January 2003

Neil & Jamie will be in Denver, Colorado:
Friday, Jan. 16, 7P.M. at Roeh Israel: 303-337-6254
Saturday, Jan. 17, 10A.M. at Yeshuat Tsion: 303-740-5413

Richest Blessings in the Living Word!

Our focus this month is on WORDS: the words we speak, the words spoken to us, the Word of God, the living Word and the Lord’s specific word for each of us in 2004.

Why words? God is very interested in our words and takes them seriously. Many times, we treat words casually. We fail to realize how powerful they are! One word spoken to a person at the right time can change the destiny of an individual or even a nation. A negative word spoken to a child can cripple him or her emotionally for a lifetime; a word of affirmation and love can empower an individual to achieve great success. We have the power to choose the words we speak. God wants us to choose wisely this year so that we might inherit a blessing.

"Word" in Hebrew is d’var (pronounced d-VAR). The first mention of d’var in the Holy Scriptures is in Genesis 15:1: "After these things, the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." The word in this verse is the WORD OF THE LORD, "D’var Adonai." God’s first word is one of comfort, reassurance, promise, relationship and blessing. This is a wonderful d’var for each of us in 2004. As children of Abraham through faith in the Messiah Yeshua, each of us can embrace the promise of freedom from fear given in Genesis 15:1. Our God is our protection and source of blessing, just as He was to our Father Abraham.

The plural of d’var is d’varim (pronounced d’vah-REEM). The first occurrence of d’varim is found in Genesis 24:30, Rebekah speaks them to her brother Laban. She told him all that Abraham’s servant, Eliezar, had said to her. Those were words of blessing, mercy, truth and gratitude. Since, on average, women use more words than men, they have a greater potential to bless, as well as a greater potential to curse. Ladies, let’s choose to bless in 2004.

Jewish tradition views words as both tangible and powerful. In fact, d’varim also means "things." Words have the power to create. God showed that when He created the world with words. He said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Words have tremendous creative power!

Did you know that an entire book of the Bible is called "Words?": The fifth Book of Moses, Deuteronomy, gets its name from the opening phrase in the Hebrew Text, "These are the words." In this book, Moses repeats God’s words to His people. The language is noble. The truths are eternal. The words give life. D’varim Chapter 30 includes two verses on "words" that merit special attention:

Deuteronomy 30:14—"But the D’VAR (word) is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." Romans 10:8 repeats this D’VAR, helping us understand that the word being referred to is a word of faith that leads to action.

Deuteronomy 30:19—Moses reminds God’s people in this verse that, as they enter a new season of life, they have a choice between good and evil: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live."

Many of us fail to realize just how powerful our words can be. We do not always choose our words wisely. The Lord brought this home to us as we recently read two books by two very different authors: Blessing or Curse by Derek Prince, a renowned Christian Bible scholar who recently went to be with the Lord, and Words that Hurt, Words that Heal by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, a traditional rabbi.

Rabbi Telushkin wisely points out that although words are powerful, most of the time we use them lightly. "We choose our clothes more carefully than we choose our words, though what we say about and to others can define them indelibly. That is why ethical speech–speaking fairly of others, honestly about others, and carefully to everyone–is so important. If we keep the power of words in the foreground of our consciousness, we will handle them as carefully as we would a loaded gun."

Our words have consequences. Gossip, for example, causes damage and pain. It is also forbidden in the Torah. "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people" (Leviticus 19:16). Rabbi Telushkin describes one type of gossip that most of us are guilty of, but are probably not aware of. In Hebrew this is called lashon ha-ra, literally a bad tongue, and refers to negative, though true, stories. It includes information that lowers the esteem in which people hold the person about whom it is told. Many people assume that there is nothing wrong in spreading negative information about others as long as the information is true. After all, it is not slander, which is spreading negative information which is false.

Lashon ha-ra violates the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." It also contradicts the New Covenant exhortation to focus on: "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). Simply put, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!

Rabbi Telushkin cites a Biblical example of the destructive force of angry words in a relationship. David, the king of Israel was married to Michal, the daughter of King Saul. When David escorted the Ark of the Lord back into Jerusalem, he danced with abandon and joy before the Lord. His wife Michal saw him from the palace window and was disgusted by the spectacle. She verbally berated David with words of sarcasm and disdain upon his arrival home (2 Samuel 6:20). David responsed to his wife with cruel, hurtful words reminding her that God had chosen him over her father as King of Israel. David and Michal’s angry words are described in Proverbs 12:18 "There is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword."

The tragic result of this confrontation was that intimacy between husband and wife ended forever. Michal had no children to the day of her death. Words had destroyed love. Angry words. Words spoken with a lack of self control. (Oh, how we need self control, a fruit of the Ruach HaKodesh!)

Rabbi’s Telushkin’s conclusion: "If a husband or wife, or two siblings or friends, do not restrain their words when they are angry, love is unlikely to survive, no matter how deeply the two people once cared for each other. The ability to control what we say when we’re angry is a prerequisite for a lasting relationship." His solution: when you’re angry with someone, express your opinion but don’t verbally attack them.

New Covenant exhortation: "Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). Our Messiah encourages us to work through our anger with the help of His Spirit, to keep our accounts short, forgive, and seek restoration of relationships with healing words. Love can bloom again even after angry words because nothing is impossible with God!

