Proverbs 18: 21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit". Wow! Very powerful statement. The power of death and the power of life both come from our tongue. James 3: 6 says, "And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell". Incredible! When we choose to speak death with our tongue, it ignites a fire that can defile the entire body (our own and the church). James says the fire (upon our tongues) incinerates God's destiny for our life with fire from hell! Is that strong stuff or what? With that tiny little piece of flesh behind our teeth we can destroy our lives, the lives of others, and thwart God's destiny. Man! I've seen churches destroyed by the power of just a few tongues. Why? Because it is a fire that spreads rapidly from person to person. Through deception some truly believe they are doing service to God (with their tongues) spreading the fire that in all actuality destroys.
But even more powerful than the destructive fire and death is the ability to speak overcoming, overpowering life with the same tongue! Amazing! When will we truly believe this? When we can practice this...no matter what the circumstance. I made a commitment long ago to speak life with my tongue. Proverbs says the power of life is in the tongue. Jesus came 2,000 years ago and defeated the power of death and darkness. While on the earth He was tested by the enemy after he had fasted for 40 days and nights. Matthew Chapter 4 teaches us that the enemy tempted Jesus in 3 very crucial areas. Jesus overpowered these attempts of the enemy to thwart God's plan of salvation by saying, "It is written..." He didn't say "In My opinion..." Or "Well I think..." Or "Oh God, what am I going to do?" He simply overpowered the enemy by speaking the Word of God which is life! Jesus finished His work of the cross and gave to you and me the responsibility of speaking life with our tongues.
To speak life means to speak against the flow of the world. Before a person is born again they speak in line with their surroundings...the world. But when one becomes born again by God's Spirit, they begin to speak in line with God's Word by His Spirit. God's Word is just that...God's Word. When I speak what He said, I am speaking what He said! Just saying! So let me ask you...what are you doing with your tongue? Are you speaking death or life? Are you spreading strife in your work place because you have talked yourself into a pit? Or...are you changing a naturally bad situation with the life in your tongue? Just asking. I always make it a point to speak to my co-workers and ask them how they are doing. Nine times out of ten I get the response, "I'm here." I didn't ask if you were here. I asked how are you doing! I usually respond by saying..."Well I'm glad you are here. Wouldn't be the same without you!" That usually gets either a weird look or a smile from the person!
As long as we live on planet earth death and life will be in the power of our tongue. The choice is yours, speak death or life. What will you do?
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