The Smoking Gums (Lethal Weapon)

Are you a serial killer, arson, sniper or assassin....are you carrying a concealed deadly weapon?  Harsh question but pause a moment before you answer it.  It may be time to surrender/turn yourself in.

Will you choose life or death?:

"The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit" - Proverbs 18:21

The indictment:

• Your words created death and destruction in someone's soul
• Your actions or lack thereof, produced death in someone else

Serial Killer

Look back along the path of your life.  How many bodies are buried along the side of the road? Death means "separation".  How many people in our life have had to separate themselves from us because of the toxic/destructive spirit that is attached to our words?  How much has it cost....family, friends...romantic relationships/spouses....jobs?  Have you been told regularly that your words are harsh/critical/bitter/rough?  Is your common response, "I'm just being honest or telling the truth...I don't sugar coat my words....you're just too sensitive....you don't know how to receive correction or someone telling you the truth....you need some tough love or thicker skin"?  Is it easier for you to criticize than to compliment or encourage?

Arson

Do you get a charge out of confusion and chaos?  Are you consistently in the middle of issues...the spark of gossip or spreading half-truths?  Do you always need to be in the know so that you can "tell it"?  Has anyone ever accused you of being a troublemaker....starting fires/confusion.

Sniper

Are you a master at being quick to cut someone down...tell them about themselves....setting them straight?  Do you have the reputation of being a straight shooter with real bullets....telling the truth without love/laced in bitterness, instead of blanks....telling the truth in love (stuns & enlightens) but does not maim/produce death?  We don't allow our heart close enough to see the damage we have caused.  We stay undercover to protect ourselves.  We walk away leaving our victims internally bleeding out from the gaping hole our words have left in them.  Our children can be the biggest victim to our bullets.

Ninja Assassin

Are you skilled at throwing "shurikens" of manipulation....master at planting seeds of doubt in the mind of others, convincing them they are the problem and not you? Or passive aggressive....very nice but calculating....vengeful....subtly aggressive but deadly in what you say.  People second guess themselves constantly in their association with you.

This is all familiar to me because I used to be the Sniper/Ninja Assassin as well as the body left on the side of the rode by a Serial Killer. I still have occasional flashbacks and am tempted to use my old deadly skills.  Most of us who are gifted in the teaching/speaking category have to be careful because the wrong spirit or motives attached to our words will turn our gifts into a curse.

I was indicted and surrendered to face my trial and sentencing (consequences).  I wanted to enter a plea of  "guilty by reason of insanity" :)  I am grateful to have the best lawyer around (the Holy Spirit) who reminded me that wasn't going to fly with the Judge (God) and the better option would be to repent and ask for the mercy of the court.  I entered a guilty plea (repented) and received a reduced sentence of "time already served".  The truth is we also suffer from our offenses.  Our life becomes full of chaos and misery...the memories of each death will begin to haunt us (whether we realize it or not).  I am glad I have a God who has resurrection power and was able to show me how to restore some of the dead relationships left along my path  The reality is not all were able to be restored.  Mercy may be extended to us if we repent but there are still consequences to our choices.  We have to ask ourselves if speaking our mind is worth the possible consequences....we don't get to control our consequences.


Resource: Life & The Holy Spirit