The Power of Your Words: Speaking Life, Believing Truth

Mark 11:23-24

Isaiah 53:5

1 Peter 2:24

Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:7

John 3:16

James 3:5-6

Proverbs 18:21

Romans 4:17

Ephesians 3:20

The Power of Your Words: Speaking Life, Believing Truth
With Bishop Ronald K. Powell

Have you ever felt the weight of your own words, the way they can either lift you and those around you, or sink you into despair? Think about a time when a simple word of encouragement turned your day around, or conversely, when a harsh statement left a lasting sting. Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and peace be with you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, I want to speak to this very real and often underestimated force in our lives: the power that resides not just in our hearts, but also on our tongues. We stand on the solid rock of God’s Word, a testament to His unwavering love and the boundless promises He has made to those who believe. Yet, how often do we, His children, allow doubt to creep into our hearts and negativity to taint our speech, effectively undermining the very blessings He longs to bestow upon us?

Our Lord Jesus, in His profound wisdom, revealed a powerful truth to His disciples, a truth that echoes through the ages and challenges us even today. Turn with me to the Gospel of Mark 11:23 – 24: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

And again, in Matthew 21: 21- 22: “Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

These are not mere suggestions, my friends. These are powerful declarations from the Son of God Himself. He unveils the incredible potential that lies within a heart anchored in unwavering faith and a tongue that aligns with that belief. He speaks of moving mountains, of accomplishing the seemingly impossible, through the potent combination of faith and spoken word.

But let us not misunderstand these profound scriptures.

This is not a license to demand anything our fleeting desires conjure up. It is not a magical formula where we simply utter words and expect the universe to bend to our will.
The key, the very foundation upon which this power rests, is faith.But what does it truly mean to believe as Jesus speaks of here? It’s more than just intellectual agreement. It’s a deep, abiding trust in the very character of God – His love, His faithfulness, His power. It’s about aligning our hearts and our wills with His, even when the circumstances around us scream otherwise. It’s knowing, deep down, that He is who He says He is, and His promises are yes and amen.

Think about it. When Jesus spoke, His words carried the weight of divine authority. He spoke life into the dead, healed the sick with a command, and calmed the raging storm with a simple, “Peace! Be still!” His words were not empty pronouncements; they were the outward expression of His perfect faith and His intimate connection with the Father’s will.

We, as followers of Christ, are called to emulate this faith.
We are called to believe the promises that God has so clearly laid out in His Holy Word. Promises of healing (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24), of provision (Philippians 4:19), of peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), and of eternal life (John 3:16). These are not just comforting sentiments; they are the very breath of God spoken into existence for our benefit.

Yet, how often do we contradict these divine pronouncements with our own words? When faced with sickness, do we declare, “I’ll never get better”? Or do we, even in our discomfort, dare to whisper, “By His stripes, I am healed”? When financial hardship strikes, do we lament, “We’ll always be in debt”?
Or do we affirm, “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”?
When challenges arise in our relationships, do we proclaim, “This will never work”? Or do we choose to speak words of reconciliation, believing that with God, all things are possible? Take a moment now: what is one promise God has given you that you might need to start speaking out today?

Every time we speak words that contradict God’s promises, we are essentially casting doubt on His faithfulness. We are allowing the whispers of fear and unbelief to drown out the powerful declarations of His truth. We are, in effect, building mountains of negativity with our very own tongues, mountains that can hinder the flow of God’s blessings into our lives. Imagine your tongue as the rudder of a ship; though small, it directs the entire vessel. What direction is your tongue steering your life?

The Apostle James warns us about the power of the tongue in James 3:5-6: “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of their life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

These are strong words, brothers and sisters. James understood the destructive potential of unchecked speech. Just as a small spark can ignite a vast forest, our words, seemingly insignificant at times, can unleash a torrent of negativity, doubt, and ultimately, hinder the work of God in our lives and the lives of those around us. But the tongue is not only capable of destruction; it is also a vessel for life and blessing.

Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will reap its fruit.” We have a choice. We can choose to speak words of faith, words that align with God’s promises, words that breathe life and hope into our circumstances. Or we can choose to speak words of doubt, fear, and negativity, thereby reaping a harvest of discouragement and hindering the manifestation of God’s blessings.

Therefore, I urge you today, let us be intentional about the words we speak. Let us examine our hearts and our tongues. Are we consistently speaking in agreement with God’s Word? Are we declaring His promises over our lives, our families, our communities? Or are we allowing the circumstances around us to dictate our speech, leading us to utter words of defeat and despair? This week, I encourage you to pay close attention to your self-talk. Notice the patterns of negativity and consciously choose to replace them with affirmations of God’s truth.

Let us be a people who are known for their unwavering faith and their life-giving words. When sickness comes knocking, let us declare, “By His stripes, I am healed!” When facing financial challenges, let us proclaim, “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!” When confronted with broken relationships, let us speak words of reconciliation and restoration, believing that with God, all things are possible.

This doesn’t mean we ignore reality or pretend that difficulties don’t exist.
It means that in the face of reality, we choose to align ourselves with a greater truth – the truth of God’s Word. It means that we choose to speak from a place of faith, knowing that God is faithful to His promises. Let us remember the words of Romans 4:17, speaking of Abraham: “As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”

Abraham, even when faced with seemingly impossible circumstances, believed God and spoke according to His promise. And God brought forth life where there was none. We serve the same God! He is still the God who calls into being things that were not. He is still the God who honors faith and empowers the words spoken in alignment with His will.

So, I challenge you today:

Know God’s Word: Immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Familiarize yourselves with His promises. Let them become the foundation of your belief system.
Guard Your Tongue: Be mindful of the words you speak. Filter them through the lens of God’s truth. Refuse to give voice to doubt and negativity.

Speak Life: Choose to speak words of faith, hope, and encouragement – not just for yourselves, but for those around you. Be carriers of God’s promises.

Pray with Belief: When you bring your requests before God, believe that He hears you and that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

Let us be a congregation, a body of believers, who not only hold God’s promises in our hearts but boldly declare them with our mouths. Let our words be a testament to our unwavering faith, a reflection of the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit within us. May we move mountains, not through our own strength, but through the potent combination of faith in God and the courageous declaration of His infallible Word. Amen.