Thursday, May 7, 2015

The Deadly Power of Life-giving Communication

UV 1406/10,000 The Power of Communication
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18 v 21

Scripture holds in it the hidden moral and spiritual laws of the universe. Of these law, the law of communication is one of the most vital for human well being. Communication is double-edged. Every word we speak can cut us and others or build us. It can also be used in a dubious way –one edge to cut, kill and destroy and the other edge to bless, build and enhance. Indeed, speech is the most valuable and distinctive faculty of the human species of all of God’s creation. The words “ death” and “ life” are significantly and strategically placed in that order as mostly in this world, the tongue is used as an instrument of death. It is used negatively. Those who enjoy using it negatively will reap the negative and harmful impact of their words. But our tongues can be sanctified to become instruments of life. The uni-verse states that our tongues have the power of life and death. Words are the fruit of our lips. The fruit can be sweet and healthy or unpleasant, harmful and poisonous. By what we utter, we affect the course of our life. If we utter unwittingly a curse, it affects our lives or the lives of those we have spoken with the power of death. When we recognize the harmful effects of any of our words, we also have the power to cancel those effects and restore life in all its abundance.

We can tame the deadliest of animals but we cannot control our own tongues. A fool’s words invite destruction but a wise man’s words are deep waters. We cannot understand the full depth of meaning of a wise man’s words. The more we think of it, we will be able to plumb the depths. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit can our tongues be not only controlled but turned into rivers of life-giving words. When we treasure the Word of God in our hearts above all the treasures of the earth, it will flow out as streams of blessings for us and the hearers. The tongue plays a crucial role in faith. What we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths saves our souls. Positive confessions of faith pleases God and brings streams of blessings into our lives and lives of others. We are so careful about the water we drink as we know it is valuable to sustain our health and life. We filter, purify, boil and cool water. We should be just as careful if not more about our words. Just as there are different kinds of water depending on the source from which it is collected, there are different types of water: the pure water from mountain streams is the Word of God. The words of wisdom and knowledge that the Holy Spirit gives us are the springs of fresh water. The words we ordinarily speak are like the water that runs from the tap. There is bitter water due to the connected negative emotions and motives. There is murky water where our words are mixed up and confused. We need to run our words in our minds over and over again before we utter them. When we pass the words we are about to speak through some filters, it will come out as pure silver and gold or words that can be treasured, words that bless, enhance and give life and strength to people. The filters are questions we should automatically ask in our inner being: Is what I am about to speak wholesome, healthy, useful for building relationships, for building up the faith of the listener, to inspire him, to give him hope and encouragement? It is true? Do I know it first hand to be true or is it some hearsay or gossip I have heard? Is it necessary ? Is it the right time to speak these words? Is my attitude, emotion and motive right in speaking these words? Is it profitable for me or for the listener?
The tongue under the control of the Holy Spirit brings out the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. All these fruit together constitute what we call wisdom. Our words are the fruit and leaves that can bring healing to nations. Those who enjoy using their tongues positively will enjoy the impact of their words. It is important to be consistent in what we speak and that we do not mix the sweet water with the bitter water or words of blessing with words of cursing, words of love with words of anger, words of hatred with words of forgiveness, words of justice with words of injustice, words of truth with words of untruth. Our communication with the Lord is acceptable and pleasing to Him when it is beneficial and useful to mankind. The lips of the righteous by faith feed many with the hope of salvation. The gifts of the Spirit are also manifest largely through the use of the tongue. However much our giftedness grows in terms of healing, prophecy, interpretation and so on, the fruit of character should be more evident in our lives and our communication than our gifts and talents.
Prateep V Philip

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