Activating the Power of God's Word: 16 Strategic Declarations to Transform Your Life

By Kyle Winkler

Powerfully speak God's Word, renew your mind, and experience transformation in your life.

There’s a singular power woven into the very foundation of creation. When triggered, it has the authority to calm chaos, restore life, and overcome obstacles. The secret? God’s spoken Word.

Activating the Power of God’s Word gives in-depth teaching into speaking scripture and leads readers in sixteen strategic declarations that put its power to work for every area of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charisma House
• Release date: Apr 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781629989723

Kyle Winkler

Kyle Winkler (kylewinkler.org) is a practical Bible teacher who equips people to live in victory. His highly acclaimed mobile app, Shut Up, Devil!, ranks as a top Christian app. As an author, sought-after speaker, and frequent guest on Christian media, including TBN's Praise the Lord, The 700 Club, and Sid Roth's It's Supernatural!, Kyle is known for using his own story to boast in the power of God's Word for victory over fear, insecurity, and issues of the past. Kyle holds an MDiv in biblical studies from Regent University.

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INTRODUCTION

WOVEN INTO THE very foundation of creation is a law stronger than any of the laws of nature. It is a force that cannot be rivaled and is more dependable than gravity. It is a supernatural power that when tapped, radically transforms anything to which it is applied.

Consider the strength, courage, and awe-inspiring miracles of some of your favorite Bible heroes. What is the active ingredient that . . .

• God used to give structure to the creation?

• The psalmist found as the source of prosperity?

• David discovered is the key to strength and refreshment in the midst of difficulties?

• Jesus modeled as the method to resist Satan?

• Peter engaged to heal those who were crippled?

• Paul revealed is the way to live in victory?

Have I piqued your interest? The answer, though often overlooked, actually isn’t all that hidden. It is the spoken Word of God.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was formless and empty (Gen. 1:1–2). Then God spoke! The creation story reveals that the spoken Word of God—with a Let there be . . . thundering into the void—declared destiny to darkness and lit up the cosmos with purpose, meaning, and life.

This single moment established God’s spoken Word as the linchpin of creation. This is what the author of Hebrews reveals.

He sustains all things by his powerful word.

—HEBREWS 1:3

Indeed, God’s Word holds all things together. How awesome! God’s spoken Word maintains the planets in their orbits and the seasons in their cycles. As we will review in chapter 1, God’s Word is the bedrock bond at the cellular level, holding even our human bodies together.

We marvel at the grandeur of God’s design and the sheer majesty of His power. But perhaps most remarkable is that God made this power accessible to common people such as you and me. His spoken Word wasn’t just relegated to a special group some thousands of years ago. No, the spellbinding reality is that you—yes, you!—may activate the power of God’s Word today to transform your life forever. And that is the purpose of this book: to build your confidence that God’s Word spoken through your mouth will accomplish the same things it accomplished for your favorite Bible heroes. Through strategic declarations, you will learn how to activate God’s Word just as they did to transform every area of your life.

The power of God’s spoken Word declares destiny into whatever seems hopeless. It gives identity to that which seems empty or meaningless. It provides the strength you need to get through difficulties, leads you through dark valleys, and heals sickness. It is the basis by which you can overcome life’s greatest obstacles and win in every battle. Finally, as you will soon discover—and experience—the power of God’s spoken Word sustains you as more than a conqueror in the life of overwhelming victory that Jesus died to give you (Rom. 8:37).

From Timid to Tenacious

Today I speak boldly before thousands, and through media countless more hear my messages. But if you would have told me this in my childhood or teenage years, I might have shuddered in fear and broken out in a cold sweat. Certainly I wouldn’t have believed it. I wasn’t always this daring, you see. But I came to be as I am, not by sheer chance or by wishing, but by applying the principle of speaking God’s Word and letting it do its work in my life.

I can’t explain why, but I remember being afraid of just about everything as a child. Have you ever heard of someone who dropped out of preschool? Now you have! Even though the preschool was barely one block from our house, I just did not want to be there that first year. So I begged and pleaded with my mom until she agreed to pull me out. Yes, preschool dropout—that is me!

I didn’t get any braver by elementary school. In kindergarten and first grade I was so timid that when called to read aloud, I would freeze and lower my head in embarrassment because I just couldn’t continue. My teachers assumed I had a reading problem and needed more help, so the school authorities enrolled me in a group with six other students for more individualized attention. My parents were confused by this action because I could read just fine at home.

What my teachers didn’t immediately discern is that I didn’t have a reading problem; I had a timidity issue. When called on to read aloud, I was simply too shy and insecure to speak up. By second grade I came out of my shell a bit. When my teachers realized that I could actually read well, they promoted me from the yellow finches, the lowest reading group, to the bluebirds, the highest.

