Have you noticed that when you speak, some are drawn to the life you share through your words, while others resist or even hate you for it? John captures this dynamic perfectly in 1 John 4:5-6.
“They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
The Role of Speech in Spiritual Identity
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the power of our words and how they reflect our spiritual identity. For instance, 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that unbelievers cannot understand spiritual truths because they are discerned through the Spirit of God. Similarly, John 8:47 states, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
As believers, our speech carries weight. When we speak, things happen because we are born of God and filled with His Spirit. Consider the following verses:
- Mark 11:22-24: Jesus teaches that faith-filled speech moves mountains: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes… he will have whatever he says.”
- Romans 10:9-10: Salvation itself hinges on confession: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart… you will be saved.”
- Genesis 1:3 & 1:26: God’s words created the universe, and as beings made in His image, our words also carry creative power: “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:13: “I believed and therefore I spoke,” reminds us that faith and speech go hand in hand.
This means we should talk responsibly which is why Eph 4:29 says to not use corrupt speech.
The World Listens to Its Own
On the other hand the world has its own speech too- death. And you can identify those who are of the world by those who gravitate towards that speech. John says: “By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Those who are from God resonate with the gospel that you speak, while others are drawn to messages that reflect worldly values.
This helps when we minister. We all have fallen into the trap of trying new things and trying to “motivate” people who call themselves to be believers, with gimmicks, and games and trying to be “entertaining”. Yes, I believe that we should make the environment as conducive as possible for the believer to hear the Word without any distractions, but sometimes people fall into the trap of thinking that these are essential. But, it is not. You don’t need the latest gimmicks, but when you speak to a believer, they will listen to you. As Peter said to Jesus (paraphrased) “Where else will we go. You have the words of life” (John 6:68-69). This should be a note to self of every Pastor.
The World Constantly Speaks
The world is speaking to us too. They use human psychology. Consider advertising. Most ads use command language rather than requests: “Talk to your pharmacist today” rather than “Please talk to your pharmacist.” This is intentional, as commands imply authority, and push us to immediate action. Next thing you know, you are in that aisle for that product. That’s why all the social media giants want our data for advertising. Because the world’s messaging often directs our lives subtly, shaping behaviors and attitudes without us realizing it. As Sawyer from the TV series Lost would say, we are being “Long conned” by the devil.
Even TV shows. Imagine a show where, a character might announce, “I have cancer,”. Have you noticed that it is followed by melancholy music and tears. Rarely do we see a response of faith or healing—instead, the narrative reinforces despair. This is every single time. The world is speaking to us that you need to lose hope and faith when you are up against cancer. The world speaks, and its message is absorbed if we’re not careful to renew our minds with God’s Word (Romans 12:2).
Has Your Speech Changed Your World?
The gap between us believers and the rest of the world really shows up in our relationships. A lot of us notice that our friendships with non-believers change after we find faith. It’s not that we don’t care; it’s just that we don’t really fit into their lives anymore. I’ve lost a bunch of my non-believing friends, not because I don’t care, but I don’t belong in their world anymore. Sure, we still keep in touch, but it’s just not the same vibe. One thing I’ve learned is that if your friends from before you were “born again” don’t notice any difference in you after you get saved, then you’ve got to wonder if you’re really saved.
This truth can bring peace, especially for those in ministry. It’s easy to overanalyze and blame ourselves when people leave the truth of the gospel, when you are Pastoring. Yet Jesus reminds us that our responsibility is to sow the seed.
Moving Forward in Truth
As we navigate the tension between the world’s voice and God’s truth, let us remember: “The one who is knowing God in an experiential way is listening to us. He who is not out of God is not listening to us.” Let’s speak with faith, grounded in His Word, knowing that the power of truth will always prevail.
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