When Jesus was here, God gave Him the words to speak; and He always spoke them with power. People were amazed at the power of His words and claimed, Never man spake like this man (John 7:46). Every true minister of the Gospel should speak the truth with the same power and authority, and the Lord is the one who gives those things. In my overseas crusade services, the Lord delivers thousands of people from devil possession as I speak with God’s authority; and it is miraculous how the devils flee through the blood and the power of the Holy Ghost. There is divine power in anointed words.

Words are very important, and they can do a great deal of good or a great deal of harm; so you have to learn how to use them correctly. Words can determine the outcome of so many things—whether you live or die, go to Heaven or hell, have joy or sadness. Again I say, there is great power in words. How forcible are right words (Job 6:25)! So you must seek the Lord to say the right things.

Words shape our thinking, and we need them to be able to learn and to communicate. We can be totally ignorant about something, and then words can enlighten us or deceive us about it. We can think a certain way about a subject until a person’s comments cause us to change our minds, and we have to be careful who that person is.

The power of words is why it is so essential for us to be with people who don’t speak idle words because they are the devil’s language, and I think the fact that he can convince people to use his words is one of the most deceitful tricks he has. Idle words are useless; and that is why when God made man and woman, He gave them a language of tender love, kindness and happiness. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36,37). Your idle words will weigh against you in the judgment God will hand out to you in the end. You must check yourself to see how many words you say in a day that you will have to give an account for. Then if you are sincere about wanting to change, you can allow the divine blood to wash them all away.

The Tongue Is Dangerous

This is a teaching time for the Bride, and the Holy Ghost will teach you what to say and what not to say because God wants you to talk like Jesus. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2). It is so important for you to bridle your tongue. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth (James 3:3,4).

A helm is very small in comparison to the size of a large ship, and the tongue is very small in comparison to the size of our bodies. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:5,6). Human tongues have caused so much trouble, and many people have said words that they wish they never had.

Because words are so powerful and can lead a person in many directions, we need to say the right words at all times—words that come from the anchor of truth. Any other kind of words will bounce back to bite you.

Paul wrote to Titus saying, Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers (Titus 1:9). A “gainsayer” is a person who tells falsehoods and who opposes and contradicts others; and God hates gainsayers.

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers…Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake (Titus 1:10,11). “Subvert” means to destroy or to undermine the character, the morals and the allegiance of another. “Filthy lucre” is money obtained through unsavory or illegal practices.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21). Those who love the truth will have life because the truth is life.

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 1:26). Vain religion is useless; and in this last hour, the world is full of deceit with more false doctrines and false prophets on Earth than ever before.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth (Colossians 3:8). You must have a clean tongue to be a child of God and to receive the Holy Ghost. Then you have to keep it clean if you want Him to stay. If you are seeking the Holy Ghost or if He does not speak through you as much as you would like Him to, you need to examine your tongue and find out if it is saying anything wrong.

Speak unto Edification

When you are saved, you should not use words like “gosh” or “golly” if you want to be a good influence for Heaven because you are really using them in place of God’s name; and Jesus never said such words. The Bible also says we are not to swear. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (Matthew 5:34-37). I do not swear even in court; I just say, “I affirm,” and that is acceptable according to the law.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45). If you speak anything that is not pure, it means you have something in you that is not pure because what you say comes from your heart. You may say, “I didn’t mean to say that”; but it was in your heart or you would not have said it. The Pharisees were like that, and Jesus called them hypocrites. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Matthew 12:34).

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6). Salt makes things taste good; and grace is favor, love and tender care. You must be careful with your words and only speak to people with tender care.

Job suffered much, but he knew about the dangers of the tongue. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred (Job 6:24). Job had done nothing wrong, but his accusers were trying to convince him that he had.

Job’s so-called friends were not comforting him much; and Job let them know that if they were the ones who were struggling, he would not treat them like they were treating him. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief (Job 16:5). Later, Job said, My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit (Job 27:4).

