Words of Honour
The most powerful creative force in the cosmos happens to be something so commonplace that its importance is often completely ignored by the general majority – yet they lavishly exploit it just the same… More plentiful than the stars, more complex than any other material substance, it is at home on the lips of nearly every human being that has ever lived.
What is this essential substance? WORDS.
Words are the controlling force of the universe. Everything we can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell was created by words. We know from the account of Creation in the Book of Genesis that God brought the material world into being by His Spoken Word.
It is the gift of speech that makes us like God. We have been created in His Image. In the original Hebrew text of the Scriptures, Adam (the first human) was called a “speaking spirit” in the same way that God is a speaking Spirit.
Throughout the physical universe, other creatures or bodies of matter may make sounds – but only mankind possesses the ability to communicate through intelligent speech. Since our ability to speak is one of the primary attributes that makes us like God, we should actively acknowledge and honour this sacred endowment by speaking only words that are in accordance with His – Words of Honour.
What are Words of Honour? Psalm 19.14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.” Every day we should constantly check and align our words and our thoughts to honour the Lord. Whatever we do, we are to do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10.31, Colossians 3.17).
Honouring the Lord with our words will also result in honouring people in our words. Jesus taught us that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things – for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12. 34-35)
If we practice speaking words that are evil, we are contradicting the goodness of God that is in us, and those evil words will eventually take over in our heart.
Our Words Define Us
Continuing His teaching, Jesus said – “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12. 36-37)
Our words define who we are. They are not only the fruit that has been produced from what is inside us now, but they are also the seed of what we will become. If our fruit and our seed are bad, then we must change our words so that we produce only what is good – now and in the future. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18.21).
Proverbs 21.23 instructs: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
There is sometimes a tendency to think that certain things we say are harmless and don’t really matter. Yet, Jesus clearly said that we will give account for every word we speak. Although we may not readily make the connection, if we will guard our mouth and tongue, we will be kept out of much needless trouble.
I Corinthians 10.32 commands: “Give no offence, either to the Jews, or to the nations or to the Church of God.” The entire human populace is divided into three groups: The Jews, the nations, and the Church.
According to I Corinthians 10.32, we are to give no offence to anyone. Sadly, this commandment has not often been obeyed by the majority of our generation. The Church today is no exception. It is imperative that we not allow this trend of dishonour to continue.
What does it mean to give no offence? Offence is “the act of creating resentment, insult, hurt feelings, displeasure; to defame.” To “give no offence”, means to “refrain from anything that would cause another to stumble.”
It is each person’s responsibility not to take offence at something some one does to them. But it is a greater responsibility that we make sure that we do not create such offences in the first place.
We should not make fun of anyone! The Scriptures are clear that we are to speak evil of no one – not Believers, not unbelievers, not even of ourselves (Titus3.8). The word “evil” in Titus 3.8 means “to use speech to bring down another’s value, honour, due-respect; to injure another’s reputation in the eyes of others.” “Evil” in this verse is translated from the Greek word blasphemeo and is where we get the word blasphemy.
We must not make fun of political leaders, nor of other denominations or other religions, not even about our pastors, family or friends, about ethnic groups or cultures, or even about people we consider to be our enemy.
Regardless of whom anyone is or how they are living their life – every human being has been created in the image of God and we have no right to dishonour and tear down their value through our words. To do so is blasphemy in the eyes of God.
These commandments are definitely not created to bring condemnation, but to intensify our sensitivity to the Spirit of God and to how He requires us to live. Our intentions may not be to cause any harm in the things we say, but if we do not keep a close guard over our words, something could slip out that would be hurtful to someone.
Honour the Dignity in Others
Ephesians 4.29 urges, “Let no corrupt (worthless, unfit, poor quality) word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification (building up), that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Anytime we speak of another, our focus should be to honour the dignity that is within them, even if they are an unbeliever – they are still God’s creation and we should honour the value He places upon them.
