CONTENTS

1    The Mind of Christ

2    The Mouth of Christ

3    The Heart of Christ

1

THE MIND OF CHRIST

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16

AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL

Many people are impressed with what the devil can do. I am not. He is a killer, a stealer and a liar. Christians don't have to put up with him. The words we speak and the way we act are very important because they either open or close the door to Satan. If we don't walk in love, the devil will come in and steal from us, kill our children, break up our marriages, take our money and steal our health. He will steal everything we have if we allow him to do so. Walking in love means we are careful of the words we say.

I am not scared of the devil. All we need to do is bind him from all facets of our lives and be alert of his actions because he tries to maneuver his way in. He is very cunning.

EDIFY OTHERS

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

Ephesians 4:26-31

In other words, use no foul language. Let your words be for the good of others according to the need of the moment. The Lord is telling us to "put evil speaking away from us." Speak kindly about every person—even your spouse. We must watch what we say. We must not allow the devil to operate in our lives. We must learn to love the unlovable. I pray daily for Jesus to help me show love to every person. I long to be a servant to people. I want people to know how much I appreciate them. The Church and the world need Christians who are willing to walk together in love. If we don't walk in love, the devil has an open door to come in and steal everything we have.

I have seen people shunned and ignored because they aren't "in the ministry" so to speak. That's not right. There are volunteers who work behind the scenes of ministries who are extremely important to the work of God. We need to learn to appreciate them and all that they do. But more than that, we must show appreciation to all those around us.

Speak words of encouragement. Look for ways to show love and support for those who labor behind the scenes. Just as important as the person in the pulpit are the people in the sound booth, ushers, praise and worship teams. As we learn to appreciate all members of the body of Christ, our walk with Him will grow and develop. Remember, our walk with God should be the most important aspect of our lives.

THE MIND CAN BE DECEIVED

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

Ephesians 4:21-25

Sometimes people believe the Lord has directed them to do certain things when in reality God has had nothing to do with that direction. They can be so deceived.

I have seen this happen with my father. People come up to him and say that it is God's will for them to do this and that for him. Or that it is God's will for a certain lady to marry him. I have compassion for these people, but they are deceived, because they sincerely believe the deception. People have told me, "The Lord said I am supposed to work with your dad." Or, "God has told me I am supposed to work with you." If this were true, God would have also given us the same direction.

For example, we know of one particular lady who purchased a wedding gown and sent out invitations because she thought God told her that my dad was supposed to marry her. Incidents like that hurt my father—to know that what he has taught hasn't been taken to heart. When it is time to marry, God will speak to the hearts of both parties involved—not just one.

BEING A SERVANT FIRST

I own my own business. It is a fitness center where we hold thirty-two aerobic classes a week. Last year, I leased it out when the Lord instructed me to go to Bible school. My father has had a Bible school for fourteen years, and I am just now a recent graduate.

I attended the school for two full months before any of the other students knew who I was. I cooked and worked in the deli. I did this because I know it is important to be in the ministry of helps. If part of your ministry doesn't include the ministry of helps, then you aren't in the ministry. Serving others is what ministry is all about. You must be a servant first. Jesus was a servant. We begin to have the mind of Christ as we become a servant to all.

We cannot begin in the ministry by getting up in front of people telling of all the great things we have done. We must humble ourselves, bow down on our knees and worship Jesus first. We must not be ashamed to call Him Lord and Healer.

MY CHILDHOOD

The devil is in the world to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10.) The devil is a liar and we must put him in his place. It took me longer than most people to learn this truth although I was exposed to it throughout my childhood.

My parents were young when they married. My mother grew up in a family where affection was not shown. Therefore, I was closer to my father as I grew up. I was abused physically by my mother because the devil came in and took hold of her mind. She was so controlled by a spirit of jealousy, I couldn't even sit on my father's lap.

When my father told us that Jesus was speaking to him and that He wanted his life, my mother didn't want any part of it. She wanted to be a part of the social world and a lifestyle of commitment to God didn't fit in her plans.

One day, when he was on a business trip, she called him and told him she wanted a divorce. They separated and I went to live with her. Later, I was able to live with my father. I have only seen my mother one time since then.

It isn't that I am asking for anyone's pity because my father is great and he has always been good and kind to me. He corrected me and spanked me, but I always knew he loved me.

