Contents1LookingAtTheUnseen2FaithIsUnseen3ChangingTheSeen4ShutYourMouth5ATimeToSpeak,ATimeToBeSilent6RighteousnessSpeaks

1

LookingAtTheUnseenSeen things have become so real to some people that they have

forgottenabouttheunseen.Weliveinaworldofthenatural.Werubshoulderswiththephysical

day after day until the unseen realm seems unreal. We are almosttemptedtobelieveitdoesn’texist!

ButPaulsaid:Forour lightaffliction,which isbut foramoment,worketh forusa far

moreexceedingandeternalweightofglory;Whilewelooknotatthethingswhichareseen,butatthethingswhichare

notseen:forthethingswhichareseenaretemporal;butthethingswhicharenotseenareeternal.

2Corinthians4:17,18ThesewordsalmostcauseustothinktheApostlePaulhadlosthismindwhenhesaid,Look

notatthethingswhichareseen.Howintheworldcanyoulookatsomethingyoucan’tsee?

Paul is talking about unseen principles: the principles of God’s Wordwhichare actually spiritual law—spiritual forces that areunseen.These areeternalforceswhichalwaysworkwhenyousettheminmotion.

NoticewhattheApostlePaulsaid:

Forour lightaffliction,which isbut foramoment,worketh forusa farmoreexceedingandeternalweightofglory;Whilewelooknotatthethingswhichareseen….

Inotherwords,ifyou’relookingonlyatseenthings,thingsofthenatural,thentheafflictionwillnotworkanexceedingweightofgloryinyou:Itwillworkonlywhileyou’relookingatthingswhicharenotseen.

Youmust shift over into the realmof spiritual lawandbegin to lookatthingswhicharenotseenwiththenaturaleye.Youlookatthingswhicharenotseenwiththeeyeofthespirit—theeyeoffaith.

NoticePauldidn’tsay,“Allafflictionwillworkafarexceedingweightofglory.”Hesaiditwouldhappenonlywhileyou’relookingatthingswhichare

notseen.

Askyourselfthequestion:“Whatarethethingswhicharenotseen?’Ifyou’rehavingfinancialproblemsandthebankstatementcomesbackin

redink,thenthethingthatisnotseenisthebankbookbalancingoryourneedbeingmet.

Thethingthatisseenislack.Paulsaidthatpressurewillworkforyouanexceedingeternalweightofgloryifyouwilllookatthingsthatarenotseen.Itisactuallythelookingattheunseenthatbringstheglory,notthepressureoftheaffliction.

ThisagreeswithwhathesaidinPhilippians4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things arehonest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoeverthingsarelovely,whatsoeverthingsareofgoodreport;iftherebeanyvirtue,andiftherebeanypraise,thinkonthesethings.

Inotherwords,getyourmindofftheproblemandbegintothinkonthethingsthatarenotseen—thethingsyoudesire,thethingsyoudon’tseewithyourphysicaleye.Youmustlearntoseetheanswerbytheeyeoffaith.

The word temporal means “subject to change.” Things you are seeingwiththephysical,naturaleyearealwayssubject tochangethroughspirituallaw.

SomanytimeswhatweseewithourphysicaleyedoesnotagreewiththeWord of God, the promises of God.Theworld’s system shapes the seenthingsaroundus.Theyseemtobeveryreal,andtheyarereal;buttheWordofGodsaysthattheyaresubjecttochange!

God’sWord is the establishing force of the image of unseen things.We should not allowcircumstancesandthecaresoflifetocreateimageswithinus.TakeGod’sWordandchangethingsthatareseen—thethingsyoudon’tdesire—intothingsthatyoudodesire.

In thisbook, Iwant to showyouhow tochange theseenandshape theunseen.

WrongAssumptionsWordsproduce images insideus;butsometimesweget these imagesby

makingwrongassumptions.Letmegiveyouanexample.

During a certain meeting, the Lord had been dealing with me aboutteachingon this subjectofwrongassumptionsproducing false images.Onenightafterthemeeting,themanwhotookmetothemotelwasdrivingagray-coloredGrandPrix.

Thenextmorningwhenhecametopickmeup,hewentoutaheadofmetotakemybagstothecar.Hetoldmehewasparkeddownontheleft.

Iwalked out and looked to the left. Seeing a car that looked like his, Istartedwalkingtowardit. Iheardsomeoneblowhishornatme;butwhenIturnedaround, I sawagold-coloredCadillac.Looking for theGrandPrix Iwalkedon.Themansoundedhishornagain.

Finally,whenhebackedupandblewthehornagain,IlookedtoseewhowasintheCadillac.Itwasmyman.

IhadanimageofhimsittinginaGrandPrix.BecauseIwaslookingforaGrandPrix,Imissedhim!Thecarhadbeenrightinfrontofmeallthetime,butIhadn’tpaidanyattentiontoit.Ijustwalkedrightbyit.

Becausewehavenotshapedtheunseenwithinus,wemissit.Wewalkbyit.We let it go. SometimesGod sets it before us; but becausewe’ve nevershapedtheimageoftheunseenwithinus,wekeeppushingitoutoftheway,lookingforsomethingelse.We’resowrappedupinwhatisseenthatwefailtoseetheunseen.

CreatingRightImagesWeneedtorecognizeonething:ItisGod’sWordthatwillestablishthe

imageof theunseenwithinus.We should not allow circumstances or thecaresofthislifetocreateimageswithinus.WhattheWordsaysshouldcreatetheimage.

LetmeparaphrasewhatPaulsaidin2

Corinthians 4:18: “If you don’t get rid of that image of looking at theseen, andproduceanother image insideyou, then theafflictionsof lifewillnotworkinyouaneternalweightofglory.Buttheywill,ifyou’relookingatthethingsthatarenotseen.”

