Over the last years, I've watched spiritual deterioration occurring among many in the church. We talk and sound no different than the world. Our words are mean, without grace, without love, angry at this and upset with that. It is as though we have no revelation of the power of our words. Yet, our words are the reality-seeds of our tomorrows. In other words, we are living today what we were talking yesterday.
Our words are trailblazers, the pioneers which affirm and establish reality. Some feel words are not that important. But there is a weightiness to words, a spiritual cargo that conveys either life or death to those who receive them. Consider: if I wrote a string of profanities and curses, each word could touch your soul with uncleanness. Indeed, words themselves are often the vehicles of satanic infiltration. As the Scripture asks, "To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit was expressed through you?" (Job 26:4).
If you have ever listened to someone "bad mouth" someone else, it is not just sound or language that is being communicated. Often there is a spirit that is "expressed through" that person. You see, in a unique and powerful way Satan seeks to use our words. Consider also the profound teaching of James. He wrote, "The tongue...sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell" (James 3:2-6).
I am staggered by this revelation: my tongue sets on fire the course of my life, and lighting that fire are the words uttered by my tongue! Let us measure what comes out of our mouths, beloved, and make sure we are representatives of Heaven, not agents of hell.
Let us discern this truth that the devil can take our careless, insensitive words and literally crush people. A word has no measurable mass, yet it can become such a burden upon a person's soul that it destroys his life.
Saved By My Confession of Faith!
Still think words are unimportant? A definite aspect of your very salvation unfolds when you "confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord" (Romans 10:9). Confession takes salvation out of the provisional or doctrinal state and, by speaking with faith, releases the power of Heaven. Our words, in fact, are the escorts of Heaven, bringing the very Spirit of God into our affairs. Amazing! By believing with our hearts and confessing with our mouths, we begin to walk into the blessedness of Christ's salvation!
Or consider that prayer itself is the expansion of the heart toward God through words. The Bible also says that when we speak words in prayer that are according to the will of God, these anointed words begin to shape and redirect our future toward God (1 John 5:14).
Paul said,
"Now we have received...the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the Spirit combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (1 Cor 2:12-13).
"Now we have received...the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the Spirit combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (1 Cor 2:12-13).
As we combine spiritual thoughts with spiritual words, the things freely given us by God come into being. We are not speaking merely of empty words void of spiritual substance; we are not uttering soul-controlled words of psychic power. But when people filled with the Holy Spirit's thoughts, speak those thoughts with Spirit-filled words, the storehouse of Heaven begins to unlock.
We must guard our tongues, beloved. Speak faith over the nation; speak with love to your family. Watch your tongue, that it not set on fire the course of your life.
Finally, I'm remind of when Jesus was brought to Pilate. On the way, Peter stood outside among the locals and was recognized as a follower of Jesus. Twice he was pointed to by one in the crowd, accusing him. Finally, a third bystander came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." The Scripture says, then Peter " began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!'" (Matt. 26:69-74).
The way Peter talked gave him away. Even in the darkness of Satan's hour, Peter's words revealed he had been with Jesus. When his hour of failure came and he denied Christ, Scripture says he began to curse and swear.
Beloved, whether we are in the workplace or the church lobby; whether we are talking about the President or the pastor, let's make sure our words are from Heaven, full of faith, motivated by love. Remember, the way you talk gives you away.