In my teenage years, I became anorexic. Now I understand that this happened because of many early childhood experiences. My mother started confronting me about my weight when I was barely seven years old. I was constantly told how fat I was and, therefore, put on a variety of diets. As a result, I hated myself—I hated the way I looked.

Another reason anorexia came on me is because I opened the door to the devil by stealing change from my dad when I was growing up. The devil was sitting on the throne of my life every time I did that. If there is no repentance in a person's heart, nothing will change. As a child, many times I said I was sorry although I didn't mean it; I just didn't want to get whipped.

I have now learned that we must always strive to be honest in every area. Today, to the best of my ability, it is very important to me to live a life of love and honesty.

KEEPING THE DEVIL CAST OUT

Even today, after having been delivered from anorexia by God, the devil tries to torment me. I have to bind him every day because the same spirit that was cast out can come back to torment—but only if we let him. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I see a double chin, layers of fat and warts on my face—a disease the Lord has totally healed. When this attack comes, I have to talk to myself, but most importantly, I have to talk to the devil, "Okay Zona, you are five foot four and weigh a hundred and five pounds. That is not fat. Devil, you are a liar." I have to force my mind to be renewed according to the Word. I have to touch my face and say, "I don't have warts on my face. Devil, you are a liar in Jesus' name."

Sometimes I look sideways and see my chin and my chest connected. In this distorted picture that Satan is portraying, there is no definition of a jawline at all. I have always wanted to be slender and the devil knows that. He tries to bring the bondage back into my life, but I know beyond a doubt that the Lord of lords has healed me—and the devil can no longer torment me.

If you have ever been bound by disease and healed by the Lord, you know that the devil tries to come back to torment you by bringing back the symptoms. It is at this point that you have a choice to make. You either accept the symptoms or reject them. It is up to us how we handle the situation.

As a child, I have had several other physical problems. I have suffered from asthma, and at some point, I nearly died of influenza of the bloodstream. Sometimes, when I do aerobic exercise, the devil tries to make me feel that I can hardly breathe. I know this is an attack from Satan and I have learned to recognize his attacks.

SPEAK TO THE PROBLEM

I have learned to talk to my body. I talk to my metabolism. In fact, you must always remember, any part of the body that isn't in line with the Word of God, can be aligned by speaking His Word. The devil has tried to kill me nine times, so I am a pro at this. You have to learn to stand on the Word and tell the devil to leave every organ of your body alone.

Recently, when the doctor tried to tell me I had lupus, I said, "I bind those words in Jesus' name." I instructed him to never say those words to me again. My confession was, "I don't have any disease."

IN WITH THE WRONG CROWD

I don't know how I backslid, nor why it happened. However, when I began to run with the wrong crowd, I was the most popular one of the bunch. Looking back, I believe that the feeling of acceptance I felt while I was with them was one of the reasons I hung around them. While attending high school I was never accepted. In fact, during those years, I thought I was going to die. I never saw room for me in anyone's life. My father was traveling and I didn't want to be a burden to him.

I became very sick during that time. I was throwing up fifteen to eighteen times a day. I took sixty laxatives a day for three years. I was on drugs for eight years. I took diet pills daily —the most potent you can buy. Had it not been for my father's prayers, I would be dead today. I am a walking miracle!

Many of my friends are now dead because of overdoses of speed and other drugs. The devil has tried to kill me many times. The devil will try to kill all of us, but we must always remember that because God has a call on our lives, we have a reason to live. We must determine in our hearts that we will seek His face and enter the throne room of God daily.

FORGIVING MY MOTHER

I grew up thinking my parents divorced because of me. That's what my mother told me when she used to call me to talk. Finally, when I was about twenty-five, I told her to stop calling me. I didn't need her negative influence in my life. I constantly had to fight the devil in the area of bitterness against her.

However, God doesn't want us to dwell in bitterness. I asked Him to forgive me, but the manifestation of God's healing only came when I called her to tell her that I loved her. It was the year of the San Francisco earthquake. She was living there at the time. I located her and told her I didn't care what had happened in the past. I just wanted to tell her that I loved her and that I forgave her. I firmly believe that if I had not cast the bitterness out of me and asked God to deliver me, I would have died. Bitterness will cause death.

God can work through any circumstance. I am convinced that God is able to perform great miracles. The fact that my husband and I have been divorced and remarried is proof of that because we used to hate each another. Now that the Lord has restored our lives, we never bring anything up about the past. It is a mistake to live in the past. Forgiveness is one of the primary keys to renewing the mind.

