What you say is important. In fact, it is so important that our lives are better or worse because of the words we speak.
Proverbs 15:4 says “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Our words are containers. When we speak, our words contain power – the power to build or the power to destroy. Our words can contain faith that builds, or they can contain doubt and criticism that destroys. And the interesting thing about that is this: we control the words that come out of our mouths. We are the ones who determine whether we will build or destroy.
There are several reasons why we as Christians should speak the Word of God.
First, it’s the way we sow seeds. Many times Jesus talked about sowing and reaping. He said that we would reap whatever we sowed. Then in Luke 8:11, Jesus made an interesting statement. He said the seed is the Word of God.
Psalm 45:1 says, “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
Secondly, speaking the Word causes faith to come. Romans 10:17 says, “So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” The only way to hear the Word is for the Word to be spoken. We as Christians need to continually speak the Word in order to build our faith.
How can we be in peace concerning the promises of God, how can we even believe them in order to have faith, if we have never heard them? And how can we hear them if they are never spoken? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. And when you speak with your mouth, you hear with your ears. Speaking the Word causes faith to grow.
Third, when we speak the Word, we keep the promise before us. Some people confuse positive thinking with speaking the Word. Speaking the Word is simply repeating what God said. You can never go wrong doing that and you will never lie or exaggerate. Speaking God’s Word will keep the promise in your mind instead of the problem, and that produces peace.
Also, keeping God’s words in our mouths produces health. Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My son, give attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.”
Speaking the Word will keep us from speaking words that will trap us. Proverbs 6:2 says, “You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the word of your mouth.” Have you ever said something and later regretted it. Well, if we follow the principles of God, that will never happen again. When we speak His promises and His Word, we will never be trapped.
Satan tried to get Jesus to sin. He did this by tempting Him three different times. All three times Jesus did the same thing. He quoted the Word. When Jesus quoted the Word He stopped Satan in his tracts. Satan could do nothing when the Word was spoken.
Today, God’s Word still has the same power. When the Word of God is spoken, Satan can do nothing. We must keep God’s Word in our mouths.
Speaking God’s words instead of speaking words from our flesh is a type of submission. James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of eight books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.