Mike Wilkins Ministries

EPHESIANS 6:17 NKJ 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The sword, or weapon, of the spirit is not the Bible laying on a shelf, but God’s Word being spoken by a believer.
You must take it. Your spiritual weapon is speaking the Word of God. You must take the Word and speak it — just like Jesus did (Matthew 4:4).
Our battle is not against humans, but evil spiritual forces, which requires us to use spiritual weapons to prevail and prosper. That weapon is speaking the Word of God.
Jesus defeated the devil for you. However, you must enforce that defeat by speaking and standing in agreement with God. Only then will you see Jesus’ victory manifest in your life.
Of course, before you can speak the Word, you have to know the Word. It must be fed in before you can expect it to come out in a time of need. And you never know when you will be attacked with something designed to steal, kill, and destroy you.
Keep on saying what God’s Word says — no matter what.
HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hang on tight to speaking the Word, because the devil doesn’t want you to stick with the Word. Count on being tempted to NOT say what God says. The devil does not want you to use your spiritual weapon of speaking the Word.
Speak the Word of God:
1. To yourself first.
2. To God in thanks and praise.
3. To the devil.
4. To circumstances.

HEBREWS 4:14 NKJ 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
In the Bible, what is a high priest? Someone representing others.
In the Old Covenant, the high priest stood between the people and God, bringing sacrifices on behalf of the people so they would be acceptable by God.
Now, under the New Covenant, Jesus is not only our sacrifice, but also our representative. He is making our case before God, interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).
The Bible says Jesus is our Advocate (1 John 2:1). The word advocate means a lawyer representing someone on a case.
Jesus pleads our case on our behalf. But Jesus uses our own confession — what we are saying — to present our case. So if we don’t speak the right words, we don’t give Him much to work with.
HEBREWS 3:1 NKJ 1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the High Priest of our confession. That means He represents us before God on the basis of what we say!
Please understand that God the Father is not a mean Judge who must be convinced to be merciful and gracious. Not at all! But He is also a God of justice, and cannot ignore or bless wrong- doing.
So out of His great love for us, Father God has devised a plan where He can still be just, yet bless us as He desires. Because Jesus suffered and died as our Substitute, He already bore all the punishment and bad things we deserve.
Yet we must agree with God’s plan, and what He has said in His Word, to receive all that Jesus died to purchase for us.
Jesus is our representative before God, the High Priest of our confession — what we say. He represents us before God with the words we speak. So we need to give Jesus the right words to offer in our behalf.
What then should we say? We should say what God has already said about us in His Word, the Bible. We should agree with God.

ROMANS 5:6,8 GWN 6 Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 8 Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.
Let’s slow down and think about what verse 6 above told us by restating it. Christ died for:
terrible people. for people who are most unlike God. for people so bad no one thinks there is any hope for them.
Why!
Why did Christ die for ungodly people? What was the purpose? What good did it do? Why did Jesus do such a thing?
The answer is given in the rest of Romans 5. It tells the story of how one man (Adam) got all humanity living under a curse and the dominion of the devil because of his rebellion and disobedience to God. But through what another man did (Jesus Christ, who was God and became a man), salvation and deliverance and freedom along with a restored relationship with God is made available to all humanity.
By choosing the Lord Jesus Christ we are delivered from the kingdom of darkness in which we were held captive (Colossians 1:13). This is not just for a select few who deserve it. It is available tor all — even the most terrible, the most ungodly. Jesus died to set us all free.
It would be good for you to read the entire fifth chapter of Romans several times and let the message soak deeply into your thinking. God’s love for you (and all humanity) caused Him to put into action a plan to redeem us and set us free.
Jesus died as a demonstration of God’s love in order to set humanity free — even those who were most ungodly. Jesus died for them.
So what should your attitude be toward ungodly, terrible people? Should you hate them? Should you tell them to go to Hell?
NO! Jesus loved them enough to die for them! So you should tell them about how much Jesus loves them and the provision He has already made to set them free from their sins.
You should tell them the Good News! They are loved by God! God has forgiven them! (2 Corinthians 5:19) They can be free!
It is not God’s plan that people remain ungodly. He demonstrated His love at Calvary so people will turn to Him and allow Him to give them a new nature, making them His children.

