The Doris Day Syndrome (Matthew 18:16; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Romans 8:31-34; Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Proverbs 6:2; Revelations 12:11)

Matthew 18:16 says, ''... that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.''

The quotation in Matthew 18:16 is from Deuteronomy 19:15,[ though the principal is referenced in Deuteronomy 17:6 as well], and speaks of the establishing of legal matters. The last part of the phrase from Deuteronomy 19:15, literally means, ''... put into force'' or ''make legally binding''. What is significant about this is the legal principal, when it is applied to the area of prayer or the words that we speak in our lives.

Romans 8:31-34 uses legal terminology to describe a court room setting before the throne of God. Someone brings a legal accusation against us [charge]; someone is there to declare us not guilty [justify]; someone tries to get us declared guilty [condemn]; and we have legal representation at the right hand of God as our attorney for the defense [makes intercession].

However, as in every courtroom there are witnesses that speak. In this case the witnesses are the devil, that accuses us [not that the devil is in Heaven, but his accusations come before the Father], and Jesus that defends us. Our Father sits on His throne, in this setting, and though for us, He is bound by what is written and the testimony presented. The devil is a liar, and Jesus only speaks for us what the scriptures declare, but it is our testimony in the court room of Heaven, that will decide what is ''... put into force...'' in our lives.

Our testimony is one of the two or three witnesses required, to make something legally binding. Who we agree with [i.e., Jesus and His word, or the devil and his lies] will determine the legal decision rendered in the courtroom of Heaven, that will determine what happens in our lives on earth.

There was, many years ago, an American singer named Doris Day, who sang a song, of which part of the lyrics were, ''... que serra serra, whatever will be will be ...''. This almost Buddhist philosophy, is not a scriptural principal that we can live our lives by.

Jesus, when He rebuked the winds and the sea, (Matt.,8:23-27; Mk.,4:35-41; Lk.,8:22-25), obviously did not believe that the storm came from His Father, nor was it there to teach Him or the disciples something. Jesus came to destroy every work [plural] of the devil. Not everything that comes into our lives is from God, nor does He allow it. We allow or disallow many things in our lives by the word of our testimony, whether we overcome by it (Rev., 12:11) or are snared and taken captive by our words.(Prov., 6:2).

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.