The Authority of the Spoken Word of God Part 2
By Rev. Jim and Carolyn Murphy

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In Part I of this article we explored the principle that God has given us great power and authority in the spirit realm. A wonderful example of this authority is seen in Acts, chapter three when the Lord heals the beggar through Peter and John. The beggar saw Peter and John as they were entering the temple courts and he asked them for money. Peter looked at him, and then said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6 NIV) And the man got up and not only walked but jumped for joy while praising God! Now that is understanding and then exercising our power and authority in Christ, isn't it?

To briefly summarize Part I, we noted that Genesis, chapter one, tells us that after God spoke the world into being, He delegated His authority to rule over it to Adam. But Adam lost that authority to Satan through sin. It was Jesus who regained it for those of us who are born again.

We also explored the reason God extended this authority to humans here the earth. He gave us this authority so we would be able to use it to spread the Gospel and to accomplish His purposes in every generation. We examined one of the most powerful tools in the exercise of our authority: the ability to boldly speak the word of God into our circumstances. Yet the sad reality is that very few churches, and not many Christians, understand and use the power of the Word of God in a real and meaningful way.

We also analyzed the perversion of this truth known as the Prosperity or Positive Confession Doctrine. We noted that much of the church of Jesus Christ, in rejecting the error of this doctrine, has also lost the truth it contains. That truth is that there is mighty power and authority in the words we speak. Our words have the power of life and death!

Let us continue to examine the various aspects of the power of the spoken word of God.

The Heart-Mouth Partnership

Scripture tells us that the heart and mouth are partners in our speaking power. They work together in this authority. Even our first entrance into the spirit realm as a born-again believer is obtained through the speaking of our mouth and the conviction of our heart.

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Rom 10:8-10 NIV)

From this Scripture we see that the heart provides the basis of the confession. We cannot confess what we do not believe. In our heart, we become convinced and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Then with our mouth we speak our salvation into being.

The power of the spoken word here is based on heart belief. The spoken word manifests or produces our salvation, but heart belief had to precede it. Paul, quoting Psalm 116:10, said,

It is written, "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With the same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak..." (II Cor 4:13 NIV)

Jesus taught the same principle:

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mk 11:23-24 NIV)

Again we see the same principle: heart belief then mouth confession. The problem in many cases is that we try to convince our hearts with our mouths. We sometimes think that if we say something enough times, our heart will embrace it. It doesn't work that way. The mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart, it's not the other way around. Scripture doesn't say, "the heart believes out of the abundance of the mouth!"

Then how do we convince the heart to believe? That is the issue. The way I do it is to relate everything I possibly can to the Word of God, the Bible. And I pay particular attention to any rhema I receive. A rhema is a word that God has spoken to you personally. An example of a personal rhema is a word from the Lord that Carolyn and I received in the early days of our traveling ministry. In one of our board meetings we were discussing our limited funds and God emphatically spoke through one of the board members that, "You are to go where I send you. I will pay the bills." Every board member present knew God had spoken. We all believed it. I still believe it! There is no doubt in my heart that God will pay our bills. In fact, I would rather have God's word than anyone else's promise of money. His word is better than gold. Gold may be lost, stolen, or perish, but God's word is eternal.

Another way our heart can and will embrace truth is by reading and studying God's word. Once we understand and truly embrace the reality that Scripture is absolutely true, it is easy for us to believe what it says as we study and memorize it. Then, once we are convinced in our hearts, speaking it is easy. It's the belief that is crucial.

It is so evident that our mouth speaks from the heart. If we, as Christians, want to walk in this wonderful realm of speaking with authority into the spirit realm, it is vital that we have a systemized way of filling our hearts with the Word of God. Then, and only then, in the language of the Proverb, will our wellspring contain life. (See Pv. 4:23) We cannot get from the heart what is not there. We cannot believe God's word unless the heart is filled with it, for faith -- the ability to believe -- "...cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17 KJV)

Overcoming Sin

Even in dealing with sin, look at the power of the spoken word:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I Jn 1:9 NIV, emphasis added.)

Overcoming Satan

Speaking of those who overcame Satan in the Book of Revelation, the Bible says:

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word

of their testimony... (Rev 12:11 NIV, emphasis added.)

Again and again Scripture illustrates the power of the spoken word. When the devil sees that you are moving aggressively toward doing the work God has told you to do, he does all in his power to stop you. If you need money, he will try to withhold your money. If you need transportation he will try to wreck or steal your car...but we can overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. "Devil, the blood of Jesus is against you! Jesus told me to do this work and you are powerless to stop me. Now turn loose of the money God has provided for this work!"

I once heard the story of a church in New York City that was bidding at public auction on a large building the city was selling. The only other bidder present was a group of men from the Moonie cult. The Christians would make a bid, and the Moonies would raise it. The men knew that God had promised the building to them. So they turned to the Moonies and said, "The blood of Jesus is against you!" Strangely, the Moonies stopped bidding and the church got the building at a very low price. Later the Moonies said they really wanted the building and didn't know why they stopped bidding! But we know why, don't we? The Christians overcame the Moonies by their testimony and the blood of the Lamb.