2

THE MOUTH OF CHRIST

Jesus becomes what we call Him—nothing more and nothing less. All that happens to us is a result of the words we speak. What we experience today is a result of what we spoke last week, last month and last year. The devil can certainly hear what we say. He knows where to attack by what he hears us speak. If we say we are weak, he will make us weaker.

If we are in a state of confusion or sickness, it is our own fault. What we are today, is what we spoke in the previous days, months and years.

POWER OF THE TONGUE

The tongue can bring life or death. It can bring health or sickness. If we don't get our words in line with God's Word, nothing will go right in our lives. Those words include judgment.

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

James 3:1-13

These verses are talking about the Christian and the tongue. The person who doesn't offend with words is a perfect man or woman. If we don't know the details of what we are talking about, it is best to keep quiet. Don't call someone to talk about another person. If you do, what you told about that person will judge you.

If we cannot control the tongue, then we cannot tell our bodies to be healthy. We cannot bridle the whole body. But with our words, we can bring our bodies under subjection. If we call our bodies healed, they will be healed.

We can put a bit in the horse's mouth and we can control his body. When we put the "bit" in our mouth, we can control our body. When I go to the doctor, I have enough of God's Word in me to keep his words from going into my spirit. Any word that goes into your spirit and hurts your spirit is of the devil. No matter who says it to you. If it hurts you, it isn't from God. Always say uplifting and edifying words to other people.

THE TONGUE CAN BE EVIL

I have had women come up to me and say, "Zona, you are just like a daughter to me." In the past, I have wanted and needed to hear that—and I have fallen for it. Then, that same person has gone behind me and stabbed me in the back. I believe God hates that. Today, I don't need that any more. I have a mother-in-law who loves me. She is just like a mother to me. She has a right to say that I am like a daughter to her. I have been in their family for a number of years.

The tongue can be an evil tool of the devil, or it can be a blessing. In the Scriptures there are fourteen kinds of tongues listed:

1.    The viper's tongue. (Job 20:16.)

2.    The flattering tongue. (Psalm 5:9.)

3.    The proud tongue. (Psalm 12:3.)

4.    The lying tongue. (Psalm 109:2.)

5.    The deceitful tongue. (Psalm 120:2.)

6.    The false tongue. (Psalm 120:3.)

7.    The froward tongue. (Proverbs 10:31.)

8.    The wholesome tongue. (Proverbs 15:4.)

9.    The healthy tongue. (Proverbs 12:18.)

10.    The naughty tongue. (Proverbs 17:3.)

11.    The perverse tongue. (Proverbs 17:20.)

12.    The soft tongue. (Proverbs 25:15.)

13.    The stammering tongue. (Isaiah 28:11.)

14.    The backbiting tongue. (Proverbs 25:23.)

In addition to these verses about the tongue, there are twelve uses of the tongue which are condemned:

1.    Gossiping. (Deuteronomy 22:13-19.)

2.    Talebearing. (Leviticus 19:16.)

3.    False witnessing. (Exodus 20:16.)

4.    Whispering. (Romans 1:29.)

5.    Slandering. (1 Timothy 3:11.)

6.    False accusations (Titus 2:3)

7.    Vain talking. (Titus 1:10.)

8.    Defaming. (Jeremiah 20:10.)

9.    Tattling. (1 Timothy 5:13.)

10.    Lying. (Proverbs 6:17.)

11.    Deceiving. (Revelations 12:9.)

12.    Backbiting. (Romans 1:30.)

If you find yourself in any of these twelve categories, you need to repent. You don't have to repent in front of a crowd. But if you have said something against an official of your church, or your pastor, or his family, you need to go to that person and tell them you are sorry. If they are where they should be with God, it won't change how they feel about you.

WORDS THAT COME AGAINST YOU

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Romans 2:1-6

When people talk against others behind their back, they are cursing their body and, therefore, this can cause a disease to come upon that person's body. The Bible says that murmuring is considered witchcraft. This is the reason I curse any words spoken against me at the root every day. I do it to be safe. If you curse words at the root, they will not produce anything negative in your life.

You can say, "I curse you, Satan. The words against me are never going to prosper. They are going to die. I curse them at the root in Jesus' name. Just like Jesus cursed the fig tree, I curse any negative words that are said against me or my family. I pray God's blessings for any person who talks against me. I pray for God to bring them to repentance at the altar. Satan, you can't have me."

