Speak To It


In my previous post I talked about “A Time to Speak and a Time to be Silent.” In this post I want talk to you about “Speaking to It.” Declaration, proclamation, adoration; making our needs, petitions, and requests known by prayers are all words that proceed from our mouth. I believe there is a time to speak and a time to listen. But, I also believe there is a time to pray and prepare. I believe there is a time to pray and prepare. But, I also believe there is a time to declare! The Bible says, man should always pray and never faint. But, it also says, “we are to speak to the mountain.” Your mountain only responds to your voice because you created it with your mouth or God has put it in your life for you to open your mouth and by faith declare it to move. There are many mountains in our lives that need to move. However, I believe we must stop talking about them and start speaking to them. You are already talking about it; why not “speak to it” and see what happens. The Proverb writer gives many scriptures about our words. Here are a couple of those verses: “Your reward depends on what you say and what you do; you will get what you deserve.” Proverbs‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭GNT‬‬ and “Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself.” Proverbs‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Here’s the difference in “Speaking to It” verses “Speaking About It.”

– Speaking about it declares what you see.

– Speaking to it declares what you desire to see.

– Speaking about it declares what you know.

– Speaking to it declares what is not yet been identified.

– Speaking about it declares the facts.

– Speaking to it releases your faith.

Here is an example of something you or I might say in comparison of “speaking to it” or “speaking about it”:

Speaking about it: “that’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way it will always be because they won’t change!”

Speaking to it: “I declare that things are about to change. I agree with the word of God and declare that things will be different and anyone can change. I believe You can make all things new and everything and everyone can be different. In Jesus Name! *(Pray and declare in Jesus name)

– God spoke to the darkness and it became light. (He didn’t speak about the darkness. He said, “let there be light.”)

– God gave man dominion on the earth.

How do we take that dominion? 

– by Prayer

– by the Power of the Holy Spirit

– by Standing on the Word

– by Declaration and Proclamation

You have been given dominion and you have authority to speak to the mountains in your life….

– Jesus spoke to the fig tree.

– Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves.

– Jesus spoke to the infirmities.

– Jesus spoke to the evil spirits.

– He spoke to people and their needs.

– He looked up and blessed the bread. That means He spoke well of it.

– David spoke to the giant.

– Jesus told us to speak to our mountain.

Speak to your mounatain. Your mountain responds to your voice because you probably created it with your mouth to begin with.

Speak to your mounatain. Your mountain responds to your voice because God created you to move it by faith with your mouth.

Speak to your mountain. You are already speaking “of it” why not “speak to it” and see what God does.

There’s A Time to Speak and a Time to Be Silent 


“a time for silence and the time for talk.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭GNT‬‬

 

 

Practical Insights in Regards to Speaking or Being Silent:

 

A Time To Speak

1. When you’ve been spoken to.

2. When you enter someone’s personal space.

3. When you have something to say that’s worth hearing.

4. When you need to express what someone needs to hear.

5. When you need to comfort, encourage, or praise someone.

6. When you need to welcome someone or make them feel comfortable, wanted, or needed.

7. When you know the truth and you know it needs to spoken.

8. When the Holy Spirit prompts you.

9. When injustice has been done and the victim or recipient needs a voice that they don’t have.

10. When you are trying to build a relationship.

11. When you speak out of a heart of love with the right motive.

12. When something needs to be said.

 

A  Time To  Be Silent

1. When nothing else needs to be said.

2. When someone needs you to listen more than they need to hear what you have to say.

3. When someone else is talking.

4. When you really don’t have anything to say.

5. When you’re angry.

6. When your motive is wrong.

7. When you don’t know all the facts.

8. When the Holy Spirit is talking to you.

9. When you’ve not earned the right to speak into the situation to the person’s life.

10. When you need to think about what you are wanting to say.

11. When you need to give yourself or the person you are in conflict in a minute to get over the hurt or rejection that is being felt.

