I was a brand new believer. I didn’t know much about the Lord, but what I did know I was trying to put into practice. A group of people from our church would go out every Friday and Saturday to the parks and speak to anyone who would listen and invite them to come to what we called the New Wine Cellar.
Our church building was in the process of being built and so we would meet in the basement. That is why we called our meetings the new wine cellar, we met in the basement. We would get a Christian Rock & Roll band and fit as many people in the place as we could and then play music, preach a gospel message, and see people come to Jesus.
Words Have the Power to Kill
It was somewhere near the end of 1979, and I was telling the Associate Pastor of our church all that was taking place at the New Wine Cellar. He looked at me and said, “What do you know anyway. You’re just a new believer.”
When he said those words, I literally felt something impact my heart. It felt like an arrow punched through my chest and entered my heart. I was devastated.
Over the next four years, every time I stood in the presence of anyone in authority I would get tongue-tied and start sweating. I was very uncomfortable because all I could think about was how they were going to tell me that what I was saying didn’t matter.
Words Have the Power to Bring Life
It was through another spoken word that I was set free from the affliction of those simple words spoken over me.
I was in charge of hosting the Worship and the Word at Eugene Bible College. Our guest speaker was prophetic. During the service he looked at me and told me about the words that were spoken over me and that I was bound by them. He spoke a prophetic word, rebuked the spirit afflicting me, and spoke a blessing over me.
Wonderful. Powerful. I was free. God touched me that night and did a great work in my heart through a spoken word. He combined three different kinds of words: a prophetic word, a command, and a blessing.
The Bible is so very accurate when it says that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). I am living proof. One word held me in bondage for four years and another set me free to be who I am today.
The enemy will attack your calling and try anything he can to stop your destiny in God. God was calling me to be a pastor and the words the pastor spoke hindered me from speaking in front of anyone in any area of authority.
The power of a spoken blessing released me into what God had for my life. Prior to that I was restricted, nervous, timid, and insecure. That evil word really messed me up.
If you’re like me, the pastor’s words were not the only negative words I had spoken over my life. There were many more and all of them had an impact on me. They were not powerful enough to stop me, but they sure did hinder my freedom and liberty to be what God called me to be.
Just think of how many people around you have had negative words spoken over them to hinder them from stepping into the fullness of God’s call in their lives. I think it’s safe to say, every single person you meet.
Blessings Have the Power to Give Hope
Suzette and I were in a conference in Birmingham, AL. We went out to eat and Suzette felt she had a word of knowledge from the Lord for our waiter, Marcus. So she asked a simple question, “Do you like to sing?”
Marcus sat our waters on the table and said, “It was my passion, but I don’t sing anymore.”
As he walked away, Suzette said, “When you come back I want to hear why you aren’t singing anymore.”
He nodded as he continued walking.
When he returned he told us how he used to sing but didn’t do it anymore. He just didn’t have the passion for it.
Suzette asked if he knew the Lord.
He said, “Yes, Ma’am.”
Suzette said, “The Lord told me that He loves your voice and he wants to hear you sing.”
A huge smile crossed his face, “Really.”
I said, “God loves you so much that he told my wife that He wants to hear you sing.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he said.
Marcus came by our table several times with a huge smile on his face and asking us if there was anything we needed. As we were getting ready to leave he came up and thanked us profusely for telling him that word and that it had made his day.
It made our day too. So we released a blessing on his singing and encouraged him to sing for the Lord.
I’m not sure what Marcus did with the word, but I bet it went a long way to correcting what had stolen his passion for singing. Our words can help release a person into the destiny God has for their lives.
How About You?
I can almost guarantee that you’ve had words spoken over you that are hindering you from walking confidently in all that God has for your life. The enemy has used various people to speak words of death to the very purpose to which God has called you.
I want you to take a moment and think about some of the negative things that have been spoken over your life. Who said them and what did they say? How did the words affect your life? In what ways have they stopped you from freely pursuing the things you know God has called you to do?
If you want to get serious about this, you could write the words down on paper and choose to reject the things that were spoken over your life and receive encouragement and freedom from the Lord.
When you have the time grab a piece of paper and go through the following steps:
- Ask the Lord to show you the words that were spoken over you that are hindering your purpose in Him.
- Write down what was said and who said it.
- Forgive those who have spoken the words over your life.
- Say, “I forgive _________ for speaking words of death to me by saying ___________.
- Repent to God for believing the words.
- Say, “Lord I repent for believing the lie that I __________________. I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me from the power of this word curse in my life.
- Renounce the lie (meaning you are making a formal declaration that you are rejecting this lie and will not hold to it any longer.
- Say, “I renounce the lie that I _________________, and break it’s hold over me in Jesus’ name.
- Ask God to reveal His truth about you and write down what He says. Make sure to review what the Lord has said for the next month to get it deep into your heart.
- Now move ahead in the freedom of the Lord to fulfill His purpose for that area of your life.
The great thing about this process is you can use it every time you realize that you are believing an ungodly belief. Get used to doing this. It’s a lifelong process that God will use to change you from glory to glory.
A Blessing From Me
May the Lord open your eyes to the words that were spoken over you that negatively impacted your life. May He give you the grace to repent for believing them and the conviction to renounce them once for all. May He open your eyes to see your future as He sees it. May you hear His voice and receive His words of encouragement deep in your heart. May you rise up and fulfill God’s call in your life.
Join the Journey and Never Miss a Post
Two courses that could change your life forever!
Are you struggling with painful feelings from past rejection, abuse, divorce, abandonment, or trauma? Many of the coping mechanisms we use to try and get rid of the pain only make matters worse. Healing Your Broken Heart will led you through a proven seven-step process to help bring healing to the wounds of the past. No one should have to live in constant emotional pain.
Do you feel that there are invisible barriers you run into every time you try to make progress in your Life? Are you feeling oppressed in your mind or emotions and can't figure out why? Are you stuck and feel like there is no way things will ever change in your life? The Experiencing His Victory
Self-Deliverance Seminar will lead you through a proven eight-step process to expose and destroy the invisible barriers allowing you to experience life as God intends it to be.