Often the disparaging words of the enemy are hurled from the tongues of believers. Jesus saw this in the religious and called them out for it.
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
Our hearts, fertile ground for nurturing what is true, noble, just, pure, and lovely (Philippians 4:8), can instead become burdened with bitterness, criticism, and condemnation. When these harmful words are spoken aloud, they cause distress to those who hear them.
“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (Psalms 55:21).
Harmful words can also be disguised as “pretended empathy.” However, the real purpose of those “smoother than butter words” is to injure someone or promote oneself.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
Who possesses our tongue? The enemy or the Lord Jesus? We have the power to speak the spirit of death or the Spirit of Life into someone’s life.
“Every word of the Lord is pure” (Proverbs 30:5). Are our words uncontaminated by self? Are they refined by the Holy Spirit?
“The Lord hates a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16,19).
Avoid being someone who spreads discord. Nourish only what is pure and lovely in your heart. And when you hear others spreading words of conflict and strife, respond with, “Let me pray for you. Your heart is not right, my friend,” or “Do you really want to do the work of the enemy?”
If we will set boundaries on what we listen to and sow only what is true, noble, just, and pure in our hearts, the words we speak will give life. Make a firm decision to never use words to aid the enemy. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Let Jesus possess your tongue.
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