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The Words of Faith (Part 3) · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. Thank you, Father. We've been teaching.
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I've been leading us in understanding the words
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of faith. The words of faith. This is the third
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session of it. The words of faith. Last Sunday
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and on Wednesday and today is the third. The
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words of faith. And today we'll just be looking
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at the words of God on our lips as a subtopic.
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The word of God on our lips. And let me just
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give us a recap so far. On Wednesday we established
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some facts. We said, God's walk through his words.
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God, who is our example, our father, he walks
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through his word. And his word carries the power
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to establish his purpose on the earth. And we
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read through the creation story. We saw this
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in the creation theology in Genesis 1, how God
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speak things and things come into existence.
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And there was nothing that came into existence
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without God speaking it. And we saw that even
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in the creation of man, before man came into
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existence, man was spoken of. And God set a pattern
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for us. God set an example for us. In the activity
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that he did on earth, we see that he used words
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to speak things into existence. So, went on to
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say that words have power. And what we hear and
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believe and speak can shape. Our conduct, it
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can shape our experiences and words can shape
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our realities. And we saw an example in the fall
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of man in Genesis 3. We saw it in the fall of
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man in Genesis 3. We saw how the words of Satan,
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you know, spoken to Eve and Adam in the Garden
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of Eden, shaped the realities, their reality.
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We see them believing the words that Satan spoke.
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And then their realities were established. So
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also on to Rosa, what we hear, what we give attention
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to, and what we allow to reign supreme by words
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have the capacity to shape our experiences and
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our realities. And we went on to say that our
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words can express either faith or unbelief. Our
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words, the things we say, can express either
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faith or unbelief. We're going to look more into
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this in a few minutes to come. So our words express
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either faith or unbelief. So we must take responsibility
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for what comes out of our mouths. We don't just
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open our mouth and speak anyhow. We assume responsibility
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for every single word that comes out of our mouth.
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Our words do not only have the capacity to shape
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our own realities, but our words can also influence
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others around us. It can either edify them or
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tear them down. So we have a responsibility,
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first and foremost. You know, in Scripture, the
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Bible says that we will give account for every
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idle word. We will give account for every word
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that we speak. So therefore comes the responsibility
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to speak properly. Because every word we speak,
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the Bible says we give an account for it. And
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as believers, we must learn to speak in agreement
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to God's word. We must learn to speak always
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in agreement with God's word, expressing faith
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rather than fear. doubt, negativity, or unbelief.
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The words we speak daily must always be in alignment
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with the word of God. Our words must express
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what must express faith rather than fear, doubt,
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or negativity or unbelief. Now I want us to begin
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by looking at the believer's confession. The
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believer's confession. What is the confession
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of the believer? The confession of the believer
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must be the word of God. The confession of the
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believers must be the word of God. Now, when
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we say that your words shapes your realities.
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And what we expect to see you speak are positive
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words. Now, positive words must be the word of
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God. Hallelujah. Your confession must be the
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word of God. What is confession? What is confession?
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Romans chapter 10, verse 8 to 10. Romans chapter
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10, verse 8 to 10. But what does it say? The
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word is near you. In your mouth and in your heart.
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That is the words of faith which we preach. The
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context here is the gospel. Now that if you confess,
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what is that confess? What does it mean to confess?
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What does it mean to profess? That if you confess
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with your mouth, what are you confessing? If
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you confess with your mouth, you confess what?
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The Lord Jesus. and believe in your heart that
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God had raised him from the dead, you will be
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safe. So our confession to salvation is Christ.
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We confess Christ and we are safe. For with the
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heart one believes unto righteousness, and with
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the mouth, oh, is it with the mind? With the
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mouth, right? Confession is made. onto salvation.
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Confession is made onto salvation with the mouth.
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Hallelujah. So we make confession, we confess
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Jesus. In fact, the confession that brings salvation
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is not the confession of sins, but the confession
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of Jesus. You don't confess sin to be saved.
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I've given this example some years ago. I said,
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when you catch a thief red -handed and him, Agreeing
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there is a thief does not make him exonerated.
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Hallelujah. Doesn't make him exonerated. But
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when a judge passes a judgment of acquaintance
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and a person confesses the judgment of the judge,
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it becomes his reality. Look at what that confession
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is. 1 Timothy 6, verse 12. 1 Timothy 6, verse
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12. Find the good fight of faith, lay hold of
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eternal life, lay hold on eternal life, to which
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you will also call and have confessed. So what
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have they confessed? They've confessed the confession
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of faith. They've made the confession of eternal
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life. The good confession in the presence of
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many witnesses. Confession. Hebrews chapter 3
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verse 1. Hebrews chapter 3, verse 1. Therefore,
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holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
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consider the apostle and the high priest of our
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confession, Christ Jesus. So confession has specification
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and the confession is a person. And the confession
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is who? Is Christ Jesus. Hebrews 10, 23. Hebrews
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chapter 10, verse 23. Hebrews 10, verse 23. Let
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us hold fast the confession of our hope without
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wavering. For he who promises is faithful. For
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he who promises what? Is faithful. Now, the word
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confess in the New Testament Scriptures is translated
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from the Greek word homologio. Let me spell it.