Proverbs Talks of Words

The Lord gave the writer of Proverbs great knowledge of words. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones (Proverbs 16:24). The Bible speaks about things people can relate to, and the Jews loved eating honey from a honeycomb. In fact, a honeycomb was included in the first meal the disciples served Jesus after He had been resurrected. And they gave him [Jesus] a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them (Luke 24:42,43). The soul is the part of us that never dies, and our words must be as sweet as honey to the souls who hear them.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23). A soul with no trouble is a happy soul. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4). Words given by the Holy Spirit are eternal life! It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him (Proverbs 29:20). We cannot be quick to speak, and we must always speak with the knowledge of God. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness (Proverbs 15:2). He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit (Proverbs 17:27).

You must refrain from speaking until you have good words to say. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19).

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends (Proverbs 17:9). You have to cover the transgressions of others with love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful (Proverbs 27:6). How sad.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him (Proverbs 30:5). Every word of God is pure, clean and holy; so everything we speak should be holy. Our words must come from a holy tongue, holy lips, a holy soul and a holy mind. If you will measure up to these verses, you will be ready to leave this Earth when Jesus comes.

Word Warnings in the Psalms

The Psalmist also had much to say about words. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me (Psalm 39:1). It is very important to keep your tongue bridled all the time, especially when sinners are around because your words can help people or destroy them.

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (Psalm 34:13). Only words of truth minister grace. How many times has a word spoken in season lifted us up when we were going through a valley? But to be around somebody who is always grumbling and complaining is worse than being sick.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment (Psalm 37:30). The mouths of the righteous speak wisdom all the time, and they also speak of the judgment of the Lord to come.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth [the mouths of our enemies]; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue (Psalm 5:9). If you do not mean your compliments, then you are speaking a lie. You have a dead tongue in a dead soul, and your words can determine where you will spend eternity.

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things (Psalm 12:3). That is what the Lord thinks about flattering lips; so you must never give false compliments, or the Lord will cut you off. If you go to hell, you will not be able to say, “God sent me here.” You will be in hell knowing it was your own fault because you did not change the road you were on.

Only the righteous will abide with the Lord. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart (Psalm 15:1,2).

A true child of God knows all about his or her own tongue, and God knows about it, too. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether (Psalm 139:4). Most people never consider that God hears every word they speak, but He does; and people will reap what their tongues have sown. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).

Before you speak, you must learn to ask yourself, “What would Jesus say?” You can hold onto your words, but you can never get them back. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour…shall never be moved (Psalm 15:3,5). A human who backbites is more dangerous than a vicious dog.

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us (Psalm 12:4)? Only a sassy tongue says within itself, “I will go forward, and I will conquer.” You have to remember at all times who is Lord over you. So many people act like they are their own lord, and they just do as they please; but the Bible warns you, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

The Lord did not put people on Earth to growl; He wants them to praise and glorify His name. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name (Psalm 86:9). It is easy for me to praise the Lord, and praises are acceptable to God. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

God Hates Arrogance

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers (Ephesians 4:29). Do the words you say bless and edify people? You should always think of others before you speak—who is around you or who may hear what you are about to say. Most people need more love before they speak because when love mixes with words, it makes them easier to bear and more able to help people.

For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory (Isaiah 3:8). When you provoke the Lord’s eyes of glory, you bring a cloud over them; and you are in big trouble. If you want to go to Heaven, you have to keep the Lord’s eyes clear regarding you.

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage (Jude 1:16). Such people are not walking after God but after their own lusts, and God did not make a Calvary for people to act like that.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:17,18). “Simple” here refers to people who do not have much for God to work with, but the faithful Word will keep you separate from those who try to pull you in the wrong direction. The power of God’s Word identifies their deceit and tells you about their defeat.