SPEAK HEALTH TO YOUR BODY

When something is wrong with any part of your body, you must speak health to it. You can say, "I am made in God's image. Therefore, I cannot have infection in my lungs. (Or whatever the problem is.) The Word of God says I am made in God's image. I remind you, Satan, that I am made in Jesus' image. Take your hands off my lungs. Take your hands off my sinuses."

Once you make that kind of confession, you will probably start coughing. Somehow the situation will seem worsen. Faith without actions is dead. (James 2:17.) You have to stand on your confession in the midst of the storm. While you are coughing, you can say, "Thank You, Jesus, You are my healer. I call You my healer. I thank You, Lord, that my lungs are clear. Infection in my lungs, I command you to go."

If you don't speak to the problem, the healing will not take place. Jesus is to you whatever you believe He is. If you never call Him your healer, He will never be your healer. If you never call Him your financial provider, you will lack forever. Jesus becomes what you call Him.

In the area of healing, I know people who refuse to go to a doctor. However, I believe you should go to the doctor and have a physical every year so that you know the condition of your body. Then, you will know what part of your body to put under the Word and under the Blood. God has given us wisdom to use in such situations—when the devil attacks your body, you must fight him with authority.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 14:12

This verse provides the Christian with a "power of attorney."

Jesus is our attorney. He wants us to go to Him for our needs. Most Christians know this, but fail to practice it. I go to Jesus every day and say, "Lord, I call you my healer. You are my healer."

When I am sick I go to Jesus because He acts as my attorney before God. I may have to stand on His Word two or three years —but it doesn't matter how long because faith has no time clock. It has taken me fifteen years to receive complete healing. I have had so many health problems—bleeding ulcers, anorexia, forty-two growths on my body, low potassium, asthma, influenza of the blood stream, kidney failure five times. I have been a walking wreck!

There is no need to thank Jesus for the healing He is going to give you because He has already healed you. That's why you can call Him your healer now—today. The moment He took the stripes on His back was the moment He made provision for your healing and health. Jesus has already taken all the stripes for your healing. (1 Peter 2:24.) You can speak the Word to any illness you may have—and God will hear you.

If you have a heart condition, you can call your heart strong. "Heart, I call you strong. You are strong and well in Jesus' name." You have that right through what Jesus has already done. You need to call those things that be not as though they were.

People who are overweight, are overweight because they eat too much. It isn't because of the devil. It is because they have no will power. God will not override a person's will—this includes healing of all kinds. The prayer of other believers on our behalf is very important.

However, we also need to get down on our knees and seek God.

Our healing is waiting for us to receive it. We must stand on His Word and worship Him while the manifestation comes. If you are consistently worshipping God, He will come across the continent to get to you. God is not satisfied until all His people are worshipping Him because worship pleases God. Let no doubting or wavering statements come out of your mouth. You must know who you are in Christ Jesus. Endurance of prayer brings the answer.

REFRAIN FROM JUDGING OTHERS

None of us have "arrived." We will always be under the attack of the enemy until we are home with Jesus.

We shouldn't talk against anyone or judge anyone.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 13:3

When we bring judgment upon someone, Jesus becomes our Judge. When we say something bad about another person, Jesus judges us according to exactly what we say.

Before we became involved in the "faith movement" and learned to call those things that be not as though they were, my dad used to yell at me and call me a disgrace. I then told myself, "If he thinks I am a disgrace, then I might as well live like one." Whatever you call your children, that's what they will be.

When my husband, Bobby, was growing up, his mother spoke uplifting words to him. Therefore, Bobby has a strong self image. On the other hand, my mother never uplifted me. Speaking wrong about your children is gossiping. Gossiping about your kids will make it even more difficult for them to come into the kingdom.

We have no excuse to talk about anyone or to judge anyone. Relating in detail a problem someone else has so that a believer can "pray" about it is gossip. Don't use prayer, or God, or religion, as your scapegoat to gossip. If you can't say anything to someone's face, don't say anything at all.

WORDS THAT CAN KILL

The devil tried to kill me last year. A black widow spider bit me. I believe with all my heart that it was caused by gossiping. I was hurt. When you are hurt your spirit is wounded. That opens the door for the devil to come in. When he comes in, he will bring a disease—physical or mental.

