stops begging God and starts speaking His Word instead ...The Word Works silently, consistently, and powerfully

 What happens when a defeated Christian stops begging God and starts speaking His Word instead? I found out - and the results after 30 days changed everything.

There is a truth that has been stolen from the church and hell depends on you never finding it. And when İ say stolen,  I do not mean misplaced. I mean deliberately,   systematically removed from the pulpit, buried under layers of religious tradition and replaced with something far more comfortable and far more powerless. 30 days ago, I was not all right. And I am tired of Christians pretending they are when they are not. I was defeated. I was worn thin by symptoms that would not leave. By prayers that seemed to dissolve into the ceiling, by a faith that felt like a word I had learned in church but never actually inhabited. I was going through the motions. And if you have ever sat in a pew smiling while something inside you is quietly dying, you know exactly what I am describing. 

But 30 days ago, I did something that changed everything. I stopped praying the way religion taught taught me. I stopped begging. I stopped crying out to a God I was not sure was listening. And I started speaking biblical confessions out loud every single morning without apology, without embarrassment, without waiting to feel something first. 

By day 30, something had shifted so dramatically in my life that I had to give this testimony before I let another day   pass. I need you to stay with me because what I am about to tell you is not motivational content. It is not a spiritual self-help routine. It is the legal reality of what happens when a child of God finally opens their mouth and speaks what heaven has already declared over them.

I want you to remember one word right now. Speaking. 

Because that one act, typing it, writing it, saying it, declaring it is itself a step toward what I am going to show you. Read on . 

Here is what most Christians have been taught about confession. They have been taught that confession means confessing your sins. You kneel. You acknowledge what you did wrong. And you ask God to forgive you. And yes, there is a place for that. That is real. But that is not what I am talking about. And it is not what the Bible is primarily talking about when it instructs the believer to hold fast to their confession. 

Hebrews 4:14 says, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our profession." That word profession,  confession in the original it is the word homologueo in the Greek, it means to say the same thing, to agree with, to speak in alignment with, hold fast to saying the same thing God says. Not hold fast to telling God how sick you are. Not hold fast to reminding heaven of how defeated you feel. 

Hold fast to what God has already declared about you in His Word. And right there, that is the robbery. Because for generations, the church has trained believers to hold fast to their symptoms, to their failures, to their circumstances,  and to call it humility. But it is not humility. It is agreement with the enemy. I discovered this as a young man studying the scriptures. I had been praying faithfully for what seemed like a lifetime. And one day, the Holy Spirit arrested me with  a question I was not prepared for. "Why are you asking me for what I have already given you?  That question undid everything I thought I understood about prayer and faith. We have prayed for what we already possess. Let that sentence land. 

We have been in an intercession crying out for something that was placed inside us the moment we were born again. Healing already purchased. Authority already granted Righteousness already imparted. Victory already secured at Calvary. And we have been on our knees asking God to do what He completed 2,000 years ago. This is the church's great tragedy. Not lack of sincerity. Sincerity abounds. But sincerity cannot substitute for revelation. And without revelation, even the most devoted believer can spend a lifetime knocking on a door that has already been opened. 

Now, I need to show you something about the nature of words. And I am going to be direct because l am not here to make you comfortable. I am here to make you free. Your words are not neutral. They are never neutral. Every word you speak is either building something or tearing something down. 

Every sentence that leaves your mouth is either advancing the kingdom of God in your personal atmosphere or retreating before the kingdom of darkness. There is no middle ground. There is no spiritual neutral-land. 

Proverbs 18:21 declares it plainly, The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Not some life. Not a little death. Death and life, the full weight of both outcomes. Hang on what you choose to speak. 

Now, here is the part that broke me open. I had been confessing two things simultaneously.  I confessed the Word of God on Sunday morning. And then I confessed my circumstances every other hour of the . I would say, "By His stripes, I am healed." And 20 minutes later, I would tell my spouse, "I just don't think this is ever going to get better."  And I could not understand why nothing was changing. I found it very difficult to hold fast to the confession of healing when I had pain in my body. What I eventually discovered was that I had been making two confessions, and the second one was nullifying the first. Every time l opened my mouth to magnify my symptoms. I was legally agreeing with the enemy and dismissing the finished work of Christ. The second confession was cancelling the first confession every single time. This is why so many believers pray and see nothing. Not because God is unwilling, but because they pray in faith and then confess in fear, and they do not understand that both prayers are being received. One by heaven and one by hell. 

Your confession is the mother of your faith. It is the soil in which your faith grows and bears fruit. You cannot plant wheat on Monday and scatter poison on the same field by Friday, and then wonder why nothing is growing. So, what does this mean practically? It means you must  become ruthless. And I do not use that word carelessly. Ruthless with the words you allow out of your mouth. Because every word is a seed and every seed produces after its own kind. 

Let me tell you what happened in the first 10 days.  I started speaking the confessions before I got out of bed. Before my feet touched the floor. Before I looked at my phone. Before I engaged the news. Before I let the world speak its version  of reality into my spirit, I opened my mouth and I said what God said. 

"I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am not a sinner struggling to please God. I am a new creation. I am recreated in the image of the Father. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me and gives life to my mortal body. I do not beg. I enforce the truth. I am the healed of the Lord. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I am more than a conqueror through Him that loved me." 

The first few days felt strange. I will not lie to you. Religious conditioning runs deep. A part of me felt presumptuous.  Who am I to speak like this? And then the Holy Spirit reminded me, who am I not to? When a son refuses to speak his inheritance, he is not being humble. He is insulting the blood that purchased it. 

By day seven, something shifted in my atmosphere. Not in my circumstances yet, but in my spirit. The heaviness that had sat on me like a fog began to lift. I want you to understand what I mean. Not euphoric. Not emotionally worked up. Quiet. Settled. Like standing on ground that no longer trembles beneath your feet. Faith never rises above its confession. 

And for the first time in years, my confession was beginning to match heaven's record of my life. What I was experiencing was not coincidence. I was aligning. When you hold fast to your confession, you begin to synchronize with what has always been true about you in Christ. 

The transformation does not begin on the outside. It begins in the inner man. The spirit is strengthened. The mind is renewed and the body follows. Here is what I need you to understand about the new creation. {2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. ...... Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! } 

Because if you miss this, everything else will feel like a technique rather than a truth. When you were born again, you did not get a spiritual upgrade. You were not polished, improved, or edited. You were recreated.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new." New creature. The word in the Greek is ktisis, creation. The Greek term κτίσις (ktisis) encompasses several interconnected meanings centered on the concept of creation. In its most basic sense, it refers to the act of creation—the divine process by which God brought the world into existence. 

Now, you are a new creation. Something that did not exist before. A new species. One that carries the nature of God. You are not a sinner saved by grace, still crawling through life, hoping God will be merciful enough to help you. 

Now, you are a child of the living God. Made righteous not by your works, but by the blood of Jesus. Seated. Hear me. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6. Seated. That is the posture of a finished work. Let this truth sink deep in your spirit, now. And confess the spiritual reality, here and now. 

The prayer of faith is not the begging of an inferior. It is the claiming of the rights of a son. Read that again. As a son. Not a servant. Not a pleader. Not someone negotiating for scraps.You are a son who knows his Father's house, who walks the corridors of covenant, who speaks with the authority of one who has been given all things.

Your identity is not what religion told you. Your identity is what the blood of Christ purchased and the Word declares.

 And the enemy's most effective tool against you has never been temptation. It has been identity theft. IDENTITTY THEFT. As long as you see yourself as a weak, sinful, unworthy beggar, you will pray like one. And heaven cannot honor a confession that contradicts the new creation. 

By day 14, I began to notice changes in my body. Symptoms that had lingered for months were diminishing. Not because I worked myself into an emotional state. Not because I had a mountain top experience in prayer. But because the Word of God in my mouth was doing exactly what it is designed and purposed to do. Man shall live by every word that proceed from the mouth of God. It was alive. It was active. It was sharper than a two-edged sword, and it was cutting away everything that did not belong to a son of God. 

Now, I want to talk about what was happening in the spiritual dimension that I could not see because this is the part most Christians completely miss. Psalm 103:20 says, "Bless the Lord, ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word." Do not skim past that. Angels hearken. Hearken what? They listen intently to the voice of His Word. Not hearken to our worry.  Not hearken to our complaints. Not hearken to our fear-laced prayers. But they hearken to His Word.

