The last few months I have found myself meditating on “God’s word in our mouth.” Not to downplay the word “confession” but I hope that this letter gives a greater understanding of why we should value God’s word and live from a place of its influence in every area of our lives. Also, please reference the update on my Commercial Rating steps and plans at the end of this letter.
When I first launched Martin Ministries International, Jeremiah 1:4-12 was a section of scripture the Lord gave me as an encouragement to what He was calling me into. During the genesis of this ministry, like Jeremiah, I felt inadequate and insecure and would read these verses repeatedly. No matter the stage of life that you are in or what you may be facing right now that is contrary to God’s word, these verses hold the key to placing you in the arena of overcoming and absolute victory.
I want you to see these verses in Jeremiah so we can reference them as we continue. Jeremiah 1:5-10,12, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you (set you apart, not for isolation but for a specific use); I ordained you (appointment and anointing)” “Then said I: ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak, for I am a youth.’” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touch my mouth, and Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth…’” vs 10, “See, I have set you over…” vs 12, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.’”
Feeling inadequate or genuine excuses concerning your qualifications are not considered in God’s calling or counsel for your life. He knows what He’s working with because before He formed you, He knew you. That impresses me and at the same time goes beyond my natural ability to understand. God’s word concerning any situation or concern is the great equalizer bringing everything and everyone up to His standard and possibility.
Remember when God called Moses in Exodus 3 and 4? Moses’ excuses for not being God’s man were first feeling insignificant and then ignorant of who God was. In chapter 4 Moses expresses his lack of ability to persuade the people or Pharaoh. Lastly, he gives the excuse of not being an eloquent speaker. You could say Moses was not on the list of the new and upcoming “Ted Talk” presenters, and yet none of these excuses moved God to reconsider. God’s response to Moses in Exodus 4:12 was simply, “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
In Deuteronomy 18:18 God foretells of Jesus and His alliance to God’s word, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”
Learning to speak God’s word goes beyond poise and being poetic. It requires learning your God design, your relationship with Him, and the ability to acquire words to rule your world. Isaiah 58:13b says, “And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words.” NLT says, “…or talk idly.” We’ll briefly cover idle words in a moment, but I first want to note Isaiah 55:8-11. These verses are not to expose isolation but to illuminate an invitation for man to be elevated to God’s perspective. Why? In verse 11 we read, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, (empty, fruitless or without result) but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Vs 12, “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace.”
Remember, God does not watch over your complaint to perform, He watches over His word! Mark Hankins says it this way, “God’s word in our mouth is called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.” God’s word brings to life every dead situation and causes us to travel with joy and peace.
So, what is an idle word? An idle word is not conversation. An idle word is anything spoken to or over a situation that is not God’s word. Jesus in Matthew 12:34-37 gives us insight into this, vs 34, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Vs 36 says, “But I say to you that every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.” Jesus reveals the importance of guarding one’s heart and the value of what you meditate upon. The word idle here means yielding no return, barren and inactive. Choosing to speak God’s word instead of your word in a moment of crisis or indecision, and choosing faith instead of doubt is the difference between success or failure.
We know from John 12:49-50 that Jesus was not an idle talker. It reads, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” We also know that what He spoke, happened. For example, when He cursed the fig tree in Mark 11:14 he did not curse it out of anger or frustration but by the command of God, which in turn brought about fulfillment. When we put God’s word in our mouths and speak those words instead of a natural response, we will see the full weight of the promises of God in our lives. To be continued….