To recap what we’ve learned so far: Our Thoughts become our Beliefs. Beliefs will become words. In this study, we’ll look at how our Words become Actions.

PERSONAL NOTE: The first thing I want to tell you is that this lesson is as much for me as it is for you. When your mouth was formerly the ringleader in your life of sin, DELIVERANCE is paramount. Maybe you’re a Christian and still battling hard against this wicked foe that is with you every day. Truly, you can have victory over your mouth and your words and actions, but BY THE HOLY SPIRIT ALONE. He has created your mouth to bless and glorify Him, to worship Him, and to give Him praise. If you have given the language of hell free reign with your words (that would mean cursing) or if you have given hell free reign through words of anger, words of hatred, or words of destruction, this can be the day that you SAY, “NO MORE.”

Exodus 4:11,12 NLT 

Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

Exodus 4:11-12 KJV

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Consider: Do you give the LORD this authority over your speech?

Our speech– our words, are a tool we use every day. Like a hammer, with our words, we can build up, or we can demolish. There is no other thing in this world that can build a platform and lift someone up on it with 10,000 expressions of love and kindness, and destroy the same platform and the person on it in five words or less. Words are power; and as Christians, they are either power given to glorify God in action or they’re power given to the enemy to steal, kill, or destroy.  Words are formed by breath. Without breath, we cannot speak. In Hebrew, the word for Spirit is the same as for wind: RUACH. And just as the wind, our words can uplift and carry to great heights or be forcefully destructive down drafts. Jesus said, in John 6:63,  It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. In the beginning, God spoke and He said, “LET there be light and there was light. “The word LET is  a command. It’s a call for the allowance to do something. Words are just that:

It’s up to us whether the response will do what is of the Spirit or of the flesh. 

Consider: If we were to rely on the LORD to order our speech, how much more impact could we have for the kingdom of God?

Our mouth and speech are the hardest battles to lay down to the LORD. How we talk is a reflection of our personality and our character, so the enemy can lie to us and tell us, “that’s just how you talk;” or “that’s just how you were raised.” The battle over our speech is one that we cannot and will not win until we LET the Spirit of the Lord have dominion in us; we must yield to Jesus Christ. The LORD is no respecter of persons, but we certainly are. We speak kindly to those we favor and love, and those that annoy or frustrate us get the jabs and barbs so we can roast them over the fire. If you’re constantly provoked to anger, you’re referred to as a hot head. If you have a tendency to go off at the mouth, somebody might say about you, “oh, they’re just blowing off steam.” Some older idioms about being angry are, “they blew a fuse,” “they’ve got a short fuse,” “they saw red,” or they were “hot under the collar.” All of these imply a source of fire and heat. So how close are you to hell when you speak and act this way? LET us consider what the book of James tells us.

James 3:1-12 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

KJV- My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though [they be] so great, and [are] driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

If I was to water a tree or a vine everyday without fail, how long would that tree or vine last if I was watering with salt water? What if I just watered it three days a week with saltwater? Or even one day a week with it? The tree will die regardless. It will just take a longer amount to time if I watered one day a week. The point is your salty mouth kills. It kills others, but more importantly it’s killing you. It’s killing your spiritual self– death by a thousand cuts; and it’s also giving the upper hand to your enemy, Satan. 

Proverbs 18:21 KJV – Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. What fruit will you eat of in the end? The fruit of the trees of healing spoken of in the book of Revelation found in heaven? Or will you eat the bitter fruit of every acrid word you’ve ever spoken that YOU sowed in everlasting torment at the judgment? The choice is yours. 

My mouth was absolutely my number one “partner” in sin before I knew the Lord. It is still on occasion, the thorn in my flesh that I loathe. A snappy word, a jibe or dig, overly critical– potholes and pitfalls. I continually have to yield to the LORD and consecrate my mouth to Him, that what I say is pleasing to Him above all else. I’ve come miles, but there is still a journey ahead. In sin, I looked at the ability to eviscerate a person in a response of wit and cursing as a special talent. I viewed sarcasm as a bonus gift of intellectual superiority that God had given me. The truth is sarcasm isn’t godly and it isn’t wit. Sarcasm is defined as the use of irony to mock or invoke contempt. Sarcasm is a weapon of destruction in the guise of humor. Wikipedia describes sarcasm as “the caustic use of words, often in a humorous way, to mock someone or something.” Caustic items corrode, destroy, and can cause burns to tissue (flesh) and scarring due to their chemical ACTION.

