YOU ARE WHAT YOU SPEAK
You have probably heard the expression "you are what you eat."
A more precise saying is "You are what you speak."
The words that come from our mouth yield much greater power than we realize
Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
If we realized the power of what comes from our mouth – we would be far more careful in choosing our words
Even quoting the Word of God, we must quote by the Spirit of God and not by our own motivations
2 Cor 3:6 "… the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
MAIN TEXT
Luke 6:43-45
43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
The words that we speak are fruit and we are identified by that fruit
There are Christians today who gossip, slander, backbite and curse – this is not good fruit
Jesus said in Matt 12: "we will give an account for every word we speak"
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
What comes out of your mouth, reveals the content of your heart
It is a spiritual discipline to watch our words
Prov 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Prov 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Prov 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Prov 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. 28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
CONFESSION
"Calling things that are not as though they are"
Some Christians get this concept confused
Rom 4:17 "…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;"
We are made in God’s image, We have been given authority, We have been created to have dominion over the earth
Job 22:28 You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.
However, our confession must be in line with God’s Word – if not we are dabbling in witchcraft
James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
Our words must line up with God’s word, should be of the spirit, should be a blessing, should be in love
Prov 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.
SOWING AND REAPING
looking back at the expression "You are what you eat."
The more truthful saying is "You are what you speak."
The first is talking about a physical truth
But we are not just physical beings – in fact, our physical realm should be the least of our being
Deu 8:3 "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Prov 18:20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
Matt 15:10-11
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
But we are spiritual beings
It is not what goes into our flesh but what is in our heart that can damage us
It is what comes out of your mouth that yields your outcome
In other words…
Your declaration sets Your direction
Your proclamation determines Your position
Your speech releases Your success
Your confession delivers Your conquest
Your voice releases Your victory
Your words produce Your wealth
There is a spiritual principle at work in our confession it is called sowing and reaping
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
If you are sowing bitterness, don’t be upset that people are bitter toward you
If you are sowing selfishness, don’t be upset if people are selfish toward you
If you plant word seeds – don’t be surprised when they grow
If you call yourself old and worn out – then don’t be surprised when you body starts breaking down
If you say you have always been poor and always will be poor - then you are always going to be poor
If you say that you are always sick – then you are always going to be sick
If you say your dumb, then you are proving it
Prov 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
CONCLUSION
We have to realize that what is coming out of our mouths is the abundance of our heart
Garbage in – Garbage out
Josh 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
If you want to guard your tongue – then get The Standard, The measuring stick, - God’s Word
Then ask Jesus to help you
Ask the Holy Spirit of God to prick your heart every time something come out of your mouth that is not of the Him