“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you” (Prov. 4:23-24).
The issues of life spring out of your heart. But they get out of your heart through your lips, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Look at what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 15:16-20:
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
(Matt. 15:16-20)
Look closely at what Jesus is saying here. If a person has sin in his heart, it’s going to come out through his mouth. And what proceeds out of his mouth is what defiles him. So, to be undefiled we must be sure the abundance of our hearts only brings forth what the Word of God says. We cannot have two confessions. Matthew chapter 12 says:
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
(Matt. 12:33-36)
Our words are important. How can you have a good marriage? You start by using good words. You may say, “Well, actions speak louder than words.” Well, let me tell you this. The way to change negative actions must begin with words. You start with good words because the one who says them also hears them.
The first thing a person must change is his confession. As long as he keeps confessing it, he is going to continue to hear it. The next thing you know, it gets into his heart. Then, instead of just speaking it out of brain knowledge, he starts speaking it out of heart knowledge. All of a sudden, he starts acting on it. In the beginning, he may not. But, after a while, actions will begin to follow his words. And it all started with the words of his mouth.
The reverse is also true. How does a marriage fall apart? It happens the same way. I’ve heard men say things like, “My wife’s an idiot.”
“She doesn’t know how to act at parties.”
“She’s a jerk.”
“She doesn’t know how to do anything right.”
“She’s an albatross around my neck.”
Maybe they don’t believe it at the time, but you know what? After they say it long enough, they start believing it. When it gets into their heart, they’ll believe what they’re saying and start acting on it.
Your words will develop into actions. Your words can create beliefs. If they line up with the Word of God, they will create faith. If they line up with the words of the devil, they’ll create fear, doubt and unbelief. Either way, you get what you speak.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.