Psalm 52:2-5 NKJV – Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah 4 You love all devouring words, [You] deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of [your] dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.

Proverbs 18:3 NKJV – When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor [comes] reproach. Think about what comes to you as a result of a well executed sarcastic response– PRIDE of self. Nothing good comes from a razor sharp tongue. In the warnings of disobedience, the LORD said in Leviticus 26:19 KJV – I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass. Iron speaks of bondage and slavery. Brass or actually what would be copper here, tarnishes and oxidizes from its surroundings losing its beauty. Both iron and brass/copper corrode. Iron becomes rust (consider [Matthew 6:19,20; James 5:3]). Proverbs 18:7 says,  A fool’s mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul. The Lord detests pride. He desires to keep you from things which lead to pride. If we fear and reverence GOD, then we better feel the same.  Proverbs 8:13 NLT – All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

Isaiah 28:22 NKJV – Now therefore, do not be mockers, Lest your bonds be made strong; For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts, A destruction determined even upon the whole earth. This isn’t a verse out of context. The Hebrew word for mockers here is luts (loots). It means to be a scoffer, to interpret, or one who derides others out of arrogance. To deride someone is to express contempt and to ridicule. Just like sarcasm minus the humor. Isn’t it interesting that in English, one who loots is one who plunders or steals in time of war or riot? Don’t we usually use sarcasm at a time when someone is vulnerable, such as having done something silly or stupid? We’re at war every day in this world against our flesh. We fight against our flesh for the glory of the LORD and not our own. Don’t let the enemy manipulate you to be a looter of other people’s self esteem, vulnerabilities, or intellectual failings with your words.

Consider: These are the last days; do your words reflect whose side you’re on?

2 Peter 3:3 – Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Jude 1:18,19 – How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Notice that these mocker’s are implicated by the fact that they separate themselves from God by walking after their sensual desire and ungodly lust. This isn’t talking about these things in a sexual manner, but rather in that which is pleasing to THEMSELVES and THEIR FLESH and not God. Their words draw a proverbial line in the sand which they themselves cannot cross. It’s the line of time. There are so many moments I’ve spoken something in anger or haste that I will forever wish I could take back. The only solace comes in knowing that I can repent for my failings. If we’ve given our life to Jesus Christ, our past sins are under the blood. If we’ve been convicted of how we spoke to someone and asked for forgiveness, (both the Lord’s and if possible, theirs), our sins are forgiven; but in this world, those who don’t know Jesus, don’t know forgiveness and they still bear the wound of those words. By His blood, I’m no longer who I was, but have become something new, and striving each day to be a vessel of honor for Him.

In John’s introduction of Revelation, he wrote, in Revelation 1:5,6 KJV – …Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

We are kings. He is the KING of kings. We are those kings He reigns over. We are priests, called to the royal priesthood, to shew forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Consider this passage from Malachi.

Malachi 2:7, 10 NIV – “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve (keep, guard, heed) knowledge, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. … 10 Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?

Consider: Do your lips keep knowledge? Can others come to you for instruction on what is good and right? With what you speak, would you be known as a priest unto God? Would you be know as a messenger of the Lord of hosts?

Sometimes our response to someone may not seem, feel, or sound harsh to us, and yet someone may be hurt by it. It doesn’t really matter how we feel about it– how does the LORD feel about it? If He is the LORD of my life, then His opinion must matter over my own. As we all know, tone is everything. Our words reflect our attitude about something or someone. Like a tiny bit of a Carolina Reaper pepper, the second hottest pepper in the world, if you add your”spice and heat” — frustration and tone– to something small, it may bring tears to someone’s eyes and cause them to be overcome. Then in our exposure, we may try to justify our words, “But God!! You know I was just feeling exasperation about something else!” Did it matter when you were growing up that you were stressed about your math test and sassed to your Mom, Dad, Grandparent, or caregiver? Of course not. The response was unwarranted regardless of the reason. Having intense irritation about something else is exactly the kind of opportunity the enemy is looking for to cause conflict. Satan is like a diabolical and ruthless producer of a trashy reality TV show– he seeks any way to use words to cause drama and division in hopes that it will lead to anger. Anger for both parties if he really gets his way. Then out of that anger, it quickly sprouts to bitterness and unforgiveness, which are like having the spiritual equivalent to stage four cancer. They will cause absolute spiritual death. Satan seeks to destroy both people, the “hurter” and the “hurtee”, that as the old adage goes, he can “kill two birds with one stone.”