WeshouldtakeGod’sWordandchangethethingsthatareseen—thingswedon’tdesire—intothethingsthatwedodesire.

Someonesaid,“Icanplainlyseemyfinancialsituation.Icanplainlyseetheredinkonmybankstatement.”

Thosearethingsyoucansee.Theexceedingeternalweightofglorywillbebroughtintoplacebylookingattheunseen.Notice,itisnottheafflictionthatbroughtglory,butconcentratingon theunseen.Theunseen is from thespiritworld.SpiritualforcesarereleasedbyGod’sWordbeingspoken.

Unseen things are shaped by theWord ofGod. For example, theWordsays:

Give, and it shall begivenunto you; goodmeasure, presseddown, andshakentogether,andrunningover,shallmengiveintoyourbosom.Forwiththesamemeasurethatyemetewithalitshallbemeasuredtoyouagain.

Luke6:38Hewhichsowethbountifullyshallreapalsobountifully.2Corinthians9:6MyGod shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by

ChristJesus.Philippians4:19Youmaynot see these things nowwith your physical eye, but they are

very real. They are shaped byGodsWord and your confession!When youlookaround,youseelack;butGod’sWordsays,Give,anditshallbegiven…Hewhichsowethbountifullyshallalsoreapbountifully.

YouchangetheseenwithGod’sWord.Youshapetheunseenbycallingthingsthatarenotasthoughtheywere.(Rom.4:17.)

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FaithIsUnseenButGodhathchosenthefoolishthingsoftheworldtoconfoundthewise;

andGod hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the thingswhicharemighty;

Andbase things of theworld, and thingswhich are despised, hathGodchosen,yea,andthingswhicharenot,tobringtonoughtthingsthatare.

1Corinthians1:27,28LookatthesamepassageinTheAmplifiedBible:

“[No,] for God selected—deliberately chose —what in the world isfoolish to put thewise to shame, andwhat theworld callsweak to put thestrongtoshame.

“And God also selected—deliberately chose—[what] in the world [is]lowbornand insignificant, andbrandedand treatedwithcontempt,even thethingsthatarenothing,thatHemightdeposeandbringtonothingthethingsthatare.”

Godhaschosenthingsthatarenottobringtonaughtthingsthatare!Heissimplytalkingaboutthingsnotrevealedtothephysicalsenses.

Hebrews11:1tellsus:

Faithisthesubstanceofthingshopedfor,theevidenceofthingsnotseen.Faithisthesubstance,therawmaterial.Onetranslationsaysthatfaithis

givingsubstancetothingshopedfor, towhatyoudesireandwhatisnotyetmanifestedtothephysicalsenses.

Faith is the substance that God used to create the universe, and Hetransported that faithwithHiswords.GodusedHiswords as containers totransportHisfaithoutthereintothevastnothingness,intothedarkness.

Hesaid,“Light,be!”(Gen.1:3.)

Andlightwas!

Whentherewasnothingbutdarkness,GodtooktheWordlightandspokeitintoexistence.Hetookthatwhichwasnotandbroughttonaughtthatwhichwas!

InGenesis1:26,27weare told thatGodcreatedman inHisown imageandlikeness.Therefore,maniscapableoftakingthosethingswhicharenotandbringingtonaughtthosethingswhichare!Heiscapableoftakingthingsthatarenotrevealedtothephysicalsensesandbringingtonaughtthingsthatarerevealedtothephysicalsenses.

Faithisthesubstanceofthings,butyoucan’tseefaith.Faithisaspiritualforce.Youcan’tseemyfaith.Forexample:WhatifmywifeandIgotinourairplane to go on a trip, but after looking out the windows, decided wecouldn’tgobecausewedidn’tseeanyliftonthewings?

Orwhatif,aftergettingtheairplaneupto70milesanhourontherunway,IcuttheenginesbecauseIdidn’tseeanyairoutthewindow?

Thatwayofthinkingisdumb,isn’tit?Youcan’tseeliftonawing.Aliftisanunseenforceproducedbytheunseenairflowingoverthewing.

You can’t see air.You can’t feel it or hear it; so theremust not be anythere.Right?Wrong!

Godchose the things thatyoucouldn’tsee tobring tonaught the thingsyou could see.When you realize these laws work and you begin to workthem,thenyoucansupersedeotherlaws.

The lawof thrust and liftwill supersede the lawof gravity.The lawofthrust and lift doesn’t do away with the law of gravity; gravity is stillworking.Butwe’retakingthethingsthatarenotseenandcausingthethingsthatareseentocometonaught.

Anairplanecanbeseen.Youcanseeit,touchit,andfeelit.Ifyoubitintoit,youcouldtasteit.

Naturallyspeaking, theairplane is tooheavy to fly. Itweighsabout twotonswhenempty;butbecauseofthelawoflift,itcanfly.

For years, men didn’t know anything about that law. But when youunderstandtheselawsandsettheminmotion,onelawhastogivewaytotheother. Things that are not seen put to naught things that are seen, andmyairplaneflieslikeabird,upto31,000feet.

Youdon’tsupersedeonelawwithanotherbyviolatingGod’slaws.First,youhavetofindouthowtheywork;thenyouhavetocooperatewiththem.

OperatingaccordingtoGod’slawscausesyoutobeabletoshapethingsthatdon’tseemtobe—theunseen—intoaworkablesituation.

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ChangingTheSeenAn excellent example of changing the seen and shaping the unseen is

showninthelifeofAbraham.

Therefore it isof faith, that itmightbebygrace; to theendthepromisemightbesuretoalltheseed;nottothatonlywhichisofthelaw,buttothatalsowhichisofthefaithofAbraham;whoisthefatherofusall,

(Asit iswritten,Ihavemadetheeafatherofmanynations,)beforehimwhom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth thosethingswhichbenotasthoughtheywere.