In Daniel chapter 10, an angel appears and says, "From the first day that thou did set thine heart to understand, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words." Your words. Not God's sovereign intervention apart from you. Your words activated the angel's mission. Your words were the instruction that sent heaven's messenger into motion. This means that for 30 days, every time I opened my mouth and spoke the Word of God over my life, I was not just doing a spiritual exercise. I was issuing commands in the spirit realm. I was giving legal standing to angelic forces to move on my behalf. I was clearing a path because confession builds the road over which faith carries its mighty cargo. And angels move along move along that road. When you speak fear, you do not activate angels. When you speak defeat, you do not activate angels. When you speak the Word of God in faith, the same Word that  created the universe. The same Word that raised Christ from the dead, heaven moves. And this is why the enemy's primary strategy against you is never to attack you directly. He is far subtler than that. His strategy is to attack your confession. If he can get you to speak fear, he keeps heaven's forces inactive. If he can get you to say, "Nothing ever works out for me." He knows that angels cannot enforce that because it is not God's word. If he can get you to reduce your prayer life to quiet desperation and your daily speech to an ongoing report of everything wrong, he has neutralized you without ever throwing a single punch. You are not fighting for victory. You are fighting from victory. There is a world of difference between those two positions. 

By day 20, something extraordinary happened that I cannot explain in any natural terms. A situation in my life that had been completely immovable. A circumstance that I had prayed about, cried about, and honestly given up on in my private moments, suddenly broke open. Not gradually,  suddenly. Like a door that had been locked for years, swinging wide on a Tuesday morning without anyone touching the handle. And I knew not emotionally, not sentimentally, but with the deep knowing of a man who has been in the Word every day, I knew that what had shifted was not the circumstance itself. What had shifted was my confession. The words I had been speaking daily had been building something invisible. And when that invisible structure was complete, the visible world had to respond. This is the principle we spent decades trying to explain to a church that preferred the emotional and the spectacular. The Word works. It works silently, consistently, and powerfully. It works whether you feel it or not. It works in seasons of darkness just as faithfully as it works in seasons of light. What the church desperately needs is not more revival where people fall to the floor and shout. The church needs men and women who will go home from that revival and hold fast to their confession for 30 consecutive days. Because the confession is the discipline. And the discipline is where transformation actually lives. Faith never rises above its confession.

But here is the other side of that truth. Neither does the enemy's power rise above your agreement with him. The moment you stop confessing defeat, you stop feeding his operation in your life.

 I want to pause here and address something that I know is happening in the mind of some readers, right now.

There is a thought that says, "But what about the people who confessed and nothing happened? What about the people who believed and died anyway? Doesn't this mean the confession didn't work?" This is the question religion uses to shut the door on revelation. And it deserves an honest answer.

 First, confession without understanding is not the same as confession with revelation.

A man can repeat words without inhabiting them. He can say,"By his stripes, I am healed." While his heart secretly believes that healing belongs to someone more spiritual than himself. That is not holding fast. That is wishing dressed in religious language. 

The confession that produces results is the confession that flows from a heart that has been persuaded by the Word, not a heart that is trying to manipulate God into compliance. 

Second, we live in a world where the enemy is real. The body  is mortal. And there are dimensions of God's sovereign purposes that extend beyond what any single teaching can fully map. I will not dishonor the complexity of that by pretending every story ends the same way in this life. But here is what I can tell you. The teaching of confession, holding fast to the word of God, is not a prosperity formula. It is a covenant reality. And I have yet to meet a single believer who held fast to the Word of God consistently with genuine understanding of their new creation identity, who did not experience transformation.

 The Word of God is alive. It is powerful. It does not return void. That is not my opinion. That is Isaiah 55:11. The confessions I am describing do not override the sovereignty of God. They align you with it. They put you in the position of a son rather than a stranger. And sons receive differently than strangers. 

Let me speak directly to someone following this teaching who has been in pain for a long time. And I am not only talking about physical pain. I am talking about the pain of unanswered prayers. The pain of a God you believe  in who sometimes feels impossibly distant. The pain of watching people around you experience breakthroughs while you stand in the same place year after year. I know you. I have been you. And I want to say this with all the tenderness of a father who has fought this fight himself. The problem has not been your sincerity. The problem has not been your love for God. The problem in most cases has been your confession. You have been sincere about the wrong things. You have been earnest and devoted in speaking your defeat, your doubt, your disease, your discouragement. And heaven could not honor it. Not because God does not love you, but because you were building a structure your faith could not overcome.

But that ends today. Today, not when you feel better, not when your circumstances change. Today is the day you choose to hold fast to a different confession. Say this with me right now and mean every word. 

"I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. By his stripes, am healed. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. I do not beg. I enforce the finished work of the cross of Christ. I am a new creation. The old has passed. All things are new. My God supplies every need of mine according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I am more than a conqueror through him that loved me." 

That is not positive thinking. That is not a mantra. That is a legally binding covenant declaration spoken from a son of God who knows his rights. Hebrews 3:1 calls our faith the great confession. The great confession of the church is not what we sing in our hymns. Great confession is what we speak with our mouths in our homes, in our cars, in our quiet moments alone. That is where the real confession lives. And that is where the battle is truly won or lost. 

By day 30, I sat down 

Wonderful promises of God ; 2 of 365

 [Yakut] Кырдьыгы эһиэхэ этэбин: Миэхэ итэҕэйэр киһи Мин оҥорор дьайыыларбын эмиэ оҥоруоҕа; уонна мантан улахан дьайыылары оҥоруоҕа; тоҕо диэтэххэ, Мин Аҕабар барабын. (Иоанн 14:12)

Сибэтиэй Тыын иһигэр баар буолуута итэҕэйээччигэ барыны барытын кыайар уонна таптыыр Таҥараны ытыктыыр улахан дьайыылары оҥорор кыаҕы биэрэр. Тиллибит Быыһааччыга эрэнэр итэҕэйээччи олоҕо төһөлөөх минньигэс, дьикти буолуой. Горчица сиэмэтин курдук итэҕэллээх буолуу Христос албан аатыгар уонна ытыктабылыгар дьикти дьыалалары оҥорор кыаҕы биэрэр. Саҥа Кэс Тылга баар Христос дьиктилэрин оҥорор кыахтаахпыт эрэ буолбакка, атын да дьикти дьиктилэри оҥорор кыахтаныахпыт. Итэҕэйээччилэр быһыытынан, Таҥара үтүөтүн уонна улуутун Кини биһиги нөҥүө оҥорор үлэтигэр көрүөхпүт. Бары албан аат уонна ытыктабыл Киниэхэ үйэлэр тухары бардын.

Kyrdʹygy éḫiéhé étébin: Miéhé itéğéjér kiḫi Min oñoror dʹajyylarbyn émié oñoruoğa; uonna mantan ulahan dʹajyylary oñoruoğa; toğo diétéhhé, Min Ağabar barabyn. (Ioann 14:12)

Sibétiéj Tyyn iḫigér baar buoluuta itéğéjééččigé baryny barytyn kyajar uonna taptyyr Tañarany ytyktyyr ulahan dʹajyylary oñoror kyağy biérér. Tillibit Byyḫaaččyga érénér itéğéjééčči oloğo töḫölööh minnʹigés, dʹikti buoluoj. Gorčica siémétin kurduk itéğéllééh buoluu Hristos alban aatygar uonna ytyktabylygar dʹikti dʹyalalary oñoror kyağy biérér. Saña Kés Tylga baar Hristos dʹiktilérin oñoror kyahtaahpyt éré buolbakka, atyn da dʹikti dʹiktiléri oñoror kyahtanyahpyt. Itéğéjééččilér byḫyytynan, Tañara ütüötün uonna uluutun Kini biḫigi nöñüö oñoror ülétigér körüöhpüt. Bary alban aat uonna ytyktabyl Kiniéhé üjélér tuhary bardyn.

[English]  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit allows the believer the privilege of greater works to honour the omnipotent and loving God. How sweet and wonderful is the life of the believer who trusts in the risen Saviour. Simply having the faith of a mustard seed allows us to do wonderful things for the glory and honour of Christ. Not only will we have the power to do the wonders of Christ found in the New Testament, but we also will be able to do other incredible miracles. As believers, we will see God's goodness and greatness in the work He does through us. May all glory and honour go unto Him forever and ever.

