Proverbs 18:21 KJV
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
I remember a friend of mine from many years ago quoting Proverbs 18:21 to me. It was not a Bible drill nor was he showing me how good he was at reciting Bible verses. He was actually rebuking me with the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17)
He may not remember doing this, but I hope to always remember his strength and courage when he told me simply to watch my mouth because I had the ability to either speak good into people's lives or speak bad, and at the time, I was speaking bad.
In the church I have often seen this issue arise because of familiarity. People spend so much time together and become so close that before long they begin sharing their deep feelings with each other. If used wisely, this is both productive and beneficial for believers. However, used unwisely, it can undo the work that God has been doing. It can hurt the testimony of believers as they strive to reach the lost and unchurched community around them. And it can split a church in a fraction of the time that it took to bring the church together.
Proverbs 12:18 says, The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Likewise, James wrote in James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
The tamed tongue is not just about "not hurting people," it is also about honoring the very God who plucked the believer out of the pit through Jesus Christ. It is about recognizing the evil that the Devil wants to use our tongue for (James 3:8) and resisting his evil plan to use us against the body of Christ.
Knowing how the enemy works is knowing that as people grow closer together and begin sharing their lives with each other, the enemy is watching, ready to use these growing relationships to cause division. As believers, we must be ready for this and know what the tactic of the enemy is. We must commit to speaking life into everyone and not death. We must live to honor God and his Son with our words, thoughts and deeds. For if we choose not to, plainly put, we cross the line from supporting God's work to supporting the work of the enemy.
In the modern church, which many local assemblies total less that 100 on a given Sunday, it does not take long for the tongues of a few to tear down the work of the Holy Spirit. That is why I want to encourage everyone to repent of things they have said. Extend grace and forgiveness to those who have said things about them. And honor the Lord with a mission to seek the Lost and share Christ with them. That's the mission of the church and that's the life that should be flowing from our tongues.
Chester Proctor, Pastor
Smith Street Baptist Church, Vidalia, Georgia
#TheChangeIsYou2018