Friendships and social groups were already well established by second grade, and because my shyness had kept me from interacting with most of my classmates, I had few friends in those early years. And my social status definitely wasn’t helped by my frequent fumbling of the ball while playing sports in PE class or at recess. So my identity was established in the eyes of my classmates, and possibly worse, it was cemented within me. I was the quiet kid. The reject. The loner. The wimp.

Perhaps you can relate in even a small way. We have all been teased and picked on to some degree. We have all faced some sort of rejection, whether chosen last for a team, friend-zoned by a crush, or overlooked for a job. These are realities of life.

But what can make these experiences debilitating is when they happen so often that they cloud the lenses through which you see your present and future. As we will examine in chapter 4, this is the devil’s work. As the accuser he is always building a case of evidence against us to present as a reason to live in misery and defeat. He especially finds power in words by others from the past or former weaknesses or regrets.

This is how he shackled me for much too long. You will always be shy, I was constantly led to believe. You will always feel rejected. When thoughts such as these are at the foundation of a person’s belief about himself, they influence his behaviors. I was no exception.

By the time I changed schools for ninth grade, I was so convinced that I would never fit in with the popular crowd that I was awkward anytime I spoke to someone within those circles. The rejection was self-perpetuating. I would be rejected because I expected to be rejected.

I will reveal more aspects of my story throughout this book. But suffice it to say, these personal issues of insecurity and identity plagued me well into my early adult years, causing me great doubts and fears while hindering my relationships.

Men and women of all ages reading this have stories similar to or even far worse than mine. But I come with great news! This book offers a pivotal moment and an opportunity to begin to transform everything about you today. That is the second half of my story.

The path to where I am today came through a mixture of teaching and revelation. I was blessed enough to begin my born-again Christian journey in a church that unashamedly boasts in the power of God’s Word to impact life. We were taught the basic principles of placing our identity in Christ, believing Scripture instead of feelings, and trusting God for healing despite symptoms. To be sure, this teaching initiated a newfound confidence in me.

Still, "some things are taught, while others are caught. This means that for certain situations, teaching can take you only so far. Teaching is great for head knowledge and to build a foundation on, but sometimes real and lasting transformation happens only through a personal encounter—that is, through life situations leading you to catch" the principles and then to apply them yourself. That is how the most decided change in me began.

Stand in Victory!

After an all-out onslaught against my mind, one that nearly talked me out of the ministry, I knew that my destiny depended on putting God’s Word to work in my life. Knowing what the Bible says about who I am and what I have in Christ wasn’t enough; I had to learn how to live in these truths.

The Holy Spirit led me to an aha moment when I caught the solution. I was studying the full armor of God in Ephesians 6 with the goal of exploring the historical functions of each of the six pieces as well as the practical application for contemporary Christianity. As I read the passage with fresh eyes, my attention focused on the word stand. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power, Paul began (Eph. 6:10). "Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (v. 11). As Paul continued to describe the armor, I counted at least two more instructions to stand."

God used this to speak something profound that is now a theme of my ministry. He said, Don’t fight with a devil who is defeated, but stand in the victory of the One who defeated him. Perhaps you should reread that and digest it a bit. The implications of this revelation are enormous. Stand on the truths of God’s Word regardless of how bleak the situation looks. Stand in who God says you are despite what others have said about you. Stand on the promises of what God says you have regardless of the obstacles in the way. Stand on the assurance that the victory won by Christ’s finished work is also your victory.

More than giving just a catchy one-liner, God also instructed me about the way to actually do this. "Take. . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, He said (Eph. 6:17). Through my historical study of the Roman sword, I discovered that often the soldier stood firmly planted in his place, waving his sword at oncoming enemies. This was his way of warning, Stay back! I’m armed and dangerous." I knew I had to take up God’s Word in the same way. That is, I had to stand planted in the truth, consistently declaring it over my life and into my situations.

When I felt confronted with rejection or purposelessness, I needed to declare God’s Word: I am handpicked and chosen by God for His good purpose (Eph. 1:4). Or when feeling weak: The joy of the Lord is my strength (Neh. 8:10). Or in temptation: I resist the devil and he must flee from me (James 4:7). God’s Word provides truth for any situation we face. We will explore this more in chapter 3 so that you can activate the Word’s power in your life.

A Download From God

God’s Word is designed to be declared. We see precedents for this throughout the Old and New Testaments. While we aren’t to use God’s Word as if it is a magical formula, declaring it aloud does act as a healing salve. When applied, God’s Word goes to work to accomplish whatever it is meant to accomplish—not always overnight, but over time.

So in time I began to see God’s Word transform areas of my life. My boldness tremendously increased and so did my confidence. I recognized that God’s spoken Word applied to my attitude kept me in joy when things were anything but joyful. And I instantly found it an effective way to ward off the temptations of the flesh.