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H -O -M -O. L -O -G -E -O in the Greek. Homologio.
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Some places we see homologia, equally meaning,
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you know, similarly the same thing, which means
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to speak the same thing. It means to speak the
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same thing. That is, to assent to something.
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To agree with something or with someone. To declare
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what someone has said or to admit. So, confession
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is not just speaking in the air. Confession has
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a focus and a direction. Confession is to say
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the same as God has said. Alright? We saw in
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the scriptures we read that Jesus Christ is our
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confession. So when the Bible says that Jesus
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Christ is our confession, what we're saying is
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that we are agreeing with what God has done in
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Christ. Jesus came to die for the forgiveness
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of our sins. So confessing Jesus Christ is admitting
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that what God has done is your reality. That
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is a confession. Hallelujah. Now, do you now
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see why I said that we don't confess sin to be
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saved? All right? We confess what God has done
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concerning sin to be saved. And our confession
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is a person, is Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. So,
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confession is to say the same thing as God has
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said it. Not just cutting scriptures in this
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context, but believing and agreeing with scripture.
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All right? The scripture is about the person
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and the person is Christ. We boldly say what
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God has said in his word. Confession is driven
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by conviction. Confession is driven by what?
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By conviction. Conviction is a state of persuasiveness.
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You heard the thing. And you've come to know
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that that thing is true. And there's no wavering
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in your position concerning that which you've
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heard. You are convinced, you are convicted within
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your heart that this is a fact concerning what
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you've heard. So confession is driven by conviction.
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It is birthed from the faith that we find operational
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in the heart of the believer. So confession of
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faith should not be substituted for positive
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confession. You know, we are in an era where
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people are encouraged to speak positive things.
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Now, when it comes to the confession of faith,
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it's not just speaking positive things. Not every
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positive thing you say is a confession of faith.
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Positive confession... is to keep saying something
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good and positive so that by saying it, it will
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happen. That is positive speaking. But the confession
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of faith is not positive thinking or positive
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speaking. Somehow we found, you know, this misconception
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in the faith teaching in many churches today
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that they substitute positive speaking to the
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speaking of faith. It is not the same thing.
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In the case of faith speaking or speaking the
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words of faith, speaking what you believe in
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your heart with your mouth is positive. Alright?
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Speaking what you believe in your heart with
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your mouth is positive. But it is not positive
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speaking. It is a confession of faith. For example
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now, in the Bible, the Bible says that For example,
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if I confess and say, I am the righteousness
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of God in Christ Jesus, it's something positive,
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right? I am the righteousness of God in Christ
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Jesus is positive. But I'm not saying it to be
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positive. I'm not saying it to make it good,
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even though it's a good saying. The confession
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of faith is Christ -centered speaking. It's a
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Christ -centered speaking. Are we together? The
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confession of faith is Christ -centered speaking,
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specifically. It's a Christ -centered speaking.
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It's not everything that is positive that is
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Christ -centered. Are we together? So, confession
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of faith is Christ -centered speaking, Jesus
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-dominated speaking. It is a Jesus dominated
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speaking. I'm distinguishing positive speaking
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and the confession of faith. The confession of
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faith is Christ centered speaking. It is a Jesus
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dominated speaking. And this is birthed by Christ
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dominated thinking. Hallelujah. It is dominated
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by what? By Christ thinking. Christ centered
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thinking. So my words must give expression to
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that which has been done or will be done in Christ.
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So the parameter of my confession is within what
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Christ has done. what Christ is doing or what
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Christ will do. This is the confession of faith.
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So what I'm doing is that I'm agreeing that this
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is what the Word of God says concerning what
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Christ has done. What I'm agreeing, which is
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the word confession, is that I'm agreeing with
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what God will do in Christ because there are
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some things that God will do in your life. And
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it's... It's founded on what God has done already
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in his death, in his burial and resurrection.
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So what we do as we confess that we are agreeing
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with what Christ has done. We are agreeing with
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what God said he will do. We are agreeing with
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what God says he's doing right now in our lives.
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That is faith confession. That is a confession
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of faith. Our words must give expression to that
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which Christ has done or is doing or will do.