God’s words are sound; and when you learn to recognize His kinds of words, you will be able to detect deceivers faster and get away from them. Never worry about insulting certain people because there is nothing wrong with insulting the devil or anyone who has his spirit inside. You must take your stand and not give in too easily to the wrong words because wrong words come from wrong people whose ticket is stamped for hell rather than Heaven.

Lying Is of the Devil

Words of untruth are destructive—they rob and kill. The devil is the father of lies, and godly people do not lie. He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44). You cannot lie and get into Heaven.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds (Colossians 3:9). The old man has the same nature that Adam had after he had sinned, and that nature damns the soul.

One of the Ten Commandments says, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour (Exodus 20:16). Why?—because the lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment (Proverbs 12:19). God hates a lying tongue, but there are more lying tongues on Earth today than any other kind.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death (Proverbs 21:6). Lies have no foundation, and they have no strength to help you; they are only for those who seek death.

I once read that one lie can tarnish a thousand truths, and that is so true. Satan told Eve just one lie, and it has tarnished the truths of God for thousands of years. Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:1-5).

Lies cause confusion and can make you second-guess the truth—the facts—just like Eve questioned God when Satan told her that lie. Deceit brings more deceit, and lying brings more lying. Words of truth will always destroy lies; however, you have to want that divine power to be in your words.

When people get hurt or become bitter about something, it is easy for them to use a lie to justify themselves; but James said, If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth (James 3:14). People have lied down through the ages because they have thought it would get them somewhere, but lies do not set you free; only the truth can set you free. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). When you study God’s Word, it will help you discern whether the words of others are true or false.

What Do You Listen To?

You must be careful not only with the words you speak but also with the words you listen to. If you want to live in confusion, follow the words of man; but if you want clarity and a sound mind, follow the words of Jesus. He spoke many words and promises, and He gave much advice; but He was sure of Himself, and He never had a doubt in His mind about anything He did.

When John the Baptist had a doubt, he sent two of his disciples to get an answer from Jesus. They said unto him [Jesus], Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them (Matthew 11:3-5). You have to be careful asking questions when you have only discouraging, sinful men and women around you because you will not get the right answers. John knew that Jesus was the only one he should ask about the future.

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38). Paul was not ashamed of Christ; and he said, For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12). When you yield to the Word, the Lord will keep that which you have committed into His hands because the Word purges, edifies and blesses. Paul knew that, and he was content. For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11).

There are so many Christians who are not contented—they get one thing, and then they want something else. The remedy is to do all you can do for them and then leave them alone. If they suffer long enough, maybe it will cure them.

Follow God’s Love

The Lord loves us because we are like Jesus; but if you do not have Jesus in this last hour, you will not have much to look forward to. The Bible declares that we are complete with Jesus. Ye are complete in him [Jesus], which is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10).

When you love God, you will do anything for Him. I don’t like to travel, but I will do it for souls because winning souls is our paramount mission. I am glad this ministry is in demand and that the Lord can use us to deliver people who are in bondage. The Lord tells me where to go, and He will see to it that everybody has a chance to hear the Gospel. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

We must not be trying to make a life for ourselves down here; we need to stand in the gap and make up the hedge, and we need to hold up each other’s hands. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it (Ezekiel 22:30).

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). We must run the race in this last hour because time is passing swiftly, and we are on the battlefield for our Lord.

Talk Like Jesus

Let God impress on your heart how careful you must be with your words because they will affect not only you but those around you. The world will know we are the Lord’s disciples because we don’t argue and fight; we love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35). Ask the Holy Spirit to check you when you speak so your words will always be with grace. Then God will be pleased.

We are to speak only sound words. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (II Timothy 1:13). If you want the Lord to walk with you and talk to you, you must use His language of love and faith; it is steadfast and unmovable.

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity (Titus 2:7). Many times, when someone creates something that is worthy of imitation, the person will make a pattern of his creation so others can make it, too.

