Flourishing in Fruit – Our Words Are Our Fruit (Part 2)

    Jesus tells us plainly in Matthew 7:15-20 that a tree is known by its fruit, and in Matthew 12:33-37 He explains that our words are our fruit. Our words are drawn from the storehouse we each curate: our hearts, so we need to be vigilant concerning what we allow into our hearts/minds (read and consider Philippians 4:8).

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:22 NKJV)

    I would like you to take a look at the fruit in the lists below – some are from good storehouses, well-curated and full of the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and righteousness (Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 5:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 12:3-11) while the others are from storehouses that are neither guarded by their keepers nor guided by God’s good and perfect will; they are in desperate need of a thorough cleaning and a careful restock – as you read through these lists please take an honest look the fruit you have borne recently – have your words come from a storehouse that is full of God’s light or from one where the light is dimmed by dust and decay?

“I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:1a NKJV)

 Our Words Are Our Fruit:

• True words (Ephesians 4:25, Philippians 4:8)
• Edifying and gracious words (Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 16:24)
• Words seasoned with salt (Colossians 3:10)
• Gentle words (Proverbs 15:1, Philippians 4:5, Titus 3:2)
• Patient words (Proverbs 15:18, Colossians 1:9-11, James 1:19-20)
• Fitly spoken words (Proverbs 25:11)
• Wise words (Proverbs 4:1-27; 18:4, James 1:5; 3:13-17)
• Words that teach good things (Titus 2:3-5)
• Discreet words (Titus 2:3-5, 1 Peter 4:8)
• Humble words (Micah 6:8, Philippians 2:1-11, James 4:7-10
• Words that proclaiming God’s praises (1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 63:3-5, 104:33)
• Words that magnifying God and declaring His greatness (Psalm 34:1-3, Romans 15:4-6, Jude 25)
• Words of thanks and gratitude (2 Corinthians 9:15, Ephesians 1:3-14, 5:20, Colossians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• Words of warning (1 Thessalonians 5:14, James 5:19-20)
• Praying words (Matthew 5:44, Ephesians 6:18-19, James 5:13-18, 1 Peter 4:7)
• Singing words (James 5:13, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16)
• Words of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, Romans 15:4-6)
• Words spoken in the name of Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17)
• Merciful words (Matthew 5:44, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60, Ephesians 4:32, 6:14-15)
• Trusting words (Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:4-7, John 6:68)
• Trustworthy words (Proverbs 10:9, Matthew 5:37)

………..

• Grumbling and complaining words (Philippians 2:4, 1 Peter 4:9, Jude 16)
• Complaining words against government and authorities (Exodus 22:28, Titus 3:1-2, 1 Peter 2:17)
• Back-biting and deceitful words (Proverbs 25:23, Romans 1:28-32; 3:10-14)
• Words of gossip and slander (Proverbs 16:27-30, Ephesians 4:31, 1 Timothy 5:11-16)
• Great swelling words and flattering words (Psalm 12:1-4, Proverbs 20:19, 26:28, Romans 16:17-18, Jude 16)
• Cruel and reviling words (Psalm 64:3, Proverbs 15:1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
• Lying (Proverbs 26:28, Colossians 3:9-10, Revelation 22:15)
• Idle words (Psalm 12:1-4, Matthew 12:36-37, 1 Timothy 5:11-16)
• Angry words and outbursts of wrath (Psalm 4:4-5, Ephesians 4:26; 31 Colossians 3:8)
• Cursing, swearing, and lewd words (Ephesians 4:17-24: 5:1-7, Colossians 3:8)
• Speaking God’s name flippantly and without thought (Exodus 20:7, Matthew 6:9)
• Sharing coarse and rude jokes (Ephesians 5:1-7)
• Proud words (Proverbs 6:16-19; 11:12, 16:5, Luke 14:11)
• Words of discord (Proverbs 6:12-19, James 4:1-2, Titus 3:9-11)  
• Envious words (Titus 3:3, James 3:14)

“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12 and Psalm 34:12-16a NKJV)

    God’s peace is to rule in our hearts – our storehouses – (Colossians 3:15) and we are to love Him with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind (Matthew 22:37). Let’s take careful inventory of our storehouses and prayerfully replace the evil we may there with what is good (Romans 12:9, 21) so we can “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15)!

You can do it! So can I!!