Recently I heard a very interesting message about considering the words that come out of our mouth. We all know we should not speak evil of others and certainly not gossip. But what about speaking negative words about ourselves?
Words have power. When we speak words it is a shadow of Yahweh speaking things into existence, in the beginning was the Word, He spoke the universe into existence and His word is active and working yet today ---
FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY."
(Romans 9:28) (all Scriptures from NAS unless indicated, underlining added)And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.
(Hebrews 1:3)For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12)Words have a way of expressing what is in our heart. When we say, " I’ll never amount to anything," we are setting ourselves up for what we are saying. When I started to think about this message I realized how I needed to change my verbal expressions. When I started looking up scriptures in this regard I was amazed, convicted, and overjoyed by the hope of letting His word be my meditation day and night.
Negative words affect not only others but ourselves as well. It reminds me of the time
when the children of Israel were to march around Jericho, (Joshua 6:10-) they were told not to say anything until instructed on the last day, to all shout at once. Why? Was it because we tend to grumble, to look at the negative side of everything? Negative words like, ‘Why am I here?’ ‘It’s too hot.’ ‘What do they expect of me!’ ‘This will never work, just look at those massive walls.’ Once we start grumbling it affects us, we become moody, extremely negative and this literally negates the power of God’s word in our life. Better not to say anything negative as there is power in the words we speak. The children of Israel often grumbled and lived to regret it. [Numbers 11:1]
The question then should be what or who’s words are coming out of my mouth?
But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART" —that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
(Romans 10:8)Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
(James 1:21)Be positive. Look for good things to say. Be an encourager. ‘This is the day that He has made.’ ‘I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.’ ‘Victory in Yeshua.’ Do I express themes of righteousness? Am I walking as Yeshua walked? Are my words His words, creative and not destructive? Am I judging or critical of others or myself? Paul admonishes us …
but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; (Ephesians 5:18-20)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
(Philippians 4:4-8)It was Yeshua that said,
"But I tell you that every careless
(idle or barren) word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)But He answered and said, "It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’"
(Matthew 4:4)The words we speak go out of our mouth not only to others but return through our ears. They then enter into our being and become active. Speak good things, speak the words of our Father and good things will come for He watches over His word to perform it.
Below are several verses with the word mouth, tongue or word in them. Take the time to speak these verses and see what the Spirit will do for you and others. Realize how our words relate to what is really in our mind and heart.
The Mouth.
The LORD said to him, "Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
(Exodus 4:11)"Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say."
(Exodus 4:12)
"And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; …
(Exodus 13:9)"Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.
(Exodus 23:13)"But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.
(Deuteronomy 30:14) (same as Romans 10:28)"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; ...
(Joshua 1:8)Note, speaking is the same as actions.
"Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.
(1 Samuel 2:3)"Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.
(Job 15:6)Here are the words of David, may this be our prayer also.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
(Psalms 19:14)He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
(Psalms 40:3) (goes along with Ephesians 5:18-20)"I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
(Psalms 81:10)The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; … (Proverbs 13:3)
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
(Proverbs 21:23)(You would think Yeshua would have the right to complain.)
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
(Isaiah 53:7)"As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring," says the LORD, "from now and forever."
(Isaiah 59:21) (Who’s words?)"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
(Luke 6:45) (What fills my heart?)Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
(Ephesians 4:29) (that goes for yourself as well)from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
(James 3:10)The Tongue.
Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
(Psalms 119:172)… But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
(Proverbs 12:18)For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
(Romans 14:11)and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:11)If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
(James 1:26)For, "THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
(1 Peter 3:10)The Word.
Now consider the power of the word, especially those of Yeshua, who is the Word.
When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.
(Matthew 8:16)Warning, think about this one.
thus
invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that." (Mark 7:13)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:1)And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14)"Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death."
(John 8:51)"He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
(John 12:48)Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
(John 17:17)What are you hearing? Speaking?
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:17)Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16)Can there be any doubt what should be abiding in us and coming out of our mouth?
For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
(1 Thessalonians 2:13)comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
(2 Thessalonians 2:17)Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
(James 1:21)BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you.
(1 Peter 1:25)Now consider the words spoken.
The LORD did according to the word of Moses,
(Exodus 8:13)So the LORD said, "I have pardoned them according to your word;
(Numbers 14:20)"You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
(Deuteronomy 4:2)"For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, …
(Deuteronomy 32:47)There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel
(Joshua 8:35)…
for I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back." (Judges 11:35)When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
(2 Kings 6:18)Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!
(Psalms 103:20)How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.
(Psalms 119:9) (Amen)Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
(Psalms 119:11)Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
(Psalms 119:67)Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
(Psalms 119:105)My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.
(Psalms 119:148)The sum of Your word is truth, …
(Psalms 119:160)Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
(Psalms 119:172)Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
(Psalms 139:4)Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
(Proverbs 12:25)A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
(Proverbs 15:1)A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!
(Proverbs 15:23)Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
(Ecclesiastes 5:2)Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."
(Jeremiah 1:12) (all He has spoken will come to pass, speak His words.)"The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD.
(Jeremiah 23:28) (consider what words we should speak)Take care;
"For you will no longer remember the oracle of the LORD, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.
(Jeremiah 23:36)Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.
(Zechariah 4:6)0565 word (Hebrew)
1) utterance, speech, word
1a) word of God, the Torah
4487 word (Greek)
1) that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word
1c) a series of words joined together into a sentence (a declaration of one’s mind made in words)
3056 Word (Greek) logos log’-os
AV-word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7,
Consider, if we speak against the Word of God …
"Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
(Matthew 12:32)The Word of God is by the Holy Spirit.
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
(1 Peter 2:20-21)All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (2 Timothy 3:16)Remember the words we speak will be weighed. May all the words we speak be His words, words of hope, of joy, of salvation, words fitly spoken.
Because there are so many scriptures that tell us about what we are to speak it was hard to end this with the above references alone. We need to consider every word that comes out of our mouth. First it is an indication as to what is in our heart. Second it can inflict harm on others and/or ourselves. We are instructed by our loving Father to meditate on His words, His words should be in our mouth. Then His words will perform deeds of love and courage for all who hear.
[Click here for more verses to consider.]