[Rundi] Ni ukuri, ni ukuri, ndabibabwiye: uwunyizera, ibikorwa nkora na we azobikora; kandi azokora ibikorwa biruta ivyo; kuko ngiye kwa Data. ( Yohani 14:12 ) .

Ugutura kwa Mpwemu Yera bituma umwizera agira agateka k’ibikorwa bikomeye kuruta kugira ngo yubahirize Imana ishobora vyose kandi y’urukundo. Ese ukuntu ubuzima bw’uwizera yizigiye Umukiza yazutse busosa kandi butangaje. Kugira ukwizera nk’akabuto ka sinapi gusa biratuma dukora ibintu bitangaje ku bw’ubuninahazwa n’icubahiro vya Kristo. Ntituzogira ububasha bwo gukora ibitangaza vya Kristo biboneka mw’Isezerano Rishasha gusa, ariko kandi tuzoshobora gukora n’ibindi bitangaza bidasanzwe. Nk’abizera, tuzobona ukumera neza kw’Imana n’ubukuru bwayo mu gikorwa ikora ibicishije muri twebwe. Ubuninahazwa bwose n’icubahiro vyose bibe kuri we ibihe vyose n’ibihe vyose.

[Korean] "내가 진실로 진실로 너희에게 이르노니 나를 믿는 자는 내가 하는 일을 그도 할 것이요 또한 그보다 큰 일도 하리니 이는 내가 아버지께로 감이라" (요한복음 14:12)

성령께서 우리 안에 거하심으로, 신자는 전능하시고 사랑이 많으신 하나님을 영화롭게 하는 더 큰 일을 행할 특권을 누리게 됩니다. 부활하신 구주를 신뢰하는 신자의 삶은 참으로 감미롭고 놀랍습니다. 겨자씨만 한 믿음만 있어도 우리는 그리스도의 영광과 존귀를 위해 놀라운 일들을 행할 수 있습니다. 우리는 신약성경에 나타난 그리스도의 기적과 같은 일을 행할 능력을 얻을 뿐만 아니라, 그 외에도 놀라운 기적들을 행할 수 있게 될 것입니다. 신자로서 우리는 우리를 통해 이루어지는 하나님의 역사 속에서 그분의 선하심과 위대하심을 보게 될 것입니다. 모든 영광과 존귀가 영원토록 그분께 있기를 바랍니다.

"naega jinsillo jinsillo neohuiege ileunoni naleul midneun janeun naega haneun il-eul geudo hal geos-iyo ttohan geuboda keun ildo halini ineun naega abeojikkelo gam-ila" (yohanbog-eum 14:12)

seonglyeongkkeseo uli an-e geohasim-eulo, sinjaneun jeonneunghasigo salang-i manh-eusin hananim-eul yeonghwalobge haneun deo keun il-eul haenghal teuggwon-eul nulige doebnida. buhwalhasin gujuleul sinloehaneun sinjaui salm-eun cham-eulo gammilobgo nollabseubnida. gyeojassiman han mid-eumman iss-eodo ulineun geuliseudoui yeong-gwang-gwa jongwileul wihae nollaun ildeul-eul haenghal su issseubnida. ulineun sin-yagseong-gyeong-e natanan geuliseudoui gijeoggwa gat-eun il-eul haenghal neunglyeog-eul eod-eul ppunman anila, geu oeedo nollaun gijeogdeul-eul haenghal su issge doel geos-ibnida. sinjaloseo ulineun ulileul tonghae ilueojineun hananim-ui yeogsa sog-eseo geubun-ui seonhasimgwa widaehasim-eul boge doel geos-ibnida. modeun yeong-gwang-gwa jongwiga yeong-wontolog geubunkke issgileul balabnida.

[Indonesian] Sesungguhnya Aku berkata kepadamu: Barangsiapa percaya kepada-Ku, ia akan melakukan juga pekerjaan-pekerjaan yang Aku lakukan, bahkan pekerjaan-pekerjaan yang lebih besar dari pada itu; sebab Aku pergi kepada Bapa-Ku. (Yohanes 14:12)

Kehadiran Roh Kudus di dalam diri orang percaya memberikan hak istimewa untuk melakukan pekerjaan-pekerjaan yang lebih besar demi memuliakan Allah yang Mahakuasa dan penuh kasih. Sungguh manis dan indah kehidupan orang percaya yang menaruh harapannya kepada Juruselamat yang telah bangkit. Hanya dengan memiliki iman sebesar biji sesawi saja, kita dimampukan untuk melakukan hal-hal luar biasa bagi kemuliaan dan kehormatan Kristus. Kita tidak hanya akan memiliki kuasa untuk melakukan perbuatan-perbuatan ajaib Kristus sebagaimana tercatat dalam Perjanjian Baru, tetapi kita juga akan mampu melakukan mukjizat-mukjizat luar biasa lainnya. Sebagai orang percaya, kita akan menyaksikan kebaikan dan kebesaran Allah melalui karya yang Ia kerjakan di dalam diri kita. Kiranya segala kemuliaan dan kehormatan tertuju kepada-Nya untuk selama-lamanya.

[Mongolian] Үнэнээр, үнэнээр Би та нарт хэлье. Надад итгэдэг хүн Миний хийдэг ажлуудыг хийх болно; мөн эдгээрээс ч агуу ажлуудыг хийх болно, учир нь Би Эцэгтээ очдог. (Иохан 14:12)

Ариун Сүнсний дотор орших нь итгэгчдэд бүхнийг чадагч, хайр энэрэлтэй Бурханыг хүндэтгэх агуу ажлуудыг хийх боломжийг олгодог. Амилсан Аврагчид итгэдэг итгэгчдийн амьдрал хичнээн сайхан, гайхалтай вэ. Гичний үрийн төдий итгэл бидэнд Христийн алдар суу, хүндэтгэлийн төлөө гайхамшигт зүйлсийг хийх боломжийг олгодог. Бид зөвхөн Шинэ Гэрээнд байдаг Христийн гайхамшгуудыг хийх хүч чадалтай төдийгүй бусад гайхалтай гайхамшгуудыг үйлдэх боломжтой болно. Итгэгчид бид Бурханы биднийг дамжуулан хийдэг ажлаас Бурханы сайн сайхан, агуу байдлыг харах болно. Бүх алдар суу, хүндэтгэл Түүнд үүрд мөнхөд байх болтугай.

Üneneer, üneneer Bi ta nart kheliye. Nadad itgedeg khün Minii khiideg ajluudyg khiikh bolno; mön edgeerees ch aguu ajluudyg khiikh bolno, uchir ni Bi Etsegtee ochdog. (Iokhan 14:12)

Ariun Sünsnii dotor orshikh ni itgegchded bükhniig chadagch, khair enereltei Burkhanyg khündetgekh aguu ajluudyg khiikh bolomjiig olgodog. Amilsan Avragchid itgedeg itgegchdiin amidral khichneen saikhan, gaikhaltai ve. Gichnii üriin tödii itgel bidend Khristiin aldar suu, khündetgeliin tölöö gaikhamshigt züilsiig khiikh bolomjiig olgodog. Bid zövkhön Shine Gereend baidag Khristiin gaikhamshguudyg khiikh khüch chadaltai tödiigüi busad gaikhaltai gaikhamshguudyg üildekh bolomjtoi bolno. Itgegchid bid Burkhany bidniig damjuulan khiideg ajlaas Burkhany sain saikhan, aguu baidlyg kharakh bolno. Bükh aldar suu, khündetgel Tüünd üürd mönkhöd baikh boltugai.

[Icelandic] Sannlega, sannlega segi ég yður: Sá sem trúir á mig, mun einnig vinna þau verk, sem ég gjöri, og stærri verk en þessi mun hann vinna, því að ég fer til föður míns. (Jóhannes 14:12)

Íbúi Heilags Anda veitir trúuðum forréttindin að gera stærri verk til að heiðra almáttugan og kærleiksríkan Guð. Hversu ljúft og dásamlegt er líf trúaðs manns sem treystir á hinn upprisna frelsara. Einföld trú á sinnepsfræi gerir okkur kleift að gera dásamlega hluti til dýrðar og heiðurs Kristi. Við munum ekki aðeins hafa kraftinn til að vinna undur Krists sem finnast í Nýja testamentinu, heldur munum við einnig geta gert önnur ótrúleg kraftaverk. Sem trúaðir munum við sjá gæsku og mikilleika Guðs í verkinu sem hann vinnur í gegnum okkur. Megi öll dýrð og heiður vera honum að eilífu.

