named it elephant and it is still called elephant today. He looked at a strange animal and called it giraffe and it is still called giraffe today. He named all the animals. Whatever he called them, they became. He then realized that everything had a mate except for him. God caused him to sleep and took a rib from Adam and made Eve from it. He brought her to him and he said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” And we still call females “Woman” today because of what he said.
So what does this mean to you today? We, like Adam, have creative ability in our tongue. Our text tells us that words can either kill or give life, they can either be poison or fruit — the choice is ours. When we think about God and how He used words to frame the world that is seen from the unseen and how Adam named the unnamed and the names remain today; we can see the power of the tongue. God wants us to speak life and not death, light and not darkness. The best thing we can ever do for our lives, families, children, finances, etc. is to speak the Word of God over them. When we confess God’s word over our lives, we expressing to God that we agree with His opinion of us and not the world’s. We must be careful whose opinion we agree with and what we say; especially over our children. Have you ever heard a parent say to their children:
- “You will never amount to anything!”
- “You are stupid!”
- “You ain’t never been nothing and will never be anything!”
Our what about a husband or wife say to their spouse:
- “I hate you!’
- “I don’t know why I married you!”
- “I can’t wait to get a divorce!”
And the list can go on. Just like God and Adam, we will have what we say. If we speak death, we will receive death. If we speak life, we will enjoy God’s blessings. Are you ready to allow God to turn your life around? Then change your vocabulary and agree with God’s opinion of you!
Confession for this day: Lord God. The power of death and life are in my tongue. You have given me creative ability. Just as you looked at darkness and saw light, I look at every dark situation in my life and see what You would have me to see. I speak what you would have me to speak. I declare what you would have me to declare. I can have what you say I can have. I can do what you say I can do. I am not a failure, I am a success; because You make me successful in everything I put my hands to do. My family is blessed, my children are blessed, my career is blessed, my body is healthy, my mind is at rest, and I am ready for this day; because You have made me ready! Lord, Be it unto me, according to Your Word! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
I choose to speak life and not death!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of the Tongue (Part II) (top of page)
(Prov 15:4 MSG) Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
We have all heard the children cliché, “sticks and stones may break by bones, but words will never hurt me.” It may have worked on the playground, but it does not work in real life. Words not only hurt us, but can also crush others. Jeremiah said, (Jer 29:11 GNB) I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. David thought about God’s plans for him and said, (Ps 139:17 KJV) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! Jeremiah and David help us understand the greatness of God’s plans and thoughts for us and towards us. Many of us can remember our childhood plans and dreams. Many a child dreams of becoming a lawyer, doctor, business owner, successful athlete, minister or etc. Many of these dreams and aspirations, however, are destroyed by parents and others with their cutting words.
I grew up in one of the worst neighborhoods in our country. I was surrounded by violence, drugs, and death. My friends and I would sit on the stoops of abandoned buildings and dream about getting out of the ghetto and becoming “successful” in life. It is sad to say, but I am the only one of our childhood group that ever did leave. Many of them are dead or have been in jail. What was the difference? I believe it is because I had a praying mother in whom I always saw “hope.” She told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do, but that it would take hard work and honesty. She taught me about integrity and dignity. She was and is a woman that is revered. She did not let our surroundings disqualify us from our destiny. She had two children. My sister is a millionaire at the tender age of 23, I am enjoying prosperity in Christ, and my mother is still praying. My sister and I may have had to endure words that wounded and maimed on the streets of Brooklyn, but we were always comforted when we came home to words that healed and helped.
So what does this mean to you today? Two things:
1. For Your Life: Maybe you experienced words that wounded and maimed. Maybe you have allowed your dreams and aspirations to die. Maybe you have allowed your surroundings to seemingly disqualify you from your destiny. If that is you this morning, the good news is that you are still alive. The fact that you are still breathing and blood is still flowing in your veins is evidence that God is not through with you. Jeremiah and David teach us this morning of God’s plans and thoughts towards us. Agree with God’s plans. Confess God’s Word. Receive God’s opinion of you and you will see hopeless situations turn around in your life.
2. For the Lives of others: I pray you have learned from our text never to use cutting words that wound and maim with our spouses, our children, our friends, or anyone for that matter. Words are powerful. You have power in your tongue. How will you use that power today?
