If you follow the news much, you know there are a lot of accusations, negative words, and rhetoric thrown around. Even the president mentioned toning it down across the country. That didn’t work well. Hey, it’s only words, right? They don’t make a difference? We often hear about fact-checking people or organizations fact-checking what people are saying. To see if they are telling the truth or a lie. Does it really matter? It’s just words, right? We are living in a culture of constant communication like never before. Millions of words are exploding daily across media and all sorts of platforms. Apostle Paul said there are many voices in the world and they all have a purpose. Jesus said,” It is by our words we will be justified and by our words condemned.: (Matt 12:37).
It is amazing how words can shape attitudes, minds, behavior, and cultures. It is truly a war of words. Nations have risen and tumbled because of words spoken. There was a great battle in the wilderness between Satan and Jesus over words. Satan through words tempted Jesus. Jesus responded with words and overcame Satan. Matthew 4:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “ What are you living by? The words of Satan, culture, mainstream media, or the Word of God. In Romans 12:2 Apostle Paul tells us not to be shaped and molded by the world. How does that happen? By words! Words are powerful. Proverbs 18:21a tells us life and death are in the power of the tongue. It’s not in our heads or our bodies but in the tongue. What we speak! Let us be shaped and molded by the Word of God! The Bible calls this transformation by the Word of God.
Have you ever sat in a doctor’s office and got a negative report? His words brought fear and intense emotions. Yet they are just words? He simply gives the facts of your current situation. Now will you believe those words and receive them into your heart? How many times have those words been reversed by medical intervention or by a healing miracle from God? Words are powerful. Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)-25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. A barrage of negative words can cause anxiety, stress, and a loss of peace. It affects you mentally and physically. Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV)-16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Notice how God’s Word changes our hearts and causes us to rejoice. It is a good word that makes us glad.
Did you know the Gospel is spread by words? That faith comes from the Word of God. ( Rom 10:17). People can’t be saved without hearing the Word of God and putting their faith and trust in it. ( John 1:1, John 1:14). God uses preachers and teachers of His Word. He uses people like me and you to speak His Word. It is the Words you believe in your heart that make a difference. Luke 6:45 (NKJV)-45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. God has given us a mouth and a heart while we live on this earth. Here is a wonderful quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” What good is he to do? Well, the first thing is to proclaim the truth in every corner where there are lies. There is a lot of talk about misinformation and disinformation. It truly is a war of words. Truth and lies. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44, Rev 12:10). Words can build up or tear down. God will never lie to us! Num 23:19.
In Romans, Apostle Paul shares with us the importance of heart and mouth. Romans 10:8 (NKJV)-8 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 preach): This is a quote from the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 30:14 (NKJV)-14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. Our life goes in the direction of our mouth and heart that we may apply it to our lives. What we say and what we believe is very important ( Rom 10:9-10). 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV)-13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, God has given us a tongue to speak. This represents the authority that God has given us on earth. The heart represents fruitfulness. The ability to produce.( John 15:5, John 15:8).
Look at the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1:9-10 (NKJV)-9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” God put His Word in Jeremiah’s mouth but He had to speak it out. God had set Jeremiah over nations and kingdoms. He had given authority to Jeremiah to speak His Word. ( Psalm 8:6, Psalm 115:16). What will those Words do? Pull down, destroy, throw down, build, and plant. What things? Men’s lies, false prophets, false teachings, wrong information, wrong attitudes, religious ideas, and practices. Jeremiah was to build and plant with words that God gave him to speak. Here is a New Testament parallel. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)-3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, How did Paul make a difference in peoples lives and culture. Through the Gospel being preached. The power of God’s Word! It pulled down the arguments of religion, false teachings, and the lies of Satan ( Rom 1:16-17, Rom 10:13-15).
God has given us authority on earth to speak His Word ( Luke 10:19-20). This was God’s intent even at creation. God told man to be fruitful and to multiply and to subdue and have dominion( Gen 1:28). This involves his heart and mouth. In the fall of Adam when sin entered authority was lost or surrendered and hearts were corrupted. They died spiritually. Jesus restored that authority and cleansed our hearts with His blood. We have the Spirit of Faith to believe and speak. God told Jeremiah the Words that God put in his mouth He would hasten to perform ( Jeremiah 1:12). We have to speak it and God will perform it! ( Isaiah 55:11, Psalm 89:34, Num 23:19). Do you see what a tremendous responsibility God has given us? Jesus is the High Priest and the Apostle of our confession. Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV)-1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, ( Heb 4;14) He is a mediator of words between us and God. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word…. of our testimony. ( Rev 12:11).
There came a time when the prophet Jeremiah was struggling to proclaim God’s Word. He was facing intimidation, pushback, and ridicule of the people he was trying to reach. He came to a point when He felt he couldn’t do it anymore. Have you ever felt that way? Did you ever want to give up because of the persecution? That speaking God’s Word doesn’t make a difference or this confession stuff doesn’t work? You feel like you want to throw in the towel and give up. Jeremiah 20:9 (NKJV)-9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. Jeremiah because of the Word of God in his heart couldn’t hold back! He had to keep speaking it no matter what. Mark 4:17 (NKJV)-17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Jeremiah wasn’t going to stumble, falter, or give up because of the persecution. Why? because God’s Word was rooted in his heart. He was fully persuaded that God would perform His Word ( Eph 3:17, Col 2:7).
In Closing: Apostle Paul tells us that we have the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17). The sword is no good unless we use it. It is an offensive weapon. It is spoken through our mouth with authority. The Word of God is Spirit and life ( John 6:63). Isaiah 49:2a (NKJV)-2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; ( Heb 4;12). The Word of God is a two-edged sword. Look at Revelation concerning Jesus. Revelation 2:16 (NKJV)
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.( Rev 19:15, Hosea 6:5). His Word is light that penetrates the darkness. The truth of God’s Word destroys the lies of the enemy. What do you believe in your heart and what are you saying with your mouth? What report will you believe? Isaiah 53:1 (NKJV)
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? There is overcoming strength in the Word of God. His Word is truth. (John 17:17). God’s report is the last report. Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)-35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. We can’t perform God’s Word we can only speak it forth in faith from our hearts. We can be fruitful and we can exercise our authority through our spoken words. ( Rom 5:17). We can reign in life because of God’s grace and the righteousness He gives us in Christ. Don’t forget what Jesus said: Speak to your mountains and not doubt in your heart. ( Mark 11:23 ). Mouth and Heart matters!”
Time to take up your sword of the Word of God!
- 1 John 4:4 (NKJV)-4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
- 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV)-4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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