Words have great power in the spiritual realm. The book of Genesis describes how God used speech to create the world. Therefore, it is important to know what to say and how to speak when standing in the presence of God, as advised by the book of Ecclesiastes:

“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2

In the text we are examining, we notice that Gabriel’s mission was not to make Zechariah mute, but rather to announce a great miracle to him. So why did he make him mute? With what authority did he do it? And who gave him permission? What exactly happened?

The statements of the priest Zechariah were contrary to what the angel Gabriel was announcing to him. Indeed, by saying, “I am old, and my wife is also old, it is not possible for such a thing to happen to us!” Is it faith in the power of God that is expressed here, or disbelief? Here it was a matter of miracle, bringing dead cells back to life and overcoming sterility. Statements of disbelief can postpone or even cancel a miracle. This is a spiritual principle that spiritual men and women should know.

God wants to teach His people to control the declarations they make in His presence. God deals with each of us according to the words declared in His presence. If you declare in the presence of God that your enemy will defeat you, so it will be. If you declare that the giants will exterminate you and that you cannot live in the land of blessing, so it will be. Learn to do as Joshua and Caleb did, declarations of faith: “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.”

Moses sent spies to explore the promised land. They were twelve in number according to the tribes. After exploring the land, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, made a report of faith. On the other hand, the other ten made a very dramatic report and even stirred up the people against Moses, and therefore against the Lord. It was God who promised the land and ordered Moses to send princes to learn about the land given. What did God expect from the spies? What particular attitudes were to arise from what the spies would see?

“The whole assembly raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ And they said to each other, ‘We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.’ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly. And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.” Numbers 14:1-10

Here is the declaration made by Joshua and Caleb: “For the Lord is with us!” What assurance!

Unlike the other ten spies, Joshua and Caleb made a declaration relying on the presence of God. What made the difference between them and the other ten spies was the awareness of God’s presence. Because of this, God would say about these two men aware of His presence, that they were animated by another spirit.

After Moses interceded, God calmed down, but stated a principle that he would immediately apply to the people: “As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say.”

This principle is so important that we must know it, but above all put it into practice. This same principle was applied to the priest Zechariah, so that the promise of offspring would be fulfilled without delay, because the birth of this child was directly related to the birth of Jesus and the work of the cross. No delay could therefore be accepted, whatever the cost, even if it meant making the priest Zechariah mute. Nothing could delay God’s plan…

This text is an excerpt from the book “Being present in the presence of God” written by Rev. Don Yves Kisukulu K.

We invite you to read the following article “Do not deprive yourself of the presence of God“.