The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].    

Proverbs 18: 8 AMP

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.        

Proverbs 18: 21 AMP

The idiom, loose lips sink ships, is a war time expression, hailing from WW2 and it means to have a big mouth, to talk about everyone and everything.  It implies that if you cannot control your mouth, you will hurt people, usually psychologically or emotionally.

During WW2 sailors on leave from their ships talked about which ship they were on, where they came from and where they were going next and if overheard by an enemy (which was a very real danger) it could lead to their ship being tracked, bombed and sunk…hence the idiom.  In the modern vernacular it can mean that excessive talking might sabotage a project.

In the light of Proverbs 18:21 it also means that, as Christians, we need to be particularly careful about the words we speak, who we speak them to and we need to tread carefully, so as not to cross the line into gossip, which is something the Lord hates.

Proverbs 6: 16 – 19 (AMP) says:

These six things the Lord hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:
A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil,
A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths],
And one who spreads discord (rumours) among brothers.

As ones who have all of Jesus’ authority delegated to us, who have the capacity to speak life or death, blessing or curses we also carry a heavy responsibility. 

There’s a portion of scripture in Matthew Chapter 12 that starts with the heading “Words Reveal Character”.  It reads…

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is recognized and judged by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. ³⁵ The good man, from his [inner] good treasure, brings out good things; and the evil man, from his [inner] evil treasure, brings out evil things. ³⁶ But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will have to give an accounting for every careless or useless word they speak. ³⁷ For by your words [reflecting your spiritual condition] you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words [rejecting Me] you will be condemned and sentenced.”

Our words reveal our character!  Our words reveal the condition of our hearts, they expose the broken, unhealed places where we need healing and deliverance.  Idle words – the words we speak that accomplish nothing, that does not bless, that does not build up or tear down that which is not of God – are an abuse of our God-given authority. Many people are eating the fruit of the words they spoke without realizing it.  Many of us do not need deliverance or healing, we need repentance.  We need to ask the Lord for forgiveness for cursing ourselves, our loved ones and the body of Christ by our words.

Psalm 24: 3, 4 (AMP) asks us a question and then provides the answer… Who may ascend onto the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.

This morning during the worship, the Lord spoke to me about these things and I came under conviction for my own loose lips, my own idle words.  There was nothing else to do but agree with Him and repent.  Afterwards, as I felt His tremendous love and forgiveness settle on me, as a prophetic act, I went into the restroom and washed my hands.  There is nothing that I want more than to be found washed, clean and ready to meet the Bridegroom when He comes.

The first book of Corinthians, chapter 5, verses 11 to 13 is a sobering piece of scripture.  It reads:   ¹¹ But actually, I have written to you not to associate with any so-called [Christian] brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater [devoted to anything that takes the place of God], or is a reviler [who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others], or is a drunkard or a swindler—you must not so much as eat with such a person. ¹² For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders (non-believers)? Do you not judge those who are within the church [to protect the church as the situation requires]? ¹³ God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside [the faith]. Remove the wicked one from among you [expel him from your church].

From the few scriptures I have quoted, and many more like them, we can deduct that the Lord is very, very serious about this issue.  From the previous scripture we can deduct that someone really empowered by Holy Spirit will have control of their tongue. We can no longer allow ourselves to be hypocrites….I don’t want the Lord to call me a “so-called” Christian. I want my mouth to be a wellspring of life. God spoke the world into being and Jesus cursed a fig tree to death by His words.  That power and authority is now delegated to us and the Lord will keep us accountable for how we wield that authority.  A sobering thought!

My prayer for us all is this…that we would humble ourselves, confess our sin, make restitution where we need to, search for the log in our own eye and ask the Lord for the grace to speak nothing but life and blessing.

I bless you with powerful, life-giving words that uproot and tear down the works of the enemy and bring life and more life where it’s needed.  In Jesus’ mighty name.