[Bosnian] Zaista, zaista, kažem vam: Ko vjeruje u mene, djela koja ja činim, i on će činiti; i veća će djela od ovih činiti, jer ja idem k Ocu svome. (Ivan 14:12)

Prebivanje Svetog Duha u nama omogućava vjerniku privilegiju većih djela u čast svemogućeg i punog ljubavi Boga. Kako je sladak i divan život vjernika koji vjeruje u uskrslog Spasitelja. Samo imati vjeru zrna gorušičinog omogućava nam da činimo divne stvari na slavu i čast Krista. Ne samo da ćemo imati moć činiti čuda Kristova koja se nalaze u Novom zavjetu, već ćemo moći činiti i druga nevjerovatna čuda. Kao vjernici, vidjet ćemo Božju dobrotu i veličinu u djelu koje On čini kroz nas. Neka sva slava i čast pripadaju Njemu u vijeke vjekova.

[Thai] เราบอกความจริงแก่ท่านทั้งหลายว่า ผู้ที่วางใจในเราจะกระทำกิจการที่เรากระทำอยู่นั้นด้วย และเขาจะกระทำกิจการที่ยิ่งใหญ่กว่านั้นอีก เพราะเราจะไปหาพระบิดาของเรา (ยอห์น 14:12)

การสถิตอยู่ภายในของผู้เชื่อโดยพระวิญญาณบริสุทธิ์ ทำให้ผู้เชื่อได้รับสิทธิพิเศษในการกระทำกิจการที่ยิ่งใหญ่เพื่อถวายเกียรติแด่พระเจ้าผู้ทรงฤทธานุภาพและเปี่ยมด้วยความรัก ชีวิตของผู้ที่วางใจในพระผู้ช่วยให้รอดผู้ทรงฟื้นคืนพระชนม์นั้นช่างแสนหวานและงดงามเพียงใด เพียงแค่มีความเชื่อเท่าเมล็ดมัสตาร์ด ก็ทำให้เราสามารถกระทำสิ่งอัศจรรย์เพื่อพระสิริและเกียรติของพระคริสต์ได้ เราไม่เพียงแต่จะมีฤทธิ์เดชในการกระทำสิ่งอัศจรรย์เช่นเดียวกับที่พระคริสต์ทรงกระทำซึ่งปรากฏในพระคัมภีร์พันธสัญญาใหม่เท่านั้น แต่เรายังสามารถกระทำการอัศจรรย์อื่นๆ ที่น่าทึ่งได้อีกด้วย ในฐานะผู้เชื่อ เราจะได้เห็นความดีและความยิ่งใหญ่ของพระเจ้าผ่านทางกิจการที่พระองค์ทรงกระทำโดยอาศัยเรา ขอพระสิริและเกียรติทั้งสิ้นจงมีแด่พระองค์สืบๆ ไปเป็นนิตย์

Reā bxk khwām cring kæ̀ th̀ān thậng h̄lāy ẁā p̄hū̂ thī̀ wāngcı nı reā ca krathả kickār thī̀ reā krathả xyū̀ nận d̂wy læa k̄heā ca krathả kickār thī̀ yìng h̄ıỵ̀ kẁā nận xīk pherāa reā ca pị h̄ā phra bidā k̄hxng reā (yxh̄̒n 14:12)

Kār s̄t̄hit xyū̀ p̣hāynı k̄hxng p̄hū̂ cheụ̄̀x doy phra wiỵỵāṇ bris̄uthṭhi̒ thảh̄ı̂ p̄hū̂ cheụ̄̀x dị̂ rạb s̄ithṭhi phiṣ̄es̄ʹ nı kārk ra thả kickār thī̀ yìng h̄ıỵ̀ pheụ̄̀x t̄hwāy keīyrti dæ̀ phracêā p̄hū̂thrng vthṭhā nu p̣hāph læa peī̀ym d̂wy khwām rạk chīwit k̄hxng p̄hū̂ thī̀ wāngcı nı phra p̄hū̂ ch̀wy h̄ı̂ rxd p̄hū̂thrng fụ̄̂n khụ̄n phrachnm̒ nận ch̀āng s̄æn h̄wān læa ngdngām pheīyng dı pheīyng khæ̀ mī khwām cheụ̄̀x thèā mel̆d mạs̄tār̒d k̆ thảh̄ı̂ reā s̄āmārt̄h krathả s̄ìng xạṣ̄crry̒ pheụ̄̀x phra s̄iri læa keīyrti k̄hxng phra khris̄t̒ dị̂ reā mị̀ pheīyng tæ̀ ca mī vthṭhi̒ dech nı kārk ra thả s̄ìng xạṣ̄crry̒ chèn deīyw kạb thī̀ phra khris̄t̒ thrng krathả sụ̀ng prākt̩ nı phra khạmp̣hīr̒ phạnṭh s̄ạỵỵā h̄ım̀ thèānận tæ̀ reā yạng s̄āmārt̄h krathả kār xạṣ̄crry̒ xụ̄̀n«thī̀ ǹā thụ̀ng dị̂ xīk d̂wy nı ṭ̄hāna p̄hū̂ cheụ̄̀x reā ca dị̂ h̄ĕn khwām dī læa khwām yìng h̄ıỵ̀ k̄hxng phracêā p̄h̀ān thāng kickār thī̀ phraxngkh̒ thrng krathả doy xāṣ̄ạy reā k̄hx phra s̄iri læa keīyrti thậng s̄în cng mī dæ̀ phra xngkh̒ s̄ụ̄b«pị pĕn nity̒

[Tibetan] ངས་ཁྱེད་ཚོར་བདེན་པ་བདེན་པར་ཟེར་རྒྱུར། ཁོང་གིས་དེ་ལས་ལྷག་པའི་བྱ་བ་སྒྲུབ་པར་འགྱུར། གང་ཡིན་ཟེར་ན་ང་ཡབ་ཀྱི་དྲུང་དུ་འགྲོ་གི་ཡིན། (ཡོ་ཧ་ནན་ ༡༤:༡༢)

དམ་པའི་ཐུགས་ཉིད་ཀྱི་ནང་དུ་གནས་པ་དེས་ཡིད་ཆེས་བྱེད་མཁན་ལ་སྟོབས་ལྡན་དང་བྱམས་བརྩེ་ལྡན་པའི་དཀོན་མཆོག་ལ་གུས་བཀུར་བྱེད་པའི་ལས་ཀ་ཆེ་བ་བྱེད་པའི་ཐོབ་ཐང་སྤྲོད་ཀྱི་ཡོད། གསོན་པོར་ལངས་པའི་སྐྱབས་མགོན་ལ་ཡིད་ཆེས་བྱེད་མཁན་གྱི་ཡིད་ཆེས་བྱེད་མཁན་གྱི་མི་ཚེ་ནི་ཇི་འདྲའི་མངར་མོ་དང་ཡ་མཚན་ཅན་ཞིག་རེད་ཨང་། མར་ཁུ་སོན་གྱི་དད་པ་ཙམ་གྱིས་ང་ཚོས་ཁིརཱིས་ཀྱི་གཟི་བརྗིད་དང་གཟི་བརྗིད་ཆེད་དུ་ཡ་མཚན་ཅན་གྱི་ལས་ཀ་བྱེད་ཐུབ། ང་ཚོ་ལ་གན་རྒྱ་གསར་པའི་ནང་མཐོང་བའི་ཁིརཱིས་ཀྱི་ཡ་མཚན་ཅན་གྱི་བྱ་བ་སྒྲུབ་པའི་ནུས་པ་ཡོད་པ་མ་ཟད། དད་ལྡན་པ་ཞིག་ཡིན་པའི་ཆ་ནས་ང་ཚོས་དཀོན་མཆོག་གིས་ང་ཚོའི་བརྒྱུད་ནས་སྒྲུབ་པའི་ལས་ཀའི་ནང་དཀོན་མཆོག་གི་བཟང་པོ་དང་ཆེ་མཐོང་མཐོང་རྒྱུ་ཡིན། གཟི་བརྗིད་དང་གཟི་བརྗིད་ཚང་མ་ཁོང་ལ་རྟག་ཏུ་ཐོབ་པར་ཤོག