12. When God tells you to not say anything.

All You have is All God Needs

In II Kings Chapter 4 a widow of a prophet approaches the prophet Elisha with a request for help. Elisha responds with a question, “What do you have in your house?” The widow replies, “Absolutely nothing! Expect, for a little flask of oil.” Elijah tells her to go to her neighbors and borrow as many empty jars as you can find. He instructs her to take the oil she has and start pouring it into these empty jars until they are all filled. She filled enough jars of oil to incur enough money to pay off all her debt. And, she still had enough left over for her and her sons to live off of.

Now let me ask you a question: “Who had the oil?” The widow did, right? Let me ask you another question: “Who made the oil pour in abundance?” “That’s right, God did!”

There was another widow in the book of I Kings Chapter 17 that had a little flour and a small amount of oil. There was a drought that came on the land that Elijah had declared. Nevertheless, he ask her for some water to drink and for a small morsel of bread to eat. She swore by the Lord that she only had enough flour and oil to bake a small cake for her and her son. She was going to gather some sticks for a fire to bake the cake. She told Elijah that her and her son would eat the cake and die. She thought this would be her last meal because it was all she had.  Elijah said, “Do as you said, but make me a cake first. Afterwards, make you and your son a cake. If you do this, as sure as the Lord God lives, your flour and oil will not run out.”

Let me ask you a question: “Who had the flour and oil?” That’s right, the widow of Zarephath did. Let me ask you another question: “Who made the flour and oil not run out?” “That’s right, God did!”

There is another story of a little lad who had some bread and fish packed for his lunch. He just happened to be among thousands of people who were hungry and didn’t have anything to eat. Jesus had instructed, helped, and healed the people in the crowd that day. But, the hour was getting late and the people were hungry. So Jesus asked His disciples what there was for the people to eat. His disciples reported: “Nothing! Except, for a couple pieces of bread and a few small fish.” There was no food in sight, except for the little lad’s lunch. Jesus said, “Bring it to me.” He took the loaves and fish and gave thanks and blessed it. This meant He was thankful for what He had, even though it wasn’t enough. The words “blessed it” means that He spoke well of it, even though it was not enough to feed the crowd gathered. The story tells us that Jesus had compassion on the crowd. This word compassion is used five times in the Bible where Jesus performed other miracles. It is the same word that is used in the story of the Good Samaritan. Compassion is when your passion compels you to do what you normally wouldn’t do. When you don’t have enough, begin to be thankful and bless what you do have. Then stand back and watch God begin to multiply it. As a side note the little lad didn’t eat his lunch until he gave it away. God is a God of more than enough! And all you have is all He needs!

Now let me ask you a question: “Who had the fish and bread?” The little lad did, right? Let me ask you another question: “Who blessed the fish and bread?” “That’s right, Jesus did!” And one more question: “Who multiplied the fish and bread?” “That’s right, God did! 

ALL YOU HAVE IS ALL GOD NEEDS!!! Nothing less and nothing more. In all of these stories what the people had, appeared  to them as “not enough.” As a matter of fact when they were asked what was available or what they had, they all said, NOTHING!Except  for a little __________. The problem is you look at what you have as insignificant; because it’s not all you need or desire. But I want to remind you today, that all you have is all you need, because you serve a God of more than enough!

  1. Your access to more is only limited by your capacity to receive. *(note the widow with the empty jars). When she ran out of empty jars, the oil stopped.
  2. What you have the faith to give away will become what someone else has the opportunity to receive. *(note the little lad with the lunch). The little lad blessed everyone with their own lunch that day. *(plus twelve baskets full left over)
  3. You only access more and give away what you have in a act of faith, not in a moment of fear. *(note the widow of Zarephath). She was afraid that her and her son would just eat and die. But, when she fed the prophet first, her obedience paid off for her and her son later. When you feel like what you have is not enough, it will usually produce fear.

Here’s what fear will do:

  • Fear will keep from doing anything about the problem.
  • Fear will keep you from finding a way to change your situation.
  • Fear will make you believe there’s not an alternative to access more.
  • Fear will cause you to hold on to what you have; ultimately keeping you from more.

I want you to know today: “ALL YOU HAVE IS ALL GOD NEEDS!!!”

