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Biblical
Prosperity in Perspective 17
The Importance of
Maintaining a Good Report, Part Two
by Pastor John Hamel
In our last lesson we saw the importance of
maintaining a good report always. Maintaining a good report means
saying what God says in spite of contradictory circumstances, sights,
sounds and feelings.
Maintaining an evil report means speaking
contrary to what God says. Maintaining an evil report means to say
what circumstances, sights, sounds and feelings say. This is what Israel did. They
bemoaned the giants who were in the land God promised to give to
them.
They said, “We are not able” when God said, “You are more than
able.” Because Israel continued to speak
against what God said they could do, they were 40 years accomplishing what
they could have done in 40 days.
Words have power.
God does everything He does with His words. We are created in God’s
image and in God’s likeness. (Genesis 1:26) This means that we are
Co-Creators with Him.
We can create good circumstances out of evil
circumstances with the words of our mouths. We can conquer the giants
of poverty and lack, living our lives debt-free and comfortable while pumping
individual fortunes into the preaching of the Gospel.
Our
Tongues Literally Govern the Direction of Our Lives
It is so important
that God’s children stop maintaining evil reports and sob stories for
anyone who is ignorant enough of Scripture to listen to them. I know
that is a strong word. I give it to you because I want to see a
strong flow of finances coming toward you instead of racing away from you
for a change.
Let’s go back to
the Epistle of James and see something he taught about the power of the
tongue. James grew up with Jesus, his half-brother. Certainly
he learned a few things around the house from his big brother concerning
the power of the spoken Word.
“My brethren, be
not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater
condemnation [judgment]. For in many things we offend all. If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to
bridle the whole body.” (James 3:1-2)
When James said
that a man who does not offend in word is “perfect” he was actually saying
that individual is morally and mentally mature. It is a sign of
spiritual maturity when someone is able to grab hold of their tongue and
keep it in complete control.
James also said that the individual who
is able to control his tongue is also able to bridle the whole body.
The Amplified Bible says that the individual who controls their tongue is
able to “curb his entire nature.” This means that the person who uses
their tongue wisely has a whole lot to say about their physical, mental, spiritual
and material prosperity.
“Behold, we put
bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their
whole body.” (Verse 3)
I do not like bits
for horses, although they are very effective. They put pressure on
the horse’s mouth so that the horse will obey the rider’s command.
James is telling us to put pressure on our own mouths in order to be able
to effectively obey God’s command for us to prosper.
People who
criticize this principle, mocking it as “name it and claim it” are morally
and mentally immature and just playing games with God. James, the
brother of Jesus, said this, not me. So, don’t get mad at me. I
might be a half-decent Bible Teacher, but I did not write this. I’m
good, but I’m not that good. I’m just trying to help you to
prosper. Not just for your benefit either, but for the benefit of the
multiple billions who are waiting for God’s children to get a hold of this
principle.
“Behold also the
ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet
are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.” (Verse 4)
The word James used
for “turned” is actually “straightened.” He uses the metaphor of a
great ship with a tiny rudder to communicate the greatness of our lives
being controlled by our tiny tongues. If your life is a mess
financially or in any other way, it is only going to get “straightened” out
as you get your tongue back in control.
Your tongue is the rudder of your life.
If you do not like where you are headed financially, put some pressure on
the rudder and change course. Lean on it a little. It will obey
you. You do that by saying what God says. When you do, your
life will turn around financially and in every other way.
“Even so the tongue
is a little member, and boasteth great
things. Behold, how great a matter a little
fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a
world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth
on fire the course of nature: and it is set on fire of hell.” (Verses5-6)
The Amplified Bible
says, “The tongue sets on fire the wheel of birth – the cycle of man’s
nature.” If you want to get out of the poverty cycle, you are going
to have to clamp down on your tongue and start saying what God says.
God says He will meet every need according to His riches in Glory through
Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) God says that His pleasure is in
your prosperity, not in your poverty. (Psalm 35:27)
“For every kind of
beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed,
and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is
an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (Verse 7-8)
James is saying
that the tongue is untamable by man alone. He needs the help of the Holy Spirit.
Anyone who asks the Holy Spirit to help them control their tongue will find
supernatural assistance immediately available to them. Just pray,
“Holy Spirit, whatever it takes, please help me to get a hold of my tongue
and to use it on behalf of the lost world. In Jesus’ Name. Help
me to speak prosperity and never again poverty.”
It is appalling,
the things some of God’s Co-Creators speak. “I swear to God he’s
going to kill himself on that thing.” “She’s a holy terror but we
love her to death.” “You just watch, he’s
going to end up murdering someone. He’s such a little monster.”
“He’s such a lazy liar. He’ll never change. He’s just like his
father.”
“Some people are destined for wealth. Others are
destined for poverty. Guess I’m just destined for poverty.”
“Look at that fool crossing the freeway. He’s going to get himself
killed.” “Better watch your money around that Pastor. He’s up
to no good. He needs to get a job like everybody else.”
People wonder why
they have no power with God and cannot seem to get their prayers
answered. Well here it is. You cannot pray one way and go off
and talk another. When you speak against your prayers, you cancel
them.
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth
his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (James 1:26)
“Put away from thee
a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.” (Proverbs 4:24)
The word for
“perverse” is contrary. You simply cannot speak contrary to God’s
Word and will and experience supernatural prosperity.
“A wholesome tongue
is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
(Proverbs 15:4)
In the original
Hebrew “breach in the spirit” actually says, “the fracture of a
dream.” An out of control tongue is like a sledgehammer on a
teacup. It will bring a thing of beauty to unrecognizable
pieces. Listen, you were deliberately designed to dictate your destiny.
