Speech: What you say defiles you

The majority of our lives are filled with speaking. I would say about 95% of our life is affected by what we say. Here is a list of several things that are connected to what we say:

• Humor
• Character
• Our reputation
• Relationships
• Friendships
• Behavior
• ...this list could go on forever.

EVERYTHING in our lives is some how connected to what we say. Whether it is the evil and sin we commit, or the job we have, or how our peers view us as people; all of those things are a result from what comes forth out of our hearts. I truly believe actions speak louder than words, and that talk is cheap. However, it is also very true that what we say and what comes out of our own mouths proceeds from our hearts, and is the course of action we take in situations we face day to day. It was once said by a man that, "every man chooses the thing that he believes will make him most happy, even those who hang them selves." I totally agree. Behavior and actions we do in our lives are an over flow from our hearts to physically do something we think will make us most happy.

Jesus said, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." ~Matthew 15:18-20

Question 1: What type of things do you say?

Whether you are a christian or not, what type of character do you have as a person? What type of things do you say to people? To your friends? To your boy friends or girls friends? Do you flirt? Are you even aware that you flirt? Are you a mean person? Are you aware that you are a mean person? Do you lie to people? Are you aware that you lie to people? You say a lot of cuss words often, are you even aware of how others view your character when you do that?

Just think of how you are. In each one of those examples some how and some way things you say come forth from your heart, and that behavior that you act upon is some how influenced by what you said.

Question 2: When you speak, what do you talk about?

Are your conversations usually about you? Are they about how cool you are? How pretty you are? Maybe when you talk you say things that are filled with self pity, so you talk about how much you hate your job or how you wish your circumstances were different. Or maybe you talk dirty. Maybe you joke in an inappropriate manner. Maybe you are rude. Maybe you are a jerk.

Regardless of what you struggle with, the correct response to what you have just read is to repent and believe in Jesus. We have all sinned against God. We have all said things we should have never said. A lot of things we have said in our past or present have been dishonoring to God. But our most desperate need of the hour is for our hearts to be clean. What we need is for that 95% of what proceeds from our hearts to be clean, to be changed, to be different, to be right, to be fruit from the Holy Spirit. Lets dive into Galatians chapter 5 and see the difference between our two natures.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." ~Galatians 5:19-24

Before we are given new hearts, before God saves us, we are slaves to our flesh and sin. We cannot please God. And living through the flesh, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul instructs us to live by the spirit. Verse 24 says that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

We don't live our lives thinking every single second about what to say or how to react to people. 95% of what happens, simply just happens and over flows out of us from our hearts. I want that over flow from my heart to be the fruit of the Spirit. I want it to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In every situation it is impossible for me to think and react prior to things that happen spontaneously. I don't know what will happen to me today, therefore I cannot turn a switch on that turns on the fruit of the Spirit. That fruit must be my character, my heart must be changed, my heart must be a new heart from God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, lets build one another up in the faith with love and humility. Lets pray for one another and stir one another up to "renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." ~Titus 2:13 Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples if we have love for one another. So lets continue to press on and persevere in the faith. Know that what you say in your life matters. Guard your tongue and your heart, for sin will try its best to destroy your life.

Unbeliever, today is the day of salvation. You need a new heart. Know that Jesus is Lord, know that it was your sins that held Him on the cross to bear the wrath of God for you. Know that there is no other way to God, but only through faith in Christ Jesus. Repent and turn to Jesus.