What the Bible says about faith, pt. 5

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
Many in the Positive Confession movement point to Proverbs 18:21, to prove the power of the tongue, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” They teach that negative confessions can result in illness, disease, and even death and that positive confessions can bring health, prosperity, and life. But is this really what this passage of scripture is saying?

When I was a child, a popular phrase was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me.” How wrong we were. We now know that words can hurt. They can discourage and even cripple a person emotionally. With our words we can build each other up. With our words we can tear each other down. Paul warned the believers in Galatia, “…if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Galatians 5:15).

The book of James declares the destructive power of the tongue, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:6-12).

“…and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Many a fellowship that has been the victim of a gossip have seen just how destructive the tongue can be. Churches have been split over the words of some. Many a pastor has left the ministry because of the cruel words of some. Many a work of God has been destroyed because of cruel, selfish words. Clearly the tongue has the power to destroy. However, the opposite is also true. How wonderful it is when a body of believers build up each other with encouraging words of life. How exciting it is when people come into a fellowship and find words of encouragement.

Many in the Positive Confession movement declare that there is power in the Name of Jesus. They are correct. However, the power is not in the Name, but rather, in whom the Name represents. The power in the Name of Jesus comes from acting according to the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12 declares, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The salvation provided in the Name of Jesus is because of the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, His death for our sins. Only when a person accepts the sacrificial work of Christ on our behalf can he experience the power that is in the Name of Jesus Christ. Many use His name today in a vain and blasphemous manner. However, they have no benefit from using the Name of Jesus because they have not received His work on their behalf, and they will answer for how they use the Name of Jesus.

As we said earlier, the concept of words containing power has it’s origins in the occult and not in Christianity. Our emphasis is to be upon God and His power to answer our prayers according to His will. To have to weigh every word and thought is not freedom and prosperity, but rather, it is to live in fear and bondage.

A RETURN TO BIBLICAL FAITH
Faith is a simple matter. We either chose to believe God or we don’t. In exercising faith, we are believing God; taking Him at His word, no matter what the circumstance or outcome. Faith is only as good as the object it is placed in and our faith is always well placed when it is placed in God. Faith is never a feeling we “work up,” nor is faith believing in something that we hope to come true. Faith is our assurance that God will do what He has said. Faith is the inward conviction and necessary response of the believer in response to what God has revealed in His word.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith believes that “He is,” that he exists and that He alone is the power behind the Christian life. Faith diligently seeks Him and as a result, experiences the reward of diligently seeking Him, a life lived in fellowship with Him both now and forever.