ngas khyed tshor bden pa bden par zer rgyur/ khong gis de las lhag pa'i bya ba sgrub par 'gyur/ gang yin zer na nga yab kyi drung du 'gro gi yin/ (yo ha nan  14:12)

dam pa'i thugs nyid kyi nang du gans pa des yid ches byed mkhan la stobs ldan dang byams brtse ldan pa'i dkon mchog la gus bkur byed pa'i las ka che ba byed pa'i thob thang sprod kyi yod/ gson por langs pa'i skyabs mgon la yid ches byed mkhan gyi yid ches byed mkhan gyi mi tshe ni ji 'dra'i mngar mo dang ya mtshan can zhig red ang / mar khu son gyi dad pa tsam gyis nga tshos khirIs kyi gzi brjid dang gzi brjid ched du ya mtshan can gyi las ka byed thub/ nga tsho la gan rgya gsar pa'i nang mthong b'i khirIs kyi ya mtshan can gyi bya ba sgrub pa'i nus pa yod pa ma zad/ dad ldan pa zhig yin pa'i cha nas nga tshos dkon mchog gis nga tsho'i brgyud nas sgrub pa'i las ka'i nang dkon mchog gi bzang po dang che mthong mthong rgyu yin/ gzi brjid dang gzi brjid tshang ma khong la rtag tu thob par shog

[Bengali] আমি তোমাদের সত্য সত্যই বলছি, যে আমার ওপর বিশ্বাস করে, আমি যে সব কাজ করি সে-ও সেই সব কাজ করবে; এমনকি এর চেয়েও বড় বড় কাজ সে করবে; কারণ আমি আমার পিতার কাছে যাচ্ছি। (যোহন ১৪:১২)

পবিত্র আত্মার অন্তর্বাস বিশ্বাসীকে সর্বশক্তিমান ও প্রেমময় ঈশ্বরের মহিমা সাধনের জন্য আরও বড় বড় কাজ করার সুযোগ করে দেয়। পুনরুত্থিত ত্রাণকর্তার ওপর আস্থাশীল বিশ্বাসীর জীবন কতই না মধুর ও চমৎকার! সরিষার দানার মতো সামান্য বিশ্বাস থাকলেই আমরা খ্রীষ্টের গৌরব ও সম্মানের জন্য বিস্ময়কর সব কাজ করতে পারি। নতুন নিয়মে বর্ণিত খ্রীষ্টের অলৌকিক কাজগুলো করার ক্ষমতা তো আমরা পাবই, সেই সঙ্গে আমরা আরও অন্যান্য অবিশ্বাস্য অলৌকিক কাজও করতে সক্ষম হব। বিশ্বাসী হিসেবে, আমাদের মধ্য দিয়ে ঈশ্বর যে কাজ করবেন, তার মাধ্যমে আমরা তাঁর মঙ্গলময়তা ও মহিমা প্রত্যক্ষ করব। সমস্ত গৌরব ও সম্মান চিরকাল তাঁরই হোক।

ami tomader satya sottoi bolchi, je aamar opor biswas kore, ami je shob kaj kori se-o sei shob kaj korbe; emonki er cheyeo boro boro kaj se korbe; karon ami aamar pitar kache jacchi. (johon 14:1du)

pobitro atmar antarbas biswasike sarboshoktiman o premomoy ishwarer mahima sadhoner jonno aro boro boro kaj korar sujog kore dey. punarutthito trankortar opor asthashil bishwashir jibon katoi na madhur o chomotkar! sarishar danar moto samanyo biswas thaklei amra khrister gourab o sommaner jonno bismoykar shob kaj korte pari. notun niyome bornito khrister aloukik kaajgulo korar khamota to amra pubi, sei sange amra aro annanno obishasyo aloukik kaajo korte sakkham hob. bishwasi hisebe, amader madhya diye ishwar je kaj korben, tar madhyome amra tanr mongolmoyta o mahima protyokkho korob. samasta gourab o somman chirokal tanri hok.

[Persian] آمین، آمین، به شما می‌گویم، هر که به من ایمان آورد، کارهایی را که من می‌کنم، او نیز انجام خواهد داد؛ و کارهای بزرگتر از اینها نیز انجام خواهد داد؛ زیرا من نزد پدرم می‌روم. (یوحنا ۱۴:۱۲)

سکونت روح القدس در درون، به مؤمن این امتیاز را می‌دهد که کارهای بزرگتری انجام دهد تا خدای قادر مطلق و مهربان را گرامی بدارد. زندگی مؤمنی که به منجی قیام کرده اعتماد دارد، چقدر شیرین و شگفت‌انگیز است. داشتن ایمانی به اندازه یک دانه خردل به ما این امکان را می‌دهد که کارهای شگفت‌انگیزی را برای جلال و افتخار مسیح انجام دهیم. ما نه تنها قدرت انجام شگفتی‌های مسیح را که در عهد جدید یافت می‌شود، خواهیم داشت، بلکه قادر خواهیم بود معجزات باورنکردنی دیگری نیز انجام دهیم. به عنوان مؤمن، نیکی و عظمت خدا را در کاری که از طریق ما انجام می‌دهد، خواهیم دید. باشد که تمام جلال و افتخار برای همیشه و همیشه از آن او باشد.

amin, amin, bah shma miguyam, npar keh bah man iman avard, karehayi ra keh man mikonam, o niz enjam khahod dad; ve karehaye bozorgtar az ineya niz enjam khahod dad; zira man nazad padram mirom. (yoohena 1̱4̱:1̱2̱)

sekont ruh elghodas dar dron, bah mw̉man in emtiaz ra midehad keh karehaye bozorgtari enjam dahad ta khodaye ghadar motalgh ve moteorban ra gerami bedard. zandegi mw̉mani keh bah manji ghiam kardeh etemad dard, cheghodar shirin ve shgoftangiz est. dashtan imani bah andazeh yek daneh khardel bah ma in emkan ra midehad keh karehaye shgoftangizi ra baraye jalal ve aftakhar mosih enjam dehim. ma nah taneya ghodrat enjam shgoftinpehei mosih ra keh dar ead jadid yaft mishod, khaehim dasht, bolkeh ghadar khaehim bud mojezat bavarnekardani digari niz enjam dehim. bah onvan mw̉man, niki ve azemat khoda ra dar kari keh az tariq ma enjam midehad, khaehim did. bashod keh tamam jalal ve aftakhar baraye cpehmisheh ve cpehmisheh az an o bashod.

#2, “We’re Marching to Zion”

 “We’re Marching to Zion”

Here we want to examine another song.  In the times we are now facing, I find that if we consider the message of this song, it can help give us the resolve we need to press on toward the goal.

Background.  The text was written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748).  He was a prolific songwriter, who wrote more than 650 hymns, many of which are still sung today.  Most of his songs were written at an early age where he was member of the Above Bar Congregational Church in Southampton, England.  The words that he wrote which became our hymn were published as part of a series of hymns in 1707.  The tune at that time was very different.  The tune in our song book was produced by Robert Lowry in the late 1800s.The original hymn was 10 stanzas.  Our song book has four of them.

While young, Isaac Watts had smallpox which deformed him and made him a sickly and frail boy.   He was also very prolific with knowledge having learned Greek, Latin, Hebrew and French by the time he was thirteen years old.  Perhaps his appearance, as well as his father being a dissenter of the Church of England and the persecutions it produced (including imprisonment), were factors in his resolve in some of his songs. 

 “We’re marching to Zion”, is a song of resolve regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.  Let us examine the message of this song.

 I.       Chorus – We’re marching to Zion

a.        We’re marching to Zion – What is Zion?

Zion, is one of the names for Jerusalem.  It was actually a portion of the city that was subdued by David (1 Chronicles 11:4-9).  He then named it, “the City of David.”  The term is found about 161 times in the Bible (7 times in the New Testament). 

Throughout the prophets it was a term used to describe Jerusalem, and more specifically as representative of Judah (or Israel) as its capital and as God’s people. 

