Death and Life Are in the Power of the Tongue

by esther phinias | 31 August 2023 08:46 am08

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us meditate on the living Word of God, which is described as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).

Do you truly grasp the power of the words you speak? Scripture is unambiguous:

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

The tongue carries two possible outcomes: life or death. Every word we utter aligns with one of these two realities. This is not merely poetic—it is spiritual law. Words do not vanish; they shape realities (Proverbs 12:18, Matthew 12:36–37).

Biblical Examples: Words that Kill and Words that Save

The Bible gives vivid examples:

The Amalekite who falsely reported Saul’s death to David sealed his own fate with his words (2 Samuel 1:16). His tongue brought him judgment.

King Jehoshaphat, however, when surrounded in battle, cried out to the Lord, and God delivered him (2 Chronicles 18:31). His tongue became the instrument of salvation.

Jesus Himself confirmed the spiritual weight of words:

Matthew 12:37 (ESV)

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

Our tongues are not neutral; they are weapons—either for righteousness or destruction.

The Tongue in Prayer and Spiritual Warfare

Silent prayer has its place. Hannah prayed silently in the temple, and God heard her cry (1 Samuel 1:13). Yet, there are moments when spoken prayer becomes essential:

Proclamation: Declaring God’s promises aloud reinforces faith (Romans 10:17).

Command: Some strongholds must be directly addressed (Mark 11:23).

Praise and Warfare: Jericho’s walls only fell when God’s people shouted (Joshua 6:20).

Even salvation requires both heart and mouth:

Romans 10:9–10 (NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Speaking Death: Destroying Works of Darkness

Jesus cursed the barren fig tree and it withered instantly (Matthew 21:18–19). He demonstrated that faith-filled words have power over nature and circumstances. He went further:

Matthew 21:21–22 (NKJV)

Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

In prayer, we must speak death over:

The works of the devil (1 John 3:8)

Sinful patterns and temptations (Romans 8:13)

Curses and negative declarations spoken against us (Isaiah 54:17)

This is not “positive thinking”; it is prophetic intercession, aligning our speech with God’s Word.

Speaking Life: Prophesying to Dead Things

Just as we speak death to darkness, we must speak life into what God desires to revive:

In Ezekiel 37, God commanded the prophet to speak to dry bones, and through the spoken Word, lifeless bones became a mighty army.

Jesus resurrected Lazarus with a spoken command: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43).

Paul exhorts us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and to let our speech be “seasoned with grace” (Colossians 4:6).

When we proclaim God’s promises aloud—over our families, ministries, children, and personal callings—we cooperate with heaven’s purposes.

Theological Insight: Why God Chooses the Spoken Word

From creation itself, God has chosen to work through speech:

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3 NKJV).

Christ Himself is called the Word (John 1:1).

Faith comes by hearing the Word proclaimed (Romans 10:17).

Satan, too, works through words—lies, accusations, curses (John 8:44, Revelation 12:10). This is why redeemed speech is vital in spiritual warfare.

Practical Application

1. Daily Declarations: Each morning, speak life over your family and ministry, and pronounce judgment over any scheme of the enemy (Luke 10:19).

2. Cancel Negative Words: Verbally renounce every curse or lie spoken against you (Isaiah 54:17).

3. Prophesy Restoration: Speak resurrection over dormant gifts and dead dreams (Joel 2:25).

4. Guard Your Tongue: Refuse idle or destructive words (Ephesians 4:29, James 3:5–6).

Proverbs 8:21 (NKJV):

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

May we choose life, speaking words that align with heaven, until Christ returns.

Maranatha—Come, Lord Jesus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2023/08/31/53496/

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