While my leg was swollen and blue, I worked one my father's conventions. The doctor said it would be all right, but I could hardly walk. He told me to lie down, but I didn't. I went ahead and worked. I tried to rest after the convention but my daughter was only five and I didn't have anyone to help me. By the second week, I was crawling on my hands and knees to get around. It went from my calf to my knee, and then to my thigh.

I have a friend who is a nurse. She just happened to drop by to see me. By that time I was in bed and could not move. She called an ambulance. I went into convulsions and almost swallowed my tongue.

During this incident, my angel appeared to me for the second time in my life. I had been praying for Jesus to send my angel back to me. He had appeared to me about fifteen years ago when I was in a backslidden condition.

When I was taken to the ambulance, I saw my angel standing in the middle of the ambulance—right on the top. He was big, very big. When they put me inside, he came down to the size of a normal person. The driver was in the front of the ambulance. The attendant was in the back with me taking my blood pressure and giving me oxygen. My angel was sitting in the chair next to him. Then, my angel said to me, "You are fine. You are going to be all right, Zona. I'm with you every day and I'm not going to leave you. I have been with you every day."

I did not see Jesus there, but when I closed my eyes, I saw Jesus' eyes. He confirmed to me what my angel was saying. When I arrived at the hospital, there was mass confusion. That was the ninth time I almost died.

The next day the doctor came in to see me and told me he thought I had lupus. Do you remember what I said about words that hurt your spirit? If the words hurt your spirit, they are from the devil. I looked at the doctor and said, "I bind those words in Jesus' name. Don't ever tell me I have a disease as long as you are treating me. I have no disease."

The doctor was a sweet man. He didn't know he was being used of the devil. But I had to counteract the words. When the words came at me, I had to attack them quickly.

LAUGHING AT THE DEVIL

The next day, the doctor told me he thought I had leukemia. The day after, he said I had tuberculosis. At that point, I burst out laughing. All I could think of was laughing at the devil. When the devil tries to put fear on me, I always remember God's Word, the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10b). As I laughed, I became stronger and stronger. I laughed at him all the way out of the room.

The next day, I was told I needed a blood transfusion. For the next three nights I slept a total of about eight hours. I prayed in tongues and I sang all the songs I could think of about the Blood. I thanked God for a heavenly transfusion. Finally, they came and took all the equipment out. They said they were not going to do a transfusion.

The only reason I am alive today is because I bind any words that are said against me. I bind the words from people who are gossiping and backbiting. I curse them at the root, in Jesus' name. I do this every day. If I don't, my spirit becomes weak. We must build up our spirit man every day with faith.

The devil will try to make you think you are too busy to build up your spirit. But we should never have so much to do that we can't worship God.

Words that edify, build up and worship God will bring life to us.

3

THE HEART OF CHRIST

LOVING OTHERS

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:27,28

The teaching of loving our enemies must be very important to Jesus, since it is stated twice in these Scriptures. Here we have the four laws of love:

1.    Love your enemies.

2.    Do good to them which hate you.

3.    Bless them that curse you.

4.    Pray for them which despitefully use you.

We are commanded to love people. Ministry is love. Your preacher may be hard on you at times. But if he didn't love you, he wouldn't take the time to study and to seek God's face as to what he should preach. Many Christians don't understand what preachers go through. We need to have compassion on them.

"Do good," the Word says. Do good to every person you meet. It doesn't say, "Be good," but "Do good." Do something good for someone today. When you find someone who has a need, meet that need. You don't have to tell them anything.

You can leave a rose on someone's desk. No need to tell them who it was from. Leave a card in someone's mailbox. Bless people just like Jesus blesses us daily.

These four components are the core of a ministry. Therefore, everyone has a ministry. Everyone is supposed to: 1) love, 2) do good, 3) bless and 4) pray. It is up to each person whether or not that ministry is active.

God is not partial to those in ministry who stand in the pulpit. He loves everyone the same. We can all do the same work in Jesus' name—and in faith. It isn't hard to do.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:34

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:15-17

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:9-10

All through the Bible, we are told to love people. If we are going to lead people to Jesus, we must love them first. The only way we can abide in God is through love. God loves us so much, He gave us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we learn to love others.

