Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Without the saliva in the tongue we will taste no flavour. The chemicals in the food are first dissolved by the saliva in the tongue. Once the chemicals are dissolved they can be detected by the receptors on the taste buds. Saliva acts as the solvent for taste substances. Allegorically, we will eat the words that we speak. Words are seeds that produce fruits. Sober words produce succulent fruits but silly and careless words produce sour fruits. We will taste the fruit of our seeds that we sow as words. Careful words lead to life, while careless words lead to death.
The King of Israel, King Jehoram, had an unnamed high ranking official who was second in line. The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!” (2 Kings 7:2). “The Arm the king was leaning” indicates that he was the chief advisor to the king. This official could not believe the prophecy proclaimed by Elisha. He made a sarcastic comment at the prophecy of Elisha and Elisha proclaimed a curse that he will see the prophecy with his eyes but will not live to enjoy the fulfillment of prosperity. At the dawn of the fulfillment of the prophecy, the officer died in a stampede. The officer who was arrogant ate the fruit of his careless words.
The diabolical realm has absolutely no control over our lives. They cannot come near the blood of Jesus however, reckless words spoken in anger, frustration or exasperation become an open door to the demons to enter into our domain and cause chaos. When you are frustrated, refrain from saying futile words. Futile words bear fruitlessness and failure.
Bridle the tongue from fruitlessness:
1. Pronounce: When provoked, be careful not to pronounce judgemental statements. In exasperation don’t speak self-proclaimed curses. People in authority like parents, teachers and anointed leaders must be careful with their words.
2. Provoked: When provoked, bite your tongue. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. Be quick to repent and reverse the self-proclaimed curses or the judgemental statements before the demons take hold of those words and cause devastation. Tighten the leash when provoked.
3. Positive: When pushed and prodded, speak positively over the negative situation. Demons wait for pessimistic words to cause fruitlessness in our lives. Resist the tongue from speaking destructive words.
We will eat the fruit of our words. Words are seeds. Sow good seeds and enjoy luscious fruits.
2 Kings 7:17 Now the king had put the officer on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to his house.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, teach me to tighten the bridle of my tongue when I am provoked to speak negatively and be cautious not to pronounce any self-proclaimed curses. Amen.
Leave a Reply