Quite often it was used with a dual implication - a double message – one speaking of the LORD redeeming the physical nation from captivity or oppression, but its ultimate fulfillment in Christ coming to establish His eternal kingdom, which is Zion.

In my studies of the word in scripture, I believe the best way to describe Zion is, the place where God meets with His people.  Physically that would have been Jerusalem (where the temple was), but now it is in heaven which is related to the church universal (the body of all who are saved). 

In the New Testament the word is found 7 times  - 2 times in the gospels to identify the prophecy of Jesus entering the city –  Matthew 21:5 {“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”,}, John 12:15 {“Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”} (based on Zechariah 9:9) {Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a donkey, Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.} ;

2 times in Romans – Romans 9:33 {As it is written and forever remains written, “BEHOLD I AM LAYING IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE; AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”} and Romans 11:26 {and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture], “THE DELIVERER (Messiah) WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”} – also Old Testament prophecies dealing with Israel’s rejection of God and thus salvation is available to all.  

And 1 Peter 2:6 where this same rejection is recorded. {For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.}

NOTICE Hebrews 12:22-24, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. “  While dealing with the saved, the Hebrew writer speaks of future hope in heaven.

That Zion is representative of heaven is seen in the various descriptions of the previous verse.

In Psalm 2:6, a messianic psalm we read, “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”   This is a reference to Jesus as we continue to read the text it is directed toward Him (vs. 7-9 {7“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:

         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,

         Today I have begotten You.

8‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,

         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

9‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,

         You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” } , Acts 13:33 {God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’} , Hebrews 1:5 {For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?} , Hebrews 5:5 {In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”} ). 

Jesus is NOW seated in heaven at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12 {But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.} , Hebrews 12:2 {Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.} , Romans 8:34 {Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.} .) in heaven (cf. Hebrews 9:24 – He has entered into heaven itself. { For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.} Hebrews 8:1 – seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens…) {Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven}

So we see in this that in our song, Zion is representative of heaven (as in many other songs we sing – which is why we have taken time to address this). 

b.       We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion… – while on this earth, we are marching toward heaven.  The idea of marching is that we are moving toward that place.  I think of Philippians 3:12-14 – I press toward the goal. {12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. } We are running a race toward the finished line (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 {24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.} , Hebrews 12:1-2 {1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.} )

c.        The beautiful city of God – Heaven is described as a city.  Heb. 11:10, 13-16.

 Revelation 21:9-22:5 – the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven is described.  It is a spiritual city where there is night, no sun or moon, no sickness or sorrows, etc.  And it is where the throne of God is found!

d.       Throughout this song, we are reminded that heaven is the goal we are striving to reach.

 II.         Vs. 1, Come we that love the Lord

a.        Come we that love the Lord - This is a call to Christians – Matthew 22:37 – love God with all your heart.  Love Jesus – John 14:15, 1 John 4:19, we love Him because He first loved us. 

Such will obey Him – 1 John 5:3-5

James 1:12 – the crown of life is promised to those who love Him. 

b.       And let our joys be known – this song reminds us that in those difficult times, we need to strive to be joyful - Philippians 4:4 {Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!} .  Consider Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi – Acts 16:25 – they were singing songs. {About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.}

If one is joyful, sing – James 5:13 {Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.}

c.        Join in a song in sweet accord – in this I think of joining together to sing.  Among the thoughts that comes to my mind with this song is the unity we have in Him.  Worship brings us together.  Singing brings us together – Ephesians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:16 – both imply a joyful disposition. {Ephesians 5:19-21 :19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.} {Colossians 3:16 , Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord}

It is said that as Israelites went together in groups to Jerusalem for various feasts that they would sing various psalms (called the psalms of Ascents – Psalm 120-134). 

d.       And thus surround the throne – our singing is a spiritual sacrifice go up to God – Heb. 13:15,

ALSO, let us be reminded that as Christians we have the privilege of approaching God in heaven – Heb. 4:16.

 III.                Vs.2 – Let those refuse to sing

a.        Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God –

1) Those who are of the world do not have the same privileges as Christians.  For example consider Ephesians 2:12 – they were strangers and without Christ, having no hope…

2) The world doesn’t care about Him.  They do not have the hope and source of joy that can provoke us to praise Him even in troubling times.  Let em!

b.       But children of the heavenly king may speak their joys abroad –

1) We are children of God – 1 John 3:1 – the manner of His love – we are called children of God

2) We can and should speak of His joys abroad – do not be ashamed of Him.  1 Peter 3:15 – give a reason for the hope that is in you.  1 Peter 2:9 as a royal priesthood we proclaim His praises…

Paul constantly glorified God to others – “I thank my God” – Rom. 1:8, 1 Cor. 1:4, Phil. 1:3, 2 Tim. 1:3, Philemon 4, etc. – he was not ashamed to tell  others about Him. 

 IV.                VS. 3 – The hill of Zion

a.        The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets – as Christians on our journey to heaven, we enjoy numerous blessings even now.  Eph. 1:3 – God has blessed us with every blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 2 Cor. 1:3 describes Him as the Father of Mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation… 

b.       Before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets – this continues to remind us of the same thought.  We are blessed as Jesus said in Luke 18:30 – in this age blessings, and in the life to come – eternal life.

But also I see the endurance of our journey – we have to stay the course and compete according to the rules – 2 Tim. 4:7 – we must finish the race!  2 Tim. 2:5 – compete according to the rules!

The golden streets is a reference to Revelation 21:21 where the New Jerusalem is described.

 V.                  Vs. 4 The let our song abound

a.        Then let our songs abound and every tear be dry  - in this world we face toils and troubles.  But in Him we are not defeated.  Be reminded of 2 Cor. 4:7-9 – we are hard pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not despaired…    1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our cares on Him. 

We may groan to be further clothed in Him – 2 Cor. 5:1-5, but we have hope!  Why?

b.       We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground – Immanuel means, “God with us.”  The name was prophesied by Isaiah (7:14) and applied to Jesus when He would be born (Matthew 1:23). 

IN the case of this song, we are reminded that even though this world is the dominion of Satan, and He seems to be winning, God is still in control!  1 John 4:4 – He is greater than he who is in the world.

 If we serve Him, He is with us!  Jesus told His disciples that while the ruler of this world was coming, “He has nothing in Me.” (John 14:30)

Romans 8:31 – if God be for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 2:12 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

c.        To fairer worlds on high – even the most grand of places on this earth are nothing to be compared with heaven!  2 Peter 3:13 speaks of how we are looking for new heavens and a new earth – a new dwelling place with Him for all of eternity!

 We will sing this song differently – Begin with the chorus – then sing the four verses and conclude with the chorus.

 It is no secret that we are living in very troubling times.  At every turn immorality seems to be prevailing, we live in a self-centered society, the international landscape is very troubling with terrorism on the rise and the faith of Christians is continually assaulted.  In times of discouragement, we need to remind ourselves of where our true hope lies – in heaven.  And with resolve we need to be marching toward Zion.  Are you?

PSALM 120 

In My Distress I Cried to the LORD

A song of ascents.

1 In my distress I cried to the LORD,

and He answered me.

2 Deliver my soul, O LORD,

from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

3 What will He do to you,

and what will be added to you,

O deceitful tongue?

4 Sharp arrows will come from the warrior,

with burning coals of the broom tree!

5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech,

that I live among the tents of Kedar!

6 Too long have I dwelt

among those who hate peace.

7 I am in favor of peace;

but when I speak, they want war.

The Power of Mark 11:23 daily speak the Word of God

 “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. " 

Speak This for 5 Minutes a Day.

Just five minutes a day, spent doing one specific thing, can develop a faith and an authority in you that years of ordinary churchgoing never produced. Not five hours. Not a complicated regimen. Five minutes, built on a single verse Jesus spoke that contains the blueprint for mountain-moving faith. Most believers read that verse, nod in agreement, and move on, never realizing it was meant to be practiced, not merely understood. When you turn it into a daily discipline, your faith grows in a way passive Christianity never accomplishes. 

What if just five minutes a day, spent doing one specific thing, could develop a faith  and an authority in you that years of ordinary church going never produced? 

Not five hours. Not a complicated spiritual regimen that requires seminary training. 

Five minutes, a single focused daily practice built on one verse that Jesus spoke. a verse that contains the blueprint for mountain moving faith.

