Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Please consider the proverb of the wise man. Now consider the words of Jesus: Mat 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
Words bring life, but they also bring death. A word fitly spoken is both timely and critical. It is not always a compliment, but it is the exacting part of direction, revelation, and truth. As we enter this house of worship, it is possible that words have not been fitly spoken which impedes our praise and worship.
God spoke the world into existence. We have that same power to speak life into things that need to survive. We also have the power to dismantle and destroy. How is it that we adhere to so much of the scripture, but fail to control our words? For the Pentecostal who boasts of the evidence of the Spirit through speaking in other tongues, how is it that our common words carry no concern?
The Bible clearly states: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov 18:21). The conversation around our table is the place of learning. My parents guided us through proper, positive, and most of all, spiritual conversations. We instituted that same practice at our table. Speak what you want the future to look like. Talk about the path toward holiness and godliness.
Are you reading this? Or is this just another passing plea left by the wayside of good intentions? The American culture of communication is diluting honest and pure talk. It is littered with opinions, philosophies, vulgarity, anti-christ ideologies, racism, divisions of all kinds, and immoral allowances. However, the church beliefs are also consumed with similar strifes. Perhaps that was the reason why Joshua told the people not to speak as they walked around Jericho’s walls. God never required such silence. I assume that Joshua knew the power of a negative voice which held them hostage in the wilderness for 40 years. My assumption is that he was taking no chances. He knew that words of fear, criticism, individualism, or self-preservation would bring about defeat.
I urge you today, reread what I have written then apply it immediately. As Jesus said, Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole