The other day I was watching a western movie on TV. In the movie, the general store in town had just burned to the ground and the lady who owned it had lost everything she owned. She was standing in the middle of the burned out shell of a building when one of the townspeople walked by to give her a word of encouragement.
He said, “I knew a lady in Topeka, Kansas that had the same thing happen to her. Her store burned down and she lost everything. She never recovered. Eventually she went to the poor house and later killed herself. She just couldn’t take it anymore. Well, I’ll be prayin’ for ya.”
Needless to say the encouraging words of the passerby did not help the lady in distress. Why? Because the encouraging words were not really encouraging. They were in fact filled with fear, doubt and unbelief.
Even though this was just a movie, there’s a point to be made. We as Christians need to keep our words full of faith and the promises of God. When a friend has a disaster happen in their life, we must speak the promises of God and not keep confessing the problem.
God is a faith God and He releases His faith in words. In the beginning, God spoke and the universes were formed. In Genesis 1:3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And throughout the creation until now God has spoken and whatever He spoke came to pass.
In Mark 11 Jesus said,
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.
(Mark 11:23)
When Jesus was here on the earth, the Bible tells us that He spoke to the winds and sea and they obeyed Him. He didn’t act fearful. He didn’t panic. He simply spoke to the wind and sea and said, “Be still!” He believed what He said would come to pass. He knew His authority and He spoke in faith. What He said – happened.
Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God as little children imitate their parents. Let’s make Jesus our example. We are to live as He lived. He walked in faith and we are to walk in faith.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. But what does that mean anyway?
Well, it’s this way. Words, your words, are containers. They can contain faith or they can contain doubt. What you say today can affect the world for years to come. Your words are important.
As Christians we are to make our words reflect what God said in His Word instead of what we see with our natural eyes. When we see disaster, when there is a problem in our life or in the life of a friend, we should do as the scripture says. We must speak encouraging words of faith instead of doubt and despair. In other words, see things as they should be.
Remember, as a Christian our words must reflect the words of God, our Father. When God speaks, it is always faith. Doubt and unbelief are not in His vocabulary. They shouldn’t be in ours either.
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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 twelve 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.