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Our third post in this Faith Series directs us through why our words matter and how they affect our faith. If we want to have a more powerful faith through Jesus, then we have to change the way we talk and how we pray. Yes, that’s a big task – but if you’re serious about what your faith is like it will be worth it.

If you missed the first two posts in this Faith Series, be sure to read Faith of God and Confessions of Faith as well.  The main part of these posts are from the same source and is copied in its original format from the website, Strongfaith.org.

Once again, I encourage you to take notes and to pray about what you are reading to see how the Lord will change your life. Let your faith come alive!

 

 

Argos, Energeō, and Menō

But I say unto you, That every idle [argos] word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Matthew 12:36-37].

Jesus said that every one would give account for every idle [argos] words in the day of judgment. If we are going to give an account for every idle word we utter, then we need to know what “idle” words are. Many new translations of the bible such as New International Version translates the Greek word “argos” as “careless” [Matthew 12:36]. Carelessness is defined as “marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness” or “Taking insufficient care; negligent.” This gives the impression that we are going to be judged for every careless word we utter. But if you look at the original Greek word “argos” that was translated as “idle” in the King James Version we will have a better understanding. Thayer defines argos as, free from labor, at leisure, lazy, shunning the labor which one ought to perform. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Greek Words, defines argos as, “idle, barren, yielding no return, because of inactivity.” Idle is define in the English language as “not working or active” or “a lack of motion and/or energy.” You really can’t say we are going to give an account to God for every careless words, but every inactive words that yields no return. We are going to give an account for every, free from labor, nonproductive word, or nonoperative word we speak. We also will give account when we fail to speak the working, operative, full of energy Words of God about our situations in life [Nature of God and His Word].

Jesus said, “He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit” [John 15:5]. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you [John 15:7]. We abide in Jesus and bear much fruit by abiding in His Words. The Greek word for the English word “abide” is [menō]. Thayer defines menō, as “to remain, abide, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept continually”. We can ask what we want if God’s Words remain, abide, held, continue to be present in our mouths. Words are very important. Jesus said the words he spoke to people were “spirit and life” [John 6:63]. What we say about people and situations are very important.

James 5:16 reads in the King James Version of the bible reads as, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. English speaking people define fervent as “having or displaying a passionate intensity” or “exhibiting great intensity of feeling”. The Greek word for the English translation of “effectual fervent” in James 5:16 is [energeō]. Thayer defines energeō as to be operative, be at work, put forth power. It isn’t a person displaying great passion or intensity of feelings that prevails greatly [View Vine’s entry of ischyō]. But the righteous person, speaking with confidence, the working, powerful Words of God that prevails greatly. It is the speaking of God’s Word that prevails greatly.

Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it [Jeremiah 1:12, AMP]. So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it [Isaiah 55:11, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 5:17-18, 1 Peter 1:25, The Nature of God’s Word]

Elijah knew how to make his spoken words to be operative, at work, and puting forth power. He was righteous with God by placing faith in and keeping the Law of Moses. He also knew his covenant rights with God under the Law of Moses. He knew what God said about “rain” [Deuteronomy 11:16-17]. Elijah didn’t pray argos, idle, at leisure, free from labor, lazy, shunning the labor which one ought to perform, or non-productive words to God [Matthew 12:36]. He prayed what God said about the situation. He spoke what God said about the situation. Elijah spoke with faith and confidence to Ahab. He said to Ahab, that it wasn’t going to rain or dew and it didn’t rain or dew for three years.

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word [1 King 17:1, Luke 4:25]. Elias (Elijah) was a man “subject to like passions” (“of like feelings or affections”-Vine’s) as we are, and he “prayed earnestly” (and with prayer he did pray-YLT) that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit [James 5:17, YLT].

Elijah knew how to receive in faith when he asked God in prayer [Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24]. Elijah knew how to speak in faith. Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain [1 King 18:41]. Elisha also knew how to speak God’s Word and not to pray to God about the problem. “If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty” [2 Kings 1:10].

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them [Mark 11:23, Matthew 21:21, Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6].

Many people have difficulty with the passages above. They focus more on mountains, fig trees, sycamore trees, and winds and waves; and forget what Jesus is teaching. Jesus is teaching several principles. You must speak to your mountain or problem to move out of your life, body, marriage, or family. If you need to do the impossible you must say what you want to come to pass and doubt not [Matthew 17:20]. You must say according to God’s Word what you want to come to pass and be in your future. If you desire something according to your New Covenant with God; pray, believe, and receive.

Jesus Christ has given to the believer all the spiritual instructions to operate like the great prophets in the Old Testament. In the above passages of scripture, Jesus is teaching the disciples basic Kingdom of God principles. The disciples were struggling to learn the basic concepts of prayer [Luke 11:1]. Jesus wanted them to learn how to receive in faith when they prayed. He instructed them to speak in faith to any obstacle or problem that was keeping them from receiving.

Many believers are praying to God when they need to speak. God doesn’t want you to ask Him to speak to things, that the believer needs to speak to. In fact, God will not do for you what you should be doing for yourself. When faith is produced in the heart, then the mouth will speak [Romans 10:10]. Faith has something to say [ 2 Corinthians 4:13, Psalms 116:10].

For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure” [Isaiah 46:9-10].

Believers are to be imitators of God [Ephesians 5:1]. God declares the “end from the beginning” [Isaiah 46:10]. The faith that God uses will “call those things which be not as though they were” [Romans 4:17]. The God like faith will “brings into existence what didn’t exist before” [Romans 4:17]. Believers look on “the things which are not seen”, because everything that can be seen is subject to change [2 Corinthians 4:18]. Do you obey the command that Jesus gave in Mark 11:22, to have the faith of God?

Confession

I will speak the life giving, spiritual words of Jesus [John 6:63]. My tongue will speaks life and not death [Proverbs 18:21]. I will sow to the Spirit and shall of the Spirit reap life [Galatians 6:8]. I will confess [homologeo-Romans 10:9] what God says about my situation. My words are the working, productive [energeō] Word of God [James 5:16]. Jesus said by my words, I will be justified and by my words I will be condemned. I will not allow my mouth to utter idle [argos] lazy, free from labor, not working words. I will use the Word of God with my mouth. My heart overflows with faith and my mouth speaks faith [Matthew 12:34-37].

I will speak to the mountain and direct it to be removed [Mark 11:23]. I will speak to the mountain before the mountain speaks to me. I will use the God-like faith that speaks to the mountain to be removed, because faith has something to say [2 Corinthians 4:13]. I refuse to be faithless or doubt and talk about the mountain [Authority and The Whosoever Clause, Faith Confessions, What Will You Do With the Mountain?, Wind and Waves].

 

Source: http://stronginfaith.org/article.php?page=28

 

 

There aren’t many of us who are careful about what we say all the time. As a matter of fact, many speak too quickly in anger which just spreads the hate that we see so pervasive in the world today. Stop. Thinking about what we say can begin to make an impact in our lives that we would never have believed.

As we bring our words under control of the Spirit and we begin to practice praying with powerful words instead of passive. Even if the results don’t change – don’t give up. Continue to live holy, and to speak in the power of God. He does the rest.

I look forward to see how my life will change and how faith comes alive as I focus on Him and His Kingdom. My eyes need to refocus from my life to His. I pray that your life of faith grows in stature and that the Lord will do mighty things through you!

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