YAHWEH'S MOUTHPIECE

Our words are very powerful, brought forth out of the tongue. James wrote, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things”(James 3:5). The accomplishments of this little member are so great. What we say is a product of what our heart thinks for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). In times of distress, we speak things based on what our heart thinks about that event or situation.

Israel at this time was distressed. Seeing the Egyptians behind them and the Red sea before them, all that they thought of was that destruction was coming to them. They spoke. Their words were, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:11 – 12). From their statement, we see that though they were on the journey, their hearts were not on the journey but in Egypt. That is how many of us claim to be following God but our hearts are not really on the journey. We claim to surrender, but it’s only with our lips; in our hearts, we wander away from God and the path He leads us through to that which we’ve always wanted to do. And many times, God brings trouble on our way to try our hearts whether we will stay with Him or not because God only delights in sincere followers who seek Him and not the things He gives. Most times, false followers usually fallout after such trials. Jesus had to shed off the disciples whose hearts were not really with Him when He spoke hard words which they felt none could bear. The twelve stuck with Him for what their hearts sought was not bread and fish but the Bread of life, the words of eternal life (John 6:24 – 69).

The half-hearted followers fainted but the one who really followed God “faithed”. He also spoke but His speech was different. “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them no more again for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13 – 14). As at this point, Moses had not sought the face of God on the matter that was at hand, but he had faith and declared what would be the end of that event, and it was so. God has so given us the authority to declare our reality. And the declarations we make stand. The declarations we make that stand are not just declarations we make when in the place of prayers when we are told to speak into our lives, but the words we speak even in times of distress. The words that Moses spoke were fulfilled. The words which the Israelites spoke were also fulfilled. The Israelites had that practice of making declarations about dying in the wilderness. And at a point in their journey, God stamped those words. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me.” (Numbers 14:26 – 29)

The confessions we make are a reflection of our faith. We see in Jesus’ ministry that He’ll ask “what wilt thou that I should do unto you.” He then approved the words the request they made by their confessions “According to your faith be it unto you.” The reality you see is a function of what you speak. Those He commended for their faith made confessions. The woman with the issue of blood said, “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” Those Christ rebuked for their little faith (His disciples) also made confessions. “Master, carest thou not that we perish”. As long as God is with you in that boat, you cannot perish. The Lord says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee…Fear not: for I am with thee.” Isaiah 43:2,5).

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…” (Hebrews 11:3). Your words shape your world. Therefore, only speak that which you desire to see.