Careless Speech

1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehinnom.

7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. - Jam 3:1-12 HNV

It occurred to me that their unfortunate conversation could have pushed us away if we were there looking for a new church home. Worse, what if we were seeking God and their disgruntled opinions had driven us away? Their careless speech was not just a matter of the words they used or attitudes they displayed, it also demonstrated their lack of concern for the impact those words could have on others.

A better approach to the use of words is reflected in Proverbs 17:27, where Solomon said, “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Most often, we would do better not to say all we think or know (or think we know), but instead seek to use words that promote calm and peace. You never know who may be listening.

Most are unaware just how powerful the tongue is. It literally creates those blessings or cursings in the spiritual realm. It's best to not speak at all. Control of the tongue is essential. Too many babble profane nonsense; evil, hate. Destructiveness...as these peple were doing in their own Church!

Sin begins in the mind. If not controlled and allowed to reign there, it proceeds to the mouth where it curses, hates, & creates all manner of evil. Evil, foul speech creates a cesspool spiritually that is an open door invitation to demons to swim in and attack the speaker to attack the hearer. It becomes real from there. The hearer must rebuke the curses and send them back to the deliverer.

From speech it accelerates to actions of hate and evil. This is the beginning and end of domestic abuse if not controlled. The speakers heart is revealed by what comes out of the mouth. If only they stopped to realize what they are revealing about their spiritual condition when they "let loose" and allow all manner of evil to emerge from them. They cloud their own minds with their dark thoughts. It becomes a vicious cyle.

Conversely the prayers of a righteous man create a sword in the spiritual realm that an angel uses to fight the battle to answer the person's prayer when it's completed. Our spiritual armor includes the sword of the spirit. Use God's Word when in a spiritual battle. It will not come back to you empty.

Do not receive evil speech passively. Rebuke it. Deny it in Jesus' name. Return it to the sender. Use the Blood of Jesus to protect yourself and to cover those evil words. If necessary use annointing oil and the Blood of Jesus to protect your home, family, possessions and self. That speech remaining leaves an open door cesspool around you to the demonic realm in your life. Have nothing to do with anyone who speaks like this and refuses to control his/her speech. Bad company corrupts. Choose your friends carefully. Take no chance in leaving any open doors around you. This is a very serious business.

This also reflects to me how whole dependent we are on the Spirit of God. No man can tame the tongue. We are incapable in and of ourselves to tame it. Better to surrender early to the Lord daily, than to rub the fur of the Gospel in the wrong direction with words carelessly spoken. Not productive at all. Finding what He is doing in the earth and joining Him in it....thats "where its at", my friend!