Romans4:16,17Notice, it is God and Abraham who are calling things that are not as

though they were. God said, I have made thee a father of many nations.Abrahamdidn’thaveachildatthattime,buttheBiblesayshebelievedGod,anditwasaccounteduntohimforrighteousness.(v.22.)

This is the way you begin to change the seen and shape the unseen.Abrahamcalledthingswhichwerenotmanifestinthenaturalrealmasthoughtheywere—untiltheywere!

Abrahamwasthemanwhoagainsthopebelievedinhope,thathemightbecome the fatherofmanynations,according to thatwhichwas spoken (v.18).Hewas99yearsold,andhiswifewas90;buthewasnotweakinfaith(v.19).HewouldnotconsideranythingthatcontradictedwhatGodhadspoken.

Let’snoticewhatGoddidtobringaboutwhatHehadsaid.

NeithershallthynameanymorebecalledAbram,butthynameshallbeAbraham;forafatherofmanynationshaveImadethee.

AndGodsaiduntoAbraham,AsforSaraithywife,thoushaltnotcallhernameSarai,butSarahshallhernamebe.

Genesis17:5,15GodhadpromisedAbrahamsomethingthatwasabsolutelyimpossiblein

the natural. Abraham was too old, Sarah was too old; and God does notviolateHislaws.

So God changed their names!Abraham means “father of nations” andSarahmeans “mother of nations.”Every timeSarah stuckher headout thetentdoorandcalledAbraham!hedidn’thearAbraham!—heheardFatherofNations!

TheBiblesays,Faithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod(Rom.10:17).GodchangedtheseenandshapedtheunseenforAbrahamandSarahbyusingtheirownvoices!

WhenAbrahamsaid,“MynameisAbraham,”hewassaying,“IamtheFatherofNations.”Every timeAbrahamsaidSarah, shedidn’thearSarah;sheheardMotherofNations.

Everytimeshesaid,“MynameisSarah,”shewassaying,“MynameisMotherofNations.”Shewaschangingtheseenandshapingtheunseenwithherveryownvoice.

God’s way of changing the seen and establishing the unseen is withwords.Wordsproduceimagesinyourspiritandinyourmind.

The Bible says Sarah received faith to conceive seed. She did it byhearingGod’sWordforher.WhenanyonesaidAbrahamorSarah,theyweresaying,ThussaiththeLord.

Godsaid,“Ihavemadethee(pasttense)thefatherofmanynations.”TheWordsaysthatAbrahambelievedGod,andhewentaboutcallingthingsthatwerenotasthoughtheywere.Thisisthewayyoubegintoshapetheunseen.

FaithAlwaysSeesAbrahamdidnotseewithhisphysicaleyethathewasthefatherofmany

nations. When I talk about shaping the unseen, I’m not talking aboutsomething that isunseen inyour spirit.Youcan see things inyour spirit aswellaswiththenaturaleye.

Sometimespeoplesay,“Thatfellowjusthadblindfaith.”But there’snosuchthingasblindfaith.Faithalwayssees.Faithalwaysknows.

Youdon’tseethesethingswiththenaturaleye,butyouperceivetheminyourspiritbydiscerningtheWordofGodbytheSpiritofGodwithinyou.

Abraham called things thatwere not (manifest in the natural realm) asthoughtheywere(manifestinthenaturalrealm)untiltheywere(manifestinthenaturalrealm).AndtheWordsaysthatGoddidthesamething:Hecalledthingsthatwerenotasthoughtheywere.

Whoagainst hope believed in hope, that hemight become the father ofmanynations,accordingtothatwhichwasspoken…(v.18).

Notice:according to thatwhichwas spoken.Abrahambelieved in hopewhentherewasnohope.

Abraham could have said, “Here I am—99 years old. My hundredthbirthdayisnotfaraway,andmywifeis90.”

Hecouldhavebegun to lookatwhatwas seenand said, “Oh,no!Thatcouldnevercometopass.That’llneverhappen.ThatmustnothavebeenGodtalking to me. That was just my flesh.” (It couldn’t have been his fleshbecause thecarnalminddoesn’t think thatway.)Abrahambelieved inhopewhentherewasnohope.

AbrahamConsideredNotHisOwnBodyAndbeingnotweakinfaith,heconsiderednothisownbodynowdead…(v.19).

Ifyouwanttochangetheseen,thefirstthingyouneedtodoisconsidernot.Don’tconsiderwhatyoucanseetobeeternal.Don’tconsiderwhatyoucanseetobeestablishedbecausetheWordofGodsaysthingswhichareseenaretemporal:TheyaresubjecttochangebytheWordofGodandyourfaith.

AbrahambelievedGod:Andbeingnotweakinfaith,heconsiderednothisownbodynowdead,when hewas about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’swomb.He castdownimaginationsandbroughtthemintoobediencetotheWordofGod.

Sometimesyouhave to cast downyour imagination. (2Cor. 10:5.)Thedevilwilluseyourimaginationifyoulethim.

SeveralyearsagomydaughterAnnettewasoutlateonenight.AsIwaslyingthereinbed,Ibegantothink.Immediately,thenegativebegantoforminmymind.

The enemy, throughmy carnalmind, said, “She’s had awreck.There’sbeenabigrain.Sheranoffinaditchandturnedover.You’veseenheraliveforthelasttime.”

Asthoseideascameforth,Isawamentalvision:Isawthecargoofftheroadandturnoverinaditchofwater.ThenIsawthewatercomeupoverthecar.That’sthedevil’swayofcomingasanangeloflight.(2Cor.11:14.)

I said, “No! In the name of Jesus, that doesn’t agreewith theWord ofGod. My children are taught of the Lord, and great is the peace of mychildren!’(Is.54:13.)

