The following excellent writing is from the, “SWORD SCRAPBOOK II” (a
compilation by Dr. Viola Walden (1915-2007) of bits of wisdom, Scriptures, devotion and
truths from
THE SWORD OF THE LORD articles
written by Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) over the decades. The book was
published in 1969. The Sword Of The Lord was founded in 1934. WHAT A
BLESSING! The following truth is from page 55 . . .
30,000 Words A Day!
A famous publisher declares, “If you are an articulate person, you utter some 30,000 words each day.”
If these words were put in print, they would amount to a fair-sized book a day, These books would, in a lifetime, fill a good-sized college library. All these books are from the same author. All reflect the life and thoughts of the author, in his own words. And not a book can be taken down from the shelves or withdrawn from circulation.
The thought is a bit frightening. It emphasizes the fearful responsibility that goes with the gift of speech, and also the glorious privilege that is inherent in “speech seasoned with grace” (Colossians 4:6). Man probably has no greater power for good or for evil than the power of speech. Job had the testimony of his friend that his “words” had kept men on their feet—had kept men from falling (Job 4:4). What a rebuke to those whose words have thrown men off their feet—causing ill will, suspicion, alienation, broken hearts!
Probably most of us talk too much. And we seldom realize this until it is too late. Perhaps this is what the psalmist felt when he exclaimed, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalms 141:3). An elderly colored woman, much beloved in her community, was asked for her formula for making and keeping friends. “Well,” she replied, “I stop and taste my words before I let them pass my teeth.”
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Therefore we read, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). And, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).
Men in court have turned pale upon the introduction of recordings of their own speech. And souls will tremble in the judgment, upon finding that every utterance, from the first wail of infancy till the tongue was silenced by death, has been noted by the Great Recorder.
Sweeter to our Lord than the melody of music and more important than the oratory of statesmen or the proclamations of kings are the conversations of His children talking together about the things of the Heavenly Father. All is written in His “book of remembrance” (Malachi 3:16). “They spoke . . . and the Lord hearkened.” Others also “spake,” and the Lord hearkened. And into the record went every whispered conspiracy, every word of slander, every falsehood, every cutting remark, every obscene utterance, every foul blasphemy.
What a noble attribute is the gift of speech! And what finer tribute to the Giver than to present to the library of Heaven, each day, one clean volume—30,000 words—dedicated to His honor!
SOURCE: Tents Toward The Sunrise, by Charles W. Koller (1896-1983); ©1953, Baker Publishing Group.
That is so powerful! How many of us view our speech as a frightening responsibility? God is the keeper of men's souls. Proverbs 24:12, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” One of the greatest sins of mankind is that we fail to take things as seriously as God does. Effectively, to “fear God” means to take seriously what God takes seriously. Many people are careless with their words, but God records every word that we speak (Matthew 12:36). 1st Peter 2:25, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” That is, God is the WATCHER and AUTHORITY over our soul. Jesus is precious!!!
Just a Few Words Can Make All the
Difference in the World
Words are powerful. I was speaking with someone yesterday, and I quoted a few Scriptures, bragged a bit on God, and spoke in general about the times in which we are living and how they relate to the Word of God. The person was encouraged and complimented me for having memorized numerous Scriptures, and that I was able to fit a Scripture to everything they had mentioned. That made me feel happy, and motivated me to want to abide even more in the Scriptures. With our words we can encourage others in the Lord. Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
I told the person yesterday (with whom I was
speaking) that I know a lot of Bible verses from abiding in the Scriptures
and listening to lots of fundamentalist, Baptist, Bible-preaching! That
excludes nearly everything on religious radio today! I wouldn't give you a
dime for all these weak-kneed, neo-evangelical, wimpy, Shirley Temple type,
shallow, radio preachers, who toss out a few religious biscuits and then beg
like dogs for donations. Go get a real job! I want to hear a man of God let
'er rip! I want to hear a preacher shout and call sin by name, exposing
false prophets by name, and proclaiming the truth that offends the listener!
If the shoe fits, wear it! It is a false teaching that you won't win the
lost to Christ unless you dip your sails, be tolerant of homosexuals, sing
the Devil's rock and roll, remain silent about false prophets and false
religion, et cetera. I say, the pope is a dope and he has no hope in the
Roman Catholic prisonhouse of religion! Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly
spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
It is a Blessed in God's Eyes to Speak Against Doctrinal Error and Falsehoods
There are no eternal rewards in Heaven for the coward, the compromiser and the crook! Someone needs to tell the deceived Roman Catholic that Mary is not a virgin anymore! Someone needs to tell the perverse Mormon that Jesus did not have wives and children! Someone needs to tell the deceived Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) that Jesus did not enter into Heaven in the year 1844 to begin judging the saints. This exclusive SDA doctrine (known as “Investigative Judgment”) plainly evidences that they do not believe the simplicity of the Gospel (as they deceitfully profess). According to SDA false prophetess' Ellen G. White a believer is not finally saved until Jesus determines in His “Investigative Judgment,” that their words and behavior confirm their profession of faith. In other words, works are necessary to legitimize your faith. This is 100% a form of the satanic Lordship Salvation heresy which has crept into so many churches today, particularly Southern Baptist Churches (aka, Paul Washer) and Dr. John MacArthur.
When I get to Heaven, I know that the Lord Jesus Christ will reward me for contending for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3; 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11). While countless corrupt preachers today are adding holy living (i.e., a changed life) as a prerequisite to saving faith, I am am upholding the simplicity that is in Jesus Christ, where you simply admit you are a guilty sinner in God's eyes and believe the Gospel to be saved. The indwelling Holy Spirit changes a man's life, and not he himself. Repentance is simply thinking differently toward God, which is why a person believes at all. If a man didn't repent, he wouldn't believe (John 3:20). You don't get saved by repenting, you get saved by putting your faith in Jesus Christ! The man who believes has also repented. It's like flipping a coin over, that is, you cannot turn one side without also turning the other side. Repentance and faith are inseparable, happening simultaneously (at the same time). It doesn't get any simpler than that my friend!
We are told in hundreds of Bible verses to “BELIEVE,” without any mention of “repentance.” For example: 1st Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE.” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” You see, to believe the Gospel is only happening because you have changed your mind toward God. There's not one verse in the Bible which teaches a person to “turn away from sins” or “repent from sins” to be saved. Such unbiblical teaching is manmade religion, which is prevalent in our Baptist churches today.
I am an independent fundamental Baptist myself (but first and foremost a born-again Christian), which is why expose the neo-evangelical Baptist churches that have been corrupted by the Devil (through use of the modern corrupt Alexandrian Bible revisions). Thank God for the incorruptible Words of God preserved in the inspired King James Bible! Words are important. I hope and pray that God will use my few words typed in this article to impact your heart for God—that you'll use ONLY the trustworthy King James Bible, that you'll believe and teach ONLY the simplicity of the Gospel—contending for the Biblical Christian faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). We are at spiritual war in the churches! Who is on the Lord's side (Joshua 24:15)? Jesus said that to worship God the Father MUST be done in THE TRUTH (John 4:24). We need a revival of THE TRUTH in our churches today!!!
