“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” In other words, the tongue has the unique power to tear down and to build up. On Sunday, Pastor Franklin bound the spirits of lack, limitation, hindrance, and devouring - which are all spirits that tear down. In contrast, he also proclaimed the spirit of the carpenter - a spirit that builds up and bears fruit.

In Ephesians, Paul explains how to use the tongue to bear fruit, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Furthermore, consider Nehemiah. When facing the spirit of hinderance while rebuilding

Jerusalem’s wall, he proclaimed to his enemies, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3). If not for his spirit and speech, would he have been able to finish rebuilding the wall?

Words multiply. Even in military strategy. One of General Colin Powell’s Rules of Leadership states, “perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” This saying means that leaders are able to influence the morale of their troops, effectively multiplying their forces, by speaking and projecting optimism. 

No matter what’s been torn down in your life, God can build it back up. Start using the power of your tongue to build up what the enemy has tried to tear down.

Querido Padre Celestial,

I thank You for Your warnings and encouragements in Scripture as well as the teaching from Sunday. I confess I have too often used my tongue as the power of death through emphasizing lack, limitations, hindrance, and devouring. Forgive me, Lord God. And purify me from all unrighteousness. Set a guard over my mouth to prevent me from speaking words of death or discouragement. Baptize me again and again in Your Holy Spirit so that Your living water flows in me and through me and to encourage those around me. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The physical and the spiritual, the natural and the supernatural overlap. We were encouraged to pray over premises and pray over physical items, giving thanks to God. This week, try this in your home, or get to work early, to the prayer meeting early, to the kid’s club meeting or practice early. Pray over the premises, pray over the people, pray over the equipment, if that applies. With our words, let us invite Jesus to bring his life where we live.