Activating Faith: Speaking Life and Commanding Mountains

 

Summary

In today's teaching, we delve into the profound truth that faith is not a passive attribute but an active force that shapes our reality. We are reminded that faith is the victory that overcomes the world, and it is through faith that we engage in the divine partnership with God to execute His purposes on earth. Our voice is not merely a tool for communication; it is our spiritual address, the unique identifier that heaven responds to, and it is with our voice that we exercise our God-given authority to speak to the mountains in our lives.

We are called to a higher level of faith, to grow beyond the confines of our circumstances and to see what lies beyond the obstacles we face. The mountains that stand between us and God's best for our lives are not immovable; they are subject to the authority that Christ has vested in us. It is imperative that we speak directly to these mountains, calling them by name, and commanding them to move in the name of Jesus.

Our faith must be more than a Sunday ritual; it must be a lifestyle, a continuous expression of our trust in God's promises. We are encouraged to spend time in God's Word, not just to read it but to meditate on it, allowing it to transform us from the inside out. Our praise must match our expectation, for it is in the act of praising God that we step out in faith, aligning our external expression with our internal anticipation of God's goodness.

We are reminded that our words have power, and we must choose them wisely, speaking life and aligning our declarations with the will of God. Our words can either invite the assistance of angels or give place to the adversary. Therefore, we must be diligent in confessing who we are in Christ and in speaking the promises of God over our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith is an active force that shapes our reality, and it is through faith that we engage in the divine partnership with God. Our voice is our spiritual address, and it is with our voice that we exercise our God-given authority to command mountains to move. [49:33]

2. We must see beyond our obstacles and understand that the mountains in our lives are subject to our authority in Christ. By speaking directly to these mountains, we activate our faith and command them to be removed. [42:12]

3. Our faith must be a lifestyle, not confined to a single day of the week. We are called to meditate on God's Word, allowing it to transform us and to live out its truths every day. [11:28]

4. Our praise must match our expectation. When we praise God with the same intensity as our expectation of His goodness, we step out in faith and invite the manifestation of His promises in our lives. [39:07]

5. Our words have power, and we must choose them wisely. By speaking life and aligning our declarations with the will of God, we invite the assistance of angels and resist the adversary's influence. [24:47]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 17:5-10 (ESV)
> The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

2. Mark 11:23 (ESV)
> Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

3. Psalm 18:6-7 (ESV)
> In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus say would happen if the apostles had faith like a grain of mustard seed? (Luke 17:6)
2. According to Mark 11:23, what must one do to move a mountain?
3. In Psalm 18:6-7, what was the result of David calling out to the Lord in his distress?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus used the analogy of a mustard seed to describe faith? How does this relate to the concept of faith being an active force? [01:34]
2. How does the idea that our voice is our spiritual address impact the way we should pray and speak about our circumstances? [19:30]
3. What does it mean to have faith as a lifestyle rather than a Sunday ritual? How can this transform our daily lives? [10:50]
4. How does praising God with the same intensity as our expectation of His goodness demonstrate our faith? [39:07]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a specific "mountain" in your life. How can you actively use your faith to speak to this mountain and command it to move in the name of Jesus? [06:47]
2. How can you incorporate the practice of asking God to increase your faith into your daily prayer routine? What changes do you expect to see as a result? [02:07]
3. Identify a situation where you have been speaking negatively. How can you change your words to align with God's promises and speak life into that situation? [24:47]
4. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith is a continuous expression of trust in God's promises, rather than something confined to Sundays? [10:50]
5. Think of a time when your praise did not match your expectation of God's goodness. How can you change your approach to praise to better align with your faith and expectations? [39:07]
6. How can you make meditating on God's Word a daily habit? What specific actions will you take to allow it to transform you from the inside out? [11:28]
7. Consider the power of your words. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your declarations align with the will of God and invite the assistance of angels? [24:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Activating Faith as a Dynamic Force
Faith is often perceived as a mere belief, but it is, in fact, a dynamic force that actively shapes the reality of believers. It is not enough to passively hold faith within; it must be expressed and put into action. This active faith is the mechanism through which individuals partner with God, bringing His purposes to fruition on earth. By using one's voice, which serves as a spiritual address, a believer can exercise the authority given by God to command the mountains of challenges and obstacles to move. This is not a metaphorical concept but a literal encouragement to use spoken declarations as a tool for change. Faith, when activated, becomes the victory that overcomes the world's resistance. [49:33]

"For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20 ESV

Reflection: What 'mountain' in your life do you need to address with your faith today, and how can you actively speak to it in faith?

