Watch Your Mouth
From the Pastor’s heart Watch your mouth
“Go and wash your mouth out with soap” would often be the retort and rebuke of parents to their children when they would use words that do not edify, especially bad words. Somehow, unedifying words it seems defile the person who spoke them as much it defiles the people who hear them. Idle words are judged by God just as much as any other word spoken by us. What is it about words that matter so much? Over the years, I have moved from understanding that it isn’t just words spoken that matter but tone of voice and intention. They seem to carry the weight of what is being said along with gestures and facial expressions.
One can read into the words being spoken out of a self consciousness and from situations being faced in life coming from the past and present, rather than, how they are being said. Jesus said; Luk_8:18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. I have understood from this passage that it is not what you hear but how you hear. If someone says that you are a dirty rotten scoundrel and you are not, you can receive these words to your damage. However, if you know that what they are saying is untrue, you will have no problems in rebuking those words and cause them to fall to the ground. This is how one defeats curses and negative words spoken on them by others. Isa_54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
All forms of expression concerning words carry a weight with them. Sarcasm, rude jokes, silly jokes and the like all have detrimental features attached to them that reduces the hearer rather than increase the hearer. Col_3:8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. On the other hand, words of truth, encouragement, rebuke and chastening, if delivered correctly, can have an increasing effect and value on the hearer.
When one considers that words make up and confirm the very existence of God, you can easily see why they have so much of an effect. Joh_1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This verse in particular highlights the very nature and being of words; they represent God. When we realise, even inanimate objects respond to words, it truly makes us realise the power of God’s being. God speaks to create both inanimate objects and animate beings. He creates body parts that are missing and heals and does things based on certain words spoken in the right way. This is a very powerful understanding to have to know that even our words when spoken can have the effect of life and death or curse and blessing. Pro_18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. The power of the tongue referred to here is obviously the use of words.
The journey of self realisation that is tempered by the Holy Ghost will help one realise the true natureof what one speaks and whether they are good or bad, effective or ineffective. I have often spoken wrong words in anger or some under the influence of some other negative emotion which has only produced fracture and death in relationships and over myself. On the other hand, when I learnt that my heart was above all evil, I tried to change. Outside influences have been great upon me to utter a certain manner of speech because it was coming from peer pressure and the need to look cool. Little did I realise I was developing a form of speech that majority of people in the world did not appreciate, like the use of foul language or sarcasm. Furthermore, such speech did nothing for my faith. Through much trial and error, I learnt to slowly but surely temper my speech. Having overcome that side of speech I can now surely say, I have a long journey ahead of me. I am discovering that in order to be effective, I have to use and release words in understanding and faith.
To be effective in ministry and see results, one must speak words of truth which carry with them the true intention and motivation of the Holy Spirit in them. If for example, I am carrying bitterness in my heart and praying for the sick, though the sick may get healed, I have also passed on the negativity of my spirit to that person. I would dare to say, people do not get blessed when the heart is evil while blessings are being conveyed. True blessings come out of a pure heart that carries with it true Holy Ghost intention.
Added to this, I have found that people use words at inopportune moments. This is critical to understand, if our words are going to be effective. One can never know what another is going through at any given moment. So, we need to temper our words with care. Familiarity breeds contempt and lack of sensitivity. Deliberate choice of words out of discernment and observation often carry the correct delivery. However, one must be ready to be rejected on even the best of intentions and correctness of words because the spirit of another is distraught. This is where love, patience and understanding come in. Some never respond to words even when good actions follow. They take the good actions which bless them but discard the words. As a result, they lose out. You will find this scenario outworking itself especially in counselling and in the giving of advice.
People often say, action speaks louder than words. In a sense that is true but words spoken in love often have more effect than action only, that carry with them temporary blessings. Words on the other hand have a permanency about them. That is why so many get offended or blessed by words and can remember them long after the action has been realised. Words are so powerful that they can create, destroy or maintain something. Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb 1:2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;. From this passage we can see how God uses words to convey His messages, rules, and upholds all things. Everything that is created has to obey what God said or pay the consequence of punishment or rebuke and chastening.
The mouth and tongue combined are the carriers of words. God uses these organs to express His divine words through flesh. If the mouth is good or evil it is so because of the heart. What one believes in their heart they confess with their mouth. Often in despair, one can say things they do not mean to say. God can correct that too. We must learn to be carriers of good words in our hearts and mouth. Psa_81:10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Luk 21:15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Little do we realise the organs we have in the flesh are carriers of spiritual things that can create or destroy and change the atmosphere or bless. Let us learn to speak what God puts in our mouth and that way we will not have to conjure up words. Joh 12:49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. How many of us can claim such a discipline is operating in our lives? Maybe, we will never attain to the level of Jesus but we can sure try to be more Christlike. I believe, we will find great peace and rest to our souls (will, intellect and emotions) when we discipline our words. Furthermore, our ministries will become more powerful. The Roman Centurion knew the authority Jesus carried and said this to Him; Mat_8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. I would love to get to that place where I speak the word only and things begin to happen. All my efforts and striving will cease.
I believe, true Christian maturity and growth comes from understanding how to speak and what to speak. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to understand this discipline. Our mouths, tongues and words do matter. I think God in His wisdom gave us the use of heavenly tongues because He knows we do not know how to pray. The use of heavenly words far outweighs anything we can say in our native language. Yet, in order for another to understand what we are saying, we need to speak in a known language with the right temperament and delivery method. People who hum and har a lot, hesitate often and carry on long speeches are wasting a lot of time. Many like the sound of their own voices. I believe one can liken that to the incantations of others who practice the dark arts. The make sounds to produce what their words cannot.
God only uses words as He is the word. These words are Spirit and life which are sharper than any two edged sword that can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. It lays bare our human heart and mind and exposes us for who we are. It also binds, heals and gives life to our tortured souls and saves us by the word of salvation. Come let us go to the Lord and speak our hearts and let Him examine us to see if we are in the way. Then, we can be touched by the coals of fire that purify just like what happened to Isaiah. Then our message will be relevant and powerful. Isa 6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isa 6:6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: Isa 6:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Lots of love
Pastor Noble