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So the confession of faith are things that are
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said that we thoughtfully consider the person
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of Jesus Christ. The confessions of faith are
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the things that we say that as we say them, we
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are thoughtfully considering the person. The
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character, the ability, the faithfulness, the
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promises that are in Christ. So, our confession
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has a boundary and the boundary is Christ. So,
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when we talk about... good things, speak better
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things, speak positive things. We're not saying
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don't speak anything that you feel like speaking.
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We're saying that your speaking has a parameter
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and your speaking is situated within what Christ
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has done. Your speaking is situated within the
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character and the ability of God. Your speaking
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is founded on the foundation of what God has
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said, what God has done. What God is doing and
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what God has said he will do. Therefore, the
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word of God must dwell in us richly. The word
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of God must dwell in us richly. Why will the
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word of God, why must the word of God dwell in
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us richly? So that our confession will be centered
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on what God has said. The word of God must dwell
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in us richly so that our thinking and our meditation
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will influence the things that come out of our
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mouth. So that we will have sufficiency of words
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to speak concerning our lives, concerning situations,
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concerning our realities, concerning our future,
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concerning everything that pertains to us in
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the earth. Joshua chapter 1 verse 8. Joshua chapter
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1 verse 8. Let's see the exhortation that Moses
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gave to Joshua. It says the book of the law shall
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not depart from where? Hello? From your mind?
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Where should the book of the law never depart
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from? From where? From the mouth. Now, there's
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no how you meditate without your mouth. Okay?
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Let me establish this. Meditation is thinking
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and speaking. The book of the law, this book
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of the law, shall not depart from your mouth.
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Which means that Moses explains that Joshua continually
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speaks what God has said. It means that Joshua
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should continually speak what God has said. In
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his speaking, his teaching is what God has said.
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In his life, he speaks what God has said. This
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book of the Lord shall not depart from your mouth,
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but you shall meditate in it day and night that
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you may observe to do according to all that is
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written in it. For then you will make your way
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prosperous. And then you will have what? You
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will have good success. But it begins from where?
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From the word not departing from your mouth.
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Hallelujah. Which means that his confession,
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his profession, and his speaking continually
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must be the word of God. The word of God not
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departing from his mouth. Then we see his meditation,
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what happens within his mind. As he meditates,
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he speaks the word of God. Then we see his actions
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also, the word of God. And then we see success,
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we see prosperity. Colossians chapter 3, verse
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16 to 17. Colossians chapter 3, verse 16 to 17.
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It says, let the word of God, the word of Christ,
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dwell in you, how? Richly. Richly. the word of
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God dwelling in you richly in all wisdom, teaching
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and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
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and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
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heart to the Lord. And whatever you do in your
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speech or in your conduct, do all things in the
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name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
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the Father through him. It says, let the word
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of God dwell in you richly. So thinking about
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God's word is good, but speaking the word of
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God is much more important. Hallelujah. You can
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think about it. When you don't speak it, you
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limit what you're thinking from finding expression.
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Hallelujah. So we have a duty to meditate, to
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think over the word of God. But most importantly,
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we allow the word of God to find expression in
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our lips. It becomes our conversation. It becomes
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our testimony. It becomes our reality. It becomes
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our affirmation. It becomes what by which our
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lives are shaped by. So the word of God becomes
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our reality. It becomes our speech daily. It
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becomes our songs. The word of God becomes our
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songs. Hallelujah. Our words are empty as men
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in regards to the purposes of God. In regards
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to the purposes of God. Our words are empty as
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men. We must fill them with God's word. Alright?
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As regards to the purposes of God. Our words
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are empty. We fill them with God's word to see
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God's result manifested in our lives. Hallelujah.
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So contextually, to God's plan and God's purpose,
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our words have no effect. We fill them with what
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God has said to see God's result manifested in
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our lives. When we fill them with another word,
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The words of God that can come from Satan, from
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whatever, what do you call, origin, we will see
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the result from that source. But believers will
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fill our words with the words of God. We fill
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our thoughts, our speech, with the word of God.
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And we see the God kind of result in manifestation
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in our lives. So God's words on our lips. It's
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not only for sharing or for evangelism. Okay?
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We go out to preach. We tell people about the
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good news. We tell them about what Christ has
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done. We tell people about what Christ wants
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them to come into. But most importantly, the
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Word of God on our lips is also for our daily
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living. We keep saying God's words to see His
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Word at work daily in our lives. Our desire in
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this church is to see that your life daily is
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shaped by the Word of God. Not only that you
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accurately understand the Word of God, that you
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are properly taught the Word of God in its accuracy,
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but that you take up what has been taught and
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make it your own meditation and make it your
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own confession daily. Therein you will see the
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prosperity, the prosperity that is in God's Word.