Most believers read that verse, nod in agreement, and move on, never realizing that it was meant to be not merely read, but practiced, not merely understood, but spoken deliberately and daily until it becomes the very fabric of their spiritual life. The verse is Mark 11:23.

And the practice I'm going to give you in this teaching, just five minutes a day, will train your spirit strengthen your faith, sharpen your authority, and develop in you the very capacity Jesus described. The capacity to speak to mountains and watch them move. This is not theory. It is a practice. And like every practice, it produces results in those who do it consistently. 

This teaching is going to give you a specific practical daily discipline built on Mark 11:23, a five-minute practice that will develop your faith and your authority faster than almost anything else you could do.

Be it understood that faith is not merely a gift to be received but a capacity to be developed and that the  development comes through the deliberate repeated speaking of the Word. 

Note: Faith is developed by acting on the Word, and the first act of faith is speaking it. The believer who speaks the Word of God over his or her life consistently, daily, deliberately, will find his or her faith growing strong, his or her authority becoming sharp, and his or her confidence in the promises becoming unshakable. 

   The word spoken aloud day after day builds the faith life the way exercise builds the body. It is not a single dramatic moment that produces strong faith. It is the daily discipline of speaking the Word until it dominates the believer's consciousness."

The daily discipline of speaking the Word until it dominates. That is the practice this teaching will give you. 

 Not a one-time confession but a daily five-minute discipline that builds your faith and develops your authority over time. Stay with me through this entire teaching because by the end, you will have a specific practice you can begin today. And if you do it consistently, it will transform your faith life within weeks. 

Let us understand why most believers never develop strong faith even after decades in the church. The reason is that they treat faith as something that either happens to them or does not rather than as a capacity they can deliberately develop. They wait for faith to rise spontaneously for a feeling of confidence to come over them for a moment of spiritual inspiration that makes them able to believe. And when the feeling does not come, they conclude that they simply do not have enough faith. But faith was never meant to depend on feelings or spontaneous inspiration. Faith is developed. It is built. It is strengthened through deliberate practice, the same way a muscle is strengthened through deliberate exercise. 

And here is the specific problem. The primary way faith is developed is through the spoken Word. 

And yet most believers rarely speak the Word over their own lives. They hear it preached. They read it silently. They might study it. But they do not speak it, deliberately and aloud, over their own circumstances and their own identity. And because they do not speak it frequently and regularly,  the faith that comes by hearing the Word, including hearing your own voice speak it, never develops.

 Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith comes by hearing. And one of the most powerful forms of hearing is hearing your own voice declare the Word of God. When you speak the Word aloud, your own ears hear it, your own spirit receives it, and your faith is developed by the hearing. But the believer who never speaks the Word aloud deprives himself or herself of this faith-building hearing, and his or her faith remains underdeveloped, no matter how many sermons he or she listens to or how many chapters he or she reads in silence.

Note: We identified the neglect of the spoken Word as the great missing element in the faith development of most believers. 

NOTE: "The believer hears the word preached and reads it silently, but he or she does not speak it." And so the most powerful faith-building tool available to him or her goes unused. When the believer speaks the Word aloud over his own life, he hears it in a way that he hears nothing else, because it comes from his own mouth, declaring his own faith, over his own circumstances. This kind of hearing builds faith faster than any other, because it engages the believer not as a passive listener but as an active declarer.   The spoken Word is the believer's faith gymnasium. And the believer who neglects it will never develop the faith that he or she was capable of developing." 

The spoken Word is the believer's faith gymnasium. That is why this five-minute practice is so powerful. It is the daily workout that develops the faith most believers never build, because they never engage in the deliberate, daily, aloud speaking of the Word. 

There is a particular beauty in this practice for those people who are in the later seasons of life. It requires no physical strength. It requires no sharp eyesight, for the Word can be spoken from memory once you have learned a few verses. It can be done from a chair, from a bed, from a porch, or while looking out a window. It does not depend on mobility, on energy, or on the vigor of youth. A believer who can no longer do many of the things they once did can still speak  the Word for five minutes every morning, and in doing so, can build a faith and an authority that surpasses what they had in their younger and strongest years. 

In fact, the later years can be the most powerful season of confession in a believer's entire life, because they have a lifetime of the Word stored within them and the time and stillness to speak it deliberately. While the world may see the later years as a time of decline, the believer who speaks the Word daily is ascending, growing stronger in faith, sharper in authority, and richer in the consciousness of who they are in Christ. The aging body may be slowing, but the inner man, of the believer is fed daily by the spoken Word, is being renewed day by day, as 2 Corinthians 4:16 declares. {For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.}

This practice is a gift especially suited to the season you are   in, requiring only your voice and your faith, and producing a harvest that grows richer with every passing day. Don't let the devil silence your mouth. Speak aloud, declare, decree and confess the Word, daily, over your life journey . 

 Imagine two people who both want to become strong. The first person reads books about strength. He watches videos about exercise. He studies the principles of muscle development. He attends lectures and seminars on fitness. But he never actually lifts a single weight. And after years of study, he is just as weak as when he started, because mere knowledge about exercise does not produce strength. Only exercise produces strength.   The second person may know far less about the theory, but every day, for just a few minutes, he picks up the weights and does the real workout. Reps by reps, sets by set, daily. And over time, his muscles grow, his strength develops, and he becomes capable of things the first person can only read about. The difference is not knowledge. It is practice. 

And the same is true of faith.

The believer who only hears, reads, and studies the Word, but never speaks it in deliberate daily practice, remains spiritually weak. But the believer who speaks the Word daily, who does the faith exercise, develops a strength that the mere passive student never attains. 

So let us build the five-minute practice on the foundation of Mark 11:23. 

Jesus said, "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 saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." 

Notice the central activity in this verse: Saying, "Whosoever shall say those things which he saith, he shall have whatsoever he saith." The verse is built around the spoken word. And the practice l am giving you is simply the deliberate daily application of this verse. Speaking the Word of God aloud over your life for five minutes each day.

Practical part: Here is how the practice works. Each day, preferably in the morning before the demands of the day take over, you set aside five minutes to speak the Word of God aloud over your life. You do not pray in the sense of asking. You declare in the sense of confessing what the Word says about who you are and what you possess in Christ. You speak it out loud, so your own ears hear it. You speak it with conviction, so your own spirit receives it. And you speak it consistently, every day, so that over time the Word builds your faith and develops your authority. Let me give you the substance of what to speak in those five minutes, drawn directly from the Word of God. 

1. You begin with your identity:  "I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. There is no condemnation over me, because I am in Christ Jesus. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world."

[as 2 Corinthians 5:17 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21 ; Romans 8:1 ; Ephesians 2:6 ;  1 John 4:4 declares] You speak these identity truths aloud, declaring who you are in Christ, until your spirit is saturated with the consciousness of your true identity. 

Then you move to your authority: "I have been given the God kind of faith. Whatsoever I say to the mountain, in alignment with the will of God and in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, must obey. I have authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me. The name of Jesus Christ has been given to me and at that name every knee must bow. I am not a victim. I am a victor in Christ." 

[as Mark 11:23 ; Luke 10:19; Philippians 2:10 declares] You speak these authority truths aloud, declaring the authority that Jesus delegated to you, until your spirit is convinced of the dominion you have been given. 

Then you move to your provision and your well-being: "By the stripes of Jesus Christ, I was healed. My God supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The peace of God that passes all understanding guards my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. " 

[as 1 Peter 2:24 ; Philippians 4:19 ; 2 Timothy 1:7;   Philippians 4:7 declares] You speak these provision truths aloud, declaring the well-being that the finished work of Christ secured for you, until your spirit rests in the sufficiency of what God has provided.

Note: The cumulative effect of this kind of daily confession with words that should motivate every believer to begin the practice. 

NOTE: "The believer who confesses the word of God over his life daily will within a matter of weeks find a transformation taking place in his inner man. The doubts that once dominated his thinking begin to fade. The fears that once gripped his heart begin to lose their hold. The faith that once seemed weak begins to grow strong. And the authority that once felt distant begins to feel natural. This transformation is not the result of a single dramatic experience. It is the result of the daily faithful deliberate speaking of the Word, which builds the inner man the way daily exercise builds the body. Consistency is the key. The believer who confesses the Word for five minutes every day will outpace the believer who confesses it for an hour once a month, because the faith life is built by consistency, not by intensity." 

