Living By Faith

PRISONERS OF WORDS

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. (Proverbs 6:2)

If you’re not happy with what you have in life, check out what you’ve been saying.
Kenneth E. Hagin

Many people are prisoners of their words; what they say is holding them hostage. Proverbs 6:2 in the Jerusalem Bible says, “…through words of yours you have been entrapped.” The Basic English version says, “…the sayings of your lips have overcome you.”

James 3 tells us that your tongue will determine the direction and destiny of your life. You are a believer in the Word of God. You must speak what you believe for victory to be yours.

The confession of your lips that grows out of faith in your heart will absolutely defeat the adversary in every combat. When you hold fast to your confession of faith and allow those words to register in your spirit, Satan cannot win!

Confession: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) I will not be held captive by my words any longer. I will speak the Word of God concerning every circumstance and situation in my life. I am a believer in God’s Word. I have the victory!

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WINNING THE WAR OF WORDS

In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say to this mountain, “Remove, and hurl thyself into the sea,” and has no doubt about it in his heart, but steadfastly believes that what he says will happen, it shall be granted him. (Mark 11:23 Weymouth Translation)

Jesus won the war of words. Mark Hankins

Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness by speaking the Word of God (Matthew 4). Satan said…Jesus said… Satan said…Jesus said…Satan said…Jesus said. The Lord Jesus Christ won the war of words and put the devil on the run. Even Jesus had to “say” three times before the devil left. The power of speaking the Word of God was evident in this example from Jesus’ life and it is necessary for you to win the fight of faith.
Jesus tells us clearly how faith works in Mark 11:23. Faith is released by speaking. If you are silent, you will lose by default. You must win the war of words in order to win in every conflict.
A war of words is going on every day of your life. How you fight that war will determine whether you win or lose; it will determine whether you live in the blessing or the curse. It could even determine whether you live or die. God has supplied the ammunition to win- His Word! It has the power to win in every area. There is life, healing, joy, victory, and blessing in the Word of God!


Confession: I have a spirit of faith. I believe therefore I speak. (2 Corinthians 4:13) I will win the war of words and experience the blessing of God in my life!

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NEVER RUN AT YOUR GIANT WITH YOUR MOUTH SHUT

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. (1 Samuel 17:46)

Faith is released by speaking. If you are silent, you lose by default.
Mark Hankins

1 Samuel 17 records the classic story of David and Goliath. The real battle was won before David actually killed Goliath. A war of words had to be won before victory could be consummated. The story went something like this: Goliath said…David said…Goliath said…David said…David ran toward the Philistine…David prevailed over the Philistine. David won the war of words before He won the victory!

The Lord spoke these words to me as a key to killing my giants: “Never run at your giant with your mouth shut!” Before we can receive and do all that God has for us in life, there will be giants that must be conquered. As you may know, some of these giants can be quite persistent. Just keep on running at those giants with your mouth speaking the Word of God. The Word releases God’s power to win in every conflict!

Confession: And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me. (Isaiah 49:2)

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THE SOUND OF FAITH

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. (Philemon 6)

We have many “wounded rabbits” in the church who need to change their sound. Mark Hankins

Several years ago, I went hunting for coyote in Arizona with a friend who was an avid hunter. We got up early in the morning, while it was still dark, and put on camouflage outfits — pants, shirt, hat, and boots. We went out on a mountainside and sat on the ground under a big bush, with camouflage netting wrapped around us. My friend began to call the coyotes with a little wooden call that made a loud, squealing noise that mimicked the sound of a wounded rabbit. When the coyotes heard the squeal of the hurt rabbit, they would come for what they thought was a nice meal.

We have many wounded rabbits in the church calling up the coyotes of failure. Their wounded rabbit call attracts the devil, and he comes to devour them for lunch! By changing your sound to a bold declaration of who you are in Christ Jesus, you will begin to attract the blessings of God in a greater measure.

Confession: I am who God says I am. I have what God says I have. I can do what God says I can do. I boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)

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THE POWER TO CHOOSE

Death and life are in the power of the tongue… (Proverbs 18:21)

Your words can limit you or loose you. Mark Hankins

Language is unique to man. God created us as eternal spirit beings in His image with the power of speech. James chapter 3 clearly tells us that the tongue determines our direction and destiny. We have the power to choose blessing or cursing, life or death. (Deuteronomy 30:19) The Lord Jesus said in Mark 11:23 that “Whosoever…shall have whatsoever he saith.” Words determine the boundaries and set limits on our lives. Believing and speaking are the two most fundamental ingredients in faith, and the Gospel is the language of faith.

I have heard the testimonies of two people who died and came back from the dead. I found it quite interesting that both said when their spirits returned to their bodies, they entered through their mouths. That makes sense because God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s mouth. If your spirit enters or exits your body through your mouth, why would the impact of words or speech on our lives seem strange?

Confession: I choose to speak words of life and blessing. “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

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