Going Nowhere on the Way to Somewhere

Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. Col. 1:11

I had several weeks of therapy where I looked at this staircase. Immediately I noticed that these steps didn’t lead anywhere. As a matter of fact, they set against a wall. One day during therapy I told my therapist, “I’m going to write a blog about these stairs.” The staircase that leads nowhere, but develop steps and strength for all who endeavor to climb them.

Here are some questions I pondered as I looked at these steps each week: Do you ever feel like you are going nowhere? Do you ever feel like you are hitting a wall? Do you ever sense what you are doing is not making a difference? I think we all do at times. Most of us desire to live a life of significance while doing those things that produce the results we truly desire. Nonetheless, in reality it is often the most insignificant experiences, or, the most common routines, that usually produce the most significant results in our lives. 

I was in therapy for my shoulder, not my legs. Therefore, I never walked up those steps that led to nowhere. However, I did gently push against a wall with my arm and wrist. And, I also took a towel on that same wall, wiping in a continuous circular motion. At the time these activities seemed redundant, nonproductive, and ineffective. I’m sure that those who walked up and down the steps that led to nowhere, felt the same way at some point too. But, nevertheless, I went from gently pushing and wiping on a wall, to eventually lifting weights. 

Sometimes the purpose is found in the process. Many times it’s the process that develops our progress. Sometimes it’s the daily routines and disciplines of life that develop us. Sometimes it’s the mundane movements of the moment, that create miraculous results over time. Although these steps lead to nowhere, they will eventually help develop someone’s steps, through a rigorous routine of redundancy. They will help strengthen someone’s stability over time. They will help establish someone’s balance, while producing strength, to climb up stairs somewhere, someday. You see these stairs weren’t designed to lead somewhere. They were designed to help develop someone’s strength, so they can walk up stairs again someday.  The staircase that leads to nowhere is not meant to give access. It’s meant to develop one’s balance and increase one’s steps. 

Here’s my point. In life there are many times when you will feel like what you are doing is leading nowhere, while producing minimal results. Here are some biblical examples that should encourage you. Jesus lived thirty years of his life in a community, a classroom, and a carpenter’s shop. He did this before He ever forgave a sin, spoke to a storm, or made the lame to walk.  John the Baptist lived in the wilderness in obscurity eating wild locust and honey. He did this before he proclaimed the way of our Lord and eventually baptizing Jesus. David tended to his father’s sheep on the backside of a mountain and delivered cheese sandwiches to his brothers and Saul on the battle lines. He did this before he defeated the giant with a sling and a stone. 

The steps in this picture that lead to nowhere will allow someone to gain stability and  balance over time. This will eventually enable them to walk with strength out of the facility that these steps set in. The steps that appear to be leading nowhere, are ultimately leading someone, somewhere. They are ultimately enabling a person to be able to walk up the stairs of a business one day, or even the stairs of their home someday. The key is: keep stepping, keep walking, and keep developing your stability and strength. This in time, will produce a constancy to overcome. 

You may be closer than you think you are! And you are probably doing better than you think you are too! The things that you may discount, or despise, are the very things that are developing you into the person you need to be. They are also leading you to the very place you need to be as well. And, when you arrive you will be equipped with everything you need. I can now move my arm with ease and sleep with minimal pain. But, it all began by gently pushing on a wall.

Keep reading your bible even when you feel like it’s not making a difference. You are hiding the living word of God in your heart and establishing it in your mind. Keep attending church even when you don’t feel like it. You are developing a divine discipline that will create a defining testimony in your life, and in the lives of others. Keep praying even when you don’t see the manifestation of your desired results. Your prayers are being heard and you are coming into agreement with heaven. You are invoking God, your creator and maker, in whom, nothing is impossible! 

Don’t despise small beginnings. Don’t overlook the daily routines of your life. God may be using them to develop you. Keep walking. Keep striving. Surrender. Stay open. Be obedient. It may look like you are going nowhere; but, you are on your way to somewhere. You are being  strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.

