New Covenant Language - Barry Bennett - Charis Daily - Season 17 Ep. 15

Summary

Barry Bennett teaches that becoming a Christian means moving from the “kingdom of darkness” into God’s kingdom—and learning to speak, think, and see from that new identity. He calls this adopting the language of the new covenant: faith, love, blessing, grace, and life rather than fear, doubt, self-pity, and criticism.

He says speech reflects what is in a person’s heart and shapes how they understand their identity and circumstances. His central practical message is to notice old patterns of speech and deliberately replace them with statements based on the Bible.

Speech patterns Bennett says to replace

• “I’m just a sinner.” He argues that Christians should identify as new creations and as “the righteousness of God in Christ,” rather than defining themselves by their former life.
• “God is in control of everything” or “God gave and took away.” Bennett rejects these phrases when they imply that God causes evil or hardship. He emphasizes the authority Jesus gives believers over the enemy and says Christians should not use such expressions to excuse failure or loss.
• Gossip, criticism, condemnation, and complaining. He contrasts these with speech that builds others up and conveys grace. He also says that words can communicate life or death.
• A helpless or victim-focused outlook. Instead of speaking as though they are powerless, believers should say they can do all things through Christ, who strengthens them.
• Constant focus on demons and the devil. Bennett says this can reflect a diminished view of a believer’s identity and God’s power. He encourages focusing more on God’s work and the authority believers have in Christ.
• Repeatedly asking others to pray because one feels unable to pray personally. He interprets this as potentially reflecting insecurity or lack of confidence in one’s own faith. He encourages people who are suffering to pray themselves, while clarifying that he is not against believers praying for one another.

Language Bennett encourages

He offers biblical affirmations as examples of “Kingdom language,” including:

• “I am a new creation” and “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”
• “I am seated with Christ in heavenly places.”
• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• “I am filled with God’s love, joy, peace, and faith.”
• “I am blessed.”
• “By His wounds I was healed.”
• “God supplies grace and sufficiency for every good work.”
• “I am led by the Spirit.”
• “I forgive, bless, and pray for those who oppose me.”

Bennett presents these statements as expressions of believers’ identity and inheritance, not as achievements they must earn. He argues that repeatedly speaking and meditating on Scripture can help align a person’s thoughts and words with that identity. He also recommends setting boundaries around influences that reinforce fear, doubt, or the old way of thinking.

Overall lesson

Bennett’s message is that Christians should learn to speak from what he understands the New Testament to say about their identity and authority. In his view, speaking in agreement with God’s promises encourages faith and helps believers experience the realities of the kingdom, while habitual negativity and self-defeating speech reinforce an “old” way of thinking.

Speakers and sources featured

• Barry Bennett — host and sole speaker.
• Biblical passages cited by Bennett: Matthew 12:34–35; Matthew 5:44; Luke 10:19; Romans 8:14, 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 5:21, 9:8; Ephesians 2:6, 3:20–21, 4:29; Philippians 4:13; Galatians 3:9, 5:22–23; James 5:13; 1 Peter 2:24; Proverbs 18:21; and Psalm 5:12.