Think about that! This scripture clearly states that the issues of both death and life hinge on words --- our words. Now that's awesome and vital, don't you think? It's impossible to over emphasize the importance of the words we speak! Do you realize that God brought everything into existence through the use of His words? He created the World and later recreated the Earth with nothing more than His words. No less than eight times, in the first chapter of Genesis alone, we see that the recreation of Earth was accomplished with His Words! God first speaks, and then He does it!

Please turn to Genesis Chapter 1. In Vs 3 we find - "And God said, 'Let there be light:" In Vs 6 - "And God said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters," In Vs 9 - "And God said, 'Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear:" By the way, the word "Earth" means "dry land". In Vs 11 "And God said, 'Let the Earth bring forth grass, etc." In Vs 14 "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night:" In Vs 20 "And God said, 'Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the Earth in the open firmament of heaven." In Vs 24 "And God said, Let the Earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the Earth after his kind:" And in Vs 26 "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:"

So we see that everything in this physical world was created by the spiritual Word of God. No doubt about it, words really do have the ability to create. Since man is made in God's image and likeness, then man also has the ability to create with his words.

But this process doesn't begin with words. It begins before that! It all starts with a thought --- in the mind --- where the battleground happens to be! When man thinks wrongly, he'll believe wrongly. And when he believes wrongly (not in accordance with God’s Word), he'll act and speak wrongly which will only multiply and magnify the problem.

On the other hand, when man thinks rightly, then he'll believe rightly (in accordance with God’s Word), and when he believes rightly, then he'll act and speak rightly. When man acts and speaks rightly, then he'll be speaking and therefore creating the answer or solution. He'll be releasing the answer instead of releasing the problem. All of this is so because it is tied to a principle which Jesus taught about and are recorded in Mark 11:23.

You see, those things which we saith (be they good or be they bad) shall come to pass. And what are those things which we saith? Those things which we saith are our WORDS! Mark 11:23 is a Godly spiritual principle that gives us almost unlimited power when we use it correctly. But we must also understand that if we use this principle incorrectly, it can defeat us as well. It works both ways - - - for evil and for good.

It's much like the electricity we use in our homes. When we use it correctly, we have power at our disposal to work for us and produce the results we desire. On the other hand, when we use it incorrectly --- in a manner it really wasn't intended or designed for --- then what can happen? It will not accomplish that which we desire. In fact, it has the potential to completely destroy our home --- and even kill!

What did Jesus say that we must do in order to have? Did He say that we shall have whatsoever we believe? NO! He said, we shall have whatsoever we SAITH." You see, lots of folks think if they believe about something strongly enough, that will make it come to pass. Certainly believing, and not doubting, is an important factor alright, but that’s only the first part of the process. Speaking it is still necessary!

DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS

There are many who say they believe a certain thing, but their mouth reveals what's really in their heart, which is so important. One minute they say they believe and the next minute they're talking unbelief and defeat. And, of course, what they say they believe never comes to pass. Why? Because they're double-minded. James said, "Let not that man (the double minded man) think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:7-8). He says that man is unstable in all of his ways!

Well, the Word of God says that we have what we BELIEVE and what we SAY. In other words, our words and our believing must be in agreement in order to bring it about. You see, whether we like it or not, our words literally dominate us. They dominate our mind, our physical body, and our entire life.

So if you’re not satisfied with what you are or what you have, then check up on what you've been saying. All that we possess, and all that we are today, is a result of what we've believed and therefore spoken in the past.

Now you may not believe what you're saying in the beginning, but if you say it long enough, sooner or later it'll get down into your spirit and you'll begin to believe it. Then from the abundance of what you've let get down in your heart will begin to spill out of your mouth and begin creating even more of the same! Can you see that?

I find that people who continually confess, "I just can’t remember anything anymore!", always seem to be able to remember to say, "I just can’t remember anything anymore!" Why is that? Because they have confessed that statement so often that they now believe it. They now believe it to the point that it has gotten down in their heart (spirit). Therefore from the abundance of their heart (their spirit) their mouth automatically now speaks the very thing they don’t desire! They have actually programed their spirit to be forgetful and it will now work night and day in order to bring it to pass!

Now don't just let what I’m telling you go in one ear and out the other! Let's apply what God tells us in His Word. Let's be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. If we don't do the Word, then we'll be deceiving ourselves (our spirit) and we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves! We need to renew our minds with God's Word and come to the place where we automatically think, believe, and talk rightly --- until we think, believe, and talk just like Jesus did in accordance with the Father’s Word!

As you probably already know, everything God has, satan has a counterfeit. Since we know from the Bible that it's impossible to please God without faith (Heb. 11:6), and since it also tells us, "The just shall live by faith"(Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10.38), then we really ought to know and understand all we can about the God kind of faith, don't you think? I don't think we could ever know too much about faith.

