Me and My Big Mouth!

1. Words Shape Reality: Speak God's Language

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Power of words. Our words are not just sounds; they are powerful forces that shape our reality. Like God, who spoke the world into existence, we too have the ability to create through our words. This power can be used for good or evil, to build up or tear down, to bring life or death.

• Proverbs 18:21 highlights the duality of the tongue's power.
• Our words are seeds that produce a harvest of either blessings or curses.
• We must be mindful of the language we use, choosing words that align with God's will.

Speaking to mountains. Instead of talking about our problems, we should talk to them, commanding them to be removed. This is not about hurling our will at them, but speaking God's Word in faith. Jesus demonstrated this by speaking to the storm and rebuking it.

• Mark 11:22-23 instructs us to speak to our mountains in faith.
• We must speak the Word of God, not our feelings or fears.
• Persistence is key; we must not give up when we don't see immediate results.

Learning God's language. Just as babies learn to speak, Christians must learn to speak God's language. This involves studying the Word, knowing His heart, and being led by His Spirit. It takes time to grow in spiritual maturity and to discern God's will.

• Hebrews 5:13-14 emphasizes the need to move from milk to solid food.
• We must learn to distinguish between our desires and God's will.
• Praying "if it be Thy will" is an act of submission when we are unsure of God's plan.

2. Mouth as a Spiritual Weapon: Declare God's Decree

When the Royal Decree is pronounced, things begin to change!

Confession confirms salvation. Confessing our belief in Jesus confirms our salvation before men and declares a change in allegiance. It is not just a private matter between us and God, but a public declaration of our new identity.

• Romans 10:9-10 highlights the importance of both believing and confessing.
• Confession makes our salvation firm, establishes it, and gives it authoritative validity.
• It is a declaration of our allegiance to God and a renunciation of the devil.

Declaring God's decree. Just as kings issue royal decrees, we are to declare God's Word with faith. The written Word of God is His formal decree, and when we speak it out of our mouths, we are establishing God's order in our lives.

• Psalm 2:7 speaks of declaring the decree of the Lord.
• Our faith-filled words go forth to establish God's will in our lives.
• We must speak the Word with a heart full of faith, believing that it will come to pass.

God's plan, our choice. God has a good plan for our lives, but Satan works to destroy it. As we believe and speak God's Word, it begins to become reality. We must not live in the blessings of the Lord while still talking like the devil.

• Jeremiah 29:11 assures us of God's good plans for us.
• We must choose to speak positive things, drawing from God's realm of blessings.
• Our words reach into the spiritual realm, calling forth either good or evil.

3. Calling Forth the Unseen: God's Creative Power

...God.. .calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Calling forth the unseen. As God's children, we have the privilege of calling forth things that do not yet exist as if they already do. This is not just wishful thinking, but an act of faith that aligns with God's creative power.

• Romans 4:17 describes God as calling those things that are not as though they were.
• We can use this power for good or evil, calling forth either blessings or disasters.
• The world often calls for disaster through negative words and fear.

Confession list. We should have a list of confessions based on the Word of God that we speak out loud over our lives, families, and futures. This is a way of declaring God's decree and establishing His will in our lives.

• Psalm 116:10 states, "I believed, therefore have I spoken."
• Confessing God's truth helps to establish it in our hearts.
• We should make our own list, tailored to our specific situations.

Abraham and Sarah. God changed Abram and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah, prophesying their future as the father of a multitude and the mother of nations. This new self-image was crucial for the miracle of Isaac's birth.

• Genesis 17:5, 15-16 shows how God changed their names to align with His promise.
• Their new names prophesied their future, releasing faith into the spiritual realm.
• Speaking in agreement with God's Word keeps our faith strong until the manifestation arrives.

4. Prophesy Your Future: Speak Life, Not Death

For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

Taming the tongue. No man can tame the tongue by himself; it requires the help of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to discipline our mouths and take responsibility for what comes out of them.

• James 3:2 states that if anyone does not offend in speech, he is a perfect man.
• The tongue is undisciplined and needs the help of the Holy Spirit to control it.
• We must inventory what we talk about and change our speech if we want to see our lives change.

Prophesying a better future. If we are not satisfied with our lives, we must begin prophesying a better future for ourselves and our loved ones according to God's Word. We can change things by cooperating with God.

• We can curse our future by speaking evil of it, or bless it by speaking well of it.
• We must start prophesying what we desire to see happen in our lives.
• We must call forth from the spiritual realm what we desire, believing that the manifestation is on its way.

Bless yourself. We can bless our future by letting go of the past and speaking in agreement with God's plan. Our words have great authority in our lives, and we can release God's plan by no longer considering the things of old.

