Speak Not or Forever Hold Your Peace: Embracing the Power of Faith and Speech

Speak It – Part 5

Review: The Pattern of Speaking

We Must Speak What We Believe - 2 Corinthians 4:13 (AMP)

Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, "I believed, therefore I spoke." We also believe, therefore we also speak.

The World Was Created By A Spoken Word - Hebrews 11:3 (AMP)

By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

We Are Created In God's Image and Likeness - Genesis 1:26-30 (AMP)

Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth."

Jesus Said We Can Do Greater - John 14:12 (AMP)

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.

Jesus Said to Speak to the Mountain - Matthew 21:21 (AMP)

Jesus replied to them, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to be drawn in two directions, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen [if God wills it]."

Elijah Spoke to Clouds - 1 Kings 17:1 (AMP)

Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."

Ezekiel Spoke to the Dry Bones and Wind - Ezekiel 37:4, 9 (AMP)

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.'" Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'"

Joshua Spoke to the Sun and Moon - Joshua 10:12-13 (AMP)

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord handed over the Amorites to the sons of Israel, and Joshua said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, And moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation [of Israel] took vengeance upon their enemies.

Main Text: Jeremiah 1:1-19

Jeremiah's Call and Commission

Although Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years, he never saw his people heed his words and turn from their sins. He did, however, see them taken into Babylonian captivity as he had prophesied.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 (AMP)

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Notice that before God gave Jeremiah an assignment, He gave him identity. God thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable.

God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work. Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Philippians 1:11). If He gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If you have not received a specific call or assignment from God, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers—to love, obey, and serve God—until His guidance becomes more clear.

Not About Your Ability But Your Availability

Jeremiah 1:6 (AMP)

Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, For I am [only] a young man."

What is your "but"? Often people struggle with new challenges because they lack self-confidence, feeling that they have inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was too young and inexperienced to be God's spokesman to the world. We all have an issue that we are dealing with.

Jeremiah 1:7 (AMP)

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am [only] a young man,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And whatever I command you, you shall speak."

Don't say what you see. We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God's call. When you find yourself avoiding something you know you should do, be careful not to use lack of self-confidence as an excuse. If God gives you a job to do, He will provide everything you need to do it.

God's Promise of Protection

Jeremiah 1:8 (AMP)

"Do not be afraid of them [or their hostile faces], For I am with you [always] to protect you and deliver you," says the Lord.

God promised to be with Jeremiah and to take care of him, but not to keep trouble from coming. God does not keep us from life's storms either, but He will see us through them.

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)

"No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me," says the Lord.

Isaiah 43:1-4 (MSG)

But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you."

God Puts His Words in Our Mouths

Jeremiah 1:9-10 (AMP)

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, "Behold (hear Me), I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To uproot and break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant."

God appointed Jeremiah to bring His word to "nations and kingdoms."

Jeremiah 1:11-12 (AMP)

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see the branch of an almond tree." Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it."

Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55:11 (AMP)

So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

The vision of the almond branch revealed that the beginning of God's judgment would come soon, because the almond tree is among the first to blossom in the spring. God saw the sins of Judah and the nations, and He would carry out swift and certain judgment.

Stand Firm and Speak

Jeremiah 1:17-19 (AMP)

But you [Jeremiah], gird up your loins [in preparation]! Get up and tell them all which I command you. Do not be distraught and break down at the sight of their [hostile] faces, or I will bewilder you before them and allow you to be overcome. Now behold, I have made you today like a fortified city and like an iron pillar and like bronze walls against the whole land—against the [successive] kings of Judah, against its leaders, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome]. They will fight against you, but they will not [ultimately] prevail over you, for I am with you [always] to protect you and deliver you," says the Lord.

What Flows from Your Heart

Proverbs 16:1 (NKJV)

The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Luke 6:45 (NLT)

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Put on the Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20 (AMP)

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God's people. And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation], for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should.

Angels Obey the Voice of His Word

Psalm 103:20 (AMP)

Bless the LORD, you His angels, You mighty ones who do His commandments, Obeying the voice of His word!

Joshua 6:20 (NLT)

When the people heard the sound of the rams' horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.

Acts 16:25-26 (AMP)

But about midnight when Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; suddenly there was a great earthquake, so [powerful] that the very foundations of the prison were shaken and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.

Discussion Questions

1. Identity before assignment: God gave Jeremiah his identity before his assignment. How does understanding who you are in Christ—that God knew you before you were born and has a purpose for you—change the way you approach the challenges God places before you?
2. Your "but": Jeremiah said, "But... I am only a young man." What is your "but"—the excuse you use when God calls you to step out in faith? How does God's response to Jeremiah ("Do not say...") challenge you to stop speaking your limitations and start speaking His promises?
3. Don't say what you see: The message emphasizes not speaking what we see with our natural eyes. What negative circumstances are you currently "saying" that need to be replaced with God's Word? How can you shift from describing your problems to declaring God's solutions?
4. Availability over ability: It's not about your ability but your availability. In what area is God asking you to make yourself available, even though you don't feel qualified or equipped? What does trusting that "God will provide everything you need" look like practically?
5. Angels obey the voice of His Word: Psalm 103:20 tells us angels obey the voice of God's Word. When you speak Scripture out loud over your situation, you're activating spiritual forces on your behalf. What specific scriptures do you need to start declaring daily? How might speaking God's Word—not just thinking it—change the spiritual atmosphere around you?