Well, sometimes, when we want to know and understand more about a subject, it helps to look at the opposite side of the subject. In this case, satan's side. So, let's look at the other side of the coin of faith, so to speak. Satan's counterfeit of God's faith is FEAR. So maybe the more we know and understand about fear, the better we'll be able to understand and know about the God kind of faith. So here’s a question: Where does fear come from? Answer: Fear comes through many avenues, but the primary way that fear is born, multiplied, and promoted is through words --- our words!

We need to realize that words are containers. They have the capacity to contain and transport something. Words have both the ability and the capacity to contain and transmit thoughts. And every thought we have falls into one of two categories --- FAITH or FEAR. Every word-thought has a source and there are two basic sources. One source is a faith source and the other is a fear source. So every time we speak, we are speaking words based on faithful thoughts (thoughts filled with faith) or we speak words based on fearful thoughts (thoughts filled with fear).

Now faith and fear are both powerful spiritual forces. Both have the ability to produce results --- to bring situations into being. Faith and fear are both activated and released by and through the spoken word of mankind. It depends entirely on what's spoken (released)! But few understand the importance of this Godly spiritual principle!

And you can be sure, that since this principle is so important, you-know-who has a great desire to control the words that come out of our mouths. How can he do that? By attempting to control our thought life, and he attempts to do that from the outside in! He knows that if he can control our thought life with outside fearful things, then our hearts will become filled with fear. And then when that takes place, "From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" - (Matt. 12:34 and Luke 6:45) Amen? When we speak words of fear (fearful words), we simply release more fear which creates those things not desired. Exactly what is fear? Answer: Fear is a loser's perfect faith in failure. Fear can create a multitude of undesirable conditions such as anxiety, frustration, sickness, poverty, and many times even death.

You see, in the beginning, It was God’s will for man to physically live forever. He did not intend for man to have any knowledge whatsoever of physical death. Life (not death) is God's nature. Medical science doesn't understand why mankind ages and dies. But you and I ought to know why. Satan is the one who introduced and promoted physical death into this planet. He did so by introducing sin into the Earth.

How often have you heard someone say, "Yes, but God allows it!"? Question: "Does God allow bad things to happen?" My answer to that is this: "Yes, but not directly." He allows bad things to happen indirectly only. You see, God gave the authority and responsibility of all that happens here on Earth to mankind. So the question becomes, "When man fouls up, who’s doing the allowing? --- God or man? I believe the "buck stops" with man. Man is the one who’s responsible for what happens, not God. Another way of putting this would be to say, "God allows mankind to allow or disallow what happens here on Earth " So I don't believe we ought to be blaming God for bad things that happen. At any rate, that's my personal opinion.

The adversary is the one who brought death and destruction on the scene by deceiving man into being disobedient to God's instructions. Adam chose to harken to the words of his wife, instead of the words of God. Satan enticed the woman to eat of the forbidden fruit. Before that event, man never knew the difference between good and evil, and therefore couldn't be held accountable or responsible.

But when mankind disobeyed God's specific instructions to "eat not the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil", they instantly became responsible and accountable for their every action. In other words, that's when sin entered into mankind's world. Up until that time , man had never known evil. It was never God's will for man to carry that responsibility. But mankind willingly let it happen and is now held responsible for every thing he does or doesn't do.

James says that the tongue can defile our whole body. How can it do that? By speaking those things which are in opposition and contrary to what God has already spoken, and by subjecting or exposing the heart of man (the inner man) to the many potential problems and troubles for which Jesus died in order to destroy.

The wholesome (or healthy) tongue is a tree of what? It’s a TREE OF LIFE. Wasn't the tree of life in the original Garden of Eden? Yes, it was! So you and I must be aware of the fact that the adversary wants to tap our tree of life (our tongue) because he knows that if he can, he can control OUR WORDS. And if he can control our words, he can control OUR LIFE! But there's just one little hitch in his ability to accomplish that. He can't control the words of a Child of God UNLESS HE OR SHE ALLOWS HIM TO DO SO!! Now where did I say the "buck" stops???

Now here’s another question for you: "How many Christians do you think are aware of this sinister plan of satan?" I believe the answer is, very few! And speaking of the Tree of Life, are you aware that when we get to Heaven we'll be able to partake of the original tree of life just like Adam and Eve did in the garden?

Notice the last part of that verse where it says the leaves of the trees of life are for "the healing of the nations". Are you aware that words are the cause of the majority of wars and disputes in this world? National wars or family wars or Church wars, it makes no difference. All of these are caused by words - words of disagreement and words of strife. They all starts with words. Even Church splits are created by words --- words void of faith and love --- words which are not in agreement with God's word. What was it that Jesus told the Pharisees?

