Words for Life Articles

 Mark 11:20-24

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Today many Christians do not realise or understand the power or authority they have in their mouth.

The world system is based on the power of words. Those who shout loudest get heard quicker than those who fail to speak or voice their concerns.

The sermon on the mount is the longest and most detailed set of instructions to the disciples of Jesus. Jesus was specific and deliberate in the sermon on the mountain.

If anyone should ask us how we should live or behave as Christians, it is detailed in these three chapters of scripture, Mathew 5-7. 

The sermon on the mount is popularly referred to as the “BEATITUDES”.

Over the years I have looked at these as “THE BEAUTIFUL ATTITUDES” or “THE BE ATTITUDES”.

I believe that Jesus’ instruction to His disciples was simple and straight forward. If you want to succeed, be strong in the faith and be fruitful in this life, this should be your attitudes as a believer.

This is what Jesus was saying to us as believers, watch your attitude because your attitude will determine your actions and your actions will determine your blessings.

Amos 9:11-13

11 “In that day I shall raise up and restore the fallen [b]tabernacle (booth) of David, and wall up its breaches [in the city walls];

I will also raise up and restore its ruins. And rebuild it as it was in the days of old,

12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom (ancient enemies)

And all the nations that are called by My name,” Says the Lord who does this.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the ploughman shall overtake the one who gathers the harvest, And the one who treads the grapes [shall overtake] him who sows the seed [for the harvest continues until planting time]; When the mountains will drip sweet wine

And all the hills shall melt [that is, everything that was once barren will overflow with streams of blessing].

All over the world the Lord is supernaturally touching lives, transforming lives, restoring lives and souls are been won to the Lord as the church returns to the builder of the Church, Jesus Christ.

Over the years many have introduced another Jesus, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 alludes to this fact that some will preach another Jesus, another doctrine, another gospel which is not biblical.

This joyous Christmas season we celebrate the birth of our Servant King - Jesus.  From the time of His birth He was declared and revealed to us to be King.

Matthew 2: 1 - 2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, ^[a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Yet this King did not come to be served and waited on. He came to serve God the Father, and to serve humanity. He came to serve you and I.

Key Scripture:

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Our mouth is a special gift from God that He has given to us. It is a powerful gift and a multi faceted gift.  We use it to eat, to speak, to pray, to confess, to declare, to decree, to cry, to proclaim, to preach, to teach, to bless, to praise, to worship, to communicate etc.

One very important reason God gave us our mouths is to praise Him

To praise the Lord is a command that God gives us His people. We are commanded to praise God. It is a command that He expects us to obey. It has been said that there are approximately 250 commands and declarative statements about praising God in the Bible

Acts 16:25-33

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Many times, some of us find it difficult to be a blessing during the times of our difficulties. For some people their circumstance determines whether they pray or praise God.

In this scripture we see Paul and Silas humiliated and persecuted for setting a young girl free from the bondage of divination. The bondage of a slavery to a false god. Paul and Silas were wrongly accused and locked up, chain and barrel. Yet in the middle of their imprisonment and predicament, they prayed and sang praises to God. Paul and Silas were able to pray and praise God because their joy was not conditioned by their situation.

Whilst laying on my bed, I saw in my mind’s eye, how many of us were walking past the numerous harvest field without any care in the world.

I saw myself in the midst of this harvest field but I was oblivious of it. Many of us in the 21^st Century do not even have a clue as to what a harvest field is.

When we look around us, on the bus, on the train, in our work places, in classrooms, at restaurants, everywhere we go, we see lost and broken people. We see a harvest field but unfortunately, we have become too preoccupied with everything else but the harvest field.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 4:35

³⁵ Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!