So now we must ask ourselves…

Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV – “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Most people are not intentionally seeking to hurt people with their words. Sometimes people are hurt out of their own insecurities. They’re hurt easily because they’ve been cut in that way before and it doesn’t take much to break the flesh again because they’re thin skinned. This is why deliverance is important. Deliverance is when we LET Jesus take those wounds and bruises away from us forever. When we LET Him heal our wounds totally and completely, those things that would’ve caused us to break or shatter before because it was a “touchy” subject, no longer have power in our lives. Jesus heals them and the scar is hardened and thick and is a reminder of who we were. The healed place will stay strong, but over time walking with Jesus, it will become less noticeable. What was once a source of pain will then become part of your story, your testimony, to tell others of the greatness of the power of Jesus Christ. Determine to LET the LORD change your words for His glory. Proverbs 12:18 NIV – The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Psalm 141:3 NLT – Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

Psalm 19:13, 14 NLT – Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May (LET) the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Notice that David wrote in Psalm 19 of deliberate sins, saying, “don’t LET them control me.” No matter how you feel about it, the TRUTH is that every person is controlled by their words becoming actions. Every person is either controlled by: GOD or FLESH (Beast – Satan). Remember our words have power and that power shapes not just what our life looks like, but what others lives look like, building up or tearing down. Our words become actions– not just for us, but for others. The concept is simple but some, myself included, struggle with this when we were hurt by others words in the past. That hurt caused defensive action and a mindset that contorted through pain and sin to become a “kill or be killed” mentality with words. God had great plans for David and I, but when we first met, I “jokingly” insulted him with sarcasm. He didn’t take offense, but if he had, how would the course of God’s plans have been altered?  Ecclesiastes 5:2 NIV – Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so LET your words be few. Understand that everything we say and do is before the face of God. My words became actions that looked like this:

I’m probably dating myself as an old person, but in my generation we had an expression in heathendom when someone ran their mouth boastfully and their bluff (lie) was exposed. The expression was, “they wrote a check their *** can’t cash.” This usually resulted in someone getting jumped (beaten up) or at the very least being totally humiliated.  Big talk usually equals big fall. Our words have weight. Our actions have weight and a vow is something most people speak on the regular, failing to follow through. New Year’s resolutions are a huge one. People make these vows to themselves or others and most don’t even make it a few days. As Christians. when we sing words affirming our relationship to the Lord in songs, those are vows. “Praise the Lord, O my soul; I won’t be quiet…” Vow. “Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you’re my God.” Vow. “I am a friend of God.” Vow. “I just wanna speak the name of Jesus.” Vow. Are you keeping what you vow to Him?

Ecclesiastes 5:3-6 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

Fulfill every vow you make to the Lord. Every time you enter into His presence in praise and worship, you’re singing vows of His book to Him in love, covenant, and request. You’re showering Him with vows of the heart. Even if you walk away from Him, He will hold you accountable to those vows and what your mouth has uttered. Think about who you’re singing to if you’re singing or rapping along to a secular song. What vows and decrees are you then speaking and to whom? We have no idea how deeply our words both affect and effect our lives, nor how they affect/effect someone else’s walk with God or lack thereof. I use both those words to convey the impact.

AFFECT	EFFECT
VERB (ACTION) To influence; to produce a change;	NOUN (THING) A result; consequence

Both of these convey that what we say will produce an outcome. Whether that is what pleases God or what He despises is up to us. Job had finished asking God a host of questions during his time of trouble and God’s response began like this: Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? [Job 38:2 KJV] Let’s look at other translations.

“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” NKJV

“Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorant words?” NLT 

“Who is this that obscures My plans with words without knowledge?” NIV

“Who is this who obscures My counsel with ignorant words?” CSB

“Who is this who darkens the divine plan by words without knowledge?” NASB20

GET THE POINT?

