But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves….But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
(James 1:22, 25-26)
If you are not a doer of the Word, no one has to deceive you, you deceive your own self. If you don’t bridle your tongue—you will deceive your heart. You will sow the wrong words, and that is the harvest you will reap. The seed you sow will produce after its kind. Many people wonder why things turn out the way they do. It is because their tongue deceived their heart, and the heart brings forth fruit of itself. (Mark 4:26-29)
Notice that James called God’s Word the Perfect Law of Liberty and said a doer of that word would be blessed in what he does. Jesus reveals why the Word is called the Perfect Law in Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good deposit, or good treasure, of his heart bringeth forth good things.” Who brings it forth? The good man from the good deposit of his heart. It is the perfect law of liberty because you are the one that makes the choice of what you produce.
If You Don’t Bridle Your Tongue, You Will Deceive Your Heart
What you deposit in your heart is what will come forth. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What’s abundantly in your heart will always get in your mouth. Then what’s abundantly in your mouth will also get in your heart. You get it in your heart by saying it with your mouth. Paul tells us in Romans 10:8, “the righteousness which is of faith says… the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart”. Notice it’s in your mouth first, then in your heart.
Jesus confirmed this in Luke 17:5-6. When the apostles asked Him to increase their faith, He said, “if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed ye might say unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” He didn’t say a thing about giving them more faith. But He told them how to plant faith.
Isn’t it amazing how the teachings throughout the scriptures come together with the same truth? You plant the Word, the seed of faith, by saying it. If you had faith as a seed, you would say…. But so many people don’t have faith as a seed. They say, “I wouldn’t say that. It might not happen.” It probably won’t because they don’t have faith as a seed. You have to plant a seed if you expect to reap a harvest. Even so, you have to release your faith in words.
Planting Produces Image of Harvest
And He said, so is the kingdom of God, as if a man would cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
(Mark 4:26-29)
The earth brings forth fruit of herself. The heart of man will bring forth the fruit. It will lead you to the very thing you’re saying or it will lead you to the information you need to be in the right place at the right time for the promise to be manifest in your life. It will lead you to that situation.
It may lead you across five states to cause what you’re saying to come to pass—good, bad, or indifferent. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. An evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
James says if you seem to be religious and don’t bridle your tongue, you deceive your own heart and your religion is in vain. What you believe may be in vain unless you keep your mouth in line with it.
God’s Word Reflects What & Who You Are
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.” (James 1:23 ) The glass to which James was referring is the Word of God. The Bible refers several times to the Word as a glass or mirror. The natural face alludes to what you inherited. You look into this Word and see what God said about you. You say, “Look what I’ve inherited.” You see that you are a joint-heir with Jesus. You think, “Glory to God!” But you may go out and face the circumstances of life and forget what manner of man you are unless you make a decision to act on what the Word of God says about you.
Charles Capps is a retired farmer, land developer, and Bible teacher who has traveled extensively throughout the United States and several foreign countries sharing the truths of God's Word. He has taught Bible seminars for over 35 years, emphasizing the authority of the believer, faith and the power of words.
Charles and Peggy both have their roots in the rich farmland of Lonoke County, Arkansas. Having been raised by parents who were farmers, Charles began farming cotton, soybeans, and rice immediately after graduating from high school and marrying in 1951.
Peggy, being 3 1/2 months older than Charles had to sign as the adult on his behalf when he wanted to begin flying lessons at the age of 17. They joined an organization known as the Flying Farmers and gained experience going to "fly-ins" and national meetings across the United States. Neither knew that this skill of flying would be such an asset later when Charles began teaching personal evangelism in the 1960's. He spoke on the subject of soulwinning in churches not only in the US, but flew his twin engine Piper Comanche to the Bahamas to teach students of Youth With a Mission how to share Christ with others.
After reading a book by Kenneth E. Hagin entitled, "Authority of the Believer", Charles and Peggy's life took on a new dimension of travel and ministry as Charles became known for his teaching gift and insight on the subjects of faith and confession. Invitations to minister to the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) began to pour in, eventually leading to the publication of his teachings in book form. "The Tongue a Creative Force" and "God's Creative Power(r) Will Work for You" became bestsellers after Buddy Harrison, Kenneth Hagin's son in law, launched his publishing company with these two classics. These two books have sold millions (the God's Creative Power(r) series has sold over 5 million copies) and are still much in demand today.
We celebrated Charles' promotion to heaven at 5:15 pm Sunday, February 23, 2014. He informed the family and close friends on Friday that he would be going home to heaven in 3 days. After having some final words with family and friends on Saturday, he went to bed, went to sleep and never awoke. (He kept saying, "I want to go in my sleep.") His wife and daughters had the privilege of being with him as he finally got that glorified body he always talked about. Charles Capps was a man of integrity, a man of his word and he got what he said. He called those things that be not as though they were.
Charles Capps broadcast called, "Concepts of Faith", continues a daily national radio broadcast and a weekly television broadcast aired over several networks, satellite, and the internet. Click on the Radio or TV link to find the broadcast in your area.
Peggy continues to reside in Arkansas. Both Charles' and Peggy's daughters, Annette and Beverly are involved in the ministry.