• Isaiah 65:16-18 teaches us to bless ourselves in the God of truth.
• We must stop mentally living in the past and begin to think in agreement with God.
• By speaking in agreement with God, we can prophesy our own future.

5. God's Mouthpiece: Speak When Spoken Through

Stay broken and only speak when spoken through.

Mouthpiece for God. As believers, we are all mouthpieces for God in some way. Whether we have a worldwide teaching gift or the ability to witness to our co-workers, God wants us to use our mouths for Him.

• Romans 12:6-7 states that we should use our gifts according to the grace given to us.
• We must learn to speak only when spoken through by the Holy Spirit.
• Our mouths must belong to God if we desire our words to carry His power.

Responsibility of a teacher. Teachers of the Word are judged by a higher standard and must exercise self-control, especially in the area of their mouths. They are to be examples to those under their leadership.

• James 3:1-2 states that teachers will be judged with greater severity.
• Spiritual leaders are to be self-controlled, especially in their speech.
• They are to bring encouragement, comfort, and edification to others.

Bringing comfort. We can bless people with the words of our mouths, speaking life to them. We can edify and exhort, urging people forward. Parents should be careful about how they speak to their children, using words that heal and encourage.

• Proverbs 15:23 states that a word spoken at the right moment is good.
• Proverbs 25:11 says that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold.
• Isaiah 50:4 speaks of speaking a word in season to the weary.

6. Praise and Be Raised: Avoid Complaining

When we complain about our current situation we remain in it, when we praise God in the midst of difficulty, He raises us out of it.

Complaining is a sin. Complaining is a corrupt form of conversation that carries destructive power. It destroys the joy of the one complaining and opens doors for the enemy.

• Ephesians 4:29 instructs us not to use any foul or polluting language, which includes complaining.
• Complaining pollutes our lives and sounds like cursing to the Lord.
• We can poison our future by complaining about our present circumstances.

Health or disease. Murmuring and complaining can poison the present and affect the physical body. A calm and undisturbed mind brings health, while envy, jealousy, and wrath can destroy the body.

• Proverbs 14:30 states that a calm mind is health to the body.
• Proverbs 15:4 says that a gentle tongue has healing power.
• Praise and thanksgiving release physical energy and healing.

Murmuring opens the door to destruction. The Israelites complained and were put out of the way by the destroyer. We should heed their example and not follow their pattern. We can complain and remain, or praise and be raised.

• 1 Corinthians 10:9-11 warns us against tempting the Lord and complaining.
• The Israelites complained and faced death and destruction.
• Jesus praised God in the wilderness and was raised from death to new life.

7. Taming the Tongue: Bridle Your Words

If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

The tongue is undisciplined. No man can tame the tongue by himself; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to control our tongues.

• James 3:8 states that the tongue is undisciplined and cannot be tamed by man.
• We must learn to discipline our own mouths and take responsibility for our words.
• If our lives are not suitable, we should inventory what we talk about.

Hold fast to your confession. It is not enough to be positive and speak faith when all our circumstances are positive. We must hold fast to our confession of faith and ride out the storms, knowing that God is faithful.

• Hebrews 10:23 instructs us to hold fast to our confession of faith.
• We must grow in faith and trust in God, especially during trials.
• We must learn to discipline our mouths and conversation during the storms of life.

Bit and bridle. The Holy Spirit is our bit and bridle, controlling the reins of our lives. If we follow His promptings, we will end up in the right place. We must choose His leadership and allow Him to control our tongues.

• Psalm 32:9 warns us not to be like the horse or mule that lacks understanding.
• The Holy Spirit is our bridle and the bit in our mouths, guiding us in the right direction.
• We must choose to follow His leadership and allow Him to control our words.

8. Saved Mouth: A Process of Purification

Joyce, it is time for your mouth to be saved.

Salvation of the mouth. It is possible to be saved and not sound like it. Our mouths must be saved as well, which is part of the process of working out our salvation.

• Philippians 2:12 instructs us to work out our own salvation.
• It is not enough to be saved; the mouth must be saved also.
• This is a process of purification, where we submit our flesh to the leadership of the spirit.

Cultivating the seed. Jesus is the seed of everything good that God desires for us. The seed is planted by God, but it must be cultivated, nurtured, and cared for. Our hearts and lives are the ground.

• Galatians 3:16 refers to Jesus as the seed.
• We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to see the seed grow into a plant that occupies our entire life.
• God deals with us about certain issues, and we must submit to His dealing.

Mouth problems. God had to deal with Jeremiah, Moses, and Isaiah concerning their mouths before He could use them. We must also allow God to deal with us concerning our words.

