The Power Station
Evangelist Dea Warford
Ministering the Word and the Spirit
Evangelist Dea Warford
Ministering the Word and the Spirit
Word: "You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established for you." Job 22:28
Many years ago, I had recently left Oregon where I had been pastoring and was visiting my parents in Southern California. It was a Wed. evening. After dinner, I said to my mom, "I'm going to preach somewhere tonight" and started getting dressed. I didn't know where, but I was determined to find a church and I was going to preach that night. I'm not sure if God put it in my heart; or if my words of faith got heaven moving on my behalf, but before long a pastor called my house and asked my mother what I was doing that night, got my on the phone and invited me to preach for him. I did too! That had never happened before or since (it is quite an ordeal to set up a date to preach in a church, even for an established evangelist). But, that night I learned an early lesson on the power of our words.
The power of the words we speak cannot be over estimated. According to the book of Job, we can "decree a thing" (make announcements, pronouncements, orders, declarations or commands) and it will be "established" (created, begun, started, launched) for us. This is, of course, a creative work of God, but it is initiated by our mouths.
Jesus said, "Whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says." (Mark 11:23). Notice Jesus didn't say "whoever thinks" or "whoever prays"; He said, "Whoever SAYS". By Jesus' authorization, if we but believe, we can speak to mountains and they will move. Now, THAT is "decreeing a thing" and it being "established".
Jesus commanded a man who'd been dead and buried for four days to "Come forth!" and Lazarus did! (John 11:43). Jesus cursed a fig tree one day and said, "Let no fruit grow on you from now on." (Matt. 21:19). And the fig tree withered away! Jesus also spoke to a ferocious storm and said, "Peace be still" and the wind and waves obeyed him and a "great calm" resulted. (Mark 4:36-41). "Well, yes, but that was Jesus, the Son of God", you might be thinking. Yes, and we are sons of God too! "As He is so are we in this world." (1 Jn. 4:17). "He that believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also." (John 14:12).
I have seen God's authority given to Christ operate through me as I spoke His words: "These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils . . . they shall hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17, 18). Demons have spoken to me many times through people and I have commanded them to leave in Jesus name (and I have a file of testimonies from people who have testified of being freed from Satan's power). I have commanded sicknesses to leave bodies (and have many testimonies in my file of people who received a miracle of healing).
Not everything I decree comes to pass, of course. But, when it doesn't, I don't blame God or a lack of integrity of God's word. I blame my unbelief: "The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2). Faith must be "mixed" with words for the words to come to pass. Obviously, not everything everybody ever says with their mouth happens (thank God for that!). But, when we are meditating in the word, praying often, and seeking to be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying, He will inspire us with words to put in our mouth Other times, powerful words will naturally overflow from our vibrant spirit within. Such words of faith, words inspired by God, or words spoken by righteous people who believe God's Word and celebrate His authority within them (Matt 28:18-20, Romans 8:17-19) will change circumstances.
If you feel you lack faith to declare bold pronouncements, the best place to start is with the Word of God: "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17). If you can find it in the Word, it is much easier to believe for it. So, find your promise. Keep it in your heart. Mix it with faith by standing on that promise, speaking it, claiming it, thanking God for it and testifying publically of what you believe God is doing for you, because "IT IS WRITTEN" (Matt. 4:4). Then, according to the book of Job, you can expect it to "be established for you."
Prayer: "Jesus, who commanded fig trees to wither and dead men to rise, let your faith and authority rise in my heart. Lead me to promises that I can mix with faith and speak forth into existence."
Confession: "As He is, so am I in this world. Jesus spoke life into dead bodies. Today, I will speak life into dead situations."
Many years ago, I had recently left Oregon where I had been pastoring and was visiting my parents in Southern California. It was a Wed. evening. After dinner, I said to my mom, "I'm going to preach somewhere tonight" and started getting dressed. I didn't know where, but I was determined to find a church and I was going to preach that night. I'm not sure if God put it in my heart; or if my words of faith got heaven moving on my behalf, but before long a pastor called my house and asked my mother what I was doing that night, got my on the phone and invited me to preach for him. I did too! That had never happened before or since (it is quite an ordeal to set up a date to preach in a church, even for an established evangelist). But, that night I learned an early lesson on the power of our words.
The power of the words we speak cannot be over estimated. According to the book of Job, we can "decree a thing" (make announcements, pronouncements, orders, declarations or commands) and it will be "established" (created, begun, started, launched) for us. This is, of course, a creative work of God, but it is initiated by our mouths.
Jesus said, "Whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says." (Mark 11:23). Notice Jesus didn't say "whoever thinks" or "whoever prays"; He said, "Whoever SAYS". By Jesus' authorization, if we but believe, we can speak to mountains and they will move. Now, THAT is "decreeing a thing" and it being "established".
Jesus commanded a man who'd been dead and buried for four days to "Come forth!" and Lazarus did! (John 11:43). Jesus cursed a fig tree one day and said, "Let no fruit grow on you from now on." (Matt. 21:19). And the fig tree withered away! Jesus also spoke to a ferocious storm and said, "Peace be still" and the wind and waves obeyed him and a "great calm" resulted. (Mark 4:36-41). "Well, yes, but that was Jesus, the Son of God", you might be thinking. Yes, and we are sons of God too! "As He is so are we in this world." (1 Jn. 4:17). "He that believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also." (John 14:12).
I have seen God's authority given to Christ operate through me as I spoke His words: "These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils . . . they shall hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17, 18). Demons have spoken to me many times through people and I have commanded them to leave in Jesus name (and I have a file of testimonies from people who have testified of being freed from Satan's power). I have commanded sicknesses to leave bodies (and have many testimonies in my file of people who received a miracle of healing).
Not everything I decree comes to pass, of course. But, when it doesn't, I don't blame God or a lack of integrity of God's word. I blame my unbelief: "The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2). Faith must be "mixed" with words for the words to come to pass. Obviously, not everything everybody ever says with their mouth happens (thank God for that!). But, when we are meditating in the word, praying often, and seeking to be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying, He will inspire us with words to put in our mouth Other times, powerful words will naturally overflow from our vibrant spirit within. Such words of faith, words inspired by God, or words spoken by righteous people who believe God's Word and celebrate His authority within them (Matt 28:18-20, Romans 8:17-19) will change circumstances.
If you feel you lack faith to declare bold pronouncements, the best place to start is with the Word of God: "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17). If you can find it in the Word, it is much easier to believe for it. So, find your promise. Keep it in your heart. Mix it with faith by standing on that promise, speaking it, claiming it, thanking God for it and testifying publically of what you believe God is doing for you, because "IT IS WRITTEN" (Matt. 4:4). Then, according to the book of Job, you can expect it to "be established for you."
Prayer: "Jesus, who commanded fig trees to wither and dead men to rise, let your faith and authority rise in my heart. Lead me to promises that I can mix with faith and speak forth into existence."
Confession: "As He is, so am I in this world. Jesus spoke life into dead bodies. Today, I will speak life into dead situations."
"Speak to Mountains"
By Evangelist Dea Warford
By Evangelist Dea Warford