When we were little children and got offended by someone’s words we would often would sing, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Now this may be true in the earthly way of thinking, but in the heavenly way of thinking words will destroy us. As a matter of fact ours words (and often other’s) are the biggest obstacle in our lives preventing us from coming to the end and purpose God has for us.

Many “Word of Faith” and Pentecostal denominations really get off track by teaching we can project (“name it and claim it”) our words into the future, ensuring bigger and better things from God. Well, no where in the Bible is this perverse teaching taught. Now it is true our words affect our future, but it is our humble words of submission and brokenness that ensure we receive (not claim) whatsoever God has for us. It is our unselfish words of perfection in obedience to God that ensures we receive what we have qualified next for. God will never give us anything if we are ambitious and selfish. Our words often reveal the selfishness of our character and haughty spirit of our heart. If we have a desire to know God’s will in a given situation we need not run over to our friend’s home and agree in prayer for understanding or write our request on a slip of paper so that the world can pray for us. All we need to do is be in a place in Him where we can hear His voice and be so close to Him we will be able to be strengthened in the inward man to do what He wants us to do.

Here on earth we go after many things. We try to “get” a nice home, a big car, favor with men, money, a big 401K retirement package, etc. after all these are signs of success and God’s blessing, but the Bible teaches different, it teaches us to get wisdom and understanding, “ He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.” (Proverbs 4:4-5) The goal of our Christ-likeness walk is to know God and His ways nothing more. Now God’s ways are these: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. ” (James 3:17-18) Our getting from God is not so we can go to heaven, do signs and miracles, cast out demons, or get earthly comfort from God. God is not interested in making us happy, He is trying to save us from eternal separation from Him. If we can reach our goal, then God will be able to reach His; to conform us into the character and nature of His dear Son Jesus Christ. Both these goals will be reached through our understanding of God’s words and God’s Word (The Holy Bible) to us as the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to our heart and spirit. This desire to know God and His ways was the cornerstone of Paul’s teaching. In Colossians we read, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” (Colossians 1:9) Paul knew the secret of perseverance and commitment in God was predicated on knowing God. And for us to know God we must be taught a deeper message of truth with words. Today in the church we hear messages that keep members as babes in the Lord. Now I thank God for grace and forgiveness, please do not misunderstand me, but the message of grace and forgiveness alone will NOT strengthen a church to be able to endure life’s harsh situations and difficulties. Paul knew people will not endure affliction and persecution to become Godly unless they are taught a deeper message, “ Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) Spiritual growth and maturity in God happens out from our personal experiences in Him as we endure persecution and hardships for the Gospel. It does not happen at the latest conference or seminar nor by the warm and fuzzy feeling we get when we sing our favorite praise and worship song. We personally come to know God when He develops (not delivers) us through troubles and situations in our lives. If not then our “unlearned and unstable wrest . . .” (2 Peter 3:16) ways will destroy us. What a warning to us today.

My friend words really do matter. Words we use in church matter. I can not believe all of the words we make up to support our doctrinal brief. Today in the church we have many ministries and doctrines that are not found in the Bible. The only “true” ministries are the five fold ministry found in the Ephesians, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: “ (Ephesians 4:11-12) There is no ministry in the Bible called: music ministry, children’s ministry, church decorating ministry, bus ministry, computer ministry, or whatever ministry made up to get people to feel like they belong to the church. Now some of these good works are important, but they are a part of the Gifts of the Spirit called “helps” and “government.” “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings , helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28) My friend 95% of the Body of Christ operates in the gifts of “helps” and “governments” (administration functions), but we wrap up our ignorance to the Word of God and call it all ministry to get more people involved, this ought not be. So too I can not believe all of the doctrines (or teachings) out there in the church. The Bible lists many doctrines like; “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Timothy 4:1). Here are a few others specific destructive doctrines: doctrine of vanities (Jeremiah 10:8), doctrine of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:12), doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14), doctrine of Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14), and strange doctrines (Hebrew 13:9), the list goes on. In the Book of Acts we find, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42). There are only a few constructive doctrines in the Bible that edify the Body of Christ: the apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42), the doctrine of Christ (Hebrew 6:1), the doctrine of baptisms (Hebrews 6:2), sound doctrine (Titus 1:9) all of which point us to Christ. My friend unless we are involved with the “apostles’ doctrine” and such we then are operating and functioning within the powers of the “doctrines of devils.” There is no such thing as the doctrine of Angels, doctrine of healing, or whatever doctrine made up to yoke the Body of Christ. The apostles’ doctrine is nothing more than teaching others what the apostles taught and they taught only the things they personally saw and touched of Jesus. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:1-3) We too must have a personal experience with God where we can see and touch things of Jesus. We then can teach others, thus we are operating in the “apostles’ doctrine.” Denominational doctrinal literature is contrary to the God’s Word. Friend we must be very careful when writing things down, words really do matter and can quickly get people off track and end them in destruction and death. Always remember our words and our meditation is our strength, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Proverbs 19:14) for they are one in the same. Let us over come by the words of our testimony. Words really do matter.