More Than Words

Joshua 1: 1 – 8

What a wonderful promise we have from God on the subject of HIS word. This verse is filled with the promise and the connotation that Life and Death are in the power of the tongue. Hear what the Lord says to Joshua… (v.8)

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

God's Word never changes. The problem with most of us is that we are just too busy to put God's Word first like we should. But we are not too busy to work trying to get ahead.

It’s all a question of priorities. Before your work week begins… before you go out there and clock in… make sure that you clock in for your quality time with God. Make sure that you not only meditate on HIS word, but that you actually take it to heart in such a way that HIS words are foremost in your mind and the first things that come out of your mouth.

Notice that Joshua 1:8 does not just say to think about God's Word. The Word must be continually in your mouth!

An old song from my Sunday School days says “Be careful little mouth what you say… Be careful little mouth what you say… for the father up above is looking down with love… so be careful little mouth what you say.”

What comes out of our mouths is of vital importance to our walk with Christ Jesus…

In Matthew 15: 11, Jesus tells the people gathered around him that “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.

Then watch what Paul says about the mouth…
In Romans 10: 9 – 11, Paul writes “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Declaring the Word of God is also covered within the pages of the Bible... Again, Paul writes in Romans 10:17 that “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Life and death, the Bible says, are in the power of the tongue… With your words you confess that Jesus Christ is Lord… With your words you have the power to either bless someone or curse that person. Words have the power to give life… and words have the power to crush.

Three old clichés come to mind here…
“Some things are better left unsaid…” (True…)
“If you can’t say anything good… don’t say anything at all…” (Also true…)
“Sticks and stones may break my bones… but names can never hurt me…” (False…)
Yiayia’s favorite saying… “You can drive a nail into a piece of wood, but if you draw the nail back out, it still leaves a hole…”

Look into the eyes of a child who has been exposed to nothing but abusive words and insults. The sad reality is that there are children who hear such harmful words like “why can’t you be more like your brother… you are nothing but a disappointment.” Certainly these are not words of encouragement.

Then look into the eyes of a child who not only knows that he or she is loved, but hears it from his or her parents… who hears words like “I am so proud of you… I love you so much… you are a precious gift from God…”

1 Peter 3:10 has these words of wisdom for us… "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile; speaking and thinking in line with God's Word will cause you to prosper and succeed.” If you would like to see good days, the Bible admonishes you to watch your words!

Never speak defeat. Never confess defeat. Confessing Jesus as Lord of every situation brings glory to God. Confessing Jesus as Lord over your life brings HIS power and HIS presence into your life. Speaking a blessing over those around you may very well mean the difference between life and death for them.

Closing Thought:

James 3: 9 – 12 says “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

So let the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts always be acceptable to our Lord, Our Rock, Our Redeemer.

I Bid You Peace...
Pastor Ken+