Chapter 5 of Ephesians commands us to be imitators of God as His dear children and to live and act lovingly, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us (vv. 1-2).
Verses 3-4 lists things that are not fitting for believers, things we should avoid: “But fornication and every kind of impurity, or covetousness, let them not even be mentioned among you, for they ought not to be named among the saints. Avoid shameful and foolish talking, and low jesting – they are all alike discreditable – and in place of these give thanks” (Ephesians 5.3-4 Weymouth).
Foolish talk and jesting are not fitting for us as children of the Most High God. We know that the Lord never speaks foolishly or teases, so as His offspring, we should not give voice to anything except what He speaks – Words of Life, Love, and Honour.
There will be things we do not agree with in other people, other cultures – but instead of focusing on those differences, we should utilize our gift of speech by speaking the righteousness, Love, and mercy of God into their life and into the world in which we live.
“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honour” (Proverbs 21.21).
When we speak only words of righteousness and mercy, we will experience fullness of life, righteousness and honour in our own life. “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21.3).
By giving voice to words of honour in every situation, we will not only bring the goodness and righteousness of God into others lives, but we will also be creating a future full of honour and blessing in our own life. “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth” (Proverbs 12.14).
Speaking words of honour doesn’t mean that we say things that are “drippy sweet” and have no substance to them. Words of Honour are words that are aligned with the Heart of God and spoken in sincere obedience to the leading of His Spirit. The mouth of the righteous is a well of Life. (Prov. 10.11)
It is time for us to dedicate our gift of speech completely to the Lord and to commit to Him that no words will cross our lips except those which have been inspired by His Spirit – words that honour and glorify Him.
In this way, He will be able to speak through us as He desires, to bring a word of encouragement, direction, warning or correction to others – because we have been faithful to speak and to act only by the influence of His heart and His Will.
As we have received His “Words of Honour” so let us speak His words faithfully. (Jeremiah 23.28)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer…”
…In honour of You, Lord, I will speak only Words of Honour.
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR
All Rights Reserved
The most powerful creative force in the cosmos happens to be something so commonplace that its importance is often completely ignored by the general majority – yet they lavishly exploit it just the same… More plentiful than the stars, more complex than any other material substance, it is at home on the lips of nearly every human being that has ever lived.
What is this essential substance? WORDS.
Words are the controlling force of the universe. Everything we can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell was created by words. We know from the account of Creation in the Book of Genesis that God brought the material world into being by His Spoken Word.
It is the gift of speech that makes us like God. We have been created in His Image. In the original Hebrew text of the Scriptures, Adam (the first human) was called a “speaking spirit” in the same way that God is a speaking Spirit.
Throughout the physical universe, other creatures or bodies of matter may make sounds – but only mankind possesses the ability to communicate through intelligent speech. Since our ability to speak is one of the primary attributes that makes us like God, we should actively acknowledge and honour this sacred endowment by speaking only words that are in accordance with His – Words of Honour.
What are Words of Honour? Psalm 19.14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.” Every day we should constantly check and align our words and our thoughts to honour the Lord. Whatever we do, we are to do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10.31, Colossians 3.17).
Honouring the Lord with our words will also result in honouring people in our words. Jesus taught us that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things – for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12. 34-35)
If we practice speaking words that are evil, we are contradicting the goodness of God that is in us, and those evil words will eventually take over in our heart.
Our Words Define Us
Continuing His teaching, Jesus said – “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12. 36-37)
Our words define who we are. They are not only the fruit that has been produced from what is inside us now, but they are also the seed of what we will become. If our fruit and our seed are bad, then we must change our words so that we produce only what is good – now and in the future. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18.21).
Proverbs 21.23 instructs: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
There is sometimes a tendency to think that certain things we say are harmless and don’t really matter. Yet, Jesus clearly said that we will give account for every word we speak. Although we may not readily make the connection, if we will guard our mouth and tongue, we will be kept out of much needless trouble.