Confession for this day: Lord God. The power of death and life are in my tongue. You have given me the power to heal and help or to wound and maim. I choose to use my tongue to help and to promote your kingdom, today and everyday. I make a commitment to get past my past and I agree with Your plans and Your thoughts for my life. I am Your Righteousness on the earth. I am the head and not the tail. I am above only and not beneath. I am prosperous, because You make me prosperous. I am a blessing to others, because You have given me the power to speak life into their lives. Use me this day for Your service. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
I choose to heal and to help with my tongue!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of the Tongue (Part III) (top of page)
(Jos 1:8 KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
What are most people looking for in life? Success, right? Well, did you know that the only verse in the entire King James Version of the Bible that has the word success in it is our text for this morning? That being the case, we should investigate this text and see what we can draw from it for daily application. We have been dealing with the Power of the Tongue. This text flows in that same vein.
The Lord used Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and out from under the hand of Pharaoh’s oppression. With Moses, they were delivered from the land of “Not Enough” (Egypt) to the land of “Just Enough” (The Wilderness). Their attitude and actions caused them to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses is now dead and God has risen up a new leader. This leader would take them from the land of “Just Enough” (The Wilderness) to the land of “More Than Enough” (Canaan). What was the key? What would God tell this new leader to tell the people to prepare them for prosperity? It all goes back to attitude and actions.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s glean a few golden nuggets. Success comes from:
1. Mastering Your Mouth: God told Joshua to tell the people to never cease from speaking the Word. This goes back to the power of the tongue. Their success would be tied to their speech. If they spoke the Word of God, they would have success. Our prosperity is tied to our proclamation of God’s promises.
2. Mastering Your Mind: Not only were they to speak the Word from their mouths, but meditate on it Day and Night in their minds. It is very hard to sin when you are nursing and rehearsing the Word of God. If you give the enemy your attention for 5 seconds, he will have your mind for 5 minutes. You must guard your mind, because whatever is in you abundantly, will come out of your eventually!
3. Mastering Your Methods: Proper speech and proper thoughts lead to proper actions. They were commanded to “DO” all that is written in the Book! Mastering you mouth and your mind is nothing if it does not lead to mastering your methods. Renewed speech and renewed thoughts, must lead to renewed Actions if it is going to be pleasing to God!
Are you ready for renewal? Are you ready for Good Success? If so, then allow then Master your mouth, mind and methods through the Word of God!
Confession for this day: Lord God. The power of death and life are in my tongue. I speak Your Word daily over every situation that comes my way. My attitude and actions are renewed by Your Word! I read Your Word for knowledge and vision. I meditate upon Your Word for peace and rest. I observe to do all that is written therein for Prosperity and Success! It is Your will that I graduate to the land of More Than Enough. By the Power of the Holy Spirit, I Master My Mouth, My Mind and My Methods! I receive Your Good Success this day and every day! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of the Tongue (Part IV) (top of page)
(Jos 1:8 KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
This morning we pick up where we left off yesterday — pursuing Success. The only verse in the entire King James Version of the Bible that has the word success in it is our text. Yesterday we discussed the practice of Mastering our Mouth, Mind and Methods. This morning we pick up with the end of this verse. It goes on to say, “for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Whenever you see the word “then” you know that it is tied to something else. The promise after the “then” is contingent upon the action prior to the same. God gave Joshua a simple formula for Success:
1. Repeat My Word Constantly (Mouth)
2. Think About it all the Time (Mind)
3. Do what it Says (Methods)
You can go to seminars, buy tapes, order catalogues, and every other “get rich quick scheme” you see on infomercials and you will never get a better formula than this one. You can even go to Bible Conferences and large spiritual gatherings, but it will always come down this — You prosperity and success are tied to God’s Promises and Your Performance. God wants us to speak His Word constantly, think about it daily, and perform it continually. Jeremiah had a conversation with God and this is what God told him: (Jer 1:12 GW) Then the LORD said to me, “Right. I am watching to make sure that my words come true.” See, we can say, “I will be there at 3 o’clock” and then show up at 3:30. Or we can say, “Call me and I will come right over” and then never show up. We are human and are finite and frail. But God is God and is infinite and true. He cannot lie and He cannot go against His Word. What do you think God does all day? He watches over His Word to make sure it comes true! When we follow His Word and follow His formula, He is obligated to perform it! That is why our text says that we “make” our way prosperous and then we should have good success. Our prosperity and success is not tied to God and God alone, it is tied to our decisions and our actions. When we line up with His Word, He blesses us. When we don’t, He doesn’t. It is not that He is playing favorites, but rather simply just honoring His Word!
