During the next few paragraphs, I want to tell you about a young boy from the town of Stuart, Virginia. Before I do that, let me first explain where the desire to share these events originated. Recently, the Spirit of the Lord has been speaking to my heart about how we use our words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Through understanding Scripture as well as meditating on our own life experiences, we can all agree that our words have the ability to build each other up as well as tear each other down. We could go even deeper to say that we have the power to speak things into existence. We know this because of Romans 4:17, which says, “calleth those things which be not as though they were.” We also remember 1 Corinthians 14:3, which states, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” Again, our words hold much power.
Now, let me return to the story of the young boy. When he was in elementary school, he wrote book reports on being a police officer and a truck driver. He wrote of his desires to serve others in these two specific ways. Also as a child, he had neighbors who raised chickens. Naturally and over time, many of those chickens died. The young boy and the neighboring children would bury the chickens and other livestock and give them a funeral service. That young boy would say, “I am going to be the preacher,” and would then proceed with the ceremony.
This young boy eventually grew to be an adult and fulfilled his dream of becoming a truck driver. He also became a correctional officer and served in that capacity during his 50s and early 60s, for a total of 14 years. During that time, he simultaneously served as an associate pastor for his church. After many years, he became the pastor of the same church.
The young boy and man I have been describing to you is myself, Curtis Leander Pilson. I am now 64 years old, and I have witnessed the words I said when I was younger come to pass in my adulthood. I have been amazed to reflect on how I spoke my true calling when I was just a child. I truly believe there is a time and a season for everything, just like the book of Ecclesiastes tells us. Not only do I believe it, but I have given you proof to believe it too.
Colossians 4:6 exhorts us to use speech that is gracious and “seasoned with salt,” so that we may know how we ought to answer each person. In Proverbs 16:24, the Bible also says, “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” We the body of Christ – knowing the power of our words – are responsible for using them the right way. If we who are Christians speak as the world does, do we inspire others to make a change in their lives? Do our tongues encourage others to accept and follow Christ?
When I was in the fifth grade, my mother heard me talking one night in my room and proceeded to come in. She said that I was having a bad dream and using language (that she did not think I even knew) to curse someone out in my sleep. I am so glad that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has changed my vocabulary to edification, exhortation and comfort! The Bible says in James 3:6, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” Verse 8 goes on to say, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Verse 10 tells us, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
In conclusion, let us remember that every word counts. Not only do words count in the supernatural realm, but they produce in the natural realm as soon as they are spoken aloud. So now I ask you this: What are you going to do? Will you use your words to speak death and curses, or will you instead use your tongue to speak life and blessings?
(Mount Calvary Holy Church is located in Stuart, Virginia)