We have read Derek Prince’s book Blessing or Curse more than once. Each time, the Lord has spoken to us and convicted us of sin! We highly recommend this book and ask that you prayerfully seek the Lord about the truths found in it. We have come to realize that words spoken over people can bring curses or blessings into their lives. For example, negative words spoken by a parent to a child, teacher to a pupil, husband to a wife, sister to a brother, etc. can have a lifelong effect on them. "You’ll never amount to anything." "You’ll never be able to cook." "You’re just not good at math." "You’ll never succeed." Words like these have contributed to lives falling short of their God-given potential. Jamie remembers words that her mother, who adored her, spoke over her as a child which crippled her until she was well into her thirties: "You’re a selfish child." Even after receiving Yeshua and taking on God’s giving nature, including having drawers filled with gifts for others, Jamie was still haunted by those words. Neil saw the curse (and the lie) for what it was, pointed it out to Jamie, and helped Jamie break its power in the name of Yeshua. Jamie’s mother certainly never meant to curse her beloved daughter, but her negative words had power that she never imagined! By the same token, Jamie’s mom always said to her, "You’re so smart. You can be anything you want to be. Of course, I think you’ll be a teacher because you have that gift." What did Jamie become? First a teacher, then a writer (and still a teacher).

Parents: Watch your words! Speak life and blessing to your children. Your influence is much greater than you imagine.

Yeshua warned His followers about the danger of words carelessly spoken: "... every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

Many times we speak words about ourselves–something foolish or negative–and then say, "I didn’t really mean it." This does not cancel the effect of the words. We have already been ensnared by the words of our mouth (Proverbs 6:2).

Derek Prince gives a scriptural example of this in the life of Peter, the disciple who denied Yeshua three times before the Messiah was crucified. After his third denial, the Bible tells us that Peter began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak" (Mark 14:71)! Peter invoked a curse upon himself that day. Three days later, as recorded in Matthew 16:7, an angel told the women who found Yeshua’s tomb empty, to go and tell the disciples–and Peter that He had risen. Derek points out that by his own words, Peter had forfeited his standing as a disciple of Yeshua. Our gracious Messiah, however, gave Peter a chance to be reinstated as one of His talmidim. In John 21:15-17 we read how the Lord asked Peter three times "Do you love Me?" Peter’s three affirmative answers revoked his three previous denials. Peter’s position was restored.

We too can be released from any curses that we have brought upon ourselves through the words of our mouth. All we need to do is: repent, revoke and replace. First, we must acknowledge that we have spoken negative, foolish, harmful words and repent of them. Second, we must cancel whatever we said that was wrong. Third, we must replace our wrong words with right ones. As we do this in faith, God will release us from any curse we have brought upon ourselves and open us up once again to blessings.

What do we do if someone else has spoken a curse over us? Derek goes into detail on this, outlining seven steps to be released from any curse. They include confessing your faith in Messiah and His atoning death on your behalf (Romans 10:9-10), repenting of all rebellion and sin (Romans 3:23), receiving forgiveness of all sins (I John 1:9), forgiving anyone who has ever hurt you (Mark 11:25), renouncing all contact with the occult (2 Corinthians 6:14-15), praying a prayer of release, (Mark 11:24) and going forth in God’s blessing (Ephesians 3:20). 2004 is the year to be released from every curse, to be totally free to serve the Lord in His end-time harvest field!

This is also the year to have salty words. "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one" (Colossians 4:6). What exactly are salty words? They are words that heal, words that give life, words that give savour to blandness, excitement to boredom, hope to despair, answers to life’s deepest questions.

Salty words bring blessing. Yeshua used salty words consistently. His words healed, built up, inspired, encouraged. They expressed love, forgiveness and gratitude. They produced life. The words He spoke were spirit and life (John 6:63). Our words need to nurture and heal as well. This year let’s be liberal in our use of words like: "I love you." "I appreciate you." "How are you doing?" "I’m sorry, please forgive me." "How can I pray for you?" "God bless you." "You did a great job." "You’re really good at that."

John 1:1 tells us that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." God is the Word who created all things. Yeshua is that same Word made flesh (John 1:14). He is the living Word of God. Yeshua’s words bring life. That is why we are careful to use His words more than our own on each Jewish Jewels television program. We try carefully to weigh our words and make them count for eternity. Praise the Lord, His words, through us, are having an effect on the lives of many people. (God’s Word does not return to Him void. Isaiah 55:11). The words of Yeshua go out to millions of homes over the airwaves. We bless in His name and no one can reverse it! You, our Jewish Jewels family, are an integral part of that blessing. We speak the words in our living room, but you send them forth throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia and wherever else the Lord propels them!

May God bless you and your loved ones in 2004 with words of life and love, healing words, salty words and release from every curse that was ever spoken against you. May you prosper greatly this year and sense the presence of God in your life as never before. May God pour His abundant grace upon you and your household, giving you His strength, His peace and His joy on a daily basis. May you be empowered by the Holy Spirit to let go of the old and embrace the new, forgetting those things which are behind. May your destiny as a child of the King be revealed to you in 2004 and may you begin to walk in newness of life as you receive revelation from our Father in Heaven. May His love, which never fails, be your portion until our Messiah returns. And may the salvation of Israel be as dear to your heart, as it is to ours.

In Yeshua’s Love,

Neil and Jamie

P.S. Oops! We used the wrong word in our November newsletter. The enemies of the Jews in the Hanukkah story (165 B.C.) were the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) not the Assyrians (who invaded Israel in the 8th century B.C.). Please forgive us.