So what does this mean to you today? It means that your prosperity and success are contingent upon you following God’s Word and God’s plans. Paul made this very easy for us to understand. He said, (Gal 6:7 CEV) You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. God’s Word is seed. When you read the Word you are collecting seed in the barn. When you speak the Word you are spreading seed on the field. But when you “DO” what it says, you are sowing the seed in the ground. You will harvest exactly what you plant. If you are not harvesting prosperity and success – check your seed!
Confession for this day: Lord God. The power of death and life are in my tongue. You Word is my formula for success. I read Your Word. I meditate upon Your Word. I perform Your Word and I have confidence that You will manifest Your promises in my life. I know that I will harvest what I plant. So I plant Your Word and receive Your reward. As I enter this day, I will observe to DO all that is written in Your Word. By performing Your Word, I Make my way prosperous and I cause my way to be successful! Lord, be it unto me, according to Your Word! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Check Your Seed!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of the Tongue (Part V) (top of page)
(Prov 18:20 MSG) Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
As we endeavor to Know God More in 2004, we continue to learn about the Power of the Tongue. Solomon teaches us this morning another principle of sowing and reaping. We learned yesterday from Paul that, (Gal 6:7 CEV) You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. Our text for this morning flows in that same vein. Solomon likens words to fruit for the mind and good talk to a good harvest.
Just like the food that is fed to your stomach is turned into power for your physical man, the words that are fed to your mind are turned into power for the spiritual man. Now, if you eat the right things (physically) you will enjoy physical fitness. The diet industry is a Billion Dollar business because most people do not have self-discipline when it comes to eating. When you learn to eat a healthy diet and exercise, you will enjoy the benefits of a conditioned physical body. So it is with your mouth. If you submit and surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit and speak only those things that are pleasing in God’s sight, you will enjoy the benefits of a conditioned mind. See, when we come to God our Spirit is saved instantly, but our mind must be saved progressively. Meaning, if you come to God and surrender your life to Him on a Monday, you will probably still a multitude of bad thought patterns on Tuesday. You need to get rid of your Stinking Thinking. As you progress in your Christian walk, God’s Word — coming out of Your Mouth — will progressively change your mind. Paul said, (Ro 12:2 CEV) Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. How do you change the way you think? By changing the words you speak. Our words become a satisfying meal for our minds, if we speak life and not death; light and not darkness. The more our words line up with God’s Word, the greater the harvest in our soul will be.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that many people come to church Sunday after Sunday and Wednesday after Wednesday looking for satisfaction and success. Satisfaction and Success are illusive to many because, although they attend church services regularly, they never allow the Word of God to renew their minds. A renewed mind comes from renewed speech. When you speak the Word of God over your life and over your situations, you will see a dramatic change in your thoughts and your actions. Good words will satisfy like good fruit and provide a good harvest.
Are you ready for a change? Change your vocabulary, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, and watch God change your life! Good seed produces a Good Harvest!
Confession for this day: Lord God. The power of death and life are in my tongue. I have what I say. I reap what I sow. I sow Your Word and receive a renewed mind. My renewed mind will bring renewed thoughts. My renewed thoughts bring renewed actions. My renewed actions bring renewed results! I enjoy a good harvest this day and everyday, because I sow Good Seed. I speak Your Word and agree with Your opinion of me and You bless me for it! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of the Tongue (Part VI) (top of page)
(Joel 3:10 GW) Hammer your plowblades into swords and your pruning shears into spears. Weaklings should say that they are warriors.