PROVERBS 18:24 RSV 24 There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Would you like to have a perfect friend?
A friend who loved you no matter what you did.
A friend who would always be there when you needed them.
A friend who knew you intimately yet still loved you.
A friend who always encouraged you and never put you down.
A friend who was smart but not conceited.
A friend who had no personal problems to distract them.
A friend who was powerful and famous, yet down-to-earth and approachable.
A friend who is righteous yet merciful to others.
A friend who never makes a mistake.
A friend who enjoyed having a good time and sharing a laugh with you.
A friend who had the knowledge and ability to help you with everything.
A friend who is not too good to wash your feet or clean your toilet, yet talented enough to be the best at everything.
A friend who puts your interests ahead of their own.
A friend who loves you more than you love yourself.
A friend who would be willing to die for you.
There is only one. His name is Jesus, and He wants to be your friend.

JOHN 1:12 NKJ 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
If you have received Jesus Christ, you are a child of Almighty God.
ROMANS 8:16 NKJ 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
1 JOHN 3:2 NKJ 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
The words in the Bible are meant to reveal to us truth so we will picture it clearly in our minds. God used pictures of things we understand to communicate how He looks at us, and how He feels toward us. One of those pictures is that Father God wants you to see yourself as His child. That means He wants you to expect His protection, His provision, His training, and His love. For God is a perfect parent!
No one expects a young child to provide for their own needs. Instead, we expect a child will be loved and cared for by its parents.
Parents usually are quite pleased when their child does anything that shows they are making progress. Like when it takes its first steps, or draws them a picture.
If you are a parent, I am sure you were excited when your child first began to speak to you. To other people it may have sounded like “goo goo” but to you it was wonderful. This is the same way our Father God feels. He wants us to communicate with Him. We may not know all the “right words” to say, or even how to say them, but God is thrilled when we start attempting to pray and communicate with Him.
At first we may not understand Him perfectly, but we can be confident that He perfectly understands every thought of our heart. And as we grow we can expect to learn to understand God’s communication with us more clearly, too.
So, don’t hesitate to pray because you think you don’t know how. God your Father just wants to hear from you. He delights in you!
Don’t hesitate to begin walking in faith and love. Just like a human baby’s first steps, you will likely fall a few times, but when you do, Father God will be there to pick you up and cheer you on.

PROVERBS 4:20-22 NKJ 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Giving attention to God’s Word is not as easy as it once was. Today we have a multitude of distractions. Busyness seems to be a disease shared by everyone. We all have more than we can do.
Yet . . .
God doesn’t change. His Word doesn’t change. It still says the same thing it did a thousand years ago — and it will still say the same thing a thousand years from now.
“Give attention to my words….”
We are confronted with a choice. What is most important? To what shall we give our limited time? God, or….?
God makes promises no one else does — or can. He created, so He knows how things work.
Life. Life in its fullness. Life as God intended it to be. And health. Isn’t that what everyone would like? That is the written guarantee offered by God to the human race — for paying attention to what He has said.

DEUTERONOMY 34:7 NIV
7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet
his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.
Old age should not be a time to dread. We can look to God and
receive strength, health, and provision for a full and
enjoyable life.
God’s plan for you is NOT an old age full of sickness, poverty,
and loneliness.
Moses and Caleb are examples for us.
JOSHUA 14:10-11 NKJ
10 “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said,
these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to
Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I
am this day, eighty-five years old.
11 “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses
sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength
for war, both for going out and for coming in.
GALATIANS 3:13-14 NKJ
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone
who hangs on a tree”),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in
Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.
Galatians 3 tells us we are to receive the blessing of Abraham
— through faith — because of what Jesus has done. Now, read
the following verses about Abraham.
GENESIS 13:2 NKJ
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
GENESIS 25:8 NASB
8 And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an
old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his
people.
Because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse, we also should
believe God for a long, enjoyable, and productive life. And we
should resist the devil who would try to steal it away from us.
We have the promise of God that He will satisfy us with life.
(If you are not satisfied with your life, make some changes.
God intends for you to be satisfied.)
PSALM 91:16 NKJ
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My
salvation.”
PSALM 103:5 NKJ
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth
is renewed like the eagle’s.
God made our bodies to repair and renew themselves. As we walk
and talk in faith, looking to the promises of God, the life of
God will renew our bodies. (We should also allow God to guide
us in the things we take into our bodies — only putting good
things into our mouths.)
PSALM 92:14 NKJ
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh
and flourishing,
ISAIAH 46:4 NIV
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will
sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will
sustain you and I will rescue you.
God is faithful. He will always be our wonderful Father, our
great Provider, Helper, and Healer — no matter how old we are,
or what we face.