Our lives in Christ must be a pattern of perfect works for Him, and that is one reason why we must never forget the vows we have made because the Lord said it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not keep it. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay (Ecclesiastes 5:4,5). I am careful to keep my vows to God, and I don’t need a signed contract because Calvary and the power of the Holy Ghost are enough for me.

We must have sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you (Titus 2:8). If you are a true child of God, people will try to condemn you with their words; but you cannot allow them to get to you.

The Purpose of the Word

The Bible is made up of God’s words; and when you study it, you will see what power those words have. If the Word of God is not your foundation, you will not say the right things; and you will be tossed to and fro with people’s words. Thank God, we have the faithful word that stands true. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure (II Timothy 2:19).

Why was the Word given? All scripture [the Word of God] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16). In this verse, “inspiration” means that man had nothing to do with the giving of the Word of God. The Bible says, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (II Peter 1:20).

When you put God’s scriptures together, they tell us that every word of the Bible came through the will of God. He poured it out through man; He did not inspire man to write it. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:21). The Holy Ghost gave the Word to those men in pure form. It is so easy to accept the Bible when you know God wrote it, and you have complete confidence in Christ.

The Bible is God-talk, and that is why it is profitable for doctrine. We do not need any doctrine outside of the Word because what God has given to us in His Word is complete. It tells us how to live holy, how to please God and how to walk with Him. It tells us how to keep our hands in the hands of the Lord, how to take on the mind of Christ and how to live free from all sin.

The Word is profitable for reproof, meaning it rebukes everything that is unlike God. When you yield to the Word daily, it will correct anything that is wrong in your spirit, your life, your actions and your thoughts; and the Holy Spirit can do so much to guide a person like that in a wonderful, mighty way.

The Word was also given for instruction in righteousness, which is knowing and understanding how to live holy. There is no promise of salvation, redemption, Heaven or eternal life outside of the Word; so should you not be more careful with those instructions than with any instructions that man has ever given you? Our journey of life is a treacherous one, so we must accept God’s instructions and not take any chances.

Hold On to the Truth

We live in a terrible hour, and God’s children are going to be tested and tried in unbelievable ways with words. We will come in contact with people who will say all kinds of nasty things to us because they hate holiness and the truth of God; however, the Holy Spirit can use the Word of God to help us through the blood. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

The Word is so quick that it can go into action immediately, and we can use it whenever we need it. It is so powerful that it can defeat all falsehoods because it is pure truth. The devil has tried to defeat that truth for many years, but he has never been able to do it because there have always been some faithful people in each generation who have protected it.

We must hold fast to the words of God that have been sown in our hearts and never let anyone’s lies, deceit or persecution compromise the power of His words. The parable of the sower describes how we receive and keep the Word. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended (Matthew 13:18-21). How do you take persecution?

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). That does not mean you cannot have riches because the Lord promised to prosper us, but you have to give Him the glory for prospering you.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23). The kind of soil you have determines what you will bring forth. The Lord told me that He gets as much as He can out of people; but even some of His own children will give only sixty percent, thirty percent or even less.

When we come to the end of each day, we must know that we have done our best for God; and our only regret should be that we did not have more hours to work for Him, but people have to be willing to give themselves completely to the Lord.

God does not grumble and complain, but I am sure He cries at the end of many days in which we were not willing to give more of ourselves to Him; and we let souls slip through our fingers. That must be hard for God to take when His Son died to save the lost. We must pray, “Lord, help us to keep our eyes open and clear through your Word so we will always have clear vision to see through your Word. It includes every promise and everything we need, so we must show respect for every word you wrote.”

Stand Fast in the Word

The Lord does not want you to be always struggling with the Word. If you will just yield to the Spirit of the living God, He will pour the pure Word to you; but you cannot mix it with any doubt, fear, misgivings or opinions of others or the Holy Spirit will back away. You have to accept the Word in its pure form, and then the Holy Spirit will be right there to serve you.