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So God speaks his word so that we in turn can
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have what to say. Our life, the Bible says that
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the life that we live, we live by the faith of
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God. Hallelujah. It means that we live by the
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word of God. God's word is to be our word always.
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God's word must always determine our communication.
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God's word should always determine our communication.
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Our communication must be based on the certainty
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of what God has said. On the certainty. What
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does it mean to be certain that God said this
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thing? I believe it and I walk by it and I say
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it. Because God has said it, it becomes my confession.
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In all things and in all ways. Hallelujah. Now,
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I want us to see also, if you're writing, you
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can write the believer's authority. I want us
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to see that the believer's authority in Christ,
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the believer's authority is in Christ. That authority
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that we have in Christ is expressed through the
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words of faith. Without the expression of the
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words of faith, it becomes impossible for the
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believer to establish the authority on the earth.
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The believer's authority is expressed by words.
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We saw in the creation of Adam, the story of
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creation. that Adam's dominion was transmitted
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to him through words. That Adam's dominion was
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transmitted through words. Genesis 1, verse 26.
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Quickly, give me Genesis 21. All you can write.
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We've read this before. Last teaching. Genesis
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1, 26 to 28. Genesis 2. But let's read Genesis
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2, verse 15 to 20. Genesis 1, 26 to 28 speaks
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about God creating man. and giving him dominion.
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And then in Genesis chapter 2, verse 15 to 20,
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Then the Lord God took the man and put him in
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the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the
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Lord commanded him, Man saying, Of every tree
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of the garden you may freely eat. But of the
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tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall
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not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you
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shall surely die. And the Lord God said, It is
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not good that a man should be alone. I will make
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him a helper comparable to him. Out of the ground
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the Lord God formed every beast of the field
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and every bird of the air and brought them to
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Adam to see. And what he called them, whatever
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Adam said concerning what was brought to him,
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Whatever Adam called each living creature, that
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was his name. So we see that in the plan of God,
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that man will live on the earth and his expression
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of the dominion will be in what he says. So man
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began to express authority over creation. by
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what he sees. So Adam gave names to all the cattle,
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to the birds of the air, and to every beast of
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the field. But for Adam, there was not found
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a helper comparable to him. Hallelujah. Equally,
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at the resurrection, in the new creation, we
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also see Jesus Christ giving believers authority.
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In Matthew 28, verse 18. And I want us to read
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this in the NLT. Matthew 28, verse 18. In the
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NLT. Jesus came and told his disciples, I have
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been given all authority. I have been given all
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authority in heaven. and in the earth. That is
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Genesis 1 conversation. In the heavens and the
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earth. Let's read that similar text in Mark.
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Mark 16. Mark 16. So Jesus has been given authority.
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How did he achieve that authority? By his death,
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his burial and his resurrection, his humanity
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and all that he has done on earth. Mark 16. Yes,
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the same NLT from verse 15 to 18. And he told
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them, continuation of that story. And he told
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them, go into all the world and preach the good
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news to everyone. So all authority in heaven
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and the earth has been given to him. And then
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he has delegated that authority to what? To the
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believers. And in that delegation, he gave an
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authority, he gave a commission to them. Verse
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15. He gave them a commission. Give me verse
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15. And he told them, go into all the world and
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preach the good news to everyone. Verse 16. Anyone
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who believes and is baptized will be saved. But
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anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
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These miraculous signs will accompany those who
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believe. They will cast out demons in my name.
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Does it look like authority? Yes. The believer
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has authority to cast out devils in Jesus' name.
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And they will speak in new languages. Verse 18.
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They will be able to handle snakes with safety.
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This is a qualified language here. And if they
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drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them.
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They will be able to place their hands on the
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sick. Doesn't look like authority on sickness,
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right? And they will be healed. Now let's look
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at verse 20. Did it happen? Verse 20. And the
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disciples went everywhere. Now, the entirety
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of the book of Acts is summarized in this one
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verse. All we see written in the book of Acts
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is summarized in this one verse here. And the
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disciples went everywhere. We see in the book
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of Acts. And they preached. And the Lord walked
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through them, confirming what they said. By what?
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By many. Miraculous signs. He confirmed what
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they were saying with signs and wonders. So as
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they say, we see the authority expressed in miraculous
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signs and wonders. Hallelujah. But they have
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to go about to preach, to say. So Jesus gave
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authority to the disciples in the resurrection
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as we've seen in this text. As they went speaking,
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God was with them. And he was confirming their
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words with their accompanying signs and wonders.
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So we see in verse 15 that the gospel that saves
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men is preached through words. Alright? One of
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the ways a believer expresses his authority in
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Christ is through the preaching of the gospel.
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When you go about preaching the gospel, you've
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been authorized by God to preach the gospel.
