Reflections, August 23rd, 2009

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Reflections: “Open Up Your Mouth”

“Behold I give unto you power to tread over serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

Scripture Reading For This Week: Genesis 15:6; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 43; Isaiah 63; Luke 10; Romans 10:17; Galatians 3

The enemy has many of us blinded and confused. He has duped many into believing that God does not hear them or answer prayers. What a lie straight from the pit of hell! The truth of the matter is, that God not only hears us, but has answered. God is waiting on us to act. To open up our mouths, and begin to decree and declare what His word says. To speak out the promises of God. To stir up our faith. But sadly, many of us suffer from, “closed mouth syndrome“, and expect God to do everything, when He has given us the power and authority.

It is my sincerest prayer that this week’s Reflection, will not only be a source of encouragement, but also ignite your passion for the truth and word of God. May the Lord our God refresh you, and stir up your faith to action. I pray that you will find the courage to open your mouth, speak the Word of God, and declare what God has already spoken.

It’s amazing, isn’t it? That we are the one’s that have the power? We are the ones that may very well be holding up our blessings and breakthroughs. And all we have to do is open up our mouth and begin to speak the word of God. To begin to declare and decree what God has spoken to our hearts, and in His word.

Many suffer from a lack of faith because of the multitude of things that they have suffered. Most do not understand that faith is an action. Ii is something that we must do, not just have. Romans 10:17, says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. What does this mean exactly?

When we hear the word of God, something happens. It is not only spoken into the atmosphere, but is spoken into our hearts. We hear the word, and then we repeat the word. You know how many teachers and doctors say that we learn best when we not only write the lessons down, but also speak it out? There is a definite connection to speaking out what we are learning, and our ability to retain that information.

Well, the same goes with the word of God. The Father knew that we would increase our faith and knowledge, by not only reading the word, or copying it down, but when we speak it out. There is power in the word of God. Whenever the word of God is spoken aloud, it changes the atmosphere. It charges it with the power and love of God.

Did you ever hear, “charge the atmosphere with positive thoughts and affirmations”? What could be more positive, and powerful than the word of God? When a baby is in the hospital in NICU, they often encourage the parents, especially the mothers, to talk and sing to their babies. Why? Because they see the difference and increase of health in those babies when they hear the loving words and affirmations of their mothers and fathers.

So it is with the word of God. When we inundate our minds and atmosphere with the words of God, we are speaking into our heart. And the more we speak it, the more it gets rooted into our heart. And the more our faith grows. How do we expect our faith to grow if we never speak the word of God? How does one really know the word of God if they never hear it? How do they know that God is a healer, a restorer, a comforter if they’ve never heard it?

Let me ask you this; if you were being attacked, would you stay quiet or begin to yell out for help? How would anyone know you were in trouble if you kept your mouth closed? What if you saw a child heading into the street, but you were too far away to reach them in time; but you saw others around that may not have seen them; wouldn’t you yell out to them, to alert them to stop that child? Of course you would!

Well, why don’t we yell out the word of God when we are in trouble? Why do we keep our mouths shut, as if we are angry at God for not answering us? Why do we refuse to open up our mouth and charge the atmosphere with praise, worship, and the word of God?

The enemy has kept our mouths shut for far too long. It is time that we begin to activate our faith, use our God given power and authority, and put the Devil in his place: under our feet! But the only way to do this, is to open up our mouths and decree and declare what the word of God says. We must begin to activate our faith, by practicing speaking out the word of God. By causing ourselves to hear it, as well as read it. We have the power to change the atmosphere around us.

Make no mistake, there is definitely power in the spoken word of God. Something happens when you speak the word of God out loud. Your faith will not only increase, but so will your worship, praise, belief, and boldness.

It is so easy for us to believe that which is negative, because we are surrounded by it day in and day out. You can hardly see the news and not see something horrific. You hear the news, and it always seems to be speaking out the same vile reports. Did you ever wonder what would happen if all the negative reports were outweighed by positive reports? Perhaps there would be a shift in the things that happened. The Devil is no dummy! Because he sure enough copies everything that God has done. So why wouldn’t he work hard at having negative affirmations spoken into the atmosphere over and over again? He knows that, where ever negativity is, there is a door open for him and his demons to come in and take residence, causing havoc and dissension.

But the Lord said that he gave us, “…power to tread over serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy…”(Luke 10:19). The serpent and scorpion is representative of the Devil and his demons. God has given us not only the power to stomp on the enemy, but the authority to nullify the enemy’s power. The truth is, the enemy has no power, and Jesus knew this. The enemy can only use the power that we give him to use.

The enemy is a thief and a fake! He has been using our own power and authority against us to destroy us! That’s why Jesus said we have power over “all” the power of the enemy! Because when you realize that he has been using your negative emotions, fear, doubt and unbelief to defeat you; you can make up in your mind to reclaim your power, disarm the enemy, step on his neck, and declare that you are taking back your authority and power, and defeating him! The word of God is truth. God does not lie. The enemy is not the one with the power—we are!

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of m, saith the Lord.”

Though the enemy will form his weapons against you, (and whoever else allows him to use them,) it will never prosper. It will never work. No matter how it may seem to be working: when people lie on you, steal from you, do all kinds of things against you, it will not win. It cannot prosper or destroy you, if you believe and know the word of God, and remember that you are the one with the power.

The enemy will never stop coming after God’s children. He will never stop trying to overtake us, and deceive us into giving him our power and authority. The enemy cannot survive where the love and faith of God resides. He cannot operate in a place that has been inundated with the word, praise, and worship of God. Where the light of God reigns, he cannot stand. For the light is too blinding for him to withstand. But it doesn’t stop in from trying, for he knows his time is short.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…”

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The devil doesn’t just want to chew you up and spit you out; he wants to chew you whole until there is nothing left of you, then go after your entire family for generations to come. His intent is to destroy as many people as he can before his time is up. However, he cannot do this if we don’t allow him to. Remember, can only operate in power that we have given him. He operates on negative emotions: anger, depression, doubt, fear, unbelief, grief, lying, etcetera. Don’t give the devil an opening. One small inch, and he’s going to try and take over.

You have the power and authority. Open up your mouth! Speak the word of God out loud. Speak it into your ears, heart, mind, atmosphere. Grow your faith. Grow your children’s faith. Leave them with an inheritance that is rich in the word of God, as wealth as finances. The truth is, money won’t keep the devil away or destroyed. Only the word of God. It’s the best gift and inheritance you could ever give.

Even when you are going through, remember that you are not alone. Speak the word of God out. Remind yourself of His promises…

Isaiah 43:1,2 “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee. I have called by thy name; thou art mine…When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they will shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee…”

This is God’s promise to His children. We are not alone. We belong to God. Just as we would lay down our life for our children, God has done that and more for us. No matter what difficulties we may be facing, God says that He is there with us. Through the waters, the floods, the rivers; they will not overtake us. He will not allow us to drown in despair. He will not allow the fires of this life to burn us either. There is safety in the arms of God. He has promised us. And we know that God is a promise keeper. (Numbers 23:19)

And if you really want to get the devil off your back for a while, then open up your mouth and tell the devil about his coming end! Talk about positive affirmations! Watch how fast he flees! (Revelations 20:10)

I pray that you would learn the power of opening up your mouth. Speak and declare the word of God. Stir up your faith; increase it. Charge the atmosphere with the truth. May the spirit of peace and prosperity rest in your: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial lives. Know that God has already given you the power and authority. Now open your mouths, and begin to use it! I know I am! Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.