Aboutthattime,Iheardthedoorslamasshecamein.

YoumustcastdownimaginationsandbringthemintoobediencetoGod’sWord.

RenewYourMind

Togetridoftheseen,orwhatseemstobe,youmustgetyourmindandspiritsoprogrammedwiththeWordofGodthatyouwillrejectallthedevilhas to offer. Your spirit will scream, Reject! Reject! It doesn’t agree withGod’sWord!

ThenyoubegintoshapetheunseenbyGod’sWord.

Someonesaid,“WhyshouldwewalkindefeatandindespairwhenGod’sWordhasbeenspoken?”

God has already hadHis say on the subject. The problem is that somedon’tknowwhatHehassaid,andthatenablesthedeviltotakeadvantageofthem.

We see in Romans 4:20-22 that Abraham wouldn’t consider anythingexceptwhatGodsaid:

HestaggerednotatthepromiseofGodthroughunbelief;butwasstronginfaith,givingglorytoGod;

Andbeingfullypersuadedthat,whathe(God)hadpromised,hewasablealsotoperform,

Andthereforeitwasimputedtohimforrighteousness.ThewordrighteousnessisanOldEnglishwordthatmeansrightstanding.

Abraham’s faith was considered or imputed to him for right standing withGod.

Somemightsay,“Idon’tunderstandit.Idon’thaveanytroublebelievingGod for finances,but Idohave troublebelievingHim forhealing,”orviceversa.Thesameproblemmayexistinotherareas.

When you get your mind renewed to the Word of God concerningprosperity—andrealizethatitisGod’swillforyoutoprosper—thenyoucanoperate in that faith. But you can’t believe any further than you haveknowledge.

YouhavetogetyourselfinlinewiththeWordofGodintheotherareas,too.IfyouhavebeentaughtthathealingwentoutwiththeapostlesandthatGoddoesn’tdomiraclesanymore, thenyou’reinhibitedin thatarea.You’renotinrightstandingwithGodconcerningmiracles.

Youmaybe rightwithGod; youmaymake it to heaven.But inoneormore areas youmight not be in right standing. It’s not imputed to you forright standingbecauseyouarebelievingwrong.You are talkingwrong andthinkingwrong,becauseyouhavebeentaughtwrong.FaithcomesbyhearingGod’sWord.(Rom.10:17.)

ShapeTheUnseenYourwordsareshapingtheunseen—daily.ThatiswhyGodtoldJoshua:

Thisbookofthelaw(theWordofGod)shallnotdepartoutofthymouth;butthoushaltmeditatethereindayandnight,thatthoumayestobservetodoaccording to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy wayprosperous,andthenthoushalthavegoodsuccess.

Joshua1:8Thewordmeditateisinteresting.Meditatemeans“tomutter;tospeakto

one’sself.”

Inotherwords,thisissaying,“AsyouconfesswhatGodsaidaboutyoursituation,youwillmakeyourwayprosperousanddowiselyinalltheaffairsoflife.”

WhowasgoingtomakeJoshua’swayprosperous?Joshua.

How?Byshapingtheunseenwiththewordsofhismouth.David’sSwordWasInHisMouth

The17thchapterof1SamueldescribesDavid’sencounterwithGoliath,thegiantsentfromthePhilistinestodefeatthemenofIsrael.

Davidwalkedoutwherethebattlewassupposedtobe;butnoonewasfighting.Theywereallafraid!Hesaid,“Istherenotacause?”

Thiswasnotamanofwar;hewasashepherdboy;buthehadlearnedtochangetheseenandshapetheunseen.

When he saw the giant, he said, “I’ll go fight him. Who is thisuncircumcisedPhilistine?Whodoeshethinkheis todefythearmiesoftheLivingGod?”

HejustfilledhimselfwithGod’sWorduntilhecouldn’tseeanythingbutsuccess.ToDavid,thatgiantwasdefeatgoingsomewheretohappenbecausehewasdefyingthearmiesoftheLivingGod.

FivetimesbeforeDaviddidanything,hesaidwhathewasgoingtodotothegiant!

Whatwashedoing?Hewasshapingtheunseen.Hecouldhavesaid,“Asbigasthatguyis,justoneswishwiththatsword

and I’ll be in two pieces!”He could have thought about all the “what-ifs.”(Haveyoueverhadabadcaseofthewhat-ifs?“Whatifitdoesn’twork?”)

ButDaviddidn’tgetthewhat-ifs.HeonlyspokewhatwasinagreementwithGod’sWord.Hewasshaping theunseen.Theonlysword thathehad

wastheoneinhismouth—thetwo-edgedswordofGod’sWord.

ShutYourMouthSometimesifyou’regoingtochangetheseentotheunseen,youhaveto

shutyourmouth.TakeZacharias,forinstance.GodsenttheangelGabrieltospeaktohim.

Gabrielsaid:

Fearnot,Zacharias:forthyprayerisheard;andthywifeElisabethshallbeartheeason,andthoushaltcallhisnameJohn(Luke1:13).

ZachariasandElisabethhadbeenprayingforthis.ButwhenGodsenttheangel with the message that their prayers were going to be answered,Zachariassaid,“HowdoIknowyou’retellingthetruth?Givemeasign.”(v.18,paraphrased.)

Gabriel probably thought, Ifwe don’t get this guy’smouth shut, it’s notgoingtowork.

Just picture Zacharias going to Elisabeth. He might have said, “A guyappeared tomewhoseemed tobeanangel and saidhisnamewasGabriel.But he said some strange things, and I just don’t know.What if hewasn’tfromGod?”

Theywouldhavethoughtaboutit,talkedaboutit,gotunbeliefstirredup,andthebirthoftheirsonwouldneverhavecometopass.

GodpressedtheangeltogetZacharias’mouthshut.