Day 2: Authority Over Life's Mountains
The obstacles and challenges that believers face are not meant to be permanent fixtures in their lives. These 'mountains' are subject to the authority that Christ has given to His followers. Understanding and exercising this authority is crucial in moving beyond the limitations imposed by circumstances. By speaking directly to these challenges, calling them by name, and commanding them in the name of Jesus to move, believers activate their faith and demonstrate their authority in Christ. This act of faith is not a one-time event but a consistent practice that acknowledges the believer's role in God's kingdom. [42:12]

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." - Luke 10:19 ESV

Reflection: Identify a specific obstacle you're facing and consider how you can exercise your authority in Christ to address it.

Day 3: Faith as a Lifestyle of Transformation
Faith is not meant to be confined to a single day or moment but is to be lived out as a continuous lifestyle. This involves a deep engagement with God's Word, not just reading it but meditating on it, allowing the truths to transform one's inner being. As believers meditate on the Word, they become equipped to live out its truths every day, reflecting a genuine trust in God's promises. This transformation is not just for personal edification but also serves as a testimony to others of the power of living faith. [11:28]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:22 ESV

Reflection: How can you incorporate meditation on God's Word into your daily routine to foster a lifestyle of faith?

Day 4: Praise Aligned with Expectation
Praise is a powerful expression of faith that should match the intensity of a believer's expectation of God's goodness. When praise is offered with genuine anticipation of God's promises, it becomes an act of faith that steps into the reality of those promises. This alignment of praise and expectation invites the manifestation of God's goodness and reinforces the believer's trust in His faithfulness. Praise, therefore, is not just a response to what God has done but also a declaration of what He is about to do. [39:07]

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23 ESV

Reflection: What promise of God are you expecting to manifest in your life, and how can your praise reflect that expectation?

Day 5: The Power of Words in Spiritual Warfare
The words spoken by believers carry significant power and must be chosen with care. Speaking life and aligning declarations with God's will can invite the assistance of angels and counteract the adversary's influence. It is essential for believers to be mindful of their words, using them to affirm their identity in Christ and to speak God's promises over their lives. This practice is not just about positive thinking; it is a strategic element of spiritual warfare that has tangible effects in the spiritual realm. [24:47]

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." - Proverbs 18:21 ESV

Reflection: What are some specific declarations you can make today that align with God's will and affirm your identity in Christ?

Quotes

"Your voice is your address in the spirit realm. Your voice is actually your address in the spirit realm." [19:30] (Download | )

"Faith is the victory. It's all through the word of God. Your voice is actually your address in the spirit realm." [18:51] (Download | )

"Your Mountain needs to hear your voice. I get it, so many people, 'I'm waiting on God,' and God is waiting on you." [16:37] (Download | )

"God has tied himself irrevocably to human cooperation in the execution of divine purposes." [36:27] (Download | )

"Your words were heard and I have come because of your words. Angels are dispatched with the answer." [24:47] (Download | )

"God's word spoken to you must be spoken through you. God has bound himself to the use of human nature." [35:54] (Download | )

"Let your praise match your expectation. Praising God is stepping out in faith." [39:07] (Download | )

"Speak to it directly. Call it by name and tell it in the name of Jesus you're not from God, you are in my way." [52:10] (Download | )

"Your voice is the highway that the Angels travel on to bring things to you from heaven." [28:19] (Download | )

"God needs you to believe and speak. We're built to believe and speak." [07:56] (Download | )

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Transcript
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