But often for something to be effective, it has to be used consistently. And the spoken Word of God is no different. Think of it as taking a vitamin for your health. Sure, a vitamin can help give an instant boost when you are feeling under the weather, but it works best if you take it before you are sick. When you take vitamins daily and proactively, your immune system remains built up to fight off any potential attacks before they arrive. In the same way I found that my sustained victory and growth depended on a consistent, daily habit of speaking God’s Word, not an occasional emergency dose.

To bolster this habit of speaking God’s Word, I tried to keep handwritten scriptures on note cards in my pocket to declare throughout the day. But too often I forgot them at home, or the day’s distractions caused me to forget to pull them out. Frustrated, I finally murmured to the Lord, There must be a way to put the Word of God in my pocket for quick access whenever and wherever I need it.

That is when the download happened. Almost instantly an idea formed in my mind for a smartphone app. And my techno-savvy brain shifted into overdrive with the concept and possibilities. Even the name of the app came quickly: Shut Up, Devil!

The basic concept was clear: identify a collection of common issues that we all face—issues such as anxiety, discouragement, fear, financial struggle, and temptation—and then select scriptures related to each one of these issues and present them on digital note cards. Each card was to feature the base scripture with a personalized version crafted to speak aloud. And that was crucial. This wasn’t another one of the many Bible promise apps meant for meditation (as great as those are). No, this was to be a sword in the pocket to help people apply the power of God’s Word to any issue they face. The final, significant requirement was that the app needed to include a reminder feature with alerts to help users stay proactive about the practice.

Months later this download from God launched with fanfare and great support from the church and Christian media. In fact, to date it has become one of the most popular apps of its kind. Perhaps you came to this book because of it. Or maybe you know nothing about it but would like to. (It is available free at www.shutupdevil.org.)

However you got here, this book isn’t about the app, but about the practice now made popular by the app: speaking God’s Word.

How to Use This Book

I have intended this book as one from which you learn and with which you interact. First, I want to build your confidence in the principle of speaking God’s Word. That is what the first part explores. Through it you will begin to understand that God’s Word is meant to be spoken and meant to be spoken by you. I want to help increase your faith so that when you declare God’s Word, you are sure it will work to transform your life.

In the next four parts I have handpicked sixteen strategic declarations in four different areas that make up the totality of life: identity and purpose, rest and refreshment, overcoming obstacles, and winning spiritual battles. Each chapter, which represents a declaration, is filled with solid, biblical teaching and numerous supporting verses to inspire faith in and to support each declaration. Understand that these are not strings of words to flippantly mouth to get whatever you want. No, each declaration is a holy decree set apart by God, given to you to use to conform to His truths. Any other use is a perversion of God’s intentions.

At the end of each chapter with a theme declaration, you will see #ActivateTheWord followed by a personalized declaration designed for you to speak aloud. The goal here is to help you identify with and then activate the truth presented. That is when real transformation begins. Feel free to share these declarations and your life change with your friends on social media.

Be expectant of the great change in you that is about to take place as you begin to activate the power of God’s Word. My story of transformation is not unique. I have heard from many people throughout the world, some coming to me with tears in their eyes, about how speaking God’s Word has changed them too. Some were rescued from the grips of suicidal thoughts, others from the shackles of despair, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One young man shared with me about how proclaiming God’s Word gave him the confidence that he was good enough to go to college.

Each story is different, but each reflects a common truth that God’s Word declared over any situation will absolutely transform it. I know it will do the same for you. It has to, for as we will explore next, it is a law of the supernatural.

1

THE POWER OF ONE SPOKEN SENTENCE

The voice of God is the most powerful force in nature, indeed the only force in nature, for all energy is here only because the power-filled Word is being spoken.

—A. W. TOZER

¹

WHEN I LOOK at your heavens, David expressed to the Lord, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?" (Ps. 8:3–4). David’s words reflect his awe of God’s creation and the perspective we all should keep. We would do well to make it a practice to look beyond our cityscapes with their skyscrapers, our celebrities and their fame, and our fashions and possessions—the works of human hands—and stand, as David did, in wonder of what God has made.

I intimately understand David’s sentiments. Exploring and musing at God’s creation is a passion of mine too. I love to take in the vistas of the natural wonders. Perhaps there are few things more breathtaking to me than the majesty of the mountains, the vastness of the ocean, the colors in a summer sunset, or the serenity found in a fresh blanket of new-fallen snow. What can equal gazing up on a clear night and getting lost in a sea of countless stars?

David’s words are profound in noting that humanity and all its devices are futile in comparison. Certainly God’s theater puts on a daily show infinitely greater than anything we could ever produce.

However, David minimized God’s power, even unintentionally, by his words. He inaccurately described the grandeur of creation as the work of [God’s] fingers. To understand my daring accusation, we must go back to the beginning to read the biblical account of how the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them began.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep.

—GENESIS 1:1–2

Here the Bible depicts the earth before creation as a formless void. Don’t allow the meaning of this to get lost