Potential

Everyone one has potential, you included. You were created in the image of God. When you were born God didn’t scratch His head and say, “now what am I going to do with this one?” He had a plan in mind before you were born. Listen to what the Lord told Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” This means before the bubble gum cigars were passed out and Jeremiah cried his first cry the Lord knew him, set him apart, and had plans for him. Just like Jeremiah you were created with a purpose in mind; but your potential has to be developed in the process of discovering your purpose. The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. It goes on to say that we were known by God before we were born and that He knit us together while we were in our mother’s womb. Therefore, you came from the seed of a man, through the womb of a woman, but, you came from the heart of God. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you and that alone has enough potential to change your life, and the lives of everyone else you come in contact with!

Your purpose is unique and your potential is powerful. Your potential is the existing ability you have to develop the future you desire. Your potential already exists, it just has to be realized, released, and refined before it is ever expressed by you, or experienced by others. #believeit

I want use these 3 words and 3 familiar Bible stories to prove the power of potential:

  • Gideon had to realize his potential before it was ever exhibited. The Lord sent an Angel to tell Gideon he was a mighty man of valor and was going to be used by God to lead a mighty army that would win the victory over their enemies. When the angel called Gideon a “mighty man of valor” Gideon looked around to see who the angel was talking to. You see many times your potential is seen by others before it is ever realized by you. Your potential may be recognized on the outside by others before it is ever realized on the inside by you. However, you have to believe it before it will expressed by you or experienced by others. I can tell you all day, everyday that you can do it, but if you don’t believe you can, chances are you won’t. Your limitations; don’t limit God. The only thing that limits God is your doubt and most of the time you probably don’t doubt God, you doubt yourself! You don’t have to be the greatest, you just have to be willing. You do your part and God will do His part. Like Gideon, not everyone will go with you into battle. God knows who needs to “walk it out” with you. Surround yourself with people who will speak to your potential. God believed in Gideon way before Gideon believed in himself. When you realize God lives in you and He believes you can do it, you will discover, develop, and do what God is asking you to do. You have the potential, it just has to be realized so it can be expressed by you, and experienced by others. #believeit

 

  • David had to release his faith by slinging the stone or the giant coming down would have never came to fruition. David could have had all of the ability in the natural realm to use a slingshot. He could have had all the faith it took to release the stone in the spiritual realm. However, he had to release the stone before it could ever kill the giant. I believe David had faith. He had seen God deliver the lion and bear into his hands. David had been faithful in the small areas of life. Areas like tending to his father’s sheep on the backside of a mountain in obscurity, while Saul and his brothers were on the front lines of the biggest battle in the region. David practiced in private what gave him skills in public. Don’t waste those times of obscurity when no one is watching; instead use it to develop your potential. Don’t value peoples opinions over God’s promises or you will never see your full potential manifest. Saul, and David’s brothers had their opinions about David, but remember this: What people say; doesn’t trump what God can do. What other people say about you can’t override or overrule what God can do through you! You have the potential to see giants fall. Just like David, you have the potential to release your faith; you just have to believe you belong! #believeit

 

  • Daniel, Shadrach, Mischach, and Abednego had  great potential but that potential became even greater when it was refined. Sometimes your potential grows when you are pressed, tried, or tested. Daniel, Shadrach, Mischach, and Abednego determined to do the right thing and that determination became their distinguishing difference. Your potential will be accentuated as you discipline yourself to what’s right and focus on what matters. The book of Daniel chapter 1 tells us that Daniel, Shadrach, Mischach, and Abednego were skilled, good looking, smart, capable of learning and able to be taught. The king understood that these men had potential. The potential to become leaders and teachers in his kingdom. However, the king didn’t say, “we will now serve the God of Daniel” because Daniel was smart and good looking. The king made this statement because Daniel put his faith in God and God was faithful towards Daniel. The 3 Hebrew children (Shadrach, Mishach, and Abednego) were walking in the fire when the king said, “didn’t we throw 3 men into the fire?” And the man said, “as matter a fact we did.” Then the kings said, “there is a fourth man in the fire and it appears to be the Son of God!” God didn’t walk through the fire with the 3 Hebrew children because they were smart and good looking. He walked through the fire with them because He is faithful. God sees the potential for all of us to become more and be better. But sometimes he uses trials of fire to burn up what binds us and to do away with those things that hinder our potential. The 3 Hebrew children came out of the fire and the only thing that had burned up is that which they had been bound by. Sometimes the refining of your potential is brought about by being loosed from those things which bind you. Daniel, was thrown into the lion’s den and Shadrach, Mishach, and Abednego were thrown into the fire by the hands of men. But they were delivered out by the hand of God. Just like Daniel and the 3 Hebrew children people will use your potential to resolve their problems; but God will use your problems to refine your potential. You have potential, but you haven’t seen anything until it has been refined! #believeit