The Apostle James said "Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth" (James 3:5). Almost everyone wants to talk about the great matter but few even bother to mention the kindling. In other words, the thing that started it all. Everyone tends to forget about the kindling. What's the kindling? The kindling is words!

James also says that the tongue "defiles the whole body" and "sets on fire the course (or direction) of nature" (James 3:6). You see, when we don't speak in agreement with God's Word, even the very natural healing forces which are present in our physical body will shut down; On the other hand, we just read in the book of Proverbs that the "wholesome tongue" is a tree of life!

"Now brother Benbow, I'm not too sure you’re correct about that, because I believe that sometimes God heals and sometimes He doesn't, you know." No, I'm sorry, I don't know that. To be very honest about it, I believe God is as eager and willing to heal us as He is to save us! Wouldn't it seem rather ridiculous to hear someone state, "Well now, you know, sometimes God saves and sometimes He doesn't"? Wouldn't that sound rather ridiculous? It certainly doesn't line up with the Word of God, now does it? You see, God is our Healer as well as our Savior! As a matter of fact, Jesus once asked, "Which is easier to SAY, Thy sins be forgiven thee'; or to SAY, Arise and walk?" (Matt. 9:5; Mark 2:9)

And isn't He the same yesterday, today, and forever? Sure He is! Hebrews 13:8 says He is! He's always the same because He changeth not. Amen? People that state "Sometimes He heals and sometimes He doesn't" are simply trying to shift the responsibility for their failure to receive His healing back over on God Himself.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. God has ALREADY made provision for your salvation and your healing! Healing you and saving you are not something He's going to do for you, in the future. Neither is it something He might or might not do for you. No - - - He has already paid a great price for both salvation and healing - - - and He paid for it almost 2000 years ago! This is not really some kind of big secret or mystery either! It's right here in the book, if we'd just bother to take the time to read it and make the effort to believe it!

I believe we'd be amazed if we only knew how many people we've personally known in the past who have died simply because they didn't know how important it is to speak words that agree with what God has already spoken! --- because they didn't understand the importance of their words. It's very likely that their speech started the wheels of destruction and death into motion simply because they didn't know about or understand our subject concerning the power of the tongue. They probably never read or understood Proverbs 13 verse 3, and Proverbs Chap 18, verse 21.

Now please keep in mind that I didn't write these scriptures, nor did I make them up. It's right here in the Word, and we know their source. My friend, these are very important issues! If you have been paying attention, then this teaching should alter and change the way you've been talking.

THE HUMAN SPIRIT

The heart of man (which is really our spirit man and not the blood pump part of our body) is designed to produce whatever we put in it (Matt 12:34). The Bible says that "out of the human spirit flows the forces of life". It also says, "a good man out of the good deposit of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man out of the evil deposit brings forth evil things (Matt 12:35). .

What do you see when you place your face right down next to a puddle of water? You see your reflection, don't you? This scripture says that the heart of man works the same way. If you really want to know about the man, look at his spirit. His spirit is an exact image. In fact, it's the real man, himself!

The human spirit is very similar to the film we put in our camera. When we expose the film to something, it produces the exact image of the thing to which it was exposed. Likewise, the more you and I expose our heart (spirit) to the problems of life, the more problems we're going to produce and create. Amen?

Now right here is where a lot of people miss the faith message. They say, "Ah, that's mind over matter and that positive thinking junk." But they are wrong. It's actually positive faith in God's Word, and engaging in and building on the principle of applying His wisdom to the spirit of man. What was it that Jesus said? He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by".... . . what? "by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God!" (Matt. 4:4). The Word of God must be abiding within our heart in order for God to control our spirit. And that which we continually speak out of our mouth will eventually come to pass.

No, these things ought not to be, but they are! Our tongue needs taming, but verse 8 tells us that no man can tame the tongue. Sounds like a hopeless situation, doesn't it? Well, thank God it's not hopeless. What man can not do with his natural ability, Almighty God can accomplish with His supernatural ability. It requires the supernatural ability of God to bridle the tongue of man.

In Christian circles, the tongue is probably the most important part of our physical bodies that should be yielded to God. And yet it's one of the least submitted. No human being can tame the tongue of man, but God can if we will only allow Him.

Our faith is excited and strengthened when we hear and receive the Word of God. On the other hand, fear comes on the scene when we hear and receive the words of the devil. Just before Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, he made a wrong choice. Even though the adversary never talked directly to him, Adam chose to indirectly harken unto his words by listening to Eve instead of God. Adam made the wrong choice and it poisoned his tongue (Genesis 3:17)!