WALK IN LOVE

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Ephesians 5:1-4

We must be careful not to jest and make fun of people. Learn to avoid flippant talk which might ridicule others. This is not convenient. We must learn to give all things to God.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:5-7

Don't let anyone fool you on this point no matter how plausible the argument. Don't let anyone trick you with empty promises. Don't let anyone fool you with gossip. If they try to pull you in, don't listen. You don't have to be rude. You can do this with compassion, kindness and love.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Ephesians 5:8-13

Take no part in deeds of darkness. Stay clear of activities of darkness. See them for what they really are. If you talk about someone allowing the devil to come in, and you don't bind him in your mouth, in your mind, in your heart and in the way you feel, you will speak evil words before you know it. You can get yourself in deep trouble. The devil comes in when you speak wrong words. He can go into the person about whom you are talking and put things on that person.

Negative words that come at you can be cursed at the root in Jesus' name. On the other hand, the words that come to you and bring life to your spirit are of God.

We must be careful to keep bitterness out of our lives. If we don't, the devil will come in and take over. We can speak to bitterness or any other flaw that is present in our lives in the name of Jesus—with authority. We can improve ourselves by binding the devil in whatever area where weakness exists.

No need to make a big deal about it. Don't make a big deal about the devil. It is just an attack. You need to say, "I bind you devil from this situation, in Jesus' name." No one has to cast the devil out of you. You can cast him out yourself.

CHOOSE WORDS OF VICTORY

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:1-3

Why do we talk to our brothers and sisters about the wrongdoing of others when there are faults in our own lives? The words we speak should be words of victory, life and love. If we do not speak words of victory, we will die.

We must stop criticizing other people, in order to guard the mind, the mouth and the heart from the traps of Satan. Daily, I claim protection for these three areas. I thank the Lord for giving me the mind of Christ, the mouth of Christ and the heart of Christ. Jesus didn't have an evil mouth. People spit on Him and He still loved them. Can we react in the same manner? If people choose to be cruel, can we still love them? We must conquer our flesh every day.

We must not judge people because of the way they look or the way they act. We don't know where they are coming from, or what they have been through. Why do we spend time criticizing what we think is wrong with another person? We need to be concerned about our own walk with God.

I have learned that a person has to have big shoulders when entering into the ministry. People seem to want to attack those who are on the front lines. I have been criticized many times, but I have learned not to let words get inside of me. If I allow this to happen, I am opening a door to allow the devil to put a disease on me. I refuse to accept any negative word that is spoken against me.

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 7:4-5

Let's begin by removing the beam out of our own eye.

When we can see well enough, then we can help our brother. Until we can treat a brother with love—rather than judgment— we have no business talking about him. I have made the decision not to attach myself to anyone who gossips because that is of the devil. The end result of backbiting and gossiping is death.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; to the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

For there is no respect of persons with God.

Romans 2:3,5-11

If we judge another person and are guilty of the same wrongdoing, do we think we will escape God's judgment? Do we take for granted God's goodness, forbearance and longsuffering? The above Scriptures indicate we are laying up a "treasure of wrath" because we have judged another person. This includes what we might consider a small, little judgment.

The devil is so cunning that he will make you think you have a right to criticize or judge others. However, you have no right. We are to treat people like we want to be treated. There are no "little" people in Jesus. My dad has taught me to find good in every person.

If someone around you is involved in wrongdoing, you can help them to be delivered—and you don't even have to lay hands on them. My father loved me through all my years of backsliding. I partied every day and came home drunk. I was consumed by the attention I received at the clubs where I danced all night long. When I was a small child, I felt my mother never paid attention to me because I was too fat or not pretty enough. But the Lord delivered me from that animosity and hatred I felt towards her. It is important to get the bitterness out of your life, and to keep your conscience clear. It doesn't matter if people hate you—the important thing is that you don't hate in return.

RELATIONSHIP NOT REQUIRED

God never said He required us to have a relationship with anyone. For instance, I have not seen my mother for twenty-six years. I was full of hate for her in the beginning. I hated her so much I developed bleeding ulcers. And then I hated myself because she put me down.

But according to the Word, I can have what I say. (Mark 11:23.) So I began to say, "I love my mother." I don't say that I have a relationship with my mother, but I can love her and honor her. I have nothing against her now, but I am not required to have a relationship with her. I had to stop judging her. I had to forgive her.

LOOK ON THE HEART

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things...

Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 1:28, 30a, 32

This Scripture refers to people who gossip and say unkind or untrue things about others. They "invent" evil things. For instance, you walk into church and someone doesn't speak to you. Perhaps that person has other things on his mind. But you are hurt and so you blow it out of proportion, and begin talking about that person. That's the devil telling you what to say. He is standing right by you telling you what to say.

It is time for us to look upon the heart and walk in love. The quickest way to turn away from God is to fail to walk in love. You can hold a high position in the church and be in a backslidden condition. You can fake it until God begins to deal with the problem in your heart. Any person who treats others in a hateful manner, outside of God's love, will backslide. We can't help anyone unless we are full of God's love.

The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Proverbs 25:23

When you backbite, you hurt and grieve the Holy Spirit. If you do that long enough, the Holy Spirit will leave you. When you talk about another person, you will be judged by God. No person has a clean slate. If you talk about your pastor or his family, you better get down on your knees and repent. When you allow the devil to use your mouth in this manner, your relationship with God is hindered. Therefore, God can't heal you because you have opened the door for the devil to get in. However, even if you have been guilty of the above, God is willing and able to deliver you. All you need to do is ask God for forgiveness.

GO TO GOD WITH THE PROBLEM

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Romans 2:1,2

In whatever area you condemn another, you condemn yourself. If you have a complaint about a person, go to God with it. God's judgment is totally impartial against such evildoers who judge.

If someone does something wrong, the situation must be dealt with in love and compassion. It shouldn't be discussed in public. One negative word spoken about a person can ruin that person's ministry—it can even ruin that person's life. Is it worth it?

There is a difference between reprimanding someone and talking mean to that person. A reprimand can be done in love. Do everything with love. Don't get so mad that you want to hurt someone.

Strive to edify people, whether you like them or not. Call those things that are not as though they were and stand in the gap for those brothers or sisters who need deliverance. Their spirit will change if you intercede for them.

A GOSSIPING TONGUE

Every day when I wake up, I say, "God let me be able to do good for someone today."

I have not always done this in the past. I have talked about people. I have gossiped. I have been a backbiter. I have told lies. But, the Lord has delivered me. I don't do this any more. I have learned better.

A couple of years ago, I began going to lunch with a group of women. Every time, we would end up talking about someone. I wasn't always talking, but I was in their company. Because I was with them, I was like them. Eventually, my father advised me to stop keeping company with them. "Those words will get into your spirit," he told me. "And you will wind up taking on a different personality." I don't go out with them anymore.

There is a kingdom on the inside of each of us. Either Jesus sits on the throne, or the devil sits on the throne. When you become angry and let your temper flare, the devil is on the throne. When you edify the person you are angry with, Jesus is on the throne. When you knock Jesus off the throne, you open the door for the devil to bring in a disease.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 13:2,3

You can write your own death certificate by talking about people and by judging. There are three things that a gossiping tongue can do.

1. A Gossiping Tongue Affects Everyone Involved.

Wherefore put away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:25-27

The smallest word of judgment opens the door for the devil to attack. You are always the devil's next mission—his next attack. But you can determine to be a "mission impossible" for him. It is up to you and your mouth not to allow Satan to use you in the future. Make this decision today! You will reap the benefits.

When you talk about another person, you give place to the devil. If you talk about someone with regard to what they wear, you are judging. You have failed to look upon the heart. As Christians we need to look at the person's heart and not at their appearance.

We look at the outward appearance, and talk against people. But God looks at the heart. Likewise we need to look at what is inside the person.

When I had my fitness and health studio, I hired girls who were overweight to teach my classes. I wanted to give them a chance. If I didn't give them a chance to feel special, who would? Nobody. Nobody else would have prayed with them, or said to them, "Get on out there. You can do it." I wanted to make them feel special.

That is part of my ministry. If I can't help and serve others, I am not fulfilling my calling. I have made it my goal in life to help someone every day and to say something kind to someone every day. There isn't one person in whom I can't find a measure of good. Even the people who have hurt me. I can say with a clear conscience that I don't stab people in the back. I don't backbite or talk against people. I have made a conscious decision not to do that.

If you run around with a bunch of people who aren't interested in God, you will end up being involved in idle conversation. Try not to get involved in those situations. It is better to simply walk away.

