Keep the Door of My Lips
I am glad you have chosen to read the post today, so that you may be encouraged and challenged by the Word of the Lord . May the Spirit of God give you His revelation and understanding of His Word for you. Eric
Our topic for our post today is an important one. Let me start by asking you this question, “Just how important are the words we speak, and why?”
To gain an accurate answer to that question, we must go back to the beginning to realize how influential spoken words are.
The impact of spoken words over our lives is astronomical. My goal is that, by the end of this blog post, you will realize the importance and value of the words we speak, not only to those we encounter but for ourselves as well.
When we look at the Creation account in Genesis 1:2-26 (ESV) we discover the power that is in the spoken Word of God. In that account, we see that ten times, the Scripture reads, “God ‘said’, let there be…And it was so.” Then in verse 26, God said, “Let us make man in Our image.” Image, tselem, in the Hebrew means: image, likeness, or resemblance.
As those who were created “in His image,” we were given the ability to communicate through the words that we speak, just as He does.
Look at the revelation given to us in Isaiah 55:10 and 11 (ESV), "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” The word ’empty’ in verse 11 was translated from the Hebrew word, reqam and means: without effect, in vain, or empty. Asa, in the Hebrew, has been translated ‘shall accomplish.’ For added clarification, Kingdom Dynamics in the Spirit Filled Life Bible states, “All increase of life within His love comes by His Word, as human response gives place for His blessing. When received, God’s Word of promise will never be barren. The power in His Word will always fulfill the promise of His Word!” (Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. Romans 10:17). God’s Word cannot be barren or fruitless!
We see God’s first divine command in Genesis 1:3 where God “said”. According to Kingdom Dynamics, “God’s first divine command began the process of transforming the chaos as a means to bring life and order into His creation.” We need to understand this, His Word still does the same today! Thank God!
Understanding that we were made in God’s image and in looking at His Word, we will see that the words we speak are also very important.
Proverbs 18: 2 and 21 proclaims a dynamic truth that we need to consider every time we speak. “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. ... 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” The tongue or words we speak have the power of life and death.
There are many scriptures in Proverbs which address the topic of our speaking and the consequences of the words we speak.
Proverbs 12:14, “Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.”
Proverbs 13:3 (NASB20), “One who guards his mouth protects his life; One who opens wide his lips (is talkative) comes to ruin.”
Proverbs 15:28, “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.” ‘Overflows’ means bursts out with reckless utterance. Evil in the Greek in this verse means bad or wicked.
Proverbs 29:20 (NASB20), “Do you see a person who is hasty (narrow minded) with his words? There is more hope for a fool (stupid, foolish, or silly) than for him.”
The words you speak are not meaningless or powerless. Your words have creative power. Mark 11:23 (ESV) reads, “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” Whoever speaks to the mountain (an insurmountable problem or obstacle), and does not doubt in his heart, but believes - it will be granted to him. Faith is the key that releases the resources of heaven into our situations.
However, as we look at James 3:2-10 (NIV) we will see how difficult it is to control our tongue, mouth, or lips. (All referring to the words that we speak.) Verse 2 “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
Matthew 12:36 (NIV) reveals, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” On judgment day, everyone of us will give an account!
If we can control our tongue, then we can control most everything in our lives.
How can we deal with such a challenging and problematical issue when the scripture itself reveals that “no human being can tame the tongue?”
It is impossible for men to control their tongues without the help of the Holy Spirit. His help begins with what is in our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 and 5 (NIV), “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Matthew 12:34-37 (NIV) reveals the importance of filling our heart with the Word of God. ”You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." What you speak will either cause you to be deemed unguilty or guilty. Then, your judgment will follow. What fills your heart? What resides there: meanness, pride, rudeness, judgmentalism, criticism, curses, hatred, or peace, kindness, the love of God, or the Word of God? What do you offer to those around you, death or life?
This is not something I have made up. These verses show us the heart of God in relation to how very important it is that we control our tongues or the words we speak. Don’t be deceived to think you can always speak life of your own accord. As we have just read, that will only happen if we have the help of the Holy Spirit and our hearts full of the Word of God.
It has been reported that the Spirit of God spoke to Reinhard Bonnke and said, “My Word spoken in your mouth is as powerful as if I spoke it myself.” Remember, we are made in His image. He spoke and it was. It is vitally important that we know God’s Word intimately. We need to have His Words in our hearts and minds so that we think and speak like Him.
The most effective way we can pray for one another is to pray the Word of God. Remember, His Word accomplishes what it is sent forth to accomplish. If you have a friend, acquaintance or enemy who is in need of comfort, peace, healing, joy, etc. speak what the Scripture says about those things to them.
Proverbs 4:20-24, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.”
I want to share two scriptures, along with a recommendation that you make them your daily prayer.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV), “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 141:3 (NIV), “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
We need His help!
With every word we speak, we must be aware that there are consequences to what we say.
We need to take care that our words line up with the Word of God and minister life!
Ephesians 4:29 (Amplified Bible), “Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
Amen (So be it!)
Unless otherwise noted scriptures are from the New Living Translation.
ESV English Standard Version
NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020
NIV New International Version