I remember when our children were growing up; there came a time when they started using opposite words to describe how they felt about something. For example, rather than say this thing looks very nice or good, they would say something like, “That is sick”, or if paying one of their friends compliments, they would say, “you are bad!”. These phrases made me think a lot about the power of the spoken word.
The above example frustrated me a lot, and I constantly corrected them to use the correct words, but all to no avail. Unfortunately, this is an acceptable way of talking among the younger generation, and I now hear my 16-year-old nephew using the same slang when interacting with his friends.
Words establish mindset
What began as play words have come to define so much about this generation’s way of thinking. Bad and irrational behaviour now seems to be accepted as cool and shows how ‘up-to-date’ or ‘current’ someone is. Whilst good behaviour means you are dull. As a result, many people have grown into adulthood with this mindset and the negative consequences associated with it.
After many years of correcting and arguing but ultimately making sure they stay grounded in the faith, I thank God that our children have grown out of this mindset. They are now flourishing as adults in their own right.
Don’t get me wrong, things could have gone the other way. But we are where we are today only by the grace of God.
Why is it vital for Christians to recognise the spoken word’s power and watch how we speak?
Origin of words
Starting from Genesis, the Bible has helped us know the power of the spoken word because it began with the history of creation. God spoke everything in reality (2 Peter 3:1-7; Heb. 11:3).
Centuries later, in the gospel of John, we have also come to understand that the word spoken by God was Jesus. John says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made” (John 1: 1-3).
So then, we have come to believe that the Word of God was not merely the spoken word but that the Word of God is God himself.
The power of the spoken word in Creation
Furthermore, the book of Genesis also helps us know that after God spoke creation into being. He declared that “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). One notable thing from Genesis is that out of all of God’s creation, humankind was the only one made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). He was given dominion over all of God’s creation, and God allowed him to exercise that authority by making Adam name everything. Adam named everything by the power of the spoken word, and God agreed with him (Gen. 2: 19-25).
The power of the spoken word in the Bible
We also note from several places in the Bible that words are so powerful – especially God’s Word:
- It is the final authority and cannot be broken (Ps. 119:89-90; Is. 55: 8-11; 2 Cor. 1:20).
- By believing and confessing the Word of God (Jesus), we are saved and translated into the kingdom of God (Romans 10: 8-10).
- Having been born again, the Word of God is our weapon of offence and defence against every trick of the enemy so that we can enjoy everything given freely.
- To us as His children (Heb. 4: 12-13; Eph. 6: 13-17).
- An example of this is when we can see from the life of Jesus in His “it is written” statements is when tempted by the devil (Matt. 4: 4,7,10; Luke 4: 4,8,12).
As we can see from above, God and His Word are one and the same thing. But what does this mean for us?
Power in your words
As people made in His image and likeness, as those who have come to trust in the Word of God, we must pay attention to our own words. As the Word of God is potent and able to accomplish what the Lord wants it to, so are words that proceed out of our mouths, and they carry weight and have the power to do as we have declared.
Moreover, Jesus helps us know in Matthew 18:18 that heaven listens to our words. Therefore He says, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven” (Amp).
Again, to note the importance of the spoken word, Jesus, after cursing the fig tree the following day, tells His disciples, who were shocked at what they were seeing, that if you have faith, you “will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:20-23)
Trusting the power of God’s Word
In the book of Numbers, when the leaders of Israel came back from spying out the land. The Bible records that ten of them gave a negative report, but two gave a favourable report. The Bible says that God was not pleased with the ten and said to Moses, just to let you know, exactly as I heard them say, the same I will do to them.
So, those ten leaders perished in the wilderness – including the generation who believed their report. But only two, Joshua and Caleb, made it into the promised land. Those leaders failed to trust the Word of God, which He had declared to them previously. They had already been given the land, but unbelief showed through their negative pronouncements. They and that generation perished in the wilderness. (Numbers 13-14)
The example of Jabez
Jabez is another example of someone who used words positively to change his destiny. Born after a difficult childbirth, his mother named him accordingly. But when he grew, he cried out to the Lord to change his life’s negative reality. God listened to him as he requested.
He refused to accept what his destiny was marked out to be by his mother. Jabez trusted God enough to know He had the power to change it, and God granted his request. He refused to stay silent but cried out to the Lord to change his destiny by faith. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
Jesus and Jairus
In the opening scripture above, Jairus came to Jesus by faith, asking Him to come and touch his daughter. Jesus immediately agreed, and as they were going to Jairus’s home, some people came from there to announce that the child had died and there was no point in Jesus coming back with Jairus.
Knowing and already acting on the words of faith uttered by Jairus earlier, Jesus did not want Jairus to speak the words of doubt and unbelief, but immediately warned him to continue to believe that He could act on his request. Jesus knew what was at stake for Jairus because He was already working to perform Jairus’ request as God.
We see this same pattern repeated throughout His ministry. He would ask those who came to him for healing what they wanted Him to do for them, and He would do as requested. (Matt. 20:32; Mark. 10:51; Luke 18:41; Mark. 10:36)
Our words come from the heart, and they are either filled with faith or doubt. When we speak, our words can either produce positivity (life) or negativity (death) (Prov. 18:21).
A note of caution
Does this mean that just because we make positive confessions, we get answers to every one of our requests? No.
Jesus clarifies that when we pray or ask the Lord to do something for us, we must ask according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). He goes on to say that “it is the Spirit who gives life… The words that I speak are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). It is only by “abiding in Him, and His words abide in you, that you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7-8).
Therefore, we must become familiar with the Word of God as written in the scriptures, asking and trusting the Holy Spirit to make the Word of God life-giving for us for all time. (1 Cor. 3:1-6)
Jesus demonstrated this in two ways; when he taught the disciples to pray, He asked “for the will of God be done be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-13).
Again, when He was facing the cross, even though He knew it was God’s will for him to die on the cross, he asked if God would take that cup of suffering and death from Him. But in the end, He resorted to asking God’s will and not His be done (Matt. 26: 36-56; Luke 22: 39-46).
So, when we make declarations, it is always good to do so in accordance with God’s will for us, according to His plan and purpose and His revealed Word in scripture.
God cares about the words we speak
From scripture, I believe that God is interested in the words we speak. Part of His nature to act upon our pronouncements. Jesus said, “on the day of judgement, we will give an account for every careless word we speak (Matt. 12:36 ESV).
This blog aims to encourage us to watch the words we speak, making sure they align with God’s purpose for us as His children. So, whether we talk to Him when praying or just conversing in general, we need to ensure that we are not professing negative words through fear or doubt. He has not given us the spirit of fear unto bondage, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7), and those who doubt cannot receive anything from the Lord. (Mk. 1:23; Jam. 1:5-8)
Remember the power of the spoken word
So, next time you are speaking, pay attention to what you say. Many people pray powerfully, moving prayers, but cancel those requests through words of doubt and fear they utter afterwards.
There is power in your words because you are made in the image of God.
As God’s Word carries so much weight in heaven and on earth, your words also carry weight in heaven. God acts according to our words, and He has the power to make those words become a reality on earth.
“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So, light will shine on your ways” (Job 22:28).
Again, your words are powerful; be mindful of how you use them.
Remain blessed,