If you are a backbiter—and you are used to backbiting your friends—you need to realize that when you backbite them, you are backbiting Jesus. If you can't be loyal to your friends, you can't be loyal to Jesus.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:29-31

If you are not willing to forgive people, Jesus isn't going to forgive you. How can He forgive you if you are holding something against someone else? He can't. The Word says:

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

Ephesians 5:1,2

He wants us to walk in love. It is important to love those who hurt you. We can't do this in our own power. It takes God's help. Without His help, we cannot turn the other cheek.

If you ever feel that people target you often, you need to ask the Lord to help you have a forgiving heart and be able to go up to them, hug them and share the love of Jesus.

2. A Gossiping Tongue Can Shorten Your Life.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.

1 Peter 3:9,10

The Lord wants our lives to be so filled with His love that when someone attacks us, we can be ready to forgive immediately, never affecting the love we should have for them. The above Scripture reminds us that there is a blessing attached to this type of behavior—a long life.

3. A Gossiping Tongue Brings Judgment.

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

Psalms 12:3,4

PRAY FOR MINISTERS

Everybody has areas in their life where improvement is necessary. All of us have our own problems. Therefore, no one should talk against another person. I feel sorry for people who speak against those who are anointed by God. Even if you don't agree with them, don't say anything. Your opinion doesn't mean anything to God. He is only interested in knowing if you are serious about working for Him and loving Him. We need to pray for those in the ministry, rather than forming opinions about them.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how will thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you.

Matthew 7:1-6

When people are cruel to you, call them your "loving friends." You can say, "I thank You, Lord, for giving me loving friends. I thank You, Lord, that no one has a desire to talk against me or backbite me. I thank You, Lord, that everyone loves me. I thank You, Jesus, that I love everyone."

When you know someone has done something against you, look for a way to do something good for that person. Pray for that person. God wants you to pray for people, and for you to remain humble and meek. Don't talk about them—just pray for them.

If you know you have been gossiping, it is time to repent. You have no right to ask Jesus to heal you if you gossip.

LEARNING TO LOVE OTHERS

Recently, I had the opportunity to win a lady to the Lord who is 107 years old. She was full of bitterness and cynicism. I told her I loved her, but she said, "You don't love me." I told her again, "I love you and Jesus loves you." Again, she answered, "No, you may like me, but you don't love me. You don't even know me. You can't love me." But I gave her a hug, and said, "I love you. You are so sweet."

One night she said, "Shut your mouth. You don't love me." But finally, on the third night of the meetings, I explained to her that Jesus died for her sins, and asked her to come up to the front and let me pray for her.

"I am not going to the front. Jesus didn't die for me," she countered.

But I had been praying for her since the first night. Privately I prayed, "All right devil, you can't have her. You have already robbed her of 107 years, and I bind you. She is going to start living now!"

That night, I asked her once again to come to the front so I could pray for her. I told her to look me in the eyes and I said, "I love you with the kind of love that Jesus has. You can slap me, you can spit on me, you can treat me like a piece of dirt, but I will still love you. I don't want you to go to hell. I care about you." Then, I got down on my knees and said, "I am now begging you to come to the altar and give yourself to God." To my delight, she came forward and accepted Jesus as her Savior. That's how I am learning to walk in love toward all people.

I have determined to love everyone. If someone hurts me, I try to love that person in return. It might take me a while to get to that point, because there is the flesh to overcome.

The devil is running rampant everywhere. We must know who we are in Christ Jesus, and bind those things that need to be bound, and loose those things that need to be loosed. (Matt. 18:18.) This is not a game we are playing. One quick word can cause a long time of sorrow. This is why it is imperative that we guard our mind, our mouth and our heart. That is why we must pray daily to have the mind, the mouth and the heart of Christ.

There is a kingdom on the inside of each of us.

Either Jesus sits on the throne, or the devil sits on the throne.

In this book, Zona Hayes Cornelison shows how our words affect our lives. The smallest word of judgement can open the door for the devil to attack. When you talk about another person, you give place to the devil. As Christians we need to look at the person's heart and not on their appearance.

The Lord wants our lives to be so filled with His love that when someone attacks us, we can be ready to forgive immediately, never affecting the love we should have for them.

This is not a game we are playing. One quick word can cause a long time of sorrow. This is why it is imperative that we guard our mind, our mouth and our heart. We must pray daily to have the mind, the mouth and the heart of Christ.

Table of Contents

1 The Mind of Christ

2 The Mouth of Christ

3 The Heart of Christ