• Jeremiah 1:4-10 shows how God touched Jeremiah's mouth and put His words in it.
• Exodus 4:10 reveals Moses' claim that he was slow of speech.
• Isaiah 6:1-9 shows how God cleansed Isaiah's mouth with a coal of fire.

9. Fasting Includes the Mouth: Beyond Food

Fasting as you do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.

True fasting. True fasting is not just about abstaining from food; it is about breaking the power of the flesh and seeking God in a more serious manner. It is a time of special prayer and repentance.

• Isaiah 58:4 reveals that fasting with wrong motives will not be heard by God.
• True fasting is meant to break the power of the flesh.
• It is a time of special prayer and seeking God for breakthrough.

Get free to set free. We must not only be busy setting others free, but we must also not allow ourselves to remain in bondage. We must cooperate with the Spirit of God to break the yokes of bondage in our lives.

• Isaiah 58:6 states that true fasting involves loosing the bonds of wickedness.
• We must be set free ourselves before we can set others free.
• We must cooperate with the Spirit of God to break the yokes of bondage.

Fast to share. We are not to neglect our own family members and relatives while ministering to others. We must meet the needs of our flesh and blood, as well as the needs of the poor and the naked.

• Isaiah 58:7 instructs us to divide our bread with the hungry and bring the homeless into our house.
• We must not neglect our own family members and relatives.
• We must meet the needs of both our family and those in the world.

10. Slanderous Mouth: A Deadly Poison

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Power of the tongue. The tongue has the power to create life or death, depending on how it is used. We must be careful about the words we speak, as they carry creative or destructive power.

• Proverbs 18:21 states that death and life are in the power of the tongue.
• Our words are containers of power, carrying either creative or destructive force.
• We must be responsible for the power that is carried in our words.

Spreading slander. Slander is finding fault with others and spreading criticism. It is a form of verbal pollution that poisons our lives and the lives of others.

• The Greek word for "slanderer" is diabolos, which also means "devil."
• When we slander someone, we are allowing the devil to use our mouths.
• We must not spread criticism, even to those we trust.

Don't break their spirit. We must be careful not to break another person's spirit with our words. Parents should be especially careful about how they speak to their children, using words that encourage and build up.

• Colossians 3:21 warns us not to provoke or irritate our children.
• We must not make others feel stupid, clumsy, or like a failure.
• We must speak words that heal and encourage, not wound and discourage.

11. Angry Words: Seeds of Destruction

For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].

Avoid anger. We must avoid bitterness, indignation, wrath, resentment, quarreling, and slander. These things get us into trouble and open doors for the enemy.

• Ephesians 4:31 lists the things that we must banish from ourselves.
• We must learn to control our anger and other dangerous emotions.
• We must be adaptable and adjustable, not rigid and unbending.

Slow to speak, slow to anger. We must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to take offense, and slow to get angry. We must learn to control our tongues and not speak out of upset emotions or wounded feelings.

• James 1:19 instructs us to be quick to hear and slow to speak.
• We must learn to discipline our mouths and take responsibility for our words.
• We must be quiet and allow the emotional storm to subside.

Go with the flow. We must learn to accept the things we cannot change and not allow them to steal our peace. We must learn to "go with the flow" and not get upset every time something doesn't go our way.

• We must learn to accept situations with joy, even when they are not what we want.
• We must not allow minor irritations to steal our peace.
• We must learn to be adaptable and adjustable, not rigid and unbending.

12. Soothing Tongue: A Tree of Life

A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit.

Magnify the good. We must learn to magnify the good in life, in others, and in ourselves. We must choose to focus on the positive and not allow ourselves to be overcome by evil.

• Romans 12:21 instructs us to overcome evil with good.
• We must choose to magnify the good, making it larger than the bad.
• We must focus on the positive and not allow ourselves to be overcome by negativity.

Overcoming negativism. We must destroy the strongholds of negativism in our minds by choosing to think and speak positively. We must not allow negative thoughts and words to build up walls in our lives.

• 2 Corinthians 10:4 states that our weapons are mighty for the destruction of strongholds.
• We must cast down wrong imaginations and lead every thought captive to Christ.
• We must renew our minds and choose to think on things that are good and positive.

Soothing disposition. We must have a soothing disposition, like Jesus, who was gentle, meek, and humble. We must be encouragers and exhorters, speaking words that bring life and healing.

• Matthew 12:18-21 describes Jesus' soothing disposition.
• We must be like Jesus, bringing peace and encouragement to those around us.
• We must be gentle, meek, and humble, not harsh and hard.

Last updated: January 17, 2025