Death and Life Are in the Power of the Tongue

In Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth. He said, and whatever He said, was. He said... is recorded 8 times in the creation account, and whatever He said came into being. In Hebrews a little more information is revealed:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3, King James Version)

So God created the worlds through faith, by the Word of God. He spoke, and things were created. He spoke, Let there be light, or, literally, Light, be! And light was. David, the psalmist, also records this:

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:6,9, Amplified Bible).

God speaks what He wants first. This is how God creates. And this is how He brought Jesus into the earth. He spoke of Jesus for thousands of years through His prophets before the Word ever became flesh. God always speaks what He wants first, then it comes to pass.

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass (Isa 48:3 King James Version).

The Word of God brought the worlds into existence, the Word of God brought Jesus into the earth 2000 years ago, and the process has not changed. The Word of God still creates today. This is God's mode of operation, the way He does things. God creates with His mouth, with His words. And that's the way He expects His people to operate as well.

...God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Romans 4:17 King James Version.

Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak. 2 Cor 4:13 Amplified Bible

Faith-filled words create. There is power in the words you speak. There is power in your mouth, for good or for bad. Society leads us to believe that "it's just words". But your words determine your path. When you put the Word of God in your mouth, you are filling your mouth with the sword of the Spirit that will bring that Word to pass in your life. The Word of God is loaded with scriptures that explain the power of your words.

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Prov. 18:20-21 King James Version)

The Word in your mouth is power. The Word spoken out of a heart of faith is full of power to change your life. This is how you are born again in the first place- you believe in your heart and say with your mouth, and life comes into your spirit. (Romans 10:9-10). The spoken Word brings life.

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword... (Hebrews 4:12, Amplified Bible)

Jesus teaches on the concept in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus was with His twelve disciples when they came upon a fig tree with no fruit on it. Jesus spoke to the tree and said, No man eat fruit of you again forever. It was the next day that they passed by again and saw the tree dried up from the roots. That tree was done as soon as Jesus spoke to it, it just took a little time for it to be seen in the leaves. His words had power to dry up that tree. Peter said something about the tree being dried up and that was the point at which Jesus taught them about the power in their mouths:

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mk. 11:22-23 King James Version)

Begging God to fix your problems won't do a thing. God is moved by faith, not pity. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith-filled words are what move God. As you speak the Word, you release power to change things in your life. Jesus said to speak to the mountain; He didn't say to beg God to move the mountain for you.

Notice that faith-filled words are necessary. The problem most of us have is that we have a lot more faith in the negative circumstances around us than we do in the Word. If you truly believe that every winter you'll get sick, then chances are you will because the faith you have in the ability of sickness to overtake you will come out your mouth, and those things which you say shall come to pass. When you get God's healing promises down on the inside of you to where you truly believe He wants you healed, then your words will carry weight in the spirit and will bring healing to your body.

The Word says that if you can control your mouth you can control your entire body. These next verses are taken from a passage about the power of the tongue:

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. (James 3:2-4 King James Version)

If you have habits you need to break, start with your mouth. If you need to lose a bad habit, start declaring the opposite. Say, I'm free of this habit, for the Word says I have the spirit of self-control. (That's in 2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified.) The more you say it, the more you'll believe it, and it WILL come to pass.

If you deal with anxiety or stress, start saying, The peace of God that passes all understanding is guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) Just get the Word coming out of your mouth, and put a lid on the wrong things! You CAN overcome habits, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, etc. by changing your mouth.

If you are unusure what to do about anything, don't say over and over, I don't know what to do. Say, God, You are guiding me into all truth (John 16:13) because you have given me every kind of wisdom and understanding, making known to me Your will (Ephesians 1:8-9), and I have the mind of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:16). You don't have to be confused. God will speak to you in your heart, and when that direction comes, it will come with peace. You will have peace about what to do. Always follow peace.

Whatever your circumstances, find the answer in the Word of God, and get it coming out of your mouth. Healing, finances, stress, whatever the challenge, God has an answer in His Word. He won't change things for you while you sit by passively doing nothing. He's waiting to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1:12), so put it out there so He can perform it.

In other words, your tongue can control your whole body.

As the Word of God goes into the earth as spoken by His people, His Word will change things. In Ezekiel 37, God told the prophet to speak to the dry bones. God didn't do the speaking, Ezekiel did. And those words put life into those dry bones.

This is a picture of what God wants us to do today. Speak to the dry bones in your life. Speak life by speaking the Word. Need finances? Speak 2 Corinthians 8:9, and 9:8. Need healing? Speak 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5 and Psalm 30:2. Need peace? Speak Isaiah 26:3 and John 14:27. Speak to the mountain. Speak to the dry bones. The Word will not return void.

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isa 55:11 Amplified Bible)

Jesus said in the parable of the sower (Mark 4) that the sower sows the Word. Every time you open your mouth you are sowing death or life with your words. Words are what we are sowing all day every day and words will produce fruit for good or for bad, for life or for death.

