Proverbs 15:4 "Gentle words are a tree of life, a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
How different would our lives and relationships be if every word that came out of our mouths were from the tree of life? How different would the church appear to the world? How different would our families be?
A fair amount of what we say everyday actually "crushes" the spirit. Which means we partner with the demonic realm. As Christians we are called to a higher standard- not to crush spirits, but to edify one another, and to set the culture... Not to be ones to partake of it. As Christians we should use words that honor Jesus and edify others, then a culture will grow with the tree of life not death. When we live in a culture of life, not death everyone will want to enter into that life. Another thought is, when we use that "life" Joy, peace, healing, ect. is released into the world instead of hatred, bitterness and anger.
Let's go back and take a look at what the church would look like if we didn't crush peoples spirits. I think if unsaved people saw a church that would stand up and not be hypocrites and actually lived out the bible, we would see a ton of people saved. We need to be one’s that edify each other. GOD is seeking for a church that's completely on fire for Him, and people that despise sin, and one's who will live out the bible with pure hearts. (Living the lifestyle of Christ.) There are seven churches that are talked about in the book of Revelation, and only out of the seven is one church that Jesus wants to return toooooo. The church is called the church of Philadelphia, it's been prophesied that it will replicate the end-time church. (Revelation 3.8) "I have opened a door for you that no one can close, you have little strength yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me." Because that church obeyed Gods commands and persevered through everything, God protected them through the great times of testing (the rapture.) God is looking for a church like this right now! Who will rise up and be so passionate for the things of God??
After saying all this I think God is being very serious haha and wants us to RISE up and WAKE UP! (Ephesians 5:14) " awake, o sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." We must arise out of this spiritual slumber so we can take over the culture and live in that end-time church so Jesus can come back to His spotless bride. It will be a war for us to fight but it will defiantly be worth it, and being able to bring others to heaven, then seeing billions going into a Christ-less eternity. We are all called to live a different life style- we can change the culture by just starting with not being “spirit crushers.”