Gabrielsaid,“Allright.I’mgoingtogiveyouasign.Bythissignyou’llknowthat it’llcometopass.(Notonlythat,butalsohewas insuringthatitwouldcometopass!)You’llbedumbandnotabletospeakuntilithappens.”

HereyouseethewisdomofGod.Godsaid,“I’lltakethethingsthatarenot andbring to naught the things that are.”Words that arenot spoken aremuchmorepowerfulthanwordsthatarespokeninunbelief.

KeepGod’sSecretsTen years ago the Spirit of God revealed to me some things that are

happeningtomerightnow;butIdidn’ttelleveryoneaboutit.

WhenGodrevealssomethings toyou,Hedoesn’t intendforyouto telleverybody.Ifyoudo,theywillprobablytrytotalkyououtofit.

Joseph’sRevelationGenesis,beginningwithchapter37,describeswhathappened toJoseph,

whenherevealedasecretthatGodhadtoldhim.Thedevilfoundoutaboutit

andtriedtostopitfromcomingtopass;butinspiteofallthedevilcoulddo,Josephwouldn’tletgoofGod’sWord.

JosephshapedtheunseenthingsbytheWordofGodwithinhim.GodshowedJosephthathewouldbeabovehispeople;theywouldbebowingtohim.Hewouldbeinapositionofauthority.

Hisbrothersthrewhiminawell,buthestillretainedthevision.Itdidn’tlookbrightdown therewith the frogsandwatermoccasins,buthestillhadGod’s Word! His brothers sold him into Egypt where his master falselyaccusedhimandputhiminjail.

ButeverywheretheyputJoseph,heendedupbeingthedoerofeverythingthatwasdone.Eventhoughhe’dbeensoldintoEgypt,PharaohpromotedhiminthekingdombecausehehadGod’sfavor.HewasaWordman.

Somebodymaysay,“Yes,itwasamazinghowGodledJosephthroughallthosetrials,tests,andproblemstogethimtothepositionwherehewouldbeinauthority.”

GoddidnothavetousethedeviltogetJosephintoapositionofauthority.His Word was capable of doing that. But Joseph told God’s secret. Godrevealedsomethingtohimthathehadnobusinesssharingwithotherpeople.

Butinspiteofitall,JosephkeptGod’sWordfirstplace.HechangedtheseenandshapedtheunseenbytheWordofGodthatwasrevealedtohim.

SomeThingsAreBetterUnspokenGoddoesnotintendforustotelleverythingHerevealstous.

I’veseensomethingsinmyspiritthatGodhasshownmewhichIhaven’teventoldmywife;sothedevildoesn’tknowaboutit.WhenIprayaboutit,IprayintheSpirit.

Thedevilsurewould like toknowwhat it isbecausehe’d try tohead itoff. He doesn’t know and I’m not going to tell him, even though I couldunwittingly, through prayer. Sometimes you give the devil valuableinformationwhenyoupray.Letmegiveyouanexample.

Aguywalksdownthestreet.Allofasudden,twothugsjumpout,stickaguninhisribs,andsay,“Giveusyourmoney!”

He’samanofprayer.Prayerisgoodforeverything,right?

Themanthrowshishandsupintheairandsays,“Oh,dearGod,don’tletthemfindthathundred-dollarbillIputinmyshoe!”

That’sdumb!That’snotthewaytoshapethings.He’sgoingtogetthingsoutofshape.

Sometimessilenceismoreimportantthanprayer.

5

ATimeToSpeak,ATimeToBeSilentTheWordoftheLordhasbeenspoken.God’sWordisout.God’sWordis

thefinalauthorityonanysubject.

To change the seen things , sometimes you must get your mouth inmotion.

There are other times, if you’re going to change what’s seen, you willhavetopracticethevocabularyofsilence.

This is especially true in situations where Satan comes against you sostronglythatyoucan’tbringyourselftosaythethingsthatarepositiveorinlinewiththeWordofGod.Thepressureison,thecircumstanceiswild,andall that risesupwithinyou isagainstwhatGodsays.Youknow ifyousayanything,itwillbenegative;sodon’tsayanything.

Be quiet before God because His Word has already been spoken. Youhaveconfesseditforweeks,butnowit’stimetobequiet.

Jairusisagoodexampleofkeepingquietafterconfessinginfaith.Inthe5thchapterof

Mark,verses22and23,JairuscametoJesusinbehalfofhisdaughter:

Behold,therecomethoneoftherulersofthesynagogue,Jairusbyname;andwhenhesawhim,hefellathisfeet,

Andbesoughthimgreatly,saying,Mylittledaughterliethatthepointofdeath:Ipraythee,comeandlaythy

handsonher,thatshemaybehealed;andsheshalllive.WordsofFaith

Jairussaid,…andsheshall live.Thosearehis faith-filledwords.He isbuildingafaithimage—shapingtheunseen.Hesetthelawoffaithinmotionwithhiswordsoffaith.

FollowJesus,inverses24-27,asHegoestoJairus’houseandseehowitworked:

Jesuswentwithhim;andmuchpeoplefollowedhim,andthrongedhim.

Andacertainwoman,whichhadanissueofbloodtwelveyears,Andhadsufferedmanythingsofmanyphysicians,andhadspentallthat

shehad,andwasnothingbettered,butrathergrewworse,WhenshehadheardofJesus,cameinthepressbehind,andtouchedhis

garment.“GrowWorse”ImageNotice what was said of this woman. After spending all she had

(indicating shemayhavebeen richatone time) and sufferingmany things,shewasnothingbettered,butrathergrewworse.Nodoubt thiswomanhadwithinhera“growworse”image.

ManyChristianshave formedwithin themselvesa“growworse” image.They never see themselves getting any better. They never see themselveshavinganymorethanwhattheyhavehadbecauseofpastexperiences.

Perhapstheyallowedfeartocreepinandcausethecircumstancestobeastheyare.Sometimesitisjustawrongdecisiontheymadethatbroughtontheproblems.Thenthedevilsaid,“TheseproblemsarehappeningbecauseGodisteachingyousomething.”

Whentheybelievedhim,theyreceivedthat“growworse”imageasbeingfromGodtheFather.Thentheycouldn’tprayinfaith.Thatimageheldtheminbondageforyearsbecausetheyweredeceivedbytheevilone.

Allthattime,GodinHismercywouldhavelovedtohealthemordeliverthemiftheyhadreleasedfaithinGod’sdeliverance.

ImageChangeNo doubt that “grow worse” image had hold of the woman in the 5th

chapterofMark.Noticewhatchangedthis“growworse” imageintoafaithimage:WhenshehadheardofJesus…(v.27).

WhathadsheheardaboutJesus?

No doubt she heard words that Jesus had spoken. Hewas going abouttouchingpeopleandsaying,“Behealed.Beclean.Goandbewholeofyourplague.”

Sheheardthat thesepeoplewereinstantlyhealed.Most likelysheheardwhatJesushadsaidconcerningsicknessandoppressionoftheevilone.(Luke13:12.)IamsuresheheardabouttheCovenant.

WeknowsheheardaboutJesus.Jesuswas theWordofGod.WhensheheardaboutJesus,sheheardtheWord.Faithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod(Rom.10:17).

WordsProduceImagesWhensheheardthesethings,theyproducedfaithinsideher.Theybegan

to change her image.Then she startedchanging the seen and shaping theunseen.

Howdidshedoit?Withherwords!TheAmplifiedBiblesays, “Shekept saying, If I only touchHis garments, I shall be restored to

health.”

ShestarteddowntheroadtowhereJesuswasandkeptsaying,“IfIcanbuttouchHisclothes,Iwillbemadewhole.IfIcanbuttouchHisclothes,Ishallberestoredtohealth.Ishallbe…Ishallbe….”

Thenherreligiousheadscreamedout,“Whenareyougoingtobehealedand restored to health?You don’t look any better. You’ll go to your gravewithouteverhavingbeenanybetter.Whenareyougoingtobewhole?”

Shethoughtaboutthatforaminuteandthenshesaidoutloud,“WhenItouchHisclothes, Ishallbemadewhole.That’swhenI’llbemadewhole.”Sheestablishedapointofcontacttoreleaseherfaith.

She then began the process of building a faith image within her spirit.Keep inmind thatTheAmplifiedBible says, “She kept saying.” She didn’tquitsayingit.

Don’t let theWord depart out of yourmouth.Meditate therein day andnight.Observetodoallthat’swrittentherein:Thenthoushaltmakethywayprosperous,andthenthoushalthavegoodsuccess.(Josh.1:8.)

Soshesetouttogetridofthat“growworse”imagebybuildinganimageofhealth,life,andstrength.Shediditbyspeakingfaith-filledwords.

Godcreated thisuniversebyspeakingfaith-filledwords.TheBiblesaysinHebrews11:3thatHeframedtheworldsbytheWordofGod.Faith-filledwordsframedthisworld.TheWordofGodwillframeyourworldalso,ifyouwillbegintospeakitcontinually.

Thatwomanbegantocreateafaithimageinherselfbysaying,“WhenItouchHis clothes, that’swhen itwill happen.”Shewaschanging the seenandshapingtheunseen.

WhenshetouchedHisgarment,straightwaythefountainofherbloodwasdriedup;andshefeltinherbodythatshewashealedofthatplague(v.29).The last thing that happenedwas she felt in her body that shewas healed.Sometimeswewantthattobefirst.Wesay,“IfIfeelit,I’llbelieveit.IfIseeit,I’llbelieveit.”That’snotthewayitworks.

BadNews

Remember, JairuswaswithJesusand themultitude.Theywereon theirway to Jairus’ house when all this happened. Verse 35 describes whathappenednext:

Whileheyet spake, there came from the rulerof the synagogue’shousecertainwhichsaid,

Thydaughterisdead:whytroublestthoutheMasteranyfurther?HereisJairus’opportunity to let thewordshehasspokendepartandlet

fearcome.Buthehasalreadybuiltafaithimageinhimselfbyspeakingthosethingsinfaith.

TheFaithofSilence

AssoonasJesusheardwhattherunnersaid,HeturnedtoJairusandsaid,Benotafraid,onlybelieve(v.36).

NowlookatwhatJairussaid:

Nothing!Notoneword.Godwilltakethethingsthatarenotandbringtonaughtthethingsthatare.

TherewasJairus.Hislittledaughterwasdead.ButJesussaid,“Don’tbeafraid.Onlybelieve.”

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, or desired. Faith is the rawmaterial,thespiritualrawmaterial,fromwhichthingsyoudesirearemade.

Fearistheoppositeforceoffaith.Itisthesubstanceofthingsnotdesired.

Ifyouhavefear,thethingyoudon’tdesirewillcometopass.

Jairusdidn’tsayanything.Atthispoint,hetookthingshedidn’tsayandbrought to naught the things thatwere said. Theword of faith had alreadybeenspoken:Sheshalllive.

Jesuswalkedintothatsituation,andtherewasthelittlegirl,dead.Alltherelatives were there, weeping and wailing, and He ran them all out—Grandma,Grandpa,AuntSusie,UncleLeRoy,allofthem.

Listen to the words of Jesus: “She’s not dead. She’s asleep!” (v. 39,paraphrased).

Nowwaitaminute!Sheisdead,butJesussaidshe’snot.Thatsoundslikealie.ButJairus’wordsandhissilencewouldnotallowthedeath.Badnewswasdestroyedbysilence.

Jesus is talking and acting in Kingdom principles. We must get anunderstandingofthisifwearegoingtooperateonthesameleveloffaith.Heistalkingthingsthatarenotandspeakingasthoughtheywere.

WhatisJesusdoing?Heisnottryingtoconvincethemsheisalive.Thatwould be a lie because, naturally speaking, she is dead. He is effectingsomethingbywhatHe’s saying.He ishighlydeveloped in theGod-kindoffaith.

Here is where some people are missing it. They say, “I started sayingcertainthings,andnothinghappened.Isaiditfourorfivedaysanditdidn’tcometopass.”Theyarenotdevelopedinit.

Keepsaying.Keepspeaking.You’reshapingtheunseen.Itdoesn’tcomeovernight;itisaprocess,awayoflife.

The first thing your words are doing is causing faith to come. (Faithcomesbyhearing,andhearingcomesbytheWordofGod.)You’rereallynotgoingtoeffectmanythingsuntilfaithcomes.

Speakingwordsbuildsanimageinsideyou.It’sshapingtheunseen.Itallgoes back to seed-time andharvest.Anyoneknows that if youplant today,you don’t harvest tomorrow. Speaking words causes faith to come. Yourwordsarelikeseeds:theywillproduceaharvest.

Jesuswalked in and spoke to that deadgirl, and she rose up!Thatwascreativepower flowingoutHismouthbecauseHewashighlydeveloped inKingdomprinciples.

I want you to realize this is the way Jesusministered in the earth. OneveryoccasionwhenHesetout tochangetheseen,Heabsolutelywouldnottalkaboutwhatwasseen.Hewouldnotconsiderthethingthatwasseenasbeingpermanent,onlytemporary.

SpeakTheEndResultsTake,forinstance,inthe11thchapterofJohn,whentherunnercameand

toldJesus,He(Lazarus)whomthoulovestissick(v.3).Afterhearingthat,Jesussaid:Thissicknessisnotuntodeath,butforthe

gloryofGod,thattheSonofGodmightbeglorifiedthereby(v.4).HedidnotsayLazarus’sicknesswasforthegloryofGod.Letmeshow

youwhyyoucan’tinterpretitthatway.

Jesussaid,Thissicknessisnotuntodeath.InthesamesentenceHesaid,…butforthegloryofGod.Youmustinterpretallofthatversethesameway.Youcan’tchangerulesofinterpretationinthemiddleofthesentence.

Jesussaid,Thissickness isnotuntodeath. Ifyou interpret that literally,youmakeJesusaliar.ButJesusdidnotlie.Hewasspeakingtheendresults.HewouldneverletdeathinHismouth.Hewouldneverestablishdeathasafactuponanyone.

Later on, He said about Lazarus, “He died.” (v. 14.) TheKing JamesVersionstatesthatHesaid,Lazarusisdead.But,accordingtotheGreek,Hedidn’tsaythat.Itshouldhavebeentranslated,“Lazarusdied.”Thereisabigdifference in someone who died and someone who is dead. If you don’tbelievethat,lookatJesus:Hedied,butHeisn’tdead!

Lazarushaddied,butJesusdidn’tseehimdead.Jesuslookedbeyondthebadnews,beyondhumanemotions.Toalloutwardappearances,He simplyignoredwhatwaspresentlyinexistenceandspoketheendresults.

WhatisHedoing?HeisshapingtheunseenbeforeHechangestheseen.

ListentoHiswords:

Lazarussleepeth.Igo,thatImayawakehimoutofsleep(v.11).Thybrothershallriseagain(v.23).Iamtheresurrection(v.25).Thoughheweredead,yetshallhelive(v.25).Jesus said,Thissickness is not unto death, but for the glory ofGod. In

otherwords,“Theultimateendof thiswholematterof sicknesswillnotbedeath;theultimateendofthiswholematterwillbringglorytoGod.”Itwastheresurrectionthatbroughttheglory,notthesicknessnorthedeath.

That’showJesusshapedtheunseen.Whenyoustudyit,you’llfindthatall through theNewTestamentHeoperated inKingdomprinciples. In fact,youwillfindthistrueofGodfromGenesistoRevelation.

InGenesis,chapter1,GodcreatedbythespokenWord.

Revelation12:11says:

TheyovercamehimbythebloodoftheLamb,andbythewordoftheirtestimony.

Someone may say, “I don’t understand why some things happen.Whycan’tIovercomethewayothersdo?”

Somepeopledon’tovercomebecausethereisnoWordintheirtestimony.

Thereisbadnewsinit,butnoWordofGod.

WhenJesusarrivedinBethany,Lazarus’hometown,Hewasstillworkingon shaping the unseen.When Jesus told the people to roll the stone away,Lazarus’sistersaid,Lord,bythistimehestinketh:forhehathbeendeadfourdays(v.39).

But Jesus raisedHis eyes toward heaven and said,Father, I thank theethatthouhastheardme(v.41).

Butwaitaminute!Hehasn’tsaidanythingyet—orhasHe?

Yes!Fourdaysbefore,Hesaid,“Thissicknesswillnotultimatelyendindeath.” He has already established this with His own words. Let meparaphraseit:

“Father, I thankYou thatYouheardwhat I proclaimed fourdays ago. Iestablisheditthen.Thisthingisnotgoingtoendwithdeath.AndIknewthatYouheardMe.IknowthatYoualwayshearMe.ThatisthereasonIsaiditsoboldlyfourdaysago.

“Iamsayingthisforthebenefitofthepeopleheresothattheywillknowtheprinciples of theKingdom that I used tobring about this greatmiracle.ThentheywillbelievethatYousentMe.”

HewasshapingtheunseenandHeisabouttochangetheseen.Jesussaid,Lazarus,

I can just see Peter say, “Oh, dear Lord. What’s He doing now? He’stalkingtoadeadman!”(Hewasembarrassed.)