But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. (Matthew 12:36-37 Amplified Bible)

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8 King James Version)

Don't forget- the sower sows the word. Every word you speak, you are sowing to life or sowing to death. If you've been sowing a lot of death with your mouth, speaking failure, defeat, sickness, being broke, upset, or whatever, just repent and start new again. His mercy is new every morning.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9, King James Version)

Your life is a product of what you've been saying. Get a garden of life going with your mouth. Plant good seed, plant the Word, and bring in a harvest of abundant life, to the full, til it overflows.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (John 10:10, Amplified Bible)

What follows is a sample confession of the Word of God that you can use for yourself and personalize according to your specific circumstances. Personalizing verses makes the Word really speak to your heart and goes a long way toward building your faith in God. Never beg God for anything; use the Word in your prayer time instead. God honors faith, and the more you pray the Word, the more it will build your faith. The verses used are referenced at the end.

I thank You, Father, that Your Word will not return to You void, but it will accomplish what You please and it will prosper in my life, for You watch over Your Word to perform it. I thank You, Lord, for the covenant of blood I have with You by the blood of Your Son, Jesus. I receive that blood and the covenant promises of life, health and prosperity over my life today.

Jesus, You were made to be sin for me that I might be made the righteousness of God in You. I receive that life over me and my house today. As for me and my house, we serve the Lord. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and I am saved and my house. The seed of the righteous shall be delivered. I thank You, Lord, that You are pouring Your Spirit upon my house and Your blessing upon my offspring. I thank You, Father, for salvation and the blessing that is working in my house today.

I thank You, Lord, for the healing You have provided my house by the covenant of blood. For You bare my sins in Your own body on the tree that I being dead to sin might live unto righteousness, by whose stripes I am healed. You sent Your Word and healed me and delivered me from my destructions. I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. Your Word is life and health to all my flesh and I prosper and am in health even as my soul prospers. I receive the healing in my body that You died to give me. By Your stripes I am healed.

Now Father, I receive Your provision for my life today, for I know the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ that though You were rich, yet for my sake You became poor that I through Your poverty might be rich and abundantly supplied. You are making all grace come to my house in abundance that we may always, and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient- possessing enough to require no aid or support, and my house is furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation. I thank you Father for seed for the sowing and bread for the eating. I am enriched in all things and in every way. I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and all these things are added unto me. I thank You, Lord, for giving me power to get wealth that You can establish Your covenant in the earth through me today. The blessing is working in my house today.

Now Lord, I declare that I am not weak in faith when I consider my circumstances. No unbelief or distrust makes me waver or doubtingly question concerning Your promises for my life. I am growing strong and am empowered by faith as I give praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that You, Lord, are able and might to keep Your Word and do what You have promised in my life. I have the life of God. I live life in abundance, to the full, til it overflows. I overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of my testimony. I thank You, Lord, for the life, health and prosperity that You died to give me, so that the world will see Jesus in my life. I give You all the glory, in Jesus' Name, amen.

References- Is. 55;11; Jer. 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:21; Josh. 24:15; Acts 16:31; Prov. 11:21; Is. 44:3; 1 Pet. 2:24; Ps. 107:20; Ps. 118:17; Prov. 4:22; 3 Jn 2; 2 Cor. 8:9 Amp.; 2 Cor. 9:8-11 Amp.; Mt. 6:33; Deut. 8:18; Rom. 4:19-21; Jn. 10:10 Amp.; Rev. 21:11.

Ministries Online

For quintessential faith teachings, see Kenneth Copeland Ministries, one of the best to learn about faith. Check out "Real Help", a section on their website that has loads of online articles, etc, to give you help in lots of different areas, all free.

For loads of free downloadable teachings on faith, finances, healing, etc, etc, see Keith Moore Ministries. He has loads of very practical, every-day, down-to-earth teaching that's strictly in line with the Word of God to help you walk in victory as God intended.

For very practical, down-to-earth teaching that speaks to everyone in their day-to-day lives, see Joyce Meyer Ministries, a ministry that will give you insight into how to deal with the things we all confront every day.

Another website with great teaching available is Andrew Wommack Ministries; I highly recommend his teaching on The True Nature of God, a very good in-depth teaching on the goodness of God that will correct the traditional view of God as a cranky old man waiting to knock you over the head to teach you something.

Other Online Helps

A great Bible reference site with loads of translations and other helps is Biblegateway.com

A site that has a collection of faith-building resources is cfaith.com; I've just found this one and don't know what all is available there yet, beyond loads of free articles by quite a few different authors.

Here's a brand new site devoted to Bible software programs- tips, helps, etc., for your chosen program, including a forum- Bible Software User Society.

For communicating with other Christians, try Grace Centered Christian Forums.

For help with troubled marriages, check out Marriage Helper with Joe Beam and Lovepath International.