THE BATTLE OF WORDS

THE BATTLE OF WORDS

Word is the most potent force in the universe. The world and all that is in it were created by words. Gen 1. Bible says, “and God said..” He spoke them into existence. Words are creative. they are also destructive. James said a man that does not offend in words is perfect.

Wars are being fought with spear, sword, turcano jets, bombers planes, missile, machine guns and ak-47 guns. but none is as powerful as the the force of words.

Eph 6:11 KJV Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The spiritual warfare is not by those physical weapons and yet Satan has come against us.

1Sam 17:39-47 KJV 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

There was war between the Philistine and Israel. A man called Goliath was their champion and captain. Wherever there is a battle, there is always a champion.

The Hebrew word they used for Champion is: “benayim” and it means between, space between two armies, man of the space between armies, i.e. champion.

He was the leader and commander standing between the two armies. Every champion standing before you shall be disgraced in Jesus name.

The Bible says for forty days he came to defy the armies of Israel with his stature and his intimidating words and everyone ran from him even king Saul could not confront him. 

1Sam 17:11 KJV When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

Whatever you have heard that has made you to be dismayed shall be scattered in Jesus name.

We are in the battle of words. Many of us have heard things that have made us fearful. We have heard words about insecurity, economy, state of the nation and we are afraid, we don’t know what to do. Many of us have heard from our doctors about the particular case and we are fearful; we have heard from counselors and from our bosses at work and their words are like arrows piercing us, after this encounter the Lord will turn them for your good. 

Every word that has brought fear into any man’s heart shall be scattered in Jesus name

The bible says this he did for forty days.

1Sam 17:16 KJV And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

Forty days morning and night, during the time of their prayers to intimidate and harass them. You know many at times when you want to pray you will start hearing voices of defeat, evil, shame, asking you why are you still praying about that matter, it will tell you God has forgotten you, you can’t have it, it is not possible but in the name of Jesus, those voices are silenced today. You will hear them no more. From today you shall hear the voice of victory in Jesus’ name.

Forty days but it came to an end. Hello sir, there is an end. To everything, there is an end. it doesnt matter for how long this thing has been there, today it shall be terminated in Jesus name.

Pro 23:18 KJV For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

I believe that there is an end to that battle, an end has come. An end to all evils in our lives in Jesus name.

In verse 17 the bible says Jesse sent David to his brothers who were in the army at the camp. Why did that take place on the fortieth day? Why did Jesse send David? Was it a matter of coincidence? 

David himself told his brother, is there no cause? The champion came out to speak at the time when David was around. May you be at the right place at the right time.

You see when God wants to help people He sends them a man, when He wants to take away shame and reproach from people, He sends them a man. When He wanted to help the widow of Zarephath, He sent Elijah. When he wanted to heal Naaman, He sent Elisha. When He wanted to deliver the children of Israel from captivity, He sent Moses and when He wanted to help us He sent Jesus a man. 

Gal 4:4-5 KJV 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

1Ti 2:5 KJV For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

This week whosoever will champion your case and cause, the Lord shall send him to you in Jesus name. He shall send you a man. 

As you receive the ministry of angels, so also learn how to receive the ministry of man. Say in the name of Jesus, I receive the ministry of man in my marriage, my business, career, work, employment and life.

I believe I am sent this morning to somebody. Whosoever I am sent to shall receive a miracle, healings, breakthrough, deliverance and abundance in Jesus name.

So there was an encounter between Goliath and David, you know the story but take cognizance of the encounter. 

Before the actual war, there was a war of words. In modern wrestling or boxing, before the contestants come together to fight, you will see them speaking and acting big in order to intimidate their opponent.

The Philistine when he saw David was shocked and he look down on him and spoke and cursed David by his gods

1Sam 17:43-44 KJV 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

What did David do? He didn’t keep silent or smile. Silence most times is consent. He too started talking back to Goliath.

1Sa 17:45-47 KJV 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Goliath spoke two verses and David spoke three verses. 

• Your words must prevail over that of the enemy. Act 19:20 KJV So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
• You must speak with clarity and decisiveness. 
• You must speak what you want to be done. 

David had no sword yet he said he would cut off Goliath’s head; give his flesh to the birds of the air. Where will David get a sword from? David was calling those things that be not as though they were Rom 4: 17. Jesus said in Mark 11: 23 you shall have what you say.

What happened to Goliath. He died after the words of David. The stone just brought him down flat. When he fell down, he was not dead physically but he became a dead person the moment David spoke his future for him. When Satan speaks to you about your present challenge you speak to him about his future.

The mistake people make is not responding to words we hear. The difference between the army of Israel and David was that they were intimidated by the words of Goliath and ran away from him but David knew His God and responded accordingly. Saul and the men of Israel kept quiet for forty days and did not answer Goliath but when David heard the same thing he started talking and spoke until he got Goliath down.

Today, the devil is using the same tactics, strategies and wiles. He comes against us by words through people, family members, church members, friends, these are people that can speak into your lives and you may be carried away not answering them or just take it for granted. 

Case study 1.

Look at what happened between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 16. Satan can use anybody. We have to be sensitive and radar extended out.

Mat 16:15-17 KJV 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus had asked His disciple who people call him and they gave various answers and then He asked them, what about you guys, who do you think i am? Peter answered and said He was the son of God. Jesus commended him that it was God that revealed that to him.