But when Jesus said,… come forth (v. 43), all the embarrassment leftimmediatelybecauseLazaruscameforth!

You may be a little embarrassed sometimes at things you’re saying,proclaiming, or confessing; but when the manifestation comes, theembarrassmentwillleave.

Yourwordswill change the seen and shape theunseen if youuse theseprinciplesoftheKingdom.

Godsaid:

Icreatethefruitofthelips(Is.57:19).

6

RighteousnessSpeaksInthe10thchapterofRomans,verses410, theApostlePaulgivessome

insightintotheseprinciplesthatJesususedinshapingtheunseen:

ForChrististheendofthelawforrighteousnesstoeveryonethatbelieveth.ForMosesdescribeththerighteousnesswhichisofthelaw,Thatthemanwhichdoeththosethingsshalllivebythem.

But therighteousnesswhich isof faithspeakethon thiswise,Saynot inthineheart,Whoshallascendintoheaven?(thatis,tobringChristdownfromabove:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christagainfromthedead.)

FirstPaultellsyouwhattherighteousnesswhichisoffaithwouldnotsay:“Who’sgoingtobringJesusbackthatHemaytouchme?I’dgethealedif

Jesuswouldcomeandtouchme.Who’sgoingtoreversetheprocessofdeathand put Him back in the grave and bring Him back on the earth in HisphysicalbodysothatHecantouchmeandIcanbehealed?”

Verse8begins:Butwhatsaithit?Whatsaiththerighteousnesswhichisoffaith?

Asverse8continues,weseewhat therighteousnessof faithwouldsay:Thewordisnighthee,eveninthymouth,andinthyheart:thatis,thewordoffaith,whichwepreach.

Notice,Thewordisnighthee,notfaroff.YoutaketheWordofGod,putitinyourmouth,andyoushapetheunseen.Thewordsofyourmouth,basedonGod’sWord,changethethingsyousee.

Verse9says:

Ifthoushaltconfesswith thymouth theLordJesus,andshaltbelieve inthineheartthatGodhathraisedhimfromthedead,thoushaltbesaved.

WhenIconfessedJesusasmyLord,theoutwardcircumstancesweresuchthat anybody standing aroundme thenwould have said, “Oh, he’s lying. IknowJesusisnothisLord.”

Theywereright.HewasnotmyLordwhenIsaidit;butbecauseIsaiditinfaith,itcametopass.Iwascallingthingsthatwerenotasthoughthey

were.Itchangedmylife,andIbecametherighteousnessofGodinChrist.That’s theway youwere born again!That’s theway you changed your

life: by confessing, “JesusChrist is theLordofmy life. I believe thatGodraisedHimfromthedead.IproclaimnowthatJesusisLord.”

Whenyousaidthat,Satanwaslord;butbecauseyousaiditandactedinfaith,therighteousnesswhichisoffaithbroughtyouintorightstandingwithGod.

TheDecisionWasYours

Youmade a decision and spoke it with your mouth which changed theseenandshapedwhatyoucouldnotsee.YouwerebornoftheSpiritofGod,absolutelytransformedandchangedbyfaithandyourconfession.

Verse10says:Forwiththeheartmanbelievethuntorighteousness;andwiththemouthconfessionismadeuntosalvation.Thatwordsalvationmeansmorethanjustbeingsaved.Itmeans“deliverance,preservation,healing,andsoundness.”

Youshapetheunseenbyfaith-filledwords.Evenasinnercandoit.Thelostmancanshapehiseternaldestinybyhiswords.Hecanchangetheunseento the seen. If thou shalt confess with thymouth the Lord Jesus, and shaltbelieveinthineheartthatGodhathraisedhimfromthedead,thoushaltbesaved(Rom.10:9).

Thoushaltbesaved!That’swhatGod’sWordsaysaboutyou.Whywalkindefeat?Whywalkinthedevil’sterritorywhenGod’sWordhasbeenspoken?

Butwhatwillyousay?

The devil has tried to con us into believing it won’t work on anythingelse;butthat’snottrue!

JustasAbrahamandSarahchangedtheseenandshapedtheunseenwiththeirwords,basedonwhatGodsaid,soyourwords,basedupontheauthorityofGod’sWord,canchangetheseenforcesaroundyou!

Youdon’thavetoacceptwhatyouseenow.Youdon’thavetogothroughlifewiththethingsthatarenowseen,forthingsthatareseenaretemporal—theyaresubjecttochange.

Thedecisionisyours!

Charles Capps is a retired farmer and land developer who travelsthroughouttheUnitedStatessharingthetruthofGod’sWord.Hesharesfrompractical, first-hand experience how Christians can apply the Word to thecircumstancesoflifeandlivevictoriously.

Besidesauthoringseveralbooks;includingthebest-sellingTheTongue,ACreativeForce;healsohasanationwideradioministrycalled“ConceptsofFaith.”

ChangingtheSeen&ShapingtheUnseen

Peopletendtolookatthenaturalrealmastherealworld,butthenaturalworldistemporalandsubjecttochange.

In this bookCharlesCapps showsyouhowyou can change the unseenandtheseenworldaroundyou.

Youwilllearnhowtolookatthingswhicharenotseenwiththeeyesofyourspirit.Yourwordscreateimagesinsideyou.Whenyouspeakforththesewordsinfaith,youwillseecircumstanceschangeinthenatural.

Faith-filledwords framed thisworld.TheWordofGodwill frameyourworldifyouwillspeakit!

ANOTHER LIFE-CHANGING BOOK BY THE AUTHOR OF THEBEST SELLERS, THE TONGUE A CREATIVE FORCE and WHYTRAGEDYHAPPENSTOCHRISTIANS