The Power of the Cross

THE CROSS

The instrument of a slave’s death, associated with the ideas of pain, guilt, and disgrace. “The very name,” writes a Rabai, “ought to be excluded not merely from the body, but from the thought, eyes, and ears of Roman citizens.” The Hebrews, having no term for it as not being a punishment in their nation, called it “warp and woof.”

Scourging generally preceded crucifixion: so Jesus foretold in Isa 53). Pilate had probably hoped the Jews would be content with this scourging, and still let Him escape crucifixion. Jesus bore His own cross toward Golgotha outside the city, but sinking exhausted probably He was relieved, and it was transferred to Simon of Cyrene; prefigured in Isaac carrying the wood (Gen 22:6; and in Isa 9:6, “the government shall be upon His shoulder”). Jesus’ sacred and lacerated body was raised aloft, the hands nailed to the transverse beam, the feet separately nailed to the lower part of the upright beam so as to be a foot or two above the ground (others think the two feet were pierced by one and the same nail). He would meet suffering consciously. Near death, to fulfill Ps 69:21, He drank of the sour wine or vinegar kindly offered Him on a sponge. His death was hastened by rupture of the heart (see Mark 15:23; compare John 19:28; Matt 27:48). The sour wine called posca was the common drink of the Roman soldiers. Pilate marveled at His speedy death, crucifixion often not terminating in death for days. The approach of the Passover sabbath, one of peculiar solemnity, led to his permitting the Jewish law to be carried out which forbids bodies to hang after sunset (Deut 21:22-23). His legs could not be broken, because the Passover type must be fulfilled (Ex 12:46).

The agony consisted in: (1) the unnatural position of the body, causing pain at the least motion; (2) the nails being driven through the hands and feet, which are full of nerves and tendons, yet without a vital part being directly injured; (3) the wounds so long exposed bringing on acute inflammation and gangrene; (4) the distended parts causing more blood to flow through the arteries than can be carried back through the veins; (5) the lingering anguish and burning thirst.

The Power of the Cross Produced:

  1. Restitution
  2. Restoration
  3. Redemption
  4. Healing
  5. Hope
  6. Freedom
  7. Forgiveness
  8. Resurrection
  9. Renewal

  • RESTITUTION- Restoring to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, stolen, lost, or surrendered.
  • RESTORATION- To return to a former state; to bring back to spiritual health.
  • REDEMPTION – In the Old Testament redemption was applied to property, animals, persons, and the nation of Israel as a whole. In nearly every instance, freedom from obligation, bondage, or danger was secured by the payment of a price, a ransom, bribe, satisfaction, or sum of money paid to obtain freedom, favor, or reconciliation.

In the New Testament, redemption refers to salvation from sin, death, and the wrath of God by Christ’s sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the word redemption refers to redemption by a KINSMAN rescue or deliverance and ransom In the New Testament it refers to loosing and loosing away.

The New Testament emphasizes the tremendous cost of redemption: “the precious blood of Christ” which is also called an atoning sacrifice, “a propitiation by His blood” Believers are exhorted to remember the “price” of their redemption as a motivation to personal holiness. The Bible also emphasizes the result of redemption: freedom from sin and freedom to serve God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  1. You Can’t be Redeemed Without a Redeemer.
  2. There is no Redeemer if There is no Need For One.
  3. A Redeemer Does What Only a Redeemer Can Do.