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So a way by which you express authority you have,
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you've been licensed by God in Christ to preach
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the gospel. So one of the ways by which you express
33:21
our authority in Christ is actually by going
33:24
to preach. So the words that saves men is delivered.
33:30
What saves men is delivered by words. Yesterday
33:35
there was evangelism. I heard of testimonies
33:38
of people going out and they were speaking. Alright?
33:42
That's the authority. You are exercising your
33:45
authority by speaking. You have the authority
33:47
to speak to someone concerning Christ. Because
33:50
you've experienced Christ and Christ lives in
33:52
you, you've been authorized to speak about Christ.
33:55
To tell people about God. To announce to people
33:58
about the good news. They won't preach in that
34:02
verse 15. It's translated from the Greek word
34:05
kerouzo. The pastor was teaching us this. K -E
34:11
-R -U -S -O. Kerouzo. It means to proclaim, to
34:19
herald, to proclaim. Alright? To announce a message
34:24
publicly with conviction. That is with persuasion
34:30
in your heart. This announcement is done through
34:37
words. This announcement, this proclamation,
34:42
this preaching is done through words. For there
34:49
to be salvation, there must be a preaching of
34:55
the message of God. There must be The proclamation
34:58
of the message of God. There must be the announcement
35:02
of the message of God. Romans chapter 10, verse
35:05
14 and 15. It says that how can men be safe if
35:11
they have not heard the word? Romans chapter
35:13
10, verse 14 and 15 says, How then shall they
35:18
call on him whom they have not believed? And
35:23
how shall they believe? in him of whom they have
35:26
not heard. So they must hear of him to believe
35:29
in him, to call on him. And how shall they hear
35:33
without a preacher? All right, verse 15. And
35:39
how shall they preach unless they are sent? So
35:43
if you are not sent, it means you are not qualified
35:45
to preach. And by virtue of you believing, you've
35:49
been sent actually. As it is written, how beautiful
35:52
are the feet of those who preach the gospel of
35:55
peace, who bring glad tidings and of good things.
36:01
So salvation is in words spoken. If we don't
36:06
speak, there will be no salvation. Hallelujah.
36:11
See, you can do drama. You can act drama. Right?
36:17
And as you are acting that drama, Let me tell
36:20
you, what people are seeing is different. All
36:24
right? We can all watch the same movie, but what
36:26
we're seeing is different. But if we say something
36:32
about Christ, it's certain that this is what
36:34
Christ has done. Hallelujah. The gospel is in
36:39
words. God has made it that the salvation of
36:43
men will be through words. That the salvation
36:46
of souls, you were saved because of the word
36:49
you heard. You heard about Jesus by someone preaching
36:55
Jesus to you. And you came to believe in what
36:59
has been preached about Jesus. Acts chapter 11,
37:02
verse 12 to 14. Acts 11, verse 12 to 14. We see
37:07
an example. It says, Then the Spirit told me
37:13
to go with them, doubting not. The context here
37:16
is Peter. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied
37:20
me and we entered the man's house. And he told
37:24
us how he had seen an angel. Okay? How he had
37:29
seen an angel standing in his house who said
37:33
to him, send men to Joppa and call for Simon
37:39
whose son's name is Peter. Now, An unbeliever
37:44
had an encounter with an angel. The angel did
37:49
not preach the word of Christ to him. The angel
37:52
asked him to go and call a man. Peter. Alright?
37:58
Very specifically. Who will tell you words by
38:03
which you And all your household will be saved.
38:09
Why didn't the angel told him the word that his
38:12
household will be saved? Why didn't the angel
38:17
assume the responsibility of telling this unbeliever
38:22
the words by which he and his household will
38:24
be saved? God has delegated the announcement
38:30
of the words of salvation to us men. have the
38:36
responsibility to preach the word of God for
38:39
men to be saved. Hallelujah. In rare cases, I
38:47
will say this carefully, in rare cases, we see
38:50
angels sent to speak the word of God to people
38:54
so that they will be born again. In very rare
38:56
cases. But the usual way by which God acts on
39:01
the earth in announcing the gospel to men, It's
39:05
true men. And you and I have been commissioned,
39:10
we've been authorized, we've been given the ability
39:12
to do what? To exercise the authority that we
39:17
have in Christ by preaching and bringing authority.
39:21
Listen, when you go to preach, you are giving
39:23
people life. You've been authorized to give life
39:27
to men. And this life you are authorized to give
39:31
is an eternal life. You are the urgency by which
39:35
men will come to eternal life. Hallelujah. So
39:40
we must speak the words of salvation. Our authority
39:44
is expressed by speaking. By speaking words.
39:54
So the disciples had authority to cast out demons.
39:57
Mark 16 verse 17, you see, when Jesus was telling
40:01
them. Let's read back that Mark 16, verse 17.