I Corinthians 10.32 commands: “Give no offence, either to the Jews, or to the nations or to the Church of God.” The entire human populace is divided into three groups: The Jews, the nations, and the Church.
According to I Corinthians 10.32, we are to give no offence to anyone. Sadly, this commandment has not often been obeyed by the majority of our generation. The Church today is no exception. It is imperative that we not allow this trend of dishonour to continue.
What does it mean to give no offence? Offence is “the act of creating resentment, insult, hurt feelings, displeasure; to defame.” To “give no offence”, means to “refrain from anything that would cause another to stumble.”
It is each person’s responsibility not to take offence at something some one does to them. But it is a greater responsibility that we make sure that we do not create such offences in the first place.
We should not make fun of anyone! The Scriptures are clear that we are to speak evil of no one – not Believers, not unbelievers, not even of ourselves (Titus3.8). The word “evil” in Titus 3.8 means “to use speech to bring down another’s value, honour, due-respect; to injure another’s reputation in the eyes of others.” “Evil” in this verse is translated from the Greek word blasphemeo and is where we get the word blasphemy.
We must not make fun of political leaders, nor of other denominations or other religions, not even about our pastors, family or friends, about ethnic groups or cultures, or even about people we consider to be our enemy.
Regardless of whom anyone is or how they are living their life – every human being has been created in the image of God and we have no right to dishonour and tear down their value through our words. To do so is blasphemy in the eyes of God.
These commandments are definitely not created to bring condemnation, but to intensify our sensitivity to the Spirit of God and to how He requires us to live. Our intentions may not be to cause any harm in the things we say, but if we do not keep a close guard over our words, something could slip out that would be hurtful to someone.
Honour the Dignity in Others
Ephesians 4.29 urges, “Let no corrupt (worthless, unfit, poor quality) word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification (building up), that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Anytime we speak of another, our focus should be to honour the dignity that is within them, even if they are an unbeliever – they are still God’s creation and we should honour the value He places upon them.
Chapter 5 of Ephesians commands us to be imitators of God as His dear children and to live and act lovingly, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us (vv. 1-2).
Verses 3-4 lists things that are not fitting for believers, things we should avoid: “But fornication and every kind of impurity, or covetousness, let them not even be mentioned among you, for they ought not to be named among the saints. Avoid shameful and foolish talking, and low jesting – they are all alike discreditable – and in place of these give thanks” (Ephesians 5.3-4 Weymouth).
Foolish talk and jesting are not fitting for us as children of the Most High God. We know that the Lord never speaks foolishly or teases, so as His offspring, we should not give voice to anything except what He speaks – Words of Life, Love, and Honour.
There will be things we do not agree with in other people, other cultures – but instead of focusing on those differences, we should utilize our gift of speech by speaking the righteousness, Love, and mercy of God into their life and into the world in which we live.
“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honour” (Proverbs 21.21).
When we speak only words of righteousness and mercy, we will experience fullness of life, righteousness and honour in our own life. “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21.3).
By giving voice to words of honour in every situation, we will not only bring the goodness and righteousness of God into others lives, but we will also be creating a future full of honour and blessing in our own life. “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth” (Proverbs 12.14).
Speaking words of honour doesn’t mean that we say things that are “drippy sweet” and have no substance to them. Words of Honour are words that are aligned with the Heart of God and spoken in sincere obedience to the leading of His Spirit. The mouth of the righteous is a well of Life. (Prov. 10.11)
It is time for us to dedicate our gift of speech completely to the Lord and to commit to Him that no words will cross our lips except those which have been inspired by His Spirit – words that honour and glorify Him.
In this way, He will be able to speak through us as He desires, to bring a word of encouragement, direction, warning or correction to others – because we have been faithful to speak and to act only by the influence of His heart and His Will.
As we have received His “Words of Honour” so let us speak His words faithfully. (Jeremiah 23.28)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer…”
…In honour of You, Lord, I will speak only Words of Honour.
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR
All Rights Reserved