WHEN A MAN’S WORDS ARE ROTTEN

Dear Believer,

Do you know that everyone who has the ability to communicate with words is a minister?

Let us read this verse together.

Ephesians 4:29 KJV
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Corrupt communication here in the original language means words that are ‘filthy,’ ‘putrefied’ ‘decayed’, and ‘rotten.’

That really caught my attention. This means words can have on the soul and the spiritual atmosphere the same effect that, say, rotten meat can have on the sense of smell.

Some people, (and this includes many who call themselves Believers) are foul mouthed. Their words stink.

For instance, what comes out of some married people’s mouth to their spouse when they are angry can pollute the atmosphere for weeks.

Many years ago we were praying in a building. Suddenly an unearthly odor assailed my ‘nose.’ It was so strong that I felt like running out of the place to vomit. I hadn’t yet understood that I was discerning a presence of evil. I was the only person in that place that was aware of the hellish odor.

Then the Spirit of God made me know that I was being made to ‘smell’ the atmosphere of rottenness that was present in that building spiritually. I tell you, friend, it was a terrible smell for the time God permitted me to sense it.

And that, friend, is what some people are living with!

I have experienced such presence in some homes after that.

You see, it doesn’t matter how expensive the perfume sprayed in a home, if the spiritual atmosphere is rancid, it will attract evil spirits. And one way to make that happen is to keep speaking abusive, degrading, filthy words.

Like I said earlier, every speaker is a minister. You are either ministering rottenness or freshness. You are either breaking hearts or building them.

That passage says you shouldn’t let rotten, filthy words escape from your mouth. It says your words should minister grace to others. That is to say, if you don’t have any edifying thing to say, just zip it!

“My wife made me say it!” “My husband got me angry!” “Oh, that boy made me curse!”

Those are common excuses made by those whose mouths have not been purified.

We have to face it: pressure brings out what a man has in him.

Everyone is responsible for whatever comes out of their mouth, for as Jesus said:

Luke 6:45 KJV
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

We are further enjoined to avoid unwholesome jokes. Ephesians 5:3-4 mentions a few things that must not be mentioned among believers. Among other things, it says:

Ephesians 5:4 KJV
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

This is referring to off-color jokes and innuendoes – jokes that could be funny but ungodly.

And this includes what is written, typed or sung as well.

I have often wondered how some so-called believers can be so comfortable listening to people make jest of sacred concepts and Kingdom beliefs. This pollutes their spiritual life and renders God’s Word ineffective in their life.

The problem isn’t the Word of God, but the rottenness of their life’s atmosphere.

All words are seeds, (cf. Luke 8:11) and if a person keeps sowing rotten and toxic words into their home, life or family, God’s Word won’t have any place to grow there.

Remember, you are a Believer. The Word of faith is in your mouth. (Romans 10:8). You are called to minister grace.

Now let’s talk to our Father:
Dear Father, I thank You for making me a minister of the Living Word. I live to speak the Word of Life and refuse to minister death with my mouth. No filthy word shall proceed from my mouth. I shall minister grace, love and edification to my spouse, family, friends and brethren always, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a great day.

Your friend,
Deon.