40:04
In the NKJV, Mark 16, 17. It says, and these
40:08
saints will follow those who believe. In my name,
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they will what? They will cast out demons. They
40:15
will speak with new tongues. So how will they
40:17
cast out demons? How? By speaking. The way by
40:24
which they'll cast out demons is by speaking.
40:29
When we read through the gospel, we see that
40:31
whenever Jesus had an encounter with demons,
40:33
he spoke to them and he exercised his authority
40:36
as God by speaking to the demons and then casting
40:40
them out. Equally, let's see in Acts chapter
40:44
16, verse 16 to 18. Acts 16, verse 16 to 18.
40:56
Now it happened as we went. To prayer that a
41:00
certain slave girl possessed with the spirit
41:02
of divination met us, who brought her masters
41:05
much profit by fortune -telling. This girl followed
41:10
Paul and us and cried out, saying, These men
41:15
are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim
41:18
to us the way of salvation. And this She did
41:24
for many days, which means that this slave girl
41:27
was with them for many days. But Paul, greatly
41:31
annoyed by what? By her activity, turned and
41:35
said to the Spirit. He spoke to the Spirit. He
41:39
said to the Spirit, I command you in the name
41:43
of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came
41:46
out that very hour. Hallelujah. So verse 18 says,
41:53
is it verse 18? Yes. Verse 16 says she did many
41:59
days with them. Is it verse 16? Verse 17, give
42:06
verse 17. Yes, verse 18, is it verse 18? And
42:15
this she did for many days. That means that she
42:17
has been saying and speaking. Until Paul decided
42:22
to cast out the demon by speaking a word. Now,
42:28
was the authority, was Paul having the authority
42:33
for those days that he has been speaking the
42:35
word of God? And the demon was in the girl. And
42:39
we don't see the authority exercised. We don't
42:43
see the demon coming out. Until when Paul decided,
42:46
alright, to act on his will. And in acting on
42:51
his will, concerning that demon, concerning that
42:54
devil, he spoke words of authority. He gave an
42:58
instruction and he spoke and we see that the
43:03
demon left the lady. So until we speak, nothing
43:11
happens in our lives. It is not the absence of
43:18
power. It is oftentimes the absence of speaking.
43:23
And sometimes even when we speak, do we speak
43:26
with conviction? Do we believe what we are speaking?
43:29
Do we agree with persuasion that that which we
43:32
are speaking will happen? So I want to throw
43:37
us a challenge. We must go on speaking the word
43:40
of God concerning situations, concerning circumstances.
43:46
Casting out devils is a way by which the believer
43:49
expresses authority. And every believer has that
43:53
ability, has that authority in him to cast out
43:56
devils. So we must speak with confidence that
44:01
the power of God is indwelling in us. And as
44:05
we speak, we look forward to seeing the power
44:08
of God at work through our lives. Hallelujah.
44:20
So, we see also that Peter was able to exercise
44:27
healing. The Bible says that they will lay hands
44:30
on the sick and the sick will be healed. Mark
44:35
16 verse 18. How will the sick be healed? The
44:40
sick will be healed by the speaking of healing.
44:44
They will take up serpents and if they drink,
44:47
anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.
44:50
They will lay hands on the sick and the sick
44:54
will recover. The laying of hands is accompanied
44:59
by the speaking of that healing. And the healing
45:02
takes place. Acts chapter 3 verse 1 to 8, an
45:08
example of this happening. Acts chapter 3 verse
45:11
1 to 8, we see consistently in the life of the
45:15
apostles. especially Peter in this context. Now
45:22
Peter and John went up together to the temple
45:24
at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a
45:27
certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried
45:29
home. They lay daily at the gate of the temple,
45:32
which is called beautiful to ask alms from those
45:34
who enter the temple. Who seeing Peter and John
45:37
about to go into the temple asked for alms and
45:40
fixing his eyes on him with John. And Peter said,
45:42
look at us. I mean, Pastor Carson was teaching
45:45
this. So he gave them his attention. And his
45:50
attention he was expecting what? To receive something
45:53
from them, to receive money from them. Then Peter
45:58
said, silver and gold I do not have, but what
46:02
I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ
46:08
of Nazareth, rise up and what? And walk. And
46:13
he took him by the hand. and lifted him up, and
46:17
immediately his feet and ankles bones received
46:21
strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked
46:26
and entered the temple with them, walking, leaping,
46:29
and praising God. Hallelujah. Peter spoke healing
46:33
into this man's body, and lifting him up, laying
46:38
hands on him and lifting him up, he received
46:41
healing. Let's see another example, Acts 9, verse
46:43
32. To 35, Peter was able to heal through the
46:48
use of words. We see the power of God in him,
46:51
finding expression by his speaking of faith and
46:55
establishing the healing in this life, in the
46:57
life of this man. Acts chapter 9, verse 32 and
47:00
35. And Peter said to him, Now it came to pass,
47:07
as Peter went through all the parts of the country,
47:09
that he also came down to the saints who dwell
47:12
in Leda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas,
47:18
who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.
