Speak Life Part II

Speak Life

     In Matthew 15:17-20 the scripture asks us a question?

          Verse 17: Do you not understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

          Verse 18:   But those things which proceed out of the heart, and they defile the man.

          Verse 19:  For out of the heart proceed evil (hurtful) thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication's, thefts, false whiteness and blasphemies.

          Verse 20:  These are the things which defile a man.

     Beloved, hear me;  you will either be justified by your words or you will be condemned by your words.

     I feel that I am to share with you from my own past experience, if I may, concerning words that have hurt me, wounded my spirit and almost broke my heart.

     Many times the people I loved the most spoke words of death directly to me either willingly or unwillingly.  They hurt me so deeply and I took those words so personal that I thought my heart would break from grief.

     For many years I would react out of my own insecurities, wounds and issues from my past and not even realize what I was doing.  The enemy took full advantage of my weaknesses, hurts and fears to keep me in bondage and blinded from the truth.  He took the rejection I had experienced and magnified it through more hurtful words and more rejection. I found myself always on the defensive unable to see my own faults and would blame the other person thinking there was nothing wrong with them.  Many times I found myself running from that relationship to get away from the trauma so I didn't have to face the hurt anymore.  I walked around so devastated and traumatized that I truly was as one walking around but dead emotionally.  But thank God, one day the Holy Spirit revealed to me that by running from the hurt and not facing my issues I was delaying the healing process.  And in order for me to be well and whole I knew I would have to face some things head on and not cower back like I had always done before. 

     During this time of healing, the Holy Spirit lead me to Proverbs 21:2 that really opened up my eyes and here is what it says:

          Verse 2:  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the heart.

     You see, my problem was my heart.  Yes, those that hurt me were wrong in what they said and in how they hurt me, but bottom line was that I had to take a long hard look at myself and allow the Holy spirit to show me where I was wrong and be assured, He did.

     The Holy Spirit helped me to be able to look beyond there hurtful words and understand why they had reacted towards me in such a hurtful way.  I found out that people will either:

     1.  Speak out of their own hurts, rejections and unresolved issues.
     2.  Speak out of anger, because of unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment in their lives.
     3.  Speak out of their own pride and a haughty spirit.
     4.  Speak out in a defensive way, because of their own insecurities.

     Remember:  Hurting people will always end up hurting other hurting people and the cycle will go on until they are healed, delivered and set free.

     These that I have listed are all issues of the heart.  And whatever effects the heart, effects the soul, the spirit, the mind and emotions of a man.  All through Proverbs the Word of God tells us what words will do, what they will cause, what to do with the heart and how words effect the heart, soul and spirit of a man. Proverbs tells us to:

     Proverbs 4:20-23  Attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings, keep then in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them and health to all there flesh.  Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.
                              
     Proverbs 12:25  Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop.

     Proverbs 18:14  The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear.

     Proverbs 16:24  Pleasent words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

     Proverbs 17:22  A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
               
     Let's go to Proverbs 18:21 that plainly states:  Death and Life are in the power of the tongue.

     What do these words "Death" and "Life" mean to us?  "Death" and "Life" to what?  Answer: "Death" or "Life" to the Spirit, Soul and the Heart of man.

     The word "Death" we find in Proverbs relates to a deadly wound or strike.  And an example would be a fiery dart that the enemy sends to wound our heart; that effects our soul and strikes a blow at our spirit. These are the wounds from the enemy that are meant to stop you from growing, maturing and fulfilling God's plan for your life.  How many times has a word wounded you so deeply that you thought you would die from the pain?  And the enemy would replay the hurt over and over in your mind and you found yourself unable to move forward in your life? If the enemy can keep you paralyze in your past then he has won the battle with his words of death.

     Proverbs 12:18 says it so well:  There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

     And what does the word "Life" mean?  The Greek word for "Life" is "Zoe" and is life in all its manifestation, life in activity.  It is resurrection life and eternal life.  It comes from a root word that means: To revive, keep, quicken, recover and to be whole.

In John 1: 1-4 tells us:
  Verse 1: In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Himself)
  Verse 2: He was present originally with God.
  Verse 3: All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that was made that has come into being.
  Verse 4: In Him was "LIFE", and the Life was the Light of men.

     Ok, we know that the Word here is referring to Jesus being the Word, but there is a two fold meaning of this word.

     1.  Christ being the "Word", and the "Word" becoming flesh that would bring "Life" to all men.
     2.  The verbal words being spoken and the words becoming and bringing "Life"

Ponder this:  One spoken word can either bring peace or confusion....love or hate....hope or despair....faith or doubt.  What kind of words will you speak today?

Next week Part III

Blessings,

Elma Garlock