Realize that there are different places to put the Word of God.
Most thinking people put it in their minds. But guess what? In many cases it just stays there and never reaches anywhere else.
That's like having a teaching degree and then not working as a teacher. What good is all that knowledge you bothered to acquire?
You might become an accomplished musician . . . but if you don't ever play your instrument, your music stays in you. What a waste!
Those who learn the Word and have knowledge of it, even those who have committed a large portion of it to memory, are like that. What good is unapplied knowledge?
People who have the Word only in their minds are not Christians.
Then there are those who not only carry the Word in their minds, but they also have it in their hearts. These people are the ones who live lives of service to others. They probably volunteer a lot and are active in their churches and in their communities. They like to help.
They are "good" people, who live useful lives. They are at least Christian in spirit. I know many "good" people. They are upstanding citizens and care about people, but they are not necessarily followers of Christ.
Followers of Christ are those who do what He did while He was on Earth. Jesus said that "these signs shall follow those who believe: In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18
It is my firm belief that "speak with new tongues" alludes not only to other languages, but to the power resident in our tongues. The Holy Spirit gives us power, authority, and dominion over the world, the flesh, and the demonic.
And since He poured out his Spirit (breathed His breath) upon "all" flesh, anyone, Christian or not, has power in his words. (If you think this is not true, scream out "Look!" on a crowded street and then look up. Dozens who heard your word will look up.)
As well, life and death are in the power of the tongue, just as the Bible states, and it can be used creatively for good or for evil.
So, if you have the Word in your mind and in your heart, you need to speak the Word. By that, I mean you need to stand on the promises of the Word every time you have a problem. You need to "pray His promises" back to Him. And then wait for Him patiently with faith that does not waver.
For example, if you need physical healing for yourself or someone else, after you first "ask," as we are instructed to do, only once, you then must refrain from asking again (which undermines your faith) and begin immediately to praise and thank Him for having brought it into fruition.
To reinforce your faith, you then speak (say) to that mountain the result you seek, commanding it with authority to be gone (Mark 11:23) or to manifest.
Whatever you do, do not complain about your problem. You must speak to it, not about it! (Talk to your mountain about God; do not talk to God about your problem!) Once again, complaining about your problem undermines your faith and cancels out the results you seek.
Remember the centurion? Jesus told him that He would come and heal his servant. The centurion responded, " . . . but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I (too) am a man under authority . . ." As a man under authority himself, the centurion recognized the authority that Jesus had. (Matthew 8:8-9)
And now for the clincher: When you speak, you must do so with passion (fervency, as stated in James 5:16) and the power of your authority, just as an officer of the law performs his duties matter-of-factly. He realizes the power and authority that he has, and you must also realize the awesome power and authority that you have as a child of God!
In conclusion, we must emulate and imitate Jesus to be considered His true followers (true Christians). Jesus did not debate, question, or doubt His authority. He had full trust that His spoken words carried all the authority required to perform that which He was speaking. This is the only way to exercise the power, authority, and dominion that He has given to us as believers.
The writer spent her early years in the legal arena and the last 23 years in property management. She has been an avid Bible student since 1987 and became an online publisher in 2001. She still publishes her bi-weekly ezine, 'elf Expressions Ezine, a collection of positive tips, hints, and advice offered with humor, inspiration, and other goodies for anyone who is inclined to read. The emphasis these days is on the finer points of Christianity. Guidance, mentoring, inspiration, English lessons, editing, and proofreading services for entrepreneurs and online marketers are also offered. Subscribe if you like at http://www.elfexpressionsezine.com.