Initially, we must understand that when an affliction appears in our lives and we say, “I am sick, I don’t feel so good”, we are signing a receipt from hell. It’s just like that! Our words are like a receipt. Maybe you say, “I feel sick”, or “The doctor said I have a disease”, but let’s see what the Word of God says about this.

Proverbs 12:17 says: “He who speaks truth declares righteousness,” But what is the truth? Our feelings? The Bible says in John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”

You must understand that we are not denying evil. Actually, what we are doing is not accepting something that goes against the Word. After all, even though the affliction is real and the doctor is right about your disease, the Scriptures say that, “by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5)

And so, when you are afflicted or sick, don’t confess your sickness, but act according to the Word of God; assume that it’s written, and resist the devil. Certainly he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Part Two.

Be really careful when you pray, or ordain, and nothing happens. That’s when the devil starts to act. He won’t show up in front of you with horns and a fork in his hands. On the contrary, he shows up in thoughts like, “I didn’t pray correctly”, or, “I have to pray stronger”, and things like that.

But then, what do you do as a Christian? Like I said before, our words have great value, because with them we will show our knowledge of the spiritual world; with them we can be justified or condemned! (Mathew 12:37)

David, the great king of Israel, seemed to have good knowledge about this matter, and we find in the Bible things he said: “I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.” (Psalm 39:1) and “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips” Psalm 141:3).
Solomon, son of David, also showed his knowledge of the Word of God in Ecclesiastes 5:6: “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.”

Understand, my brethren: even though you have prayed and nothing happened, stay firm and don’t sin with your mouth! Be careful of what you say, the word that goes forth from your mouth shall not return to you empty (Isaiah 55.11), because the angel of God will act on His word, heeding His voice. (Salmo 103.20). So don’t say it was a mistake or that you didn’t pray correctly; don’t say before the angel – who is a spiritual being and can only be seen with divine permission – that it was a mistake! Hold to your prayer, fight against the evidence! Don’t forget that the just live by faith! You can’t retreat (Hebrews 10:28), but be sure that by acting this way you will enjoy life with health!

Finally, don’t pay attention to those thoughts and don’t retract your prayer. Say: “It’s worthless, Satan! The word that has come out of my mouth won’t come back to me empty! Your disease is already rebuked in the name of Jesus!”

Jayme de Amorim Campos is a pastor in the Grace of God Church
headquarters, São Paulo.