AUDREY DICKEY MINISTRIES
Glory International Center
"A Center for God's Presence"
FIRST WORDS
By Kenneth Copeland
First words are the words that jump out of your mouth instead of being thought and then spoken. The words that explode out when sudden pain strikes. The blast and sometimes whole strings of words that come when you are startled or suddenly frightened.
These are also the first words spoken when someone irritates you or makes you angry. Prov l5: l says "a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Are your first words soft in the face of strife or do they stir up more anger?
First words are the words that set the course and direction for what happens next and by whom. If your first words are God's words, then what happens next will be in your favor. If they are words of doubt, unbelief, profanity, or the like, the course is set for destruction. Speak the devil's words, and he will move in and take over -- to steal, kill and destroy.
What can we do to keep God's words ever at the door of our lips?
1. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Ps 141:3.
2. Ask to be made always aware of your words. Ask the Holy Spirit to train you by opening your ears to what is coming out of your mouth. Cover your hears with the blood of Jesus to stop other voices.
3. Flood your spirit with God's words and His way of doing things. Listen to and study the Word of God. Cast down vain imaginations.
4. Train yourself to speak to God the very first thing each morning.
5. Realize the past is the past, the future is hope, but faith is always NOW, don't look for something to happen in the future, keep it today. Your first words will begin to be your all day words.
First words come from what's in your heart in abundance.
They are words that build the foundation of faith. They are the words by which you are made righteous or by which you are condemned.
I ask to be made always aware of my words, speech and tone in Jesus' name.
Let no corrupt communication (do not let any unwholesome talk proceed out of my mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying (but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen).
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice (spite, resentment or hatred). Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Scriptures:
Psalm l4l:3
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Luke 6:43-49
...for every tree is known by his own fruit...a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good....
Matt. l2:36-37
...that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account. There of in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Prov. l5: l
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Prov. l8:2l
Death and life are in the power of the tongue...
Prov. l6:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Prov. l8:2
A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart.
Prov. l9:27
Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Eph. 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph. 4:29-32
Do not slander others: depreciate, dishonor, blaspheme, curse, attack, backbite, speak evil of, and so forth.
Psalm 9l: 2, 7
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust...A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
Psalm 9l:9-11
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 23:l-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear No evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Proverbs 30:32
If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Prov. 30:33
...stirring up anger produces strife.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.
Phil. 2:l4
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure...
I Peter 3:4
…a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in thy sight.
Hebrews l3:l5
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -- the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
James l: l9
...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
2 Chron. 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and return from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Isa. 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isa. 54:l7
No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against me in judgment You shall condemn...
Prov. 3:5-l0
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil...
Luke 6:37
Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Num. 23:8, ll, l9, 20
How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to Me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them, bountifully! God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless, He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Ex. 23:20
Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Prov. l: 7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (wisdom)...