However, you absolutely must begin to start speaking God’s will for your
prosperity now. Do not wait until you are in another crisis to try to
train your tongue. That would be like trying to pour a concrete
foundation during a monsoon. It will all just wash away and you will
end up angry with God when God is not guilty.
God wants you to
prosper. It is pleasing to Him. (Psalm 35:27) He wants you to
prosper above all else. (3 John 2) He wants to meet every need.
(Philippians 4:19) He will do it through tithes and offerings.
(Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38) The angels of God are just waiting to help
you. (Psalm 103:20)
However, everything hinges on that little orifice
under your nose. Get it in control and prosper in this life.
Get it in control and you will have nothing to fear in the next life.
You
Will Give Account for Your Words at Christ's Judgment
Believers do not
stand before the Great White Throne
Judgment after death. That is a Judgment for the wicked
dead only. (Revelation 20:11-15)
Believers will stand before the Bema (Reward) Judgment
Seat of Christ. (2Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10)
This is a Judgment
where rewards will be given and/or taken away. (See First Corinthians
3:14-15.)
“For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad.” (2Corinthians 5:10)
Every Believer who
stands before Christ’s Judgment Seat will literally give account for every
single evil report that ever came out of their mouth which was not repented
of. Someone said, “Oh, that is
ridiculous. How in the world is something like that even
possible?” I do not know how and I do not care how. I only know
that it is true because Jesus said it is true. People need to have as much faith in Holy
God as they do in IPod.
“A good man out of
the good treasure [God’s Word] of the heart bringeth
forth [ejects] good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure
[Satan’s words] bringeth forth evil things
[calamity]. But I say unto you, That every idle [lazy, useless,
unemployed] word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment [the Judgment Seat of Christ]. For by thy words
thou shalt be justified [rendered innocent], and
by thy words thou shalt be condemned [pronounced
guilty].” (Matthew 12:35-37)
Idle words are
words that contradict God’s Word and God’s Plan for the lost people of the
world. Idle words are words that do not employ Kingdom
Principles. Idle words are ones that always give the evil
report. Here is how the Judgment will go for the one who refuses to
bridle their tongue.
Evil
reporter: “Lord, sorry I couldn’t finance the Gospel the way that I
see some of these other folks around here were able to do. I kept
losing my job. I never did have enough to make ends meet. Every
time a promotion came up, someone else got it and I just always knew they
would. You can ask anybody I worked with. They heard me say
so. Nothing good ever happened for me. Things always happened
to me. I know You understand.”
Jesus: “I
know all about it. I don’t need to ask your former fellow
workers. I heard every word you ever said. I did a lot of
cringing while you were on the Earth. You talked then the way you’re
talking to Me now. Every word you ever spoke will now testify against
you. You could have agreed with My Word. You could have said
that no weapon formed against you would prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
"You
could have said that you were translated out of the kingdom of poverty and
into the Kingdom of Prosperity. (Colossians
1:12-13) You could have said greater is He who is in me than he who
is in the world. (1John 4:4) You could have said that you’d get those
promotions because My good pleasure was your prosperity. (Psalm
35:27) You could have said a lot of things you didn’t say. You
did a lot of griping, poor mouthing and evil reporting in spite of what My
Bible taught. I had some pretty good Teachers down there, too, particularly
the ones found in what you called the 'Bible Belt' you always found a reason to mock.”
Evil
reporter: “But Lord, it just didn’t seem that Your Word was
true. It went against everything in the natural and everything I
felt.”
Jesus:
“Exactly. I couldn’t have said it better. You didn’t walk by faith. You walked by sight.
No matter how often I sent someone to tell you, you always denied the thing that pleases Me and My Father the most.
Faith. Simple, childlike faith, just like it says right here in
Hebrews 11:6. Please step up to the bench and read this verse out
loud to the Court.”
This is basically
how the Judgment will go on behalf of those who labeled true Disciples as
“name it and claim its.” This is why the Bible says that God is going
to “wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17) There’s going
to be a lot of tears shed when people realize what they could have
accomplished for Christ in the Earth if only they had not lived like faith
in God was some sort of extra-curricular activity. If only they had
not lived like there really was no place called Hell.
Some Christians live in a fog. One day Christ is going to step out of
that fog and open a Book that will reveal every idle word that stopped His
will from coming to pass on behalf of the lost people of the world.
It is going to be a sad day for them.
Now I’m not saying
that Christians who do not hook up with supernatural prosperity are not
going to Heaven. They are going to
Heaven. But I will go so far as to say this. They will spend
Eternity in Heaven somehow having to look into the faces of the people who
are spending Eternity in Hell because they were too irresponsible, selfish
or prideful to do something about it with their finances. That is
what the Bible says.
“And they shall go
forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that
have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall
their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
(Isaiah 66:24)
Somehow, while in
Heaven, Believers who refused to get hooked up with the financing of God’s
End Time Harvest of souls are going to be able to look into Hell and see
what they could have prevented.
I say this respectfully. I do
not know how it is possible and I do not particularly care to know.
What I care about right now is that it does not happen to you. That
is why I am taking the time to admonish you to maintain a good report.
Get control of your
tongue and get control of your finances. Say what God says.
Call in the money that it is going to take to seek and save the lost, to
destroy the works of Satan and to be a testimony of wealth and of God’s
goodness in the Earth.
Hook your tongue up
with supernatural prosperity and hook up with the greatest soul Harvest
the world has ever seen.
Be blessed … John and Barbara Hamel
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