  • HEALING -Lit., in its meaning of making whole or well, as in Ecclesiastes 3:3. In this way it occurs in prayers for restoration to health (Numbers 12:13; Psalms 6:2; Jeremiah 17:14); and also in declarations as to God’s power to restore to health (Deuteronomy 32:39; 2 Kings 20:5-8). Isaiah 53:5 – But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

TYPES OF HEALING:

  1. Physical
  2. Emotional
  3. Relational
  4. Eternal

  • HOPE – is “Confident expectancy”. In the Bible, the word hope stands for both the act of hoping and the thing hoped for. Hope does not arise from the individual’s desires or wishes but from God, who is Himself the believer’s hope: “My hope is in You” (Ps 39:7). Genuine hope is not wishful thinking, but a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future. In contrast to Old Testament hope, the Christian hope is superior.

(Romans 8:24-28] Hope IN:

  1. Who He IS
  2. What He DID
  3. And What He CAN DO

  • FORGIVENESS – the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.
  • FREDOM – the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

Forgiveness is not an easy thing to talk about, nor is it an easy thing to do. 1) Jesus talked about forgiveness with His mouth. 2) Jesus demonstrated forgiveness with His life. 3) Jesus demonstrated forgiveness with His life. 4) Jesus manifested forgiveness in His death. Jesus manifested and demonstrated forgiveness at the most difficult time of His life (emotional, physical, and spiritual]. Jesus gave forgiveness to those who didn’t deserve it. Jesus talked about when He gave the Lord’s Prayer and He says it again from the cross.

“Jesus was God’s son. Everything He accomplished was because of God’s love and the Spirit that empowered Him.” The Power of the Cross produced ‘Redemption & Restoration’ – ‘Hope & Healing’ and ‘Forgiveness & Freedom’. The Spirit empowered Christ to say 7 things from the Cross. But when He said, “Father forgive them” it produced “Forgiveness and Freedom for all. There is freedom in forgiveness: 1) Christ forgave those who did not deserve it. 2) Those who did Him wrong. 3) Those who falsely accused Him. 4) Those that forsook Him.

HOW DID JESUS FORGIVE?

  1. He Confessed It.
  2. He Quoted Scripture.
  3. He Talked to God His Father.

FORGIVENESS IS A MUST!

  1. Forgiveness is a must for you to have unhindered relationships [God & man].
  2. Forgiveness is a must for you to have peace [it’s for you, not them].
  3. Forgiveness is a must for you to have freedom [it holds you captive not them].
    1. Forgiveness is for you.
    2. Forgiveness is for others.
    3. Forgiveness has to be given.
    4. Forgiveness has to be received.
    5. Forgiveness comes from God.
    6. Forgiveness brings FREEDOM!

  • RESURECTIONthe action or fact of resurrecting or being resurrected:
  • RENEWAL – an instance of resuming an activity or state after an interruption:the state or process of being made spiritually new in the Holy Spirit.

THE CROSS PRODUCED RESURRECTION & RENEWALbut the most amazing thing about Resurrection and Renewal is He has to “APPEAR” or “SHOW UP” to accomplish either or both. The most amazing part of the Resurrection is that: “HE APPEARED Mark 16:9 says; “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared…”

He appeared to Mary Magdalene who He cast 7 demons out of… He appeared to the 2 on the Damascus Road who were hopeless and helpless. He appeared to James His brother who truly didn’t understand Him. He appeared to Paul who persecuted and killed Christians. And who was against the Christian church. He appeared to Thomas who doubted. And he appeared to Peter who denied Him three times (do you love me three times). The appearances are so important because it shows Christ alive, but it also shows how we can relate to all if not all these people and situation and it also shows God’s desire to relate to us… He keeps showing up! His appearance produced Resurrection and Renewal… Jesus resurrected their hope and renewed their belief.

Jesus Appearing Was:

  1. Personal (He appeared to people and related to them where they were)
  2. Patient (He kept showing up-even when people didn’t believe or expect it)
  3. Pertinent (logical evidence that pertained to Christ’s resurrection)
  4. Passionate (He was emotional and intense – “It is I” – “touch me”)
  5. Real (He met them where they were – He ate with them)
  6. Reassuring (He calmed – He didn’t condemn)
  7. Revealing (He shared and showed – they talked and touched)

He kept showing up and Jesus appearing “Resurrected” their Hope and “Renewed” their belief in Him. And He wants to do the same for you today!