The Secret Life Of Words – Part 4

Introductory Remarks 

Let Christ Be the Benchmark

Philippians 1:15–18 (ESV)

Lessons From the Fig Tree

• Mark 11:13–14 (ESV) – 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Said = εἶπον (eipon)] = “vb. to tell, say, speak. Refers primarily to the act of verbal expression in a wide variety of contexts.” [Preston Lee Atwood, “Speaking,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).]

• Mark 11:14 (KJV 1900) – 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

• Mark 11:14 (NKJV) – 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

Answered/Response = ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai): 1. respond, answer to a question reply to a statement, or even a situation; 2. speak, or to introduce discourse, often redundant in English style.

Talking Back

• Luke 4:39 (ESV)

• Matthew 8:25–27 (ESV)

The Art of Resistance

Jesus makes Satan’s mission transparent to us (John 10:10 (ESV))

• 1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) 

Ephesians 4:27 (ESV) 

Luke 4:13 (ESV) 

The difference between us and Jesus is that Jesus resisted the devil perfectly:

• John 14:30 (ESV) 

• Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) 

The great news is that while we may not be perfect, we can draw from the power of the one who is:

• Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

• James 4:6–7 (ESV)

Resist the Enemy With Your Words

Submission to God is submission to His Word.

Scriptural meditation is a daily act of submission.

Scriptural meditation: Reading, Talking, Listening, Pondering, Reflecting Day and Night

What’s the result?

Scriptural meditation keeps us poised to resist the devil.

This is because the enemy’s primary weapons of warfare are verbal.(2 Corinthians 10:4–6 (ESV))

See the Works of the Enemy as Your Enemy

Satan’s not omnipresent or all powerful, so Satan leverages the fallen state of the world to harass you.

The fallen state of the world is not just about morality, but also about the physical conditions of life (which encompass natural disasters and sickness).

Romans 8:19–21 (ESV)

Creation is subject to the same bondage as fallen humans.

This means that the rest of creation is subject to Satan’s influence as much as the fallen human condition.

It is set free only to the degree that we are.

Jesus modeled that freedom in the way he responded to the work of the enemy.

Jesus not only resisted Satan, but also the works of Satan: Acts 10:38 (ESV)

Matthew 8:16 (ESV)

Healing Testimonies and Sermons That Describe How These Principles Are Applied

Healing School with Creflo Dollar – April 25, 2019

Wednesday Service – How to Take Possession of Your Healing

What Happens When Fear Becomes Bondage – Sunday Service

My Testimony of Divine Healing from Multiple Sclerosis

Nona Jones: Persistence in Prayer Strengthens Your Faith | FULL EPISODE | Better Together TV

Healing Journeys, Week 1, Day 4 – Healed from Autism -The Gospel Truth

Life After Autism

Hear And Be Healed – Barry Bennett – CDLBS for June 1, 2022

© Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2022