Speak The Word Series

Introduction

As Christians we are ever in a war, never make any mistake about that! There are unseen forces that are constantly after every Bible believing family and individual. At every moment the devil has a demon or several demons and in some cases a legion (1,000 – Mark 5:9) of them.

It’s small wonder then that we feel under attack. The devil is in fact trying to destroy God’s people. The world is out to deceive Christians every second. Every radio broadcast, every TV show, and an unseen spirit of worldliness orchestrates every bit of Internet content. The devil is after us. The world is trying to deceive us and if it wasn’t bad enough the flesh is constantly trying to lure us. Christians don’t get a break!

It is a fact is there is an orchestrated effort by a trinity of evil forces that is attempting to make God’s people live fearful, negative, upset and unhappy lives. And sadly, many Christians do live unhappy, fruitless, worried and negative lives. But God’s plan is exactly opposite; He wants His children not just to achieve victory but also to live in victory. And as we do so we attain victory in our personal, marital and our professional lives. God wants the Christian to be a happy people that know the thrill of living and enjoy a victory in living.

There are three incredibly powerful principles that I have used successfully over the last 40 years of my Christian life:

First, Speak the Word. Now, what do I mean by speaking the word? It is basically this – speaking the Word just simply means taking authority in life. That is, we take power over our conditions.

Secondly, Claim the Name. This is making a stand for whose team you’re on. It is an intentional affirmation. It is exercising power over confusion. When you don’t know whose team you’re on it makes life hard. And so many people, especially young people, wonder whose team they’re on. They are constantly having to rethink the question: I am for the world or for the Word? And friends, you simply must make that clear. Because as long as you're playing both sides of the field, you're going to be confused.

Thirdly, Plead the Blood. Pleading the blood is just resting in your salvation. It is a confident satisfaction that you are a genuine Christian. It is exercising power over condemnation. The devil is sure to try and make you feel condemned most of the time. But you can be sure that is not God. God wants us to live in victory.

Three sons went out on their own and prospered in life. They got back together to discuss the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother. The first said, “I built a big house for our mother.” The second stated, “I sent her a Mercedes with a driver.” The third smiled and said, “I've got you both beat. You remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible and how she can't see very well anymore so I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible!” He said, “it took the pastors in the church 12 years to teach him. He's one of a kind and all mom has to do is name the chapter and verse and the parrot recites it.” Soon thereafter the mom sent out letters of thanks to her sons. “Milton,” she wrote the one son, “the house you built is so huge I only live in one room but I have to clean the whole house.” “Gerald,” she wrote to the other son, “I'm too old to traveI. I stay most of the time at home so I rarely use the Mercedes and the driver is so rude.” And then to the third son, “oh dearest Donald,” she wrote, “You have the good sense to know what your mother likes…that chicken was delicious!” The point of that story? Be careful when you speak the Word or you might become someone’s dinner!

Now, let me issue a word of clarity before we begin. If you’ve been around the Christian world for very long or if you’ve watched Christian TV much or if you’ve ever listened to Christian radio you may have heard Christian people repeat that they are “speaking the Word or claiming the name or pleading the blood.” Unfortunately these wordings used by some people are a sort of prayer teaching. The concept held by certain theological movements, refers to the idea that if you have a problem, like a financial issue or health concern, all you have to do is speak a verse over it and it will be fixed. Or if you say the name of Jesus in prayer it is a guarantee for success. All you have to do is say the words, “I plead the blood” and then somehow and in some almost magical way your problems are sure to be gone. And then to further muddy the waters these same teachers will state that if you don’t get what you desire its because you didn’t say it loud enough, often enough or sincere enough. My friend, this is misguided and heretical teaching! God will never be put into anybody’s box. We must never get to the point that we imagine we can manipulate God by saying some kind of secret phrase. When we do that, we degenerate to frankly nothing more than just a western version of some eastern religion. God is nobody’s puppet!