As we endeavor to Know God More in 2004, we continue to learn about the Power of the Tongue. Joel 3 speaks of the judgment of the nations that rose up against Judah and Jerusalem. He speaks of the universal rage of God against Israel’s foes. God told the prophet to tell the nations to wake up their warriors and prepare for battle. He goes on to tell them to even prepare mere farmers for battle; to have them to hammer their plowblades into swords and pruning shears into spears. He then says the key for this morning’s message: that the weaklings should say that they are warriors. Now, in context, this is God speaking to His enemies. We know that there is no contest here. They would all receive their inevitable fate. But since God wanted them all to prepare for war, there are some principles that we can glean from this text.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. No one is exempt from Spiritual Warfare: Just as the wrath and rage of God was universal against Israel’s enemies, so it is the attack of the enemy against the children of God. The reason that I share these messages and ministers all over the world go to painstaking lengths to teach God’s Word, is so that we are ready to endure and overcome the attack of the enemy. The Power of the Tongue series is designed to prepare all of us (because we will all be attacked) to retaliate against the attack of the enemy with and oral barrage of God’s Word.
2. We can only use what we have: God knew that the warriors had swords and spears, but the attack would come to all peoples of all professions. For those that did not have swords and spears, they were to use their plowblades and shears. They were to use the weapons at their disposal for the impending attack. And so it is with us. Our only offensive weapon against the devil is the Word of God. Since the Word of God is the weapon, our Mouth is the tool by which the weapon is activated and engaged. They key, however, is that you can only speak what you know. The more you read your Bible and study messages like this one, they better prepared your are for the attack!
3. Our Mouth can transform Weaklings into Warriors: The weaklings among the nations were to say out of their own mouths that they were warriors. Why? Because the Power of death and life are in the tongue. Your words have the power to transform. If is it true that the weak enemies of God could say “I am strong” prior to the battle, then the same must hold true for us. The difference is, however, that we have the Power of the Holy Spirit to back up the transformation from weakling to Warrior!
Are you ready for this week? Are you ready for the impending attack? Use what you have (the Word of God) and speak it over your life. The Word of God can transform weaklings into Warriors!
Confession for this day: Lord God. The power of death and life are in my tongue. I am ready for every attack. I am dressed for success. I have on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace and the helmet of salvation. I enter into battle with the shield of faith to protect me and the Sword of the Spirit, Your Word Father, to defeat the enemy. Your Word has transforming Power. It can change weaklings into Warriors. I enter into this day and this brand new week as a Warrior. I will never be the same. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
The Power of the Tongue (Part VII) (top of page)
(1Pet 3:10 CEV) “Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies.
For the last week or so we have learned about the Power of the Tongue. As we prepare to close this series, I pray that you have learned to bridle your tongue by the power of the Holy Spirit and use your words as creative tools of righteousness. 1st Peter was written at a time when Emperor Nero was persecuting the church. Christians were burned alive and coliseums were packed to watch them eaten alive by lions and tigers. It was a time or tribulation and turmoil for the church. In the midst of it all, the Holy Spirit through Peter taught the church to be steadfast and firm; to continue to preach and to be light, in the midst of darkness and danger. Peter offered life and happiness to the dying and desperate. He taught them (and teaches us) that life and happiness is tied to our tongue. He was quoting from David in Psalms, (Ps 34:12-18 CEV) Do you want to live and enjoy a long life? Then don’t say cruel things and don’t tell lies. Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace. If you obey the LORD, he will watch over you and answer your prayers. But God despises evil people, and he will wipe them all from the earth, till they are forgotten. When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God expects us to do right and live right, even when we are not treated right.
2. If we obey God and His Word, He will answer our prayers.
3. God despises evil people, we cannot say we are His and then act like we are not.
4. God will listen to us when we pray for help and deliver us from trouble.
5. God will give a living hope to the discouraged.
6. Everything listed here is tied to our tongue. We must stop saying cruel things and lying if we expect God to keep us and bless us.
7. God blessings are tied to our speech!
Confession for this day: Lord God. I understand the power of the tongue. I am Your child. I am covered by Your blood. I am anointed by Your Spirit. I am called according to Your purpose. I speak kind words and not evil. I speak peace and not strife. I am kind to everyone that comes my way today. I pray and You hear me, because my words are lined up with Your Word! My speech is seasoned with Your grace. My vocabulary has been transformed by Your power. I speak life and not death. Light and not darkness. My words are health to my bones! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!