If you remember, the adversary entered the Garden as a serpent. It's interesting that in the original Hebrew the meaning of the word "serpent", as used in Genesis 3:1 is "poisoner". The "poisoner" came into the Garden and poisoned Adam's tongue. When Adam disobeyed God, he received the ability to produce destruction and calamity through the words of his mouth. True to his nature, the adversary didn't tell Adam the whole truth. The words of Adam always had the ability to produce good or evil. But the problem didn't come until Adam disobeyed God. At that moment, he lost the control of his words. Up until that time, Adam had complete control of his words.

God has given man the ability to choose and speak his own words in order to live life effectively. But there are a lot of people today who are opposing themselves and working against themselves, simply by misusing their tongues and by failing to yield control of their tongues to the Lord. Fearful words invite the devil but faithful words release God to perform on our behalf.

Satan's number one weapon is fear, and he uses it to bring oppression, affliction, calamity, sickness, disease, and poverty to the Body of Christ. Fear is enforced and supported by an active realm of evil spirits. So any time we give them any area of our life in which to operate, they'll quickly move in and bring their bondage with them.

What we've got to realize is this: One of the most common ways the devil gains foot-holds in the lives of God's children is through their spoken word - the words we choose to speak. You and I have a free-will and God has authorized us to make choices. He's even told us what to chose and why. But He will not direct our paths or guide us unless we allow him to do so.

On the other hand, the devil doesn't care if he's invited or not. He wants to control and dominate (and will do so) just as long as he can find a way to get a foothold and get the job done. He seeks whom he MAY destroy!! What do I mean by that?

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

When I was in grammar school, I was taught that the word "can" meant "ability", and the word "may" meant "permission". In other words, if I asked my parents, "Can I go to town?", that really meant, "Am I able to go to town?". The proper way to get permission to go to town would be to ask, "May I go to town?" Can you see the difference? So this scripture in 1 Peter 5:8 is saying, "because you adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking someone to give him permission to devour them!!"

Now lets talk about farming for just a minute. Every farmer considers and chooses what he's going to grow before he plants the first seed. He's both the master and the partaker of his efforts. Therefore the farmer never intentionally plants anything that he doesn't want to harvest - - - anything that might be hazardous to his health or well-being, or anything that wouldn't be profitable. Amen? So it's the farmer who has the choice of what will be planted --- not the ground. The ground only has the ability to reproduce more of whatever the farmer plants in it. Amen?

You see, once we see the light on this, we no longer have any excuses! What I'm trying to say is this: "Every believer has just as much control over his words as the farmer has control over the seeds he plants." And every time we speak, we're actually creating. We’re planting seeds that (when cultivated) will determine the fruit of which we shall partake! In other words, through choosing our words we can shape the events that will decide and set the future course of nature where our individual life is concerned.

There's a common saying which says, "We are today what we ate yesterday." There is an element of truth to that, but even more important, we are the product today of what we said yesterday. And we're the only one who's going to be held accountable for what we produce with our words. If it doesn't turn out good, we can't blame anything or anyone else, and that includes God! Just like the farmer, you and I are both the master and the partaker of the final product of what our words produce.

Words of death, failure, sickness, poverty, and worry spoken by a believer and fertilized with ample fear and anxiety will most certainly produce an abundant crop of death, failure, sickness, poverty, and worry. However, on the flip side of the coin, words of life, success, healing, prosperity, and peace spoken by a believer, watered with the promises of God and cultivated with faith will absolutely produce an abundant crop of life, success, healing, prosperity, and peace.

My friend, this is simply how the Kingdom of God operates. Jesus just told us so here in verse 26. He said, "So is the Kingdom of God." It's really pretty simple once we get the revelation concerning these truths. You know, it's a sad commentary on the Church today, but I seldom hear anything like this preached or taught in our modern day congregations. No wonder God said in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

Now there's just one more aspect to all this that I should mention concerning the planting of seeds, and that’s expectation. Whatever a farmer plants, that's what he expects to harvest. He doesn't plant corn and expect to reap tomatoes. Amen?

So, as Christians, if we intend to operate in the Kingdom of God and experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give us, then we're going to have to plant those "Godly seeds", and learn how to expect good results. Then once we've planted the proper seeds, instead of digging them up to see what might be taking so long, we are going to have to also learn to nourish and water them with faith and patience. But until we become doers of God’s Word, we have no right to expect those seeds to spring up and grow to full maturity.

Last question: " What seeds have you been planting????"

Brothers and Sisters, let’s not be found guilty of conforming to the World and its ways - - even in our speech. We are to "follow not that which is evil" (3 John 11). The Word of God also instructs us to, "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thes. 5:22). The way to accomplish this is by renewing our mind with the Word of Truth so that we "might demonstrate that good and acceptable will of God" (Romans 12:2). And never, never forget The Power Of The Tongue! AMEN