NAHUM 1:7 NIV 7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
God is not a bad guy. He is not against you. God is not your problem. He is the answer to your problems.
The Bible reveals who is responsible for all the bad things that happen — and it is not God! God is not guilty!
DEUTERONOMY 32:4 NLT 4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!
God has never done anything unfair or unjust. Everything He does is perfect!
LUKE 6:35 NLT 35 “Love your enemies! … and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
According to Jesus, God even shows love to His enemies!
PSALM 145:8-9 NLT 8 The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
God is kind and merciful, gracious and generous. He desires the best for everyone. Every good thing we have or enjoy is because of God and His love.
JAMES 1:17 NLT 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
1 JOHN 4:8 NLT 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God is love, and love is defined by giving. God puts the interests of others first. He is not selfish. He is willing to suffer so you will not have to suffer.
If you want to know what God is like — look at Jesus Christ. He perfectly revealed God to us.
JOHN 1:18 NLT 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
PSALM 86:5 NLT 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
JEREMIAH 9:24 NIV 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
EXODUS 34:6 NLT 6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
PSALM 107:1 NLT 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

DEUTERONOMY 30:19 NLT 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
You have a choice. You can choose life and blessings. Or you can choose curses and death. You make that choice when you choose the words you speak.
PROVERBS 18:21 NKJ 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Life and death are in the power of your tongue, so to choose life — choose to speak words of life.
JOHN 6:63 NKJ 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Jesus spoke words of life, and when we speak in agreement with His Word, we are speaking words of life.
But the world trains us to speak words of death. Our culture (influenced by the devil) has conditioned us to speak words of doubt, fear, and death. Here are some examples.
I’m afraid not! I can’t believe it! I can’t believe he did that! This is about to drive me insane! This heat is just killing me! I’m dying to go there! That thrills me to death! I laughed till I thought I would die! I’m so embarrassed I could just die! That scared the life out of me! That just blows me away! That is so sickening! That just makes me sick! I’m so sick and tired of that!
If you desire life and blessing, then you should not speak these kinds of words. When you speak you are expressing a choice. If you desire to choose life and blessing, then you should speak (only) words of life and blessing.
Jesus defeated the devil for you and stripped him of all authority. So the devil tries to get you to speak negative words, and thus give him an opening to bring destruction into your life. So be aware of the words you speak!

LUKE 8:11 NKJ 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
A seed is much smaller than what it produces.
The problem you face may seem huge. In comparison, a scripture may seem very small. But when planted, that Word will grow in you and overcome the problem.
A seed always produces after its kind.
Whatever you need, or desire, find scriptures relating to that. Then plant those scriptures inside you in abundance. Those seeds will grow up and produce a harvest of what you need or desire.
A seed is alive: it contains life.
Your physical senses are incapable of judging whether a seed is alive or not. You cannot see, feel, hear, smell, or taste the life in a seed. There is only one way to prove a seed is alive — plant it.
A seed does nothing until planted.
Seeds do not grow sitting in a sack on your shelf. They must be planted in the proper place.
If you desire the Word of God to produce in your life, you must decide to plant the Word in your heart and mind.
The best way to plant the seed of God’s Word in your life is by speaking the Word. Hearing others speak the Word is good — but will not produce as bountiful a harvest as speaking the Word yourself.
Speaking God’s Word with your mouth is essential. As we speak God’s Word we are planting the seed in our heart for the harvest of results we desire.
ROMANS 10:10 NKJ 10 For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
Whatever you need to be saved or delivered from, confession (what you say) is essential.