The Power of Our Words

Genesis 9:2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.

I. The power of persuasion

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Proverbs 16: 21 The wise of heart is called discerning,and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

the size of the tongue is disproportionate to the influence it holds

The horse Bits

Such a small tool, but with the proper pressure applied it can command a massive animal

II. The prating nature of gossip

Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

3 John 9-10 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

III. The pollution of division

Galatians 5:19-20 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions

Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.

IV. The positivity of good conversation

James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls

Exodus 15:23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah

Exodus 15:25a And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.