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James tells us that the tongue is a small member but directs the course of our life. “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.”(James 3:1-6) That is a profound statement when one thinks of it. We have a mouth for a reason and that reason is very important to the course of our life. The following are just a few of the things that the bible says about our mouths and their proper use.
The point is that our mouth determines our life! Therefore it should be filled with the praises of God! It should speak life and not death about and to our self! Very often we use our mouth for all the wrong reasons and in the wrong way. We give voice to our failures and speak eagerly about our fears. We lend credence to our feelings even if our feelings are contrary to God’s word. We complain and denigrate our life and the things around us. We speak negatively about our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We criticize those who are our ministers and speak about the faults of others. All of this we do out loud so it goes into our ears. Yet Paul, writing under the anointing of God writes in his letter to the Ephesians – “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 If you are speaking out loud and no one else is around, that makes you the hearer. Have you ever spoken negatively about yourself to yourself? Described what you did as “stupid”? Told yourself that you were something negative? You were the hearer in those instances and you certainly didn’t give grace to yourself in those comments. If we are willing to speak negatively to our self shouldn’t we much more be ready to speak positively to our self? Read on. Since the power of the tongue is as great as it is, we need to be careful how we use it. When nothing had yet been formed, He brought to pass the things that are simply by speaking – and we are created in His image. I believe the bible clearly references the care we must take with the use of our mouth. The sword of the spirit is referred to in Ephesians 6:17 in reference to our preparations for battle. It is part of the equipment given to us by God for fighting spiritual battles It is one of our offensive weapons. To understand its use one should look to Jesus and see how He used the sword of the spirit. First the word (logos) of God is a sharp two edged sword we are told in Hebrews 4:12. I need to interject here that the bible mentions the “word of God” more than forty times in the New Testament. It uses two different Greek words that are both translated “word” of God. One is “logos” and the other is “rhema”. These words have different meanings in the Greek. The difference is basically that “logos” is the established word and “rhema” is the proceeding or spoken word. I can speak the “logos of God and it then becomes the “rhema” of God. When the Holy Spirit quickens the “logos’ of God to you, it becomes the rhema of God. When the Holy Spirit directs you in something, this too is the word of God (“rhema” of God). Hebrews 4:12 uses the Greek word “logos” for the word of God. When it comes out of the mouth it becomes the “rhema” of God. Look at the scriptures that follow. Revelation 1:16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. Revelation 2:12 The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: Revelation 19:15-16 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Ephesians 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God. The example is clear. The sword of the spirit, which is the “rhema” of God, must indeed come out of our mouth as well. This truth continues. The bible says the faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word (“rhema” or “spoken word”) of God. The verse defines itself. How can you “hear” that which is not “spoken”. The point is this. The bible clearly directs us to speak the word. Not just to everyone else but to ourselves and against the lies of the enemy. How did Jesus defeat Satan in the wilderness? Was it not through what He said? Did he not take the “logos” of God and make it the “rhema” of God as he spoke it against the lies Satan presented to him? Do you think you are any different? The bible says that we fight against “spiritual” things and not against flesh and blood. Our fight is no different than His. Too often I see Christians trying to do spiritual warfare in the “futility of their minds” (Ephesians 4:17). The battlefield is indeed in the mind, but is fought with the mouth. Did you know that it is your mouth that saves you? Romans 10:10 tells us that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You believe in the heart and confess with the mouth. With the mouth you are saved. The heart brings the initial faith and the mouth activates it. Interestingly enough, use of the sword also increases the size of your shield, as “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the “rhema” or “spoken word” of God. This “believe in your heart confess with your mouth” process is given to us again by the Lord in Joshua 1:8 "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; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8 The key to success described here is that of meditating on it (in the heart) and never letting it depart from your mouth (speaking it). As one looks at this they begin to understand the sign that accompanies the baptism of the Holy spirit “they spoke in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance”. Since the mouth is so important to our well being and we don’t always know how to pray as we ought, it says the “spirit intercedes for us” (Romans 8:26). In baptism of the Holy Spirit we speak what the spirit gives us to speak. We can’t even use our minds Paul tells us in I Corinthians 14:14 that our mind is unfruitful when we “pray in tongues”. However our spirit is built up because it “hears” through our ears, what we speak. Paul says that when we pray in our tongue our spirit is built up. Isaiah quotes God as saying that His words are to be in our mouths for three generations and then adds, “from now and forever”. Isaiah 59:21 "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." NASU Sounds to me like He wants us to SPEAK it! This brings us to the battle. I have said the battle takes place in the heart but is won with the mouth. James speaks of this process. James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. I have watched Christians defeated again and again because they try to win the battle on the enemy’s territory. It is “within” that the battle starts and if it stays there it is where the battle is lost. Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." When we try to defeat the enemy within - in our hearts - we loose, because our heart is part of our flesh. The battle belongs to the spirit and the spirit is reached through the ears. (faith comes by hearing). Too often a saint will have a temptation to believe a lie of the enemy - either spiritual (satanic) or natural (the flesh) – in their mind. The thought will come, for instance, that God can’t be counted on to accomplish all He says he can accomplish or that God has abandoned you (and Paul tells us that unbelief is a sin – Romans 14:23). The individual will throw thought after thought at this mind trip, and in the end give in to their fears. They won’t understand why they didn’t succeed. After all, they threw scripture after scripture at it in their minds. The problem was that they never once opened their mouth and applied the sword. Keep in mind the sword comes out of the mouth – its not held in the hand unless your battle is against flesh and blood – which in a Christian’s case, its not (Ephesians 6:12) nor is it kept in the mind.
I am convinced that we must become more skillful at defeating the enemy – and so much more as we see the day approaching. I don’t think the skills that sustained our parents will sustain us or our children or our children’s children. When the end approaches it is said “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." Revelation 12:12 Jesus spoke of a great falling away in those days, and Ephesians says we must be fully equipped that we might be able to strand in that evil day. I think it’s time to quit kidding ourselves and begin to fight the battle the way the Lord has said to fight the battle. That’s with the mouth! It was said that David was a man after God's own heart. How did he prescribe that we should live our lives? Here is a list of scriptures relating to the use of our mouth to declare, boast, worship and speak of the goodness of the Lord. Notice that he is not telling us in these God inspired passages to "think" about something - but to actively involve our mouth! Psalms 35:28 And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long Psalms 40:3 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 49:3 My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding. Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. Psalms 63:5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. Psalms 66:17 I cried to Him with my mouth , And He was extolled with my tongue. Psalms 71:8 My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long. Psalms 71:15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. Psalms 89:1 I will sing of the loving kindness of the LORD forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth . Psalms 92:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2 To declare Your loving kindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, Psalms 92:15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him Psalms 109:30 With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him. Psalms 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth ! Psalms 119:108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances. Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth ; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalms 142:1-7 I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;I make supplication with my voice to the LORD. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.5 I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. 6 " Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me. 7 " Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You will deal bountifully with me." Psalms 145:4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalms 145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
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