47:22
Eight years. And Peter said to him, Aeneas. Peter
47:28
said to him. Peter spoke the word of healing.
47:34
Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. That is how
47:39
we administer healing. We speak healing to people.
47:41
Alright? We speak healing to people. We declare
47:46
healing by our words. Someone is sick, when you
47:52
lay your hand on him, don't speak in tongues.
47:56
Speak healing. Hallelujah. Speak healing. Sometimes
48:03
we speak in tongues because we don't want to
48:06
say something that we don't believe in. Speak
48:10
healing. Alter healing. command the sickness
48:13
to go, command healing to come. And Peter said
48:18
to him, Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise
48:22
and make your bed. Then he arose. How? Immediately.
48:27
All the examples of healings we see in scriptures,
48:30
the Bible says immediately. Hallelujah. And verse
48:36
35. So all who dwell at Leda and Sharon saw him
48:42
and turned to the Lord because of what they've
48:44
seen. Hallelujah. So we must believe that healing
48:49
proceeds when we speak. When we utter words,
48:55
healing happens. The apostles also did miracles
48:59
by speaking the words of faith. Acts chapter
49:03
13 verse 4 to 12 is an example of So being sent
49:19
out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia,
49:23
and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when
49:26
they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word
49:29
of God in the synagogue of the Jews. They also
49:32
had John as their assistant herein. in Salamis.
49:37
Now, when they had gone through the island to
49:41
Paphos, Paphos is in the Greek site, they found
49:44
a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose
49:49
name was Bar -Jesus, who was with a proconsul,
49:54
Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man
49:59
called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear
50:03
the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer, for
50:09
so his name is translated, withstood them, seeking
50:14
to turn the proconsul away from the faith. What
50:17
was he doing? He was doing magic. Alright? He
50:22
was doing... What would I call it? I know it
50:27
in my tribe, but I can't say it in English. He
50:30
was doing some things anyway to shift the attention
50:33
of... The proconsul from hearing. Alright? Then
50:39
Saul, who also is called Paul, fear with the
50:41
Holy Ghost, look intently at him. And he said
50:46
to him, O fool of all deceit, he said, and all
50:51
fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all
50:57
righteousness, will you not cease perverting
51:01
the straight ways of the Lord? And now indeed
51:07
the hand of the Lord is upon you. That is a declaration,
51:13
that is an exercise of authority. He is speaking,
51:17
exercising his authority to what? To withstand
51:23
the activity of the devil through the man Elemas.
51:29
And you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for
51:34
a time. If it's your Bible, please, when you
51:38
read this verse 11, underline that for a time.
51:41
All right? And immediately a dark mist fell on
51:46
him, and he went around seeking someone to lead
51:50
him by the hand. Hallelujah. Then a proconsul
51:55
believed when he saw what had been done, being
51:59
astonished at what? At the... teaching of the
52:03
Lord. What made Elie Mas, what made the proconsul
52:05
believe is not the miracle. Alright? Come on.
52:11
Those people, they've seen power manifesting.
52:15
Those kind of activities are not new to people
52:17
in power. Alright? So, Elie Mas has been doing
52:23
a lot of miracles. They've seen many things happen.
52:26
But, Seeing that Paul was able to exert a particular
52:30
authority that tamed Elemas, and then by the
52:34
teaching of the Lord, the proconsul came to faith,
52:38
was able to believe. Hallelujah. He believed
52:42
by what Paul was able to speak and teach. Hallelujah.
52:50
So we see here that Paul was able to, for a time,
52:55
limit the activity of Satan, the activity of
52:59
the devil by the exercise of his authority. And
53:04
we see him exercise authority by speaking what
53:07
he wants to see in that particular time and it
53:09
happened. Hallelujah. So as we close, as we close
53:15
for today, greater works require greater expression
53:21
of faith. And God has given us his word so that
53:27
it can fill our hearts. It can shape our thinking
53:32
and also become our confession. So God has given
53:38
us his word and his word is expected to fill
53:41
our hearts. That is, we believe in God's word
53:46
and God's word is our meditation. And then we
53:51
give room for the Word to shape the way we think.
53:54
We think through the lenses of what God has said.
53:59
We judge circumstances and situations by the
54:03
Word of God. We use the Word of God to measure
54:07
the things we hear. We use the Word of God to
54:10
measure the decisions we take. So God has given
54:14
us His Word so that it can fill our hearts to
54:17
shape our thinking. And also become our confession.
