2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV) And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.
Everyone needs to have a conviction regarding what they believe. As believers, we need to say things that are in line with the Word of God because unless we agree with God’s Word with affirmation, it would be difficult for us to walk with Him. We need to yoke with God, pull and agree to move in the same direction as Him, and when we agree with Him, it enables Him to accomplish what He wants in our lives.
We believe, and therefore we speak boldly of our conviction without inhibition. It is the spirit of faith that leads us to speak according to what we believe. Faith believes without seeing, and faith agrees with the Word. We need to feed our hearts with the Word so that we will speak faith in the midst of challenges. We have the God-given privilege of affirming, appropriating, confessing, and laying claim to the riches of God’s Word by what we say. As Christ followers, we have been blessed and enriched by Him in countless ways. The more we declare by faith His Word in and over our lives, the more we experience the tangible reality of His goodness.
We need to remind ourselves of our identity in Christ. Speaking out this identity will help us to create a healthy self-image. For example, we can say, “I am a child of God. Nothing can separate me from the love of God because He is my covenant partner in a new and everlasting covenant through the blood of Jesus. I have no fear because perfect love casts out all fear. God loves me unconditionally. I can always run into the throne of grace in time of need. If God is for me, who can be against me and what can men do to me? God will make a way when there is no way.” Such is speaking faith-filled words based on what the Word of God says about who we are, what we have and what we can do in and through Christ.
How are you doing mentally, emotionally or physically? Are you satisfied with the fruit in these areas? If not, what kind of fruit have you brought into being through words like, “this old body is full of aches and pains” or “I can’t remember anything anymore”. If you have been saying such things, you are eating the fruit of your words.
We need to agree, affirm, and proclaim what the Word of God says about us. It will build faith in our hearts when we hear it uttered by our mouths, and God also listens to what we are saying and believing. Therefore, speak out what you believe in your hearts with boldness, faith, and confidence!
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign (Session 1)
开口说出心中所信
歌林多后书4:13 但我们既有信心，正如经上记着说： 因信，所以如此说话。我们也信，所以也说话 。
每个人都需要对自己的信仰抱有坚定的信念。作为信徒，我们的言语必须与神的话同声一气，因为倘若我们对神的话语不加以肯定，我们就很难与他同行。我们需要与神同轭，奋力拉车，并且同意与神同向而行，而当我们出声附和祂时，神就能成就祂在我们生命中的旨意。
我们信，因此我们大胆、肆无忌惮地宣告我们的信念。正是那信心之灵引导我们开口说出我们所信的。信心是无需眼见就相信，并且同意经上所说。我们需要以圣经喂养我们的心，这样我们就能在艰困之际展现信心。我们有神赐予的特权，可以肯定、宣告、承认，并通过我们所说的话来宣告神话语的丰盛。作为基督的跟随者，我们得到祂以不能胜数的方式所赐的祝福与丰盛。我们越是凭信心在生活中宣告他的话语，就越能体验到祂实实在在的良善。
我们需要时刻提醒自己在基督里的身份。宣告这身份有助于我们创造一个健康的自我形象。例如，我们可以说：“我是神的儿女。 没有什么能使我与神的爱隔绝，因为神是我立约的伙伴，祂与我藉着耶稣的宝血订立了这新的永约。我没有恐惧，因为完全的爱驱散一切恐惧。神无条件地爱我。在我需要的时候，我总能飞奔到施恩的宝座前。神若帮助我们，谁能抵挡我们，人又能奈我何呢？神会开道路，即使前方已无路。”这些充满信心的话语的依据是圣经上所说关于我们的身份，我们所拥有的，以及我们藉着基督所能做的。
你的精神、情感或肉身的状态如何？你对这些方面所结出的果子满意吗？如果你不满意，那么这些果子是怎么结出来的呢，你是否说过 “哎，我这垂垂老矣的身体这里痛来那里痛” 或 “我什么都不记得了” 之类的话。如果你一直在说这样的话，那你就必尝到你话语所结的苦果。
我们需要认同、肯定和宣扬圣经上关于我们的话。当我们听到信心的话语自口中说出，它会在我们的心中建立信心，神也会倾听我们在说什么和相信什么。因此，要大胆、有信心、自信地说出你心中之所信！
讲章系列：细胞小组活动（第一部分）
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