Speaking The Truth

Speaking the Truth - Eph. 4:15

Illustration: It is good to speak the truth out loud, even if it may be a bit late.

My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he’d dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, ’cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago."

Jacqueline Bay—British Columbia

The Bible is replete with directions about verbalizing truth, but it seems that many people are afraid of being accused of talking to themselves. God told Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will have good success." (Josh 1:8)

There are numerous benefits that come from speaking the truth out loud that need to be considered and applied if we are to experience the fullness of God’s blessings, power and perspective:

1. Speaking the truth DEMONSTRATES OBEDIENCE. By audibly speaking the truth in our prayers we exercise personal obedience to the Lord and His word. Obedience always brings blessing but it precludes disobedience at the same time. By filling our mouth with what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable and praise-worthy, our mind, emotions and will tend to follow in line. Failure to speak the truth tends to allow our minds to drift in directions that are not always pleasing to the Lord.

Illustration: I’ve read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the 16th century, attended a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That’s the kind of serious-minded response to truth the apostle James calls for in today’s Scripture reading. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God.

One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.

Chambers, Our Daily Bread, March 4, 1993.

2. Speaking the truth ENHANCES AND AFFIRMS ONE’S FAITH. We begin our new life in Christ when we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead. (Rom 10:9,10) Salvation is as close as your own lips and heart. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God so it enhances the faith for ourselves and others. By preaching the word we can reinforce, reinvigorate and help refine the faith of ourself and others through the power of God’s word. Paul wrote, "How can they call on him to save them if they have never heard about him. And how can they hear about him unless someone tells him?" (Rom. 10:14,15) Most people need to hear the word of God spoken to them before they are able to gain saving faith and then move on to higher levels of spiritual maturity.

Illustration: Faith in God makes great optimists. Over in Burma, Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?", with a sneer on his face. His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."

3. Speaking the truth EMPOWERS US THROUGH PRAISE. There is power in the praise of God. David wrote, "My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long." (Psa 71:8) By praising God for His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control, we will experience more of the empowering of the fruits of the Spirit in all aspects of our lives. If you want more energy, power and fruitfulness begin to praise God throughout the moments of your daily walk and talk.

4. Speaking the truth helps us OVERCOME OPPOSITION. David wrote, "My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion." Too many Christians find themselves overcome by opponents because they fail to verbally utilize the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. By speaking the truth in love we actively take the offensive by refusing to be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with the good of His word, His love and His gospel. By verbally renouncing, rejecting and resisting the devil, we can command the evil forces to flee from the environments where we seek to minister without hindrance.