Do you hold fast to the Word, or do you hold fast to your feelings? You can never let your feelings come between you and the Word. You must say, Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). If the Word is settled in Heaven, should it not be settled in your spirit? We must thank God Almighty for His faithful words which are eternally fixed in Heaven. But the word of the Lord endureth forever (I Peter 1:25).

Every word the Lord has ever spoken still lives, so why do you debate over it or make room for any doubt? The Word tells us how to handle doubt, yet many of you wrestle with it like Jacob wrestled with the angel of God in Genesis 32; and you are not supposed to do that.

You can only speak the right words if you have the mind of Christ, and God promised that we could have it. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). Some of you have not taken on that mind, and that is why the devil is able to worry you so much. You may put it on when you are feeling close to the Lord, and you will have great peace and feel so good; but the minute the devil bumps you, you take off Christ’s mind and stop using it.

Do you believe the devil tormented Jesus in His mind and worried Him to death when He was here? Do you believe Jesus had six nervous breakdowns or just five? You may think that sounds stupid, but it is stupid for us to act like we do at times; and if the Word were to speak to us, it would tell us so. However, the Word is kind, gentle, gracious and longsuffering.

Jesus Used the Word

When Jesus had finished fasting for forty days and nights, the devil came to tempt Him; and Satan told Him to turn the stones into bread. But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The words of God are food for the soul, help in time of need and health for the body. They are holy and meaningful, and they are for us.

So many people today live on bread alone, but they are just existing; and that is why the world is in such an awful condition. People think they are really living, but that is not the life the Lord planned for us. He planned to always be a part of our lives; and even after Adam and Eve failed, God in His great mercy and love has never given up on the human race. God is still doing everything He can to get human beings to accept His Word.

Now, notice that Jesus did not wrestle with the devil when he came to tempt Him. Jesus met him head-on and simply said, It is written; and the Word did not fail. Jesus taught us many lessons while He was here on Earth, but that was His greatest lesson. When the devil comes around, you can get rid of him just as Jesus did by saying what is written in the Word; so why are you afraid of the devil, and why do you debate with him or let him worry you?

When you are troubled, don’t pray until you are worn out or say, “Devil, I wish you would leave me alone!” Did you ever get rid of the devil with wishful thinking? No, and you never will. You must learn to use the power of the Word.

If you could actually see the Lord standing to your right and the devil to your left, you would not be afraid because you would know that all God would have to say is, “Go!”, and the devil would have to go. When you take the Word into your spirit, you can speak it in the same divine faith and love; and it will have the same power as if God were speaking it.

Put the Word into Action

The Word increases through children of God. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly (Acts 6:7). The Word also prevails against all the powers of the devil and anything that is unlike God. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20). That is why the Word says, Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

We are sons and daughters of God when we hear His Word and do His Word. Jesus said, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it (Luke 8:21). The Bible also says, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). Those who do not hear the Word of God and do it are not of God. He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God (John 8:47). You have to act out the Word; but if you do not abide in it, you will never be able to act it out.

The Bible has the words you need to speak; so you must put the Word of God above everything else just as Jesus did and realize that you will have no life, no eternal peace, no eternal joy and no eternal happiness without it. If you are born of the Spirit of God and live through the Word, you have eternal life; however, that eternal life is conditional—you have to treat it right, and you have to act right or you can lose it. The Bible says, The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).

If you will listen to the voice of the Word, it will show you exactly how you look before God; but many people only allow the Lord to show them for a moment before they turn away and let their opinions and the opinions of others take over. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 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: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 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 (James 1:22-25).

Your words reveal the kind of person you are and what is really in your heart. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man [or woman] (Matthew 15:18). If you get angry quickly, you do not have the right kind of heart; and you are in trouble.

The Word Delivers

The Word declares, And with his [blood] stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). All you have to do is confess that, accept that and act that out; and your miracles will take place. Some of you have put your sins under the blood, yet you have never learned to put all of your sicknesses and diseases under the blood; but that is what the Word tells you to do.