Consistency, not intensity. That is the principle. Five minutes every day will produce more than an hour once a month. Because faith is built by the daily, repeated, speaking of the Word. 

Consider how this principle holds true in the natural world. The river does not carve the canyon in a single dramatic flood, but through the steady, patient flow of water over time.

 The tree does not grow tall in a single day of sunshine, but through the daily unremarkable receiving of light and water across many seasons. 

And faith does not become strong through one intense experience, but through the daily, faithful speaking of the Word, repeated morning after morning, until the cumulative effect produces a strength that no single effort could ever achieve. 

Let me show you how this looks in the life of a real believer , so the practice becomes concrete and not merely theoretical.

 Consider a woman who has battled fear and anxiety for most of her life. For decades, the fear came every morning before her feet touched the floor.  A heavy dread about the day, about her health, about her family, about the future. She had prayed about it for years, asking God to take the fear away, and while she loved the Lord deeply, the fear kept returning. Then she learned this practice. Each morning, before she rose from her bed, she began to speak the Word aloud over her life. "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I am a new creation. The peace of God guards my heart and mind. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." The first morning, she did not feel different. The second morning, the same. But she kept speaking. And somewhere in the second week, she noticed that the dread did not come as heavily. By the fourth week, she woke up one morning and realized the fear had not come at all. Not because she had a dramatic deliverance experience, but because day after day, she had been speaking the Word, and the Word had been building faith, renewing her mind, and feeding her spirit, until the fear that had ruled her for decades simply lost its grip. 

That is the power of the daily practice. Quiet. Consistent. Cumulative. And ultimately transforming. 

This brings us to one of the most important principles of the practice: the principle of the seed and the harvest. When you speak the Word over your life, you are planting seeds. And seeds do not produce a harvest the same day they are planted. There is a period of growth, of development, of unseen activity beneath the surface, before the harvest appears. The believer who speaks the Word for one day and expects an immediate, total transformation will be disappointed, the same way a farmer who plants corn on Monday and expects to harvest it on Tuesday will be disappointed. But the believer who understands the principle of the seed keeps planting, in our case it s speaking the Word, day after day, knowing that the harvest is coming, that the Word is working beneath the surface, and that consistency will produce what a single effort never could. 

Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Speaking the Word, daily is well doing.

In due season we shall reap, if we faint not. The fainting not is the daily faithfulness. The reaping is the transformation that comes to those who do not quit. 

Now let me address why this practice works so powerfully. Because understanding the mechanism will strengthen your commitment to it. When you speak the Word of God aloud over your life, several things happen simultaneously. 

First, your faith is built by the hearing, as Romans 10:17 declares. Your own ears hear the Word, and faith comes by that hearing.

 Second, your mind is renewed, as Romans 12:2 describes. The repeated speaking of the Word reshapes your thinking, replacing the old patterns of doubt and fear with the truth of God's Word. 

 Third, your spirit is fed and strengthened, as the Word becomes the nourishment of your inner man. 

 Fourth, your confession is aligned with the Word, so that your mouth, which has the power of life and death, as Proverbs 18:21 declares, is consistently speaking life. {Amplified Bible: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words}

And fifth, the spiritual realm responds to the Word you declare, as the angels hearken to the voice of God's Word, as Psalm 103:20 reveals. {Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word}

Five powerful effects, all activated by the single practice of speaking the Word aloud over your life for five minute each day. 

Summary: Here's summarized the power of this daily practice with a statement that should remove every excuse for neglecting it. "There is no faster way to develop faith and authority than the daily confession of the Word. It costs nothing but five minutes. It requires no special gift, no advanced training, and no particular eloquence. It requires only the willingness to open your mouth and speak what God has said about you. And the believer who does this faithfully will, within a season, find himself or herself transformed from a doubting, fearful, defeated Christian into a confident, faith-filled, authoritative son or daughter of God. The practice is simple. The cost is minimal. And the results are extraordinary." 

  The practice is simple, the cost is minimal, and the results are extraordinary. That is the promise of the five-minute daily confession of the Word of God. And it is available to every believer who will commit to the practice. 

And here is the climactic truth that should compel you to begin this practice today. The capacity Jesus Christ described in Mark 11:23, the capacity to speak to mountains and watch them move, is not reserved for spiritual giants. It is developed through practice, the same way every capacity is developed. And the believer who commits to speaking the Word daily, who does the faith exercise consistently, will develop that capacity over time, just as surely as the person who lifts weights daily develops physical strength. You are not waiting for mountain-moving faith to descend upon you in a dramatic moment. 

You are building mountain-moving faith, day by day, five minutes at a time, through the deliberate speaking of the Word. And one day, when a mountain stands before you, you will discover that the faith you have been building through daily practice is strong enough to move it, because you developed the capacity through the discipline that Jesus prescribed when He said, "whosoever shall say. "

We expressed this with words that should turn understanding into action.

NOTE: "Do not wait for faith to come upon you. Build it. Do not hope for authority to descend. Develop it. The God kind of faith is in you, deposited at the new birth, but it must be developed through use, and the primary use is the speaking of the Word. Speak the Word daily. Build your faith deliberately. Develop your authority consistently. And when the day of testing comes, you will not be scrambling to find faith you never built. You will be standing in the faith you developed through the faithful, daily, five-minute discipline of speaking the Word of God over your life. "

Build it. Develop it. Speak the Word daily. That is the charge. And the believer who heeds it will be ready when the mountain comes, because the faith will already be developed. So let this truth turn into a practice that you begin today. Mark 11:23 is not merely a verse to be read. It is a blueprint to be practiced. And the practice is simple: for five minutes each day, speak the  Word of God aloud over your life. Declare your identity in Christ. Declare your authority in His name. Declare the provision and well-being that His finished work secured. Speak it aloud, so your own ears hear it. Speak it with conviction, so your own spirit receives it. And speak it consistently, every day, so that the Word builds your faith and develops your authority over time. 

This practice costs nothing but five minutes. It requires no special gift. And it produces, through the principle of consistency, a transformation in your faith life that years of passive Christianity never accomplished. The capacity to move mountains is developed through the daily speaking of the Word. 

So begin today, speak the Word for five minutes, and keep speaking it, day after day, until the faith you are building becomes strong enough to move every mountain that stands in your way. 

Let me leave the present Church with a charge that should become a daily practice for every believer. "Speak the Word. Speak it daily. Speak it aloud. Speak it over your identity, your authority, your health, your provision, and your future. Let the Word spoken from your own mouth build the faith in your own heart. And do not stop. Make it a discipline. Make it a habit. Make it the foundation of your daily walk with God. The believer who speaks the Word faithfully will become a believer who moves mountains effortlessly, because the faith was built in the quiet, daily discipline long before the mountain ever appeared." 

  The faith was built long before the mountain appeared. That is the wisdom of the daily practice. You build the faith in the quiet, ordinary days, so that you are ready when the extraordinary day of testing comes.

We know the farmer does not plant his crop during the storm. He plants it in the calm seasons, so that when the lean times come, the harvest is already in the barn. And the believer who speaks the Word in the ordinary days is storing up a harvest of faith that will sustain him through every season that lies ahead. 

You are free to share this powerful practice, as you are led by the Holy Spirit. Freely you receive it, freely you give, with love and godly humility. 

 I speak the word of God over my life every day. That is a believer committing to the daily practice that develops the faith and authority Jesus Christ described. 

And as you begin to develop your faith through the daily speaking of the Word, there is one area of life where most believers desperately need to exercise their authority, but almost never do. It is the area of provision, of finances, of the resources needed to live and to give and to fulfill the purpose God has assigned. Because here is what most Christians have never understood. Lack is not merely an unfortunate circumstance to be endured. It is a condition over which the believer has been given authority. You are not meant to be a passive victim of financial hardship, simply hoping things will improve. You have been given authority over lack, the same authority you have over sickness, over fear, and over every other work of the enemy. And yet most believers never exercise this authority because they have never been taught that they possess it. 

We are going to uncover the authority you have been given over lack and show you how to exercise it the way you would exercise authority over any other enemy. If what you learn today taught you to build your faith, what comes next will show you how to apply it to your provision.