THE Breaking Barriers International (BBI) September Monthly was a challenge to believers to reconsider the spiritual significance of the words they speak.
Speaking on the theme “Your Words Are Building Blocks,” BBI Founder and CEO Pst. Dr. Nellie Shani focused on the connection between words, the spiritual realm and angelic assignment, drawing attention to what happens when believers speak either the Word of God or negative words over their lives and circumstances.
At the centre of her teaching was a contrast between two spiritual assignments: words that enlist angelic activity and words that give evil spirits an opportunity to work.
Dr. Shani referred to Hebrews 1:14, which describes angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.
She also cited Psalm 103:20, which says angels excel in strength and heed the voice of God's Word, and Psalm 34:7, which declares that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.
She further pointed to Daniel 10:13, illustrating the reality of angelic activity in response to spiritual matters.
According to Dr. Shani, believers should understand that speaking God's Word has spiritual consequences.
“When you speak the Word of God, you immediately deploy angels,” she said.
However, she distinguished this teaching from approaches that suggest believers can simply command angels to do whatever they want.
“We cannot command angels,” she said, emphasizing instead the spiritual authority and power associated with God's Word.
Words attract the spiritual realm
Dr. Shani described words as spiritual, arguing that what people repeatedly say can create an environment that attracts activity from the spiritual realm.
She warned that negative speech can also provide evil spirits with what they need to reinforce destructive circumstances.
“Evil spirits cling to negative words—to make them come to pass,” she said.
Her warning was particularly directed at statements people make about themselves, their children, marriages, finances, health, careers and future.
“A person who speaks negatively about themselves, their children or their situation has just given evil spirits a building project,” Dr. Shani exclaimed.
The statement formed one of the strongest images of the teaching: words become building materials in the spiritual realm.
Conversely, she said, believers who speak God's Word over their lives and circumstances are effectively enlisting angelic assistance to accomplish what God has spoken.
“Those who speak the Word of God over their lives, over their situations, have just enlisted angels to accomplish what they said,” she added.
The Bible warns about careless speech
Dr. Shani connected the teaching to Ephesians 4:29, which instructs believers to avoid corrupt communication and instead speak words that build others up.
She also referenced Matthew 12:37, where Jesus teaches that people will be justified or condemned by their words.
The warning, therefore, was not merely about choosing positive language.
For Dr. Shani, the issue is whether believers are speaking words that agree with God's purposes or words that reinforce fear, defeat and destruction.
Statements such as “I am sick,” “This cough is going to kill me,” “They will not choose me,” or “I made so many mistakes in that interview” were presented as examples of speech that can reinforce negative expectations.
Even words spoken in anger can have consequences.
“Stop screaming. I am going to break your head,” she gave as another example of careless speech that can potentially provide destructive spiritual fodder.
She connected this warning with Ephesians 4:26–27, which cautions believers against allowing anger to give the devil a foothold.
Creation responds to God's Word
Dr. Shani also expanded the discussion beyond human beings, arguing that creation itself responds to God's Word.
“The body responds to the Word of God,” she said, emphasizing that everything God created responds to His Word.
The biblical record, she noted, provides numerous examples.
At the command of Jesus, blind eyes were opened, deaf ears heard, bent bodies were restored, cripples walked and the dead were raised.
Jesus also taught about the authority of spoken words in Mark 11:23, telling His disciples about speaking to a mountain in faith.
For Dr. Shani, these examples demonstrate that words are not merely sounds. They can carry spiritual significance when they agree with God's authority and revealed Word.
The teaching therefore placed a practical responsibility on believers: watch what you say.
Everyday declarations about health, family, finances, relationships, ministry and destiny may appear harmless, but Dr. Shani urged believers to recognize the spiritual implications of repeatedly speaking them.
The BBI monthly teaching ultimately presented a simple but weighty choice.
Will our words become building blocks for God's purposes, or will they provide building materials for destruction?
For the more than 100 people who attended, the message was clear: believers must become intentional about their speech, choosing to fill their mouths with the Word of God rather than words of fear, defeat and destruction.