Everything we need to defeat the devil is in the blood of Jesus. The Word lives and has all power through the blood of Jesus, and it works with greatness through the blood of Jesus. When I pray for people, I speak the power of the Word; and if they will accept that Word, they can be healed. Those who will not accept the Word are not likely to receive because miracles come through the Word. He sent his word, and healed them (Psalm 107:20). The Word can heal soul, mind and body.

The Word will set the captives free because there is power in the Word of God. Jesus said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18). Today, people have gotten away from the true Word and have mixed so many false things in with it that it no longer has enough strength to deliver them. That is why there are no miracles or deliverances in many churches.

Jesus came to Earth as the God-man, and everyone who yielded to His Word was delivered. Many people who pressed against Jesus when He walked the streets did not receive anything, but those who recognized the Word and the life of God before them could just reach out and touch His garment and get a miracle. They sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him [Jesus] all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole (Matthew 14:35,36).

If some of you had lived in Christ’s day, He could have passed by you without you receiving anything because you do not recognize the power of the Word or use it like you should. The Spirit of the Lord may come upon others, and they will recognize that power and use it momentarily and then stop. They may have received their miracle; but when the devil comes to tempt them, they think they have lost it.

The Bible plainly says that if your faith wavers, let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord (James 1:7). The Word does not waver, but your faith can; and when it does, you have given up on the promise of healing in the Word. You must never give up on any promise of God because you will desperately need them during those times when nothing else can help you.

It is no wonder that the Lord flees from us at times. When He knocks on some doors, the people say, “I don’t think I am going to make it!” The Lord takes one look and decides, “I don’t think you are either”; and then He goes down the road. God sent His Word to us; and if you don’t accept it and trust in God, there is nothing more He can do for you.

The Word says that Jesus was resurrected, but do you believe it? If you do, then why do you have trouble believing God will heal cancer, a deformed hand, a blind eye or crippled legs? The Lord teaches us not to look at ourselves or other people; we are to look at the Lord. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Speak Words of Faith

We have to always keep the Word before us because it is a light unto our feet. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). We must know that the Word is life and that we cannot live without it, but it cannot be life to you only in book form. The Bible says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15). You have to study the Word and realize that it is more than just ink on paper; it is the heart and Spirit of God. The Word has everything we need, and the Lord expects His children to learn all they can from it.

The Word brings peace and refuge in time of storm; so if you let the Word work in you, you will not be afraid. Jesus was the Word made flesh. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Now, if the Word could speak to an angry sea and say, Peace, be still (Mark 4:39), surely He can speak to calm the storm in your little soul.

The Word will work when it is spoken in divine love, and God gives you the same love and faith His Son had. Faith is a gift from God to every person. God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Some people will say, “I don’t feel like I have any faith.” Well, you cannot go by your feelings; you have to go by the Word of God.

You can receive so much faith just by reading the Word. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The Word is the faith of God, and you have to believe it all and act like God said it. When you pour the Word of God into your heart day after day, you will be amazed how your heart will come into life, light, wisdom and understanding; and it will give you things that God enjoys. The Lord said, Come now, and let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18). He loves to talk to His children through the Word.

If you have a hard time believing anything in the Bible, there is a weakness in your faith. If you only talk like God said it, that will not get the job done. You have to speak God’s faith and the pure Word of God, not your opinions or the opinions of others; and you must mean it from your heart. You must speak it in the same faith, love and everything that God spoke it in; and if your innermost being is yielded to it, then it will work for you and be the same as God saying it. Many people come up lacking because they do not realize the power of God in His Word.

When Jesus was on Earth, whatever He said took place. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast (Psalm 33:9). When Jesus said something, it was the same as the Father saying it; and when the Father says something, it takes place. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost back up every word of the Bible; and those words will never pass away. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away (Mark 13:31). Where are you going to be when the heavens and the Earth pass away? You had better be in the Word.

