Speak Life!

Let’s Start From the Beginning...

It is important for us to understand the power of words and, especially, the Power of THE Word.

From the dawn of creation, as outlined in the book of beginnings- Genesis- God demonstrates His power throught speech. In Genesis 1:3, God said…verse 6 starts with God said…in verse 9 again God said…and in verse 11, then 14, 20, 26, 29…I think you get the point. From the very start, the scripture makes the point clear to us: when God speaks, something happens. The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark & Luke all record the words of Jesus “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Mt 24:35; Lk 21:33; Mk 13:31).

So serious is of Lord & God about His speech that He is personified as the Word! John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

So before you speak, ask yourself these questions:

Question 1: Whose “word” is this?

We must be careful to identify the source of the words being spoken to us and concerning us, before allowing them to take root in our hearts and minds, and especially before we repeat them.

Question 2: What does the Word of God say?

The Bible is a rich treasure of knowledge and wisdom, as well as a source of encouragement. But never let it be forgotten that that God’s Word uniquely has the power to transform the reader and the hearer- blessed in the person who is both of these things! Mt: 5:17-18 says, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

WOW!!! God is essentially saying, “Everything that you know of…all that exists will be GONE before even one letter or pen stroke of what is written will fail!” The here is clear: God’s Word will not fail, because there is no failure in the God who spoke it!

Question 3: Who’s “echo” will I be?

There are many voices speaking into our lives at any given point: our parents, friends, employers, pastors, and that’s without the less than trustworthy social media sources. Then there’s our inner voice; the voice of the our flesh. And please don’t forget the enemy our souls, who will try to use any of the aforementioned sources to influence us. But what’s his ultimate goal? He cannot override what God has spoke; he cannot take anything from you that God has give. You must willingly give it away. If the enemy can get you to confess somethnig over your life…over the lives of your children, your community…then he can gain access to “power of your toungue” and bring you confession into reality.

We will conclude with a careful consideration of the 2 verses from which we have derived our subject. Although it would suffice to focus on verse 21, there is a word in verse 20 which connects the 2 so closely that the two are practically inseparable. The word which connects the two is “fruit”.

Verse 20: “With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.”

We will be fulfilled by the words we confess…or not. Like any meal, the fruit of our lips can be a wholesome meal that strengthens us, junk food that satifies for the moment, or even poisonous, sickening the soul.

Verse 21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,A nd those who love it will eat its fruit.”

A man may do a great deal of good, or a great deal of hurt, both to others and to himself, according to the use he makes of his tongue. Many a one has been his own death by a foul tongue, or the death of others by a false tongue; and, on the contrary, many a one has saved his own life, or procured the comfort of it, by a prudent gentle tongue, and saved the lives of others by a seasonable testimony or intercession for them. And, if by our words we must be justified or condemned, death and life are, no doubt, in the power of the tongue. Tongues were Aesop’s best meat, and his worst. 2. Men’s words will be judged of by the affections with which they speak; he that not only speaks aright (which a bad man may do to save his credit or please his company), but loves to speak so, speaks well of choice, and with delight, to him it will be life; and he that not only speaks amiss (which a good man may do through inadvertency), but loves to speak so (Ps. 52:4), to him it will be death. As men love it they shall eat the fruit of it.