We Must Guard Our Hearts

Only those who are walking with Jesus have the ability to comprehend the spiritual truths of God. Jesus told Satan, "Get behind me, Satan!...You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Mat 16:23 NIV, emphasis added.) So even Satan cannot grasp the power in this principle. It is a spiritual truth of God. But Satan will try to fill our hearts with evil so we can't fill it with God's Word. He does understand that much. Many Christians today freely give their eyes and ears to the vileness that so fills today's world. Once the heart is filled with corruption, violence, and the like, it will come forth. Look at what Jesus said:

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mat 12:34-37 NIV)

Notice that, even if they try, the wicked cannot speak good, for the heart supplies the words spoken. Therefore we must diligently guard what goes into our heart. Remember, Proverbs says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Pv. 4:23 NIV) We conclude that is it impossible to speak, or confess good if we continually, regularly saturate our heart with vileness. For by our words we will be acquitted, and by our words we will be condemned. And our words come from our heart.

Speaking With God Given Authority

Brother Ellsworth Q. Williams, a powerful apostle of God, told the following story. Some years ago God sent him to the poorest part of Georgetown, Guyana to build a church as a beacon of light in the darkness. Poverty was rampant in that section of town. Most of the people lived in make-shift shacks...all who lived there were very poor.

He met with the few Christians from that area and told them they were going to build a church to seat 300 people on the vacant lot next to where they were meeting. They thought he meant in ten or twelve years. The next day he began to seek bids from contractors to begin the foundation. He instructed the contractors, "Begin the work now. Money is not a problem with me." At the time he ordered construction to start, the total amount of money at his disposal was less than fifteen U.S. dollars!

Each day he marched around the property saying aloud, "God is building His church here! God is supplying everything needed to build His church! My God is supplying all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus! People are going to be saved here." When it came time to pay each sub-contractor the money was there. He literally spoke the provision into existence! Today there is a church that seats 300 people in that community...and it is full every meeting. To this day non-Christian people in the community think rich people built the church!

Where could he have gone to borrow the money for such a project? Even if he had sufficient backing, which he didn't, bankers would have been very reluctant to loan money for a church in that part of town. Brother Williams had no choice but to trust God to supply. Like David in his fight against the giant, Goliath, he placed himself in a position where there was only one way out. God had to meet the needs.

Brother Williams said the place where he built the church was so wicked that even the street on which they built it was named "Hell's Kitchen Street." After they built the church, the Christians in the community rejected that name and began to call it "Heaven's Bedroom Street!" Knowing the power of words, Williams was unwilling to let stand the devil's name for the street.

Now, let me repeat again that God told Brother Williams to build a church on that plot of ground. He hinged all of his speaking for the church building on the fact that God told him to build it. He had the solid backing of God's command in his heart. Whenever there was a need, his heart already believed. He simply exercised his authority and spoke what he believed.

Speak God's Words Into Your Environment

Since we have this awesome power we must begin to speak God's words into every situation that opposes the word of God in our lives and ministry call. Sing forth praises. Continually speak words that will bring about the will of God in your life and ministry. Say, "The word of God is coming to pass in my life. My God is supplying all the money needed to ________ (whatever He has called you to do.) My God is healing my wife. My God is supplying me with transportation" and so forth. Say these words aloud, forcefully, daily and continually. Let the Spirit of God direct you in your daily proclamations. You will be amazed at the results!

The city of Samaria was besieged and the people were starving. The Prophet Elisha spoke words of life. He prophesied an end to the siege and bread in the city, and it came to pass. (II Ki 7) Speak words of LIFE into your situation! Speak God's words into your situation. Listen to what Isaiah said about the power of God's word:

As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Is 55:10-11 NIV)

How do we dare NOT to speak His word? It has divine promise of accomplishment! And, if that isn't enough, look at what Jesus says in Matthew:

Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mat 7:7-8 NIV)

God told Jeremiah, "...I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." (Jer 1:12 NIV) And just in case someone may think God has changed His mind since He told that to Jeremiah, He says in Malachi, "I the LORD do not change." (Mal 3:6 NIV)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (Jas 1:17 NIV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb 13:8 NIV)

Whatever God has spoken to you He will fulfill! Plainly He wants us to speak His words into every opposing situation. His word cannot fail. Heaven and earth will pass, but His word remains forever!

Jesus went into the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because they confessed His word. Dare we think He won't do the same for us if we confess His word in each and every situation that opposes the Word of God? How can He do otherwise? He is God; He is watching to see that His word is fulfilled.

Lord, thank you for this incredible power and authority you have given us. Thank you that you have not left us to try to accomplish Your work without giving us this wonderful tool. And thank you that your word is truth. Thank you that your word is power. Lord Jesus, teach me to move in the authority of your word. Show me how to sharpen and refine this tool so that nothing will stop your work and your call on my life. Amen.

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