54:23
Faith is not merely believing what God said.
54:29
Believing what God said is very important. But
54:33
it's not just believing what God said alone.
54:36
Faith speaks what God has said. Amen? Faith does
54:43
what? Faith speaks what God has said. You believe
54:48
what God has said, you speak what God has said.
54:52
I believe what God has said, I speak what God
54:56
has said. So faith speaks. Our authority is expressed
55:02
through words. If you want to see authority in
55:09
your life, daily manifested, then you must take
55:13
advantage of your words. and speak. But your
55:17
words must be filled with the words of God. So
55:22
our authority is expressed through words. So
55:25
we must train our words to agree with what God,
55:34
with God. We must train our words to agree with
55:38
God. That is to agree with what God has said.
55:43
Rather than fear, Rather than doubt, rather than
55:48
the circumstance, rather than unbelief, rather
55:52
than what is presented before you as facts. Of
55:56
course, you can feel some symptoms on your body.
55:59
It's a fact that you have a problem with your
56:02
stomach. But what God is saying is you are healed.
56:06
So you agree with what God has said that I'm
56:08
healed. You side with what God has said concerning
56:12
your healing. Until you see you are healed, you
56:17
keep confessing the word of God. You keep believing
56:19
the word of God. And then you see healing manifested.
56:24
So this week as we go, we must put the word of
56:28
God in our lips. Joshua 1 verse 8. The book of
56:34
the Lord, the word of God, the doctrine of God,
56:36
the teaching of God, the heart of God. Must continually
56:41
be on our mouth. Must continually be on your
56:44
lips. The word of God must continuously be on
56:48
your lips. So we must fill our hearts. Spend
56:54
time daily in God's word. Spend time in God's
56:59
word. You must think the word of God. Firstly,
57:03
fill your heart with the word of God. A man that
57:07
is not worded is a man that cannot express authority.
57:12
Because you don't just speak your own word, you
57:14
speak the word of God. You speak from your position
57:18
of understanding of God's word. You speak from
57:20
the position of the conviction that you have
57:22
in God's word. So the word of God must fill your
57:25
heart. You must spend time daily in God's word.
57:30
Secondly, you must think the word of God. Meditate
57:34
on what God has said, not on your circumstance.
57:39
Some of us are fond of meditating. Every human
57:43
being meditates. If you can worry, it means that
57:48
you can meditate. Worry is a form of meditation.
57:52
You are just thinking about your problem before
57:54
you know it. You start speaking. Have you ever
57:56
seen someone walking around and he's just talking
57:58
to himself? He's just speaking to himself. He's
58:01
speaking his problem. Speaking the things happening
58:04
to him. It's not fear. How can I be in this kind
58:08
of a thing? And then all that comes from you
58:11
is expression of the things that is happening
58:13
to you. This week, make up your mind that your
58:17
meditation will not be about the problem. In
58:20
fact, if you keep meditating on the problem,
58:22
you will not see solution. Hallelujah. So, your
58:26
mind must be transformed by the word of God.
58:29
And your mind must be filled by the word of God,
58:32
meditating on the word of God rather than the
58:35
circumstance. Then number three, you must speak
58:38
the word of God. Make God's word your confession
58:40
concerning every situation. Alright? Number four,
58:49
reject contrary words. Because your circumstance
58:54
will speak. People will speak. The media will
58:59
speak. Chadibity will speak. Some of us, the
59:05
moment we just have a symptom, the first place
59:06
to go is to Chadibity. We tell Chadibity what
59:10
we're feeling. And Chadibity has a way of telling
59:13
us what he feels about your situation. Now, I'm
59:20
not saying that having a knowledge is bad. What
59:23
I'm saying is that your faith is important. And
59:28
must be founded in the word of God. So reject
59:30
contrary words. Refuse fear and doubt. Refuse
59:36
worry. Refuse negativity. And speak the word
59:42
of God. Number five, the last one. Act on your
59:46
confession. Let your words, let the words of
59:50
your faith, let your words of faith produce corresponding
59:53
actions. Alright? We say that faith is expressed
59:58
in our conduct, in our actions. So let your words
1:00:03
of faith produce corresponding actions. Thereby,
1:00:10
you know, you see the power of God fully expressed
1:00:14
in your life. Hallelujah. We appreciate you being
1:00:17
here today. We hope you carry this word with
1:00:20
you throughout your week. Don't forget to check
1:00:23
the show notes for additional insights. Stay
1:00:26
connected with us through our website or follow
1:00:28
us on social media. If you are encouraged, share
1:00:32
this message with someone you care about. Until
1:00:35
next time, stay blessed.