When Words Have Weight…

Why do we as believer's not understand the power and weight our words have? The weight of every word we say is so important. We will be judged by the words we speak and held accountable for them. Our words can cause not only our own destruction but have the power of life and death. The words we speak can breathe life into a person or situation. They can also put word curses on people and situations. How many of you have said "I'm never gonna get my bills paid this month." and then didn't? You put a word curse on yourself. Psalm 109 shows us we can actually curse people with our words.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.  Matthew 12:36-37

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.  Proverbs 13:3

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Proverbs 18:21

Believers find nothing wrong with deceit and lies as long as it serves their purpose. There is no acceptable reason for a lying tongue. Even to save our lives, sin or death, I choose death. Even white lies (flattering tongues) are unacceptable. We speak with pride boasting about ourselves. We try to convince others how honorable or great we are. We say how humble we are or how much we do for the Lord. We make excuses for our behavior. We speak ill of and badly to our parents. We cuss and slander and talk about people behind their backs. Everyone worries about what they eat and drink and if they exercise. Is it healthy? Will it cause cancer? We need to worry about what comes out of our mouth.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.  Proverbs 26:22-28

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.  Proverbs 20:20

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.  Proverbs 27:1-2

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.   Proverbs 21:23

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.   Matthew 15:11

For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.  Ecclesiastes 7:22

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.   Romans 12:14

We seriously need to understand how crucial it is to mind our words. We accuse others of things we don't really know about. False accusations and bearing false witness is a sin. We are not to judge those outside of the body of Christ and we are not slander anyone. Believers are not to talk about someone without them present minus the how do we speak to this person about the problem as scripture tells us to gently correct them. Many Christians will use prayer requests as the opportunity to gossip. "We need to pray for Jane. Did you hear she slept around on her husband and boy does she have a drinking problem. I feel bad for her family. She was seen at the club the other night just dancing all over everyone" This is not a prayer request. This is gossip and backbiting. That prayer request should look like this: "We need to pray for Jane. The Lord knows the need." Period, that's all that should be there. At most, a member of the church may approach the pastor to say "Will you go with me to talk to Jane and maybe she will hear correction and repent? We need to address adultery, revelry, immodesty, drunkenness, and fellowship with darkness."

 

Mockery, backbiting, slander, and hate have become commonplace in the church. They can even be found in the pulpit.  When we hear gossip we should immediately say "I don't want to hear gossip" and put a stop to it. We should never cuss. We should never speak ill of anyone. We shouldn't speak about subjects that are uncomely of a Christian. We should not speak with hate. No Christian should ever want anything bad to happen to anyone for any reason. We pray for our enemies not curse them. We don't even wish ill of terrorists and pedophiles. Let God deal with their judgement. We pray for them. Jesus died for everyone no matter how evil. We shouldn't be talking about how good John or Jill looked in that outfit that was so revealing. We shouldn't be saying anyone is going to hell by name. That is condemning them and that's God's job not ours. We should say those that do this or that won't make it into the kingdom, but when we say "You're going to hell," or "David is going to rot in hell," we are crossing the line. When we do this not only is it condemnation which is a sin, but it is also a word curse, which is witchcraft. These are two sins your guilty of, and now you need to repent. We should never call people names. This is mockery and railing and it is also a trespass. How many of you have said "You're stupid," or "You're a lonely ugly old bag" ? Maybe you have told someone they were a retard or called them fat... words have great weight and power in them. Even said in good fun, this is corrupt communication and hate and can cause rejection and offense.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  Ephesians 4:1-4

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  Ephesians 4:29

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.  Ephesians 5:4

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.   Psalm 59:12

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  1 Peter 3:8-10

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  1 Peter 1:15

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  Colossians 3:8-9

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.   Colossians 4:6

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  2 Timothy 2:16

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.  Luke 6:45

Our words have much weight in them. They are life and death. They are flourishing or destruction. They will be weighed when we are judged before the Father. They lead to other sins. They can lead us into captivities of the enemy. That in itself can bring torture upon us by opening doors to demonic attack. How do your words weigh in the scales. Are they loving, kind, gentle and forgiving? Are they appropriate, holy, and Christ-like? Are they evidence of a pure heart or a wicked one? Do they bless or do they curse? Examine yourselves carefully and judge before the Father does. Are you bringing unnecessary attacks into your life due to your words? Think about every word before you speak. Does it edify or tear down? Your words flow like a river. Let them flow gently, clean and smooth, causing no harm but healing instead.