Spiritual food with Jess

Destructive Words and Demonic Influence

SUBMITTED BY JESSICA DRIEMEL ON BEHALF OF JAKE KAIL - JAKEKAIL.COM

JUST as our words can be edifying to others, they can also be destructive. Our words are not meant to be evil or corrupt but to build others up and impart grace to them, as we saw earlier: "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). But the enemy wants to use our words as weapons of destruction. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Reckless and destructive words are one of his choice weapons.

With his mouth, the godless man would destroy his neighbour, but the righteous are delivered by knowledge. (Proverbs 11:9 ESV, emphasis added)

Notice that godless words are destructive and that we can be delivered from their influence through knowledge. We must know the truth and learn to discern when we are under demonic attack through the harmful words of another person. We must also understand that destructive words like slander, false accusations, and cursing do not merely cause discouragement. They can actually do great damage to our souls. Consider the following verses:

"The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood…" (Proverbs 12:6 ESV)

"A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire." (Proverbs 16:27 ESV)

"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18 ESV)

"Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear." (Psalm 64:2-4)

Notice the types of things that godless and destructive words are compared to: murderous ambush, a scorching fire, being stabbed with a sword, and being shot at with arrows. And many other biblical examples could be given. As weapons are used to destroy a person's body, evil words are used to destroy a person's soul. The Bible is very explicit about this. Destructive words do violence to the soul. Sometimes harmful words are referred to as verbal abuse. Still, I propose that this term does not even do it justice according to the biblical descriptions. According to the Bible, it's more like murder through words or verbal assassination!

This is serious stuff. And demonic assignments are released when we come under this type of verbal assault.

Just like words of encouragement, blessing, and prophecy can be inspired by the Holy Spirit and impart grace, destructive and corrupt words can be inspired by the devil. Even Peter, one of Jesus' main disciples, once spoke words influenced by satan (see Matthew 16:23). Words of accusation, unrighteous judgement, slander, and otherwise malicious terms can release demonic assignments against the ones spoken to or spoken about.

The Bible says that we are to take the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery darts of the wicked one (see Ephesians 6:16). I have found that one of the ways that the devil's flaming arrows come to us is through people's destructive and bitter words (see Psalm 64:24, quoted above).

Bitter words, filled with anger or hatred, are like arrows shot at a person. False accusations and authoritative negative statements can release curses. There have been multiple occasions when I felt as though I were coming under unusual spiritual warfare, only to find out that false accusations, slander, and other malicious words were spoken about me behind closed doors. These words released evil spirits and demonic assignments against me that needed to be resisted and broken off me. Thankfully, we can stand on the promise of Isaiah 54:17:

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the Lord.