Not quite long, Jesus began to tell them his future and salvation plan, how He was going to go to Jerusalem, be beaten and crucified but will rise up again. Peter did not want to have any of those things and he started talking by taking Jesus aside and told him nothing of that will happen. In other words, the purpose of God concerning your life will not come to pass, what God wants to do through you will not materialize, you will not fulfill your destiny. That was what Peter was saying. The same man that just confessed Jesus as messiah.

Jesus turned and rebuked Peter.

Mat 16:23 KJV But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

I am sure Peter will be shocked when Jesus calls him Satan. But it was not Peter but Satan. Jesus recognized the man behind the mask. Satan was speaking through Peter against him.

It is the same today, many good people around you can be an instrument or voice of the devil speaking delay, setback, problems into your life and we must respond accurately and accordingly.

CASE STUDY 2 (inanimate object). it will also amaze you that things talks to us. satan uses them to speak to us.

Mar 11:13 KJV And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

Jesus saw a fig tree afar off and he was hungry so He approached it to see if he could get something from it but the bible says he saw only leaves because the time of figs had not come.

How did Jesus respond to the tree?

Mar 11:14 KJV And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Jesus answered the fig tree in the book of Mark chapter 11. In every other place where they used the word “answered,” there was corresponding communication for instance between Jesus and disciples, Pharisees, and people (Mk 3: 33; 5: 9; 6:37, 7: 9, etc.) But here, He answered a tree. That was weird. He had expected to find fruit on it but when he got there He saw none on it except leaves because the bible says the time of figs has not come. 

May you not be disappointed in life. So how come the fig tree was having leaves because according to the nature of the fig tree it should have leaves and figs at the same time? This one is exceptional and it was a hypocrite tree. When Jesus got to the place where he was, He answered the tree. Why? The tree was speaking to him that he will remain like that, he will be hungry, he will have nothing to eat. So Jesus answered the tree that if that be the case, here is what will happen to you.

In verse 20 the following morning they saw the fig tree had died by withering from the root. Then Jesus released another statement that is the fundamental law of faith today.

Mar 11:23 KJV 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.

Anything created has the ability to hear. They were created by the word and they listen to the word. They obey the word. The Bible says by His words, heaven and earth were made.

even the prophet in 1 Kings came in the word of the Lord and he spoke to the altar

in 1King 13: 10, the Bible says that the prophet came by the word of the Lord and he spoke to the altar and it broke into pieces.

1Ki 13:1-2 KJV 1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.

Your body is speaking to you when you feel sick, have pain, leg pain, it is telling you, you can’t go to church, you are tired and sick.

Your bank account is speaking to you; it will always be in red, you will not do or achieve anything this year. You must speak back too. We are in a battle of words. Speak to your CV, picture, address yourself in the mirror, personalize the scripture to yourself. When you hear things contrary to the plan of God and his purpose, talk back. Speak back to your FM radio stations that are speaking death every day. Power of life and death are not with the devil but in tongues now.

Pro 18:21 KJV Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

What we must do

1. Know God and who He is to you. Daniel said something great: Dan 11:32 KJV And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

We know god through His words. When you know God, you will know yourself. We are of His offspring.

2. Learn and memorize the scriptures. During the temptation of Jesus as recorded by the evangelists in the Gospels, Jesus was quoting from the scriptures to counter the words of the devil.

Luk 4:4 KJV And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

He quoted from Deut 8: 3

When Satan asked him to bow and worship him in order to have the glory of the world, Jesus responded:

Luk 4:8 KJV And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

He quoted from Deut 6: 13; 10: 20

If Jesus had to memorize scriptures; how about we he came to save?

The words that you speak matters. Whether you are going to win or lose depends on the word you speak. Words are the  most potent force and according to the Bible, God honour His words above His name.

3. Activate them by speaking the word. Give voice to his words. Give expression to it. Did you know why? The devil and all angels don’t recognize your words but the words of God. Nobody wants to hear your shout or cry but they all hearken to the voice of His words.

Psa 103:20-21 KJV 20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Hearkening is a present continuous tense.

“The voice of his word” means the word that has been spoken. The New Testament is called the “Rhema” or divine utterance. it is not the logo or body of truth written black and white but the one that is given expression.

When Revelations says that two edge sword was coming from the mouth of Jesus Rev 1:16. It was figurative. In Ephe 6:17, Bible says take up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The Greek word for “word” there is “Rhema” So what was coming from His mouth was the word. 

What did he do with the sword in His mouth?

Rev 19:15 KJV And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

It was with the word that he smite the enemies.

It is what you have studied and memorized that the Holy Spirit will quicken unto you. How forcible are the right words.

When we speak we empower them, they are activated. They have something to work with. we Equipped them, we gave them tools to work with. 

That psalm says they “do his pleasure.” What is his pleasure? His words. They do it. What is agreeable to him; that is, who performs his will. Employed in his service, and appointed to execute his will, they are called on to bless his name. They put it to work. When they hear it, they don’t just rejoice at it but put it to work. Many of our angels are idle because we do not give them work to do. We don’t engage them and so we don’t reap their benefits.

Heb 1:14 KJV Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

This morning every fig tree speaking evil to you shall dry up in Jesus name.

Prayers

Isa 7:5-7 KJV Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, 6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: 7 Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.