Righteousness Speaks

But, the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down; Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts]. But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach. Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. ~ Romans 10:6-10 Amplified KJV

The apostle Paul is trying to explain a very important concept here. He is describing how faith works. In our culture we have learned that it is important to exercise our bodies. That a person who practices any sport will become stronger and better in that sport. Faith works in the same fashion. Before David killed Goliath, he killed two wild animals with his bare hands. By first killing the animals David had the faith in God to stand up to the giant. Achieving and building little by little is the Godly way of doing things.

So Paul starts out first by telling us how not to speak. He explains that now that Jesus is seated on the right hand of the Father, He doesn't have to come back to earth, or do anything new, to heal us. He doesn't have to come back to take care of our finances. Those were already provided for at salvation, over 2,000 years ago.

But, what Paul does say is that the promises of God are near us, the kingdom of God is just as close as getting it in our heart and in our mouths. In our culture we don't place any value on our words. But, that is not how God sees it. God created everything with words. We are created in His image. We use our word to create our lives. When we speak God's words we will have faith in God. But, when we speak the devil's words we will have faith in the devil. Words of healing and health are God's words. Words of fear, and doubt, and sickness, and pain, and bad reports from the doctor, and sadness, those are faith filled words in the devil. Speaking health when you don't feel healed is operating in the kingdom of God.

Let me ask you a question. When we pray for the sick do we walk up and just place the bible on them, and say nothing? Or do we chop it up into little pieces and feed it to them? Now your saying don't be silly, we would never do that. Because that would never bring healing, right. But speaking God's words over them will bring healing. Saying faith filled words in God's promises brings them to you.

So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~Romans 10:17 KJV

Now Paul is telling how to build and exercise our faith muscle. Just as we understand the building of our muscles on our bodies. There must be repetition for growth. Paul says faith comes by hearing. Yes hearing, not reading silently in your head. But hearing. Faith in God's promises comes by hearing yourself speak, and quote, and say what God said. Paul says it is near you, even in your mouth. So you speak so that you can hear it. You speak so that it can penetrate your heart. When you do this you are building your faith muscle and causing faith in God to come. You are causing things to change. You are operating in the kingdom of God. But, if you keep saying it like "it is" change will never happen. If you have sickness in your body and speak over and over again that you are sick. You call everyone you know and tell them the terrible news that the doctor gave you. When you meditate on the illness, looking up on the Internet just how hopeless things "really are". When you are in fear about your situation, you are building your faith, but it is faith in the devil and not in God. God calls the weak people strong. He called Abram the father of many nations before he had any children. He says that you were healed, even if you feel sick. Who's words will you put in your mouth? It is an impossibility to walk in health and talk sickness and disease. I can tell you from personal experience, placing God's words in your mouth will cause faith in God's promises to come. Then change will follow.