Back in Ecclesiastes 5, it begins in verse 1: Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Jesus backed this up (His Word) in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:22-24 NLT.  But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 

See it there: First came the anger (THOUGHT based on BELIEF), then came the hate speech (WORDS). Then the person went to give a sacrifice at the altar to the Lord (ACTION). The LORD will not accept sacrifices that are sickly and tainted. In the Old Testament, they were to bring the BEST for giving unto the Lord. Do not offer strange fire before the Lord. See His plan: The Lord will direct us back to the origin where it went wrong by bringing to our remembrance (thought) what all went down (words and action). This is why when we have an argument/verbal altercation with someone, we will replay the scenario in our minds of what they said, what we said, and what we should’ve said that would’ve been better spoken. The difference between a yielded Christian and someone who is yielding to the flesh (beast-satan) in this scenario is that when we’re yielded to God, when it’s brought to remembrance, there’s conviction and remorse for the conflict as a whole. What we would’ve said better is seen in a positive context because it’s guidance from the Holy Spirit. We wonder and ask the LORD, “how could I have better handled the situation?” The Holy Spirit provides us with counsel, which hopefully we receive and grow in Him as a result. If yielding to our flesh and not the LORD, we’re getting hell’s version of the instant replay, which probably includes us giving a chair to the face of the person and how we could’ve more “exquisitely” annihilated them verbally. Recall God’s word: Because of our flesh, every imagination of the thoughts of our heart are only evil continually. [Genesis 6:5]

Take the time to answer the questions below before the Lord. Don’t lie to yourself or to GOD. Be honest and accountable and LET the LORD convict your heart about areas you need Him to change you.

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INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS

1. Do I interact in a positive way with people?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

2. Do I expect the worst from people?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

3. Do I give people an opportunity to succeed (allow them to show themselves trustworthy, safe, believable) or do I judge them immediately?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

4. Do I present the best Christ-like version of myself to others?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

5. Were you hurt by someone’s words or actions this week?

A. YES

B. NO

PERSONAL WORDS AND ACTIONS

1. Do I try to take control of situations or conversations?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

2. Do I wrestle with people in conversation (even secretly)? (Examples: abrasive, argumentative, antagonistic, sarcastic, arrogant, try to show you’re intellectually superior, etc.)

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

3. Do my words become action or do I say I’ll do something only to procrastinate or fail to follow through?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

4. Do I take accountability for the words I speak and the actions I take that have consequences for myself and/or others?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

5. Have you gotten into a verbal disagreement with someone this week?

A. YES

B. NO

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD

1. Do I yield to God in my daily life?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

2. Do I follow through with what I vow or pledge to Him at the altar, in private prayer, or in my thoughts?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

3. Do I wait on the LORD for His Word on how I should respond in word or action?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

4. Do my words and actions reflect that I’m a Christian?

A. Often

B. Sometimes

C. Usually Not

5. Have you spent private time with God OUTSIDE OF CHURCH this week?

A. YES

B. NO

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Only you and GOD know what your full definition of “often” is to these questions. Regardless of how often, we can all rely and trust the LORD more. Only you and GOD know whether you’ve lied in response to any of these questions. If you’ve lied, WHY? You are loved by GOD. He wants what’s best for you. John 8:31-32 NKJV – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Be one of His disciples. DO the truth in GOD.

For all the questions that you said “Sometimes” or “Usually not,” know that you’re reading this or hearing it to bring it to your attention. This is the moment of correction the LORD has set before you in His love for you. He wants you to be better more than you want that for yourself. Acknowledge now your shortcomings and inadequacies in the light of Jesus Christ. Trust God in all things.

John 3:16-20 NKJV – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

The prophet Isaiah had a vision of the Lord upon His throne, high and lifted up. The Lord’s train, the evidence of Him as a conquering King was so vast it filled the temple. Seraphim were above and cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” The temple shook at this proclamation and seeing and hearing this, Isaiah proclaimed, “Woe is me for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Then a seraphim took a burning coal from the fire of the altar and flew to Isaiah and touched it to his lips and said, “this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity (perversity, depravity, evil, mischief) is taken away,
And your sin purged.” This song has been with me all this week.

I want to be with the Lord in the Holy of holies. VOW. I want to be in His presence without guilt. VOW. I want to be a purified vessel of fire with a mouth of holiness unto the Lord. VOW. I want to uplift others like Jesus does. VOW. Pray this prayer or say one of your own.

LORD JESUS, I want to look and sound more like You. I want to reflect the image of God in all that I do. I know I can’t obtain perfection while I’m on this earth in a fleshly body, but LET my heart be a heart after You and LET it be perfect before You in word and in action. LET my words and actions honor You and help me to speak and love others with Your heart. LET every word I speak be guided by You and LET what I do in my life yield to You alone that You are glorified. Thank You for Your grace and mercy towards me and help me to give that to others. LET these questions be YOUR measuring rod for how far I have to go in order to be more like You. Give me the strength to walk with You that distance and beyond. In Jesus name I pray and vow this to You, Amen.

In all you speak, LET your vow BECOME:

-CC