Power of the Spoken Word
Power of the Spoken Word
We know that God created the world by speaking it into existence. The world was framed by the Word of God. He created the visible world out of nothing (see Hebrews 11:3). What God speaks comes to pass. Over and over in Genesis 1, we see the words, "And God said." Whatever God said became reality. He said, let there be light, let there be plants, let there be living creatures, and finally let us make man in our own image. All of these things in the world are a reality today because God spoke them into existence thousands of years ago. All of creation is a result of God's word spoken in the beginning of time.
Genesis 1:26 says that God created man in His own image and after His likeness and gave him complete authority over all the earth. So humankind was created in the very likeness of God himself. Just as God had the power to speak and create things from His spoken words, we too have been given the power to speak and create by our words. Proverbs 18:21(Amplified Bible) says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]."
Jesus said, "Whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart and makes a man unclean and defiles [him]" (Matthew 15:18, Amplified Bible). What we say matters. People don't like to hear that because they know the words they speak are often negative and destructive. But the fact that we don't like it doesn't alter the power of the truth. By knowing the truth about the power of the words we speak we can change the course of our lives and impact the world. At salvation our eternal status is changed by our confessing or speaking with our mouths and believing in our hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead (see Romans 10:9). Yet many times we fail to continue to speak God's Word for anything beyond our salvation.
Once God spoke and thus created everything in the earth, He rested. Genesis 2:2 says God rested from His work. After the seventh day we don't see God creating anything else in the earth. Instead He put man over His creation and gave him the power of authority over it. God blessed Adam and gave him dominion over everything. And in Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) we see, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or the spirit of life, and man became a living being." The original Hebrew words for living being are, "speaking spirit." So we were created to be like God in His ability to speak and create by our words.
Though Adam and Eve fell they were still in the image and likeness of God. They no longer had face-to-face fellowship with God but they were still in His image and likeness. Though they brought the curse of sin upon themselves they were still God's beloved and the prize of His creation. His plan for Adam and Eve and the whole earth did not change. God did not revoke their dominion in the earth. But having eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they had the power to do evil as well as good. When Jesus came His death and resurrection bought back for us what was stolen by the curse of sin.
"For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us" (Ephesians 2:10, Amplified Bible). Through Christ Jesus we are recreated, made over and restored. What was stolen by way of Adam's sin is restored through Jesus Christ.
We use our God-given authority to its fullest potential when we speak the words of God. When we speak His Word over our lives and our circumstances things change and become aligned with His Word. I've had this happen many times in my life. Recently I was in conflict with a friend. I searched the Scriptures for words to speak and pray over my relationship with my friend. I found 1 Corinthians 1:10 and began to pray that we would be in unity and in agreement over the situation at hand. Two days later we met. We discussed our disagreement and within a few minutes we were in agreement and restored to relationship. When we speak God's Word and conform our minds and wills to what it says, our circumstances will change. For every problem we will face in this life the answer is in God's Word.
There is a supernatural power given to us to speak and proclaim God's Word over our lives. Speaking and proclaiming God's Word is not just for ministers (Thank goodness, because I'm not one.). It is for every believer. And in speaking God's Word there is supernatural power available to the believer.
As I have learned to speak God's Word I have embarked on the greatest adventure of my life. I have seen God change situations that looked impossible. I have also been made aware of the negative effect my words can have. I am more aware and cautious as I choose my words. If they are not in agreement with God's Word I repent and throw them out. As I select words that are positive, words that bless others, words that are of a good report, I am choosing life-giving words instead of words that bring destruction. Even in hopeless situations God's Word changes things.