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Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Let's see what Jesus told us on the topic:
Matthew 5:22 (NLT): But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
Matthew 12:36–37 (ESV): I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 15:10–11 (ESV): 10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Matthew 15:18–19 (NLT): 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
Now let's look at some other passages:
Proverbs 10:19: Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
stumble comes from the Greek word ptah'-yo and means to stumble or accidental sin.
perfect comes from the Greek word tel-ee-os and means complete or mature.
bridle comes from the Greek word khal-in-ag-og-eh'-o and means to lead or control with a bridle or reigns.
Ephesians 4:29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
While we're covering the tongue, let's also quickly go over gossip and slander.
Teaching is from Pastor Allen Nolan.
James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
slander comes from the Greek word kata-la-leh'-o, kata means against, la-leh'-o means to speak.
judge comes from the Greek word kree-no and means to seperate, or to make a distinction between two things.
Different degrees of slander/gossip:
- 1st= We say something bad about someone unintentionally in normal conversation.
- 2nd= We talk about someone under the guise of spirituality.
- 3rd= We say something bad about someone intentionally.
Leviticus 19:16 (NLT): 16 “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people."
"If the person you are sharing the information with is not part of the problem, or not part of the solution, they do not need to know." Principal by Pastor Allen Nolan
Always remember Satan is the accuser of the brethren; so take any issue directly to your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Matthew 18:15–17 (ESV): 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
Now let's move into why this is important for our topic. Below I am posting page 151,152 out of They Shall Expel Demons by Derek Prince.
