“When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise. 20The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued); The heart of the wicked is worth little.21The lips of the righteous feed and guide many, But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding”

Proverbs 10:19-21AMP

The words that we speak area very important. Our focus begins with the word “many.” In Hebrew, the word means: “that which is in excess of what is needed.” Today we see immorality trying to justify and disguise itself with many words. Tolerance, Equity, Equality, and Acceptance are just some the words thrown about to cover sin. In their attempt to pervert truth, meanings of words and their application are twisted to mean something that they are not! While all of those words are things that the Christian practices daily, they cannot be applied to the practice of sin. All their behavior can be summed up in a single word…wrong! The Apostle Paul wrote,

“What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under [God’s] grace? Certainly not! 16Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)? 17But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. 18And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].”

Romans 6:15-18 AMP

While we are under grace, the natural result of forgiveness is to pursue righteousness. Prior to committing our life to Christ, we had a natural bent toward sin. Now however, grace and forgiveness allow us to grow in the knowledge of and practice the life that God had intended. Notice that being a slave to sin leads to death, but the pursuit of righteousness leads to right standing with God! Verse 21 of our opening Scripture delivers the one-two punch of the Proverb. The Hebrew word “feed” is actually the word used to describe the best man at a wedding. Our words should be bringing life and freedom to those who are still caught in Satan’s deception. Jesus told His disciples,

“He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” 

John 7:38 AMP

God told the prophet Jerimiah,

“For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned (rejected) Me, The fountain of living water, And they have carved out their own cisterns, Broken cisterns That cannot hold water.”

Jeremiah 2:13 AMP 

The charge against the people was that they had abandoned the ways of God and built a system of immorality on their base needs and desires. God described it as “broken cisterns.” Water is paramount to survival especially in the desert areas of the Middle East. A broken vessel is of no value. There is an interesting verse following this that describes exactly what we see happening today.

““The young lions have roared at him, they have made their voices heard and roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed and are burned ruins, without inhabitant.”

Jeremiah 2:15 AMP

WOW! Can you see the manifestation of that in the streets and schools today? There is however, good news! Jesus told us that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. He never said that it wouldn’t be a battle to stand for the truth!  Let me encourage you today to stand for the truth of God’s Word in love. It was God’s love that saved us and called us. It was also His love that  to us the reality of our sin! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken