Careless Words
Our words have eternal consequences and we will be accountable for them at the judgment.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the weight of our words, warning that every idle word we speak is recorded and will be accounted for on the day of judgment. He shares a personal experience of feeling convicted after gossiping about a minister, realizing that even true words can cause harm and should not be shared without purpose. The sermon highlights the importance of heeding the Holy Spirit's guidance to refrain from speaking negatively about others, as our words have lasting consequences. Wilkerson encourages listeners to acknowledge their sins and seek healing through humility and repentance.
Text
"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).
We seem to think our words simply fall to the ground and die, or vanish into thin air and dissolve into nothingness. Not so! Our words live on--they do not die!
You may say, "But I only told this gossip to one friend and he promised never to repeat it. It will end with him." No, it will not! Every single word you and I utter is recorded, written down in eternity, and we will hear them all repeated to us at the judgment.
I recall coming under deep conviction after sharing a vicious bit of gossip with a friend. What I said was indeed true. It was about a moral situation I had had to deal with concerning a minister. His name came up in the conversation and I said, "Don't trust him. I know something about him!"
Even as I mouthed off, I felt condemned. The Holy Spirit whispered to me, "Stop right there! Nobody needs to know that. Don't say more, because there's no purpose to it. Even though it's true, don't repeat it!"
What I had already said was bad enough. But then I blurted out the lurid details! I knew I should have been quiet and sure enough, I was deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit. So later I called my friend and said, "I'm sorry, that was gossip. I was out of order. Please don't repeat it. Try not to even think about it."
Is my sin covered by the blood of Jesus? Yes, because I fully acknowledged that I had sinned and I allowed the Holy Spirit to show me some of the legalistic pride left in me. I allowed Him to humble me and heal me! Now, whenever I begin to say something against somebody, I obey the Holy Spirit as I hear Him say, loud and clear, "Stop!"
Sermon Outline
- The Accountability of Our Words
- Matthew 12:36-37
- Our words live on and are recorded in eternity
- We will be justified or condemned by our words
Key Quotes
“Our words live on--they do not die!” — David Wilkerson
“Every single word you and I utter is recorded, written down in eternity, and we will hear them all repeated to us at the judgment.” — David Wilkerson
“Stop right there! Nobody needs to know that. Don't say more, because there's no purpose to it.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should be mindful of our words and their impact on others.
- We should seek to obey the Holy Spirit and stop speaking against others when He says, 'Stop!'
- We can be covered by the blood of Jesus if we acknowledge our sin and allow the Holy Spirit to humble and heal us.