Home » Discussion Area » Bible Issues » Creative power in our human words?
| Creative power in our human words? [message #14232] |
Tue, 12 August 2025 22:30  |
 wishing34
Messages: 216
Registered: March 2009 |
Senior Member |
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Greetings,
I want to survey the Faith Assembly diaspora
who are on this forum.
Following are two related doctrines about our
words when we verbalize our faith.
Our human words have creative power . . . or
they do not have creative power.
I always believed that our human words did not
have creative power, but I remember some of
our ministers said our words did. As I recall
HEF never said/believed that human words had
creative power. Rather our words were indicators
as to what we believed and then our faith would
cause God to act. All power to cause change
was within God and not we humans - only that
our faith could cause God to act.
Scriptures relating to "the power of the tongue"
were metaphorical.
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Mk11:24-> Your faith will cause God to answer
your prayer. As you walk for a time in faith
you will only naturally say what you believe.
Your faith moves God and your words/confession
do not matter except they show you and others
what it is that you actually believe.
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Man is created in the image of God. Just as
God's words spoke all creation into existence
so, because we are in His image, our words
also have creative power to speak things into
existence such as our healing, money, family
salvations, etc.
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Did I think that HEF did not think/preach
that human words have creative power because
of my own belief/bias . . . or was I correct
w/r HEF? How do you remember the teaching?
Am I right that HEF never said that our
human words have creative power?
Please - what are your memories of HEF, not
what is the current teaching of other men.
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| Re: Creative power in our human words? [message #14233 is a reply to message #14232] |
Wed, 13 August 2025 17:24  |
Mark L
Messages: 890
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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I don't recall Freeman ever teaching that. If he did it would have been early in his ministry when he was still learning and relying on other men for info and understanding. He made other relatively unimportant references early on as well.
I personally don't believe our words have creative power. Thats going far beyond what the scriptures teach. I think faith is what God makes our answers to prayer out of. Our words are one way we express that.
I basically agree with Freeman's opinion on words. That they are spiritual and have an effect on our life and that care is needed. It would be very easy to go too far with that as I'm sure some do. Or possibly did.
James 3/3-4 are speaking in various ways of the tongue. I think it is clear though that they are not just sounds in the air and have an effect on our life. Again it would be very easy to go too far with that. A balance is always desirable.
Creative power? That is going too far. I would very surprised if Freeman believed that.
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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| Re: Creative power in our human words? [message #14234 is a reply to message #14232] |
Wed, 13 August 2025 19:01 |
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william
Messages: 1474
Registered: January 2006 |
Senior Member
Administrator |
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Good question.
As I see it there are at least two caveats here that need qualifying.
Are we talking about creation on a molecular level as in "out of nothing"? God, it is said in Heb 11:3, did exactly that: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Since this is stated in the context of the definition of faith (11:1) I don't think we should rule it out completely, but really? Do we have any human examples? All of the rest of the list of examples of faith don't include the creation of anything physical, i.e. out of nothing.
Secondly, isn't it true that if you string together a cogent thought or idea that no one has ever considered before, this could be considered an "out of nothing" creation? I might go to another state tomorrow and "out of nothing" create a great life with my family. It didn't exist before, and now it does.
So, in one sense, I find it overwhelming to even think of creating something out of nothing and at the same time I consider it perfectly natural to create something out of nothing.
I can't remember HEF ever specifically making any kind of distinction here so I would do better by sticking to conclusions from my own biased mind or, if you will, how I received and understood his teaching.
I do remember referrals to "creative miracles" and such... he did give examples of William Branham's squirrels, and how that those "white" squirrels didn't even exist in that part of the country. I'm not sure that this incident ever happened but regardless, what HEF thought about the possibility seemed clear--an example of the "greater-works" that mature believers should expect in these last days.
Now that I've completely blurred the distinction let me see if I can stir this up a bit.
Let's say that healing is in the atonement (Isa 53). When Jesus was crucified and resurrected this was an actual fact of something that He provided for us. It's there for all of His children whether or not it is ever claimed or appropriated. If one decides to believe it, or takes it by faith, was anything created when he/she experiences physically the healing of their body? Some would just say that as they believed, so it was. HEF taught that it was at that very moment, when faith embraced the promise (previously given), the results were assured. (Just as the list of saints in Hebrews 11:1ff)
Isn't it the same as when a person becomes a believer (or is saved)?
You said:
Quote:
Rather our words were indicators
as to what we believed and then our faith would
cause God to act.
I agree about the "confession"... it wasn't merely words being enunciated that "created" anything, it was the alignment of what we believed, with what God said, that placed us into the position to receive His promise. I don't think that I'd say that this is what caused God to act, I think it would be more appropriate to say that we, at that point, tapped (if you'll permit a new-agey term!) into what He has already provided!
Great to hear from you again!
Blessings,
William
I want to believe!
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| Re: Creative power in our human words? [message #14235 is a reply to message #14234] |
Thu, 14 August 2025 04:51 |
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william
Messages: 1474
Registered: January 2006 |
Senior Member
Administrator |
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Alright, after giving this more thought, I think there were times when HEF placed the emphasis on the tongue's creative ability.
In the above note I was thinking about the relationship between believing and confessing. Like Romans 10:8-11:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
But upon further reflection there were instances where the spoken word was emphasized. Joshua's command to the sun and moon (not sure it would be "creative", but certainly an example of the power of speech!).
And what about the instance of Jesus' explanation to His disciples when they couldn't cast out the demon:
Mat 17:20 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Clearly Jesus is referring to the power of what they "say" in an atmosphere free from unbelief, doing the impossible!
Mat 21:21 is another example where the power of words are emphasized:
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
To complete the context the next verse does place the emphasis on "prayer" but the previous verse, talking about Jesus "speaking" to the fig tree and telling them that their own words could move mountains, leaves no doubt about the power of their words.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Anyway, how could Mark 11:23 be forgotten! The power of the tongue, on display, prominently!
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mar 11:23-24
I don't know what I was thinking before! Well, actually I do... I was thinking about those who think "confession" is believing and go about superstitiously thinking that if they can just keep saying something it will eventually materialize.
I guess a good one to end with is:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Pro 18:21
Blessings,
William
[Updated on: Thu, 14 August 2025 04:53]
I want to believe!
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