What Have You Been Saying?

Proverbs 18:21
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

There are many things in life that can cause us to fear — retrenchment, deadly diseases, terrorist attacks, our children going wayward and so on. When these things confront us, many a time, we give in to worry and fear, and start confessing our fears.

Job was no different. He constantly feared that God would punish him and his family because he kept thinking that his sons had sinned against God. He would get up early in the morning to offer burnt sacrifices, saying, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” And the Bible tells us that he did this “regularly”. (Job 1:5)

So Job kept confessing the sins of his sons and fearing that something terrible would happen to him and his family. In fact, his sin-consciousness didn’t just produce fear, the Bible tells us he “greatly feared”. (Job 3:25)

It is important that we understand that it was Job’s sin-consciousness that opened the door to Satan. His preoccupation with sins that his family may have committed gave Satan an opportunity to bring death and destruction into his life. God had a hedge of protection around Job. But when he started being sin-conscious and having a fearful expectation of judgment, the hedge was removed and Satan could attack him. (Job 1:9–12)

Even when you have sinned, don’t say, “I have failed again. I deserve to be punished.” Know this: You already have forgiveness of sins because Jesus was punished and condemned in your place! (Ephesians 1:7) So say, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. Jesus, You are my holiness and perfection.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Beloved, we must be mindful of what we believe and are saying regularly because “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. So when you hear of a deadly pestilence taking many lives, don’t say, “Oh no! I could be next because my behaviour has not been perfect!” Instead, say, “Jesus, You are my righteousness and my protection. Surely You shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.” (Psalm 91:3)

Beloved, such believing and confessions not only please God, they also shut the door on Satan so that he cannot make any inroads into your life!

This message is the copyright of New Creation Church.