Make My Mouth a Fountain of Life

Topic: Make My Mouth a Fountain of Life

 Pr Lo Yi Ping 

24th Sep 2017

Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”

Galatians 6: 7-8  “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

The content of the spoken message is just as crucial as the skill it was delivered, for the spoken word can bring life or death. A word spoken can change lives, history and destiny. In a marriage proposal, a positive response will bring a new destiny for the couple from being single to a family unit, a successful job interview gives hope and income for the family where the opposite brings despair.

1. Fountain or Cistern? 

Proverbs 10: 11 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life…..”

Who are the righteous? Those who have faith in Jesus and our righteousness is from God. God is the one who gives us the fountain of the living water and He refreshes us and gives us life. The illustration of the Niagara Falls as a fountain where its endless flow of water generates hydroelectricity which enhances lives. In contrast, in Jer 2: 13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”,  Jeremiah rebuked the people for forsaking God who gave life but chose to depend on the works of their hands ie dug up cisterns that are broken and do not hold water. The original usage for a cistern is to store water to give life to a community but when it is broken it can be used for a different purpose like holding captives converting it from a life giving vessel to something negative. The choice is ours, to be a fountain or a broken cistern.

2. Is your mouth and your heart in sync?

Matt 12 :34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Matt 15 :18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

Our heart and mouth are closely related for what we feel is also expressed accordingly. When they are not in sync, we are not at peace resulting in frustration.

Psalm 19 “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

This reinforces that out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks. How our heart feels are often released through our mouths. There will be times when we allow our mouths to speak our hearts but there will be times where we must speak forth the truth of God, superseding the feelings of our hearts. We must trust God and declare and claim it first and in time, our heart and mouth will be in sync allowing God to teach us. This was illustrated in the testimony of sister Winnie where she declared Rev 12: 11 and Isaiah 43: 1-3 on her life during a period of her life and family which was very challenging.

 3. Making your mouth a Fountain of Life

Sowing and reaping

Gal 6: 7- 8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

When we sow to the flesh, we reap destruction, we sow to the Spirit, we reap eternal life. Speaking life is a daily habit that can be cultivated. We can seek out opportunities to speak words of life and affirmation on all occasions such as birthdays and farewells where we hear from God and as the Lord reveals, the released words into the person will bring forth life. The example of the Golden Joy group where sharing of wisdom gained speaks life to all who receive the testimonies.

Speak out 

Proverb 13 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Speak out of correction so that will turn from the snares.

Ecclesiastes 7: 11-12 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. When we speak out it is not just for encouragement and affirmation but there will be situations when we need to speak out for correction so that the snares of death is avoided. Other words for wisdom are insights or perception and when it is released will preserves the lives of those who receives and possesses it.The testimony of the son speaking words of affirmation to those who have contributed to his character and spiritual wellbeing, brings forth life to those whom he affirmed and confirmed what God had placed in their hearts then.The sister who testified of how majestic it was to declare life for those whom she prayed for during her walk up the Bukit Padang hill.In conclusion, Nicky Gumble sums it up that it is with our mouth we speak life or otherwise.“I believe God is using us to heal people, He wants to use you to heal people, I encourage you to be someone who brings healing in your family, among your friends, your work place and community, who prays for the sick and binds up the broken hearted, wipes away people’s tears, lift up the fallen, breaks down division and brings healing wherever you go.”

Questions

1.     Everyone to share an example or situation in the Bible whereby a word is released and it brings forth life, or it tear another person (nation) down.

2.     Share an account where your mouth speak what your heart do not mean, or you kept quiet when you're meant to say something, how did that experience affected you or others?

3.     What are some of the deliberate steps you plan to take to make your mouth a Fountain of Life?