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Words Possess Power
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There is power in words. The reaction we get from someone else speaking can make us happy, sad and even angry. The things we say can do the same to someone else. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29) According to this Scripture, we are to only speak words of grace and edification. We are told this is possible when our words are seasoned with salt. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6) Seasoned with salt means seasoned with kindness. The Bible gives us numerous Scriptures, pertaining to the proper way of speaking and answering someone. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) How often have we seen a response, we or others made that stirred up strife and argument? Unkind words can hurt people's feelings. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24) We tend to remember hurtful and slanderous remarks from others. This affects us physically. Therefore, it is important to keep kindness in your speech. You need to be careful to not offend anyone with what you say. When you offend someone, their disposition changes. An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. (Proverbs 18:19) The consequences from being offended are hatred and betrayal (Matthew 24:9,10). If you offend a person, it is harder to win back that person than to take over a strong city. The offended person puts up bars like in a castle and holds you responsible. When God's Word is in our hearts, we are not as likely to become offended. Without the Word in our hearts, we have no root (Mark 4:16,17). Sometimes, we may become offended when we hear a truth about ourselves, even from others. God states in the last days people will not want to hear the truth. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3,4) Believers with a good heart will refuse to become offended because they are rooted and grounded in the Word of God (Matthew 12:34). We need to fill ourselves with God's love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), because love is long-suffering and not easily provoked. Love endures all things and is not easily offended. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude 21) Evil comes in actions and in words and we are not to be vengeful. "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord." (Romans 12:19) We are told to not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) When people are angry there may be an exchange of derogatory remarks or rude behavior. Anger demolishes the foundation of forgiveness. Anger along with passion and greed are the gateways to hell. If you find yourself becoming angry, evaluate it immediately and try not to let it dominate you. Anger is a perverse state of the soul. Anger rises because we forget to forgive. It rises from the soul and becomes an outburst of the mind and becomes a verbal display. Our true nature should be one of forgiveness, giving anger no reason to rise. Anger is unholy, it is an enemy that leads to sorrow. Therefore, it is important to not allow this emotion in your soul. If forgiveness is not applied -- anger will have a tendency to show itself at a future date. Words possess power. Our verbal confession and believing in our heart Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is our Lord and Savior is very powerful (Romans 10:10). The words, we confess in Romans 10:10 gives us eternal life! Godıs Word in the Bible is God breathed. His Word is living and active and will not return to Him void. Which means, whenever you use Godıs Word expect a reaction. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21) We see here life and death are in the power of the tongue. God's Word washes us, cleanses us, and renews our minds. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17) There will be times, we may come across adverse situations. When this happens, we need to bridle our tongues. We are told not to complain and grumble about our circumstances. And do not grumble, as some of them did -- and were killed by the destroying angel. (1 Corinthians 10:10) The tongue is capable of defiling the whole body. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:5,6) The tongue can corrupt, devour, and consume another (Galatians 5:15). No natural man can tame the tongue. We must cultivate the fruit of temperance of the Holy Spirit to control it. No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:8) The power of the tongue can be the outcome of the body -- the same as a ship is turned with a very small helm (James 3:2-4). Therefore, we can change our lives by simply controlling our tongues. When we confess negatives, our life is filled with those negatives. He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23) When we confess negatives, we are consumed by these negatives. You become trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. (Proverbs 6:2) Confess positive things for positive results (Proverbs 15:23). Through the power of the Holy Spirit we will acquire strength and self-control. Through Jesus Christ, we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Romans 5:2) We have all been give grace to stand on. Grace is available to us and provides access to God. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) The more grace we experience the more fruit of temperance will be developed. With temperance comes self-control. Eve
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