I don’t think we always honor and treasure the Word like we should or give it the place it should have in our lives, so there is a lot lacking. But when the Word has its proper place and you speak the things of God, you are using the faith of God.

Depend on the Word

How does your spirit match up to the Word? How much of the Word do you believe and accept? Do you want your way or God’s way? The Lord is able to work His power through me in miraculous ways because I want only His way, and I accept all that He has said.

The Bible says you must examine yourself. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (II Corinthians 13:5). You must check to see if you are living in the Word. If you do not have complete trust in it, that leaves the devil a loophole to get into you. Then you will have to go to the Word to find out why the devil is able to torment you, worry you or make you doubt any of the experiences mentioned in the Word—salvation, regeneration, sanctification or the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues like the disciples received on the Day of Pentecost.

In this final hour, you must take your stand and be strong in the power of God’s Word. That is where you have to go for your help, and then you must hide it in your heart. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11). If you do not use the power of God’s words, you will not stand; so you must hear His words, speak His words and act on His words. When you let the faithful Word be your safety, it will perform all that God sent it forth to do. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me (Psalm 31:2).

When you have your life rooted and grounded in the Word, you will be protected. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10). But you have no refuge or protection outside of the Word. It is the only Book that tells you everything you need to know, and it tells it like it is. That is why you will be judged according to it. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12).

You must never be deceived by anyone who speaks evil no matter how believable they may sound; so do not spend time listening to unbelievers, or you will be in trouble. You must be anchored in the Word of God and follow hard after Jesus so the words of others cannot have the wrong influence over you. Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58). Jesus said, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (John 8:31).

The Word of God is what you need for this end-time hour. God is moving today by His greatness; and if you fail, you may never have another chance. Take the Word and live in it daily, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

There are many scriptures in this message for you to study, and it will bless you to memorize some of them. In fact, you must memorize scriptures if you want to be a good soul winner. You cannot fumble around looking for scriptures when you are dealing with a soul. The Bible says, He that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30).

How you use words will determine how successful you will be as a soul winner, so you must be a good witness. Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). God marks certain souls for us to win; and when you run across them, you must be prayed up, fasted up and ready to talk to them. That may be the only opportunity you will ever have with them, and you may be the only godly messenger they will ever meet.

Accept God’s Saving Power

In this final hour, you must go all the way with God; or you will be lost somewhere in the night. There is just one flight out; and if you miss it, you will be spewed into the Tribulation Period. It is time to look up because our redemption draweth nigh. If you want to be ready when Jesus comes, you must give your heart to Him; and if you do it today, it will be the greatest day of your entire life. Pray the sinners’ prayer right now: Oh, God, save my soul. Forgive me of my sins. I am so sorry that I have sinned against you, and I am going to serve you, Lord, for the rest of my life. I confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for me, and I want to live for Him. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come on in, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, then you have found the Lord today. Start praying and living in the Word, and you will find that the Word is wonderful. Then go on to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and walk as Jesus walked when He lived on Earth.

Accept God’s Healing Power

You who are sick and afflicted, believe God’s Word that says,The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up (James 5:15). Divine healing is a teaching of the Word. I am not the healer, but I am a believer in God’s healing power.

If you need a miracle today, agree with me in prayer; God has given me His power and ordained me to pray for the sick. His gifts can set you free in His Holy name. Lord, I bring all the sick and afflicted to you—the cancer victims, the heart patients, the diabetics, the crippled and paralyzed ones and those who are suffering with any disease. Nothing is impossible with you. In the name of Jesus, heal! In the all-powerful, holy name of Jesus of Nazareth, I command it done.

God’s healing power is flowing into your body now; accept it. Carry that healing power with you and let it get you well. It got me well when I was about to die at just twenty-three, and the Lord loves you just as much as He loves me. He made me whole all over, and He can do the same for you.