“Living ‘Amen’”
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Introduction: Jumping from tree and roof with my cape.
When I was younger, I thought I could fly. No metaphor here, I mean I really thought I could. With a towel tied around my neck, I leapt from trees and rooftops, arms outstretched like Superman.
The result? A broken arm. Then a broken leg. My body bore the cost of my foolishness. But those wounds healed.
The injuries that haven’t healed as quickly… are the ones you can’t see. The wounds caused not by branches or pavement, but by words.
Words spoken years ago that still echo in the chambers of my memory. “You’re not good enough.” “You’re a failure.” “I hate you.” “I never wanted you.”
And you know this is true, some of the deepest pain you carry isn’t visible on X-rays. It’s etched into your soul by the scalpel of speech.
We’ve all heard the phrase: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
That’s a lie. That’s a shield of bravado meant to numb the pain of verbal assault. But it’s not Scripture.
Scripture says: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). “The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness… set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).
“On the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak” Matthew 12:36
Do you feel the weight of that? We’re not dealing with minor things. We’re dealing with eternal realities, life and death realities, eternity-shaping realities.
Words can kill. Words can heal. Words can condemn. Words can glorify God.
So the question before us is not, “Do words matter?” but rather: What do your words reveal about your heart, and you think of God?
Before we go any further today, let’s take a moment to read the main passage we will be looking at to see the impact of the words that come from us. Proverbs 26:18-28
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Moving forward this morning, we will through the words of King Solomon to try and get a better picture on how to use our words, and the first truth he teaches us is to …
1. Use Your Words with Fear and Trembling
Let me be crystal clear: we are not talking about “cleaning up your language.” This is not a moralistic lesson in etiquette. This is about the overflow of your soul. Proverbs 26:21
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
When your words are argumentative, antagonistic, nitpicky, or filled with bitterness—they aren’t just annoying. They are kindling.
And the fire they light can burn down relationships, churches, homes, and your witness for Christ.
There are people who thrive on conflict. They stir up drama. They relish in proving people wrong. Some even wrap it in “concern” or “just being honest.”
But beneath that kindling is pride. It’s a desire to win, not to love. To be right, not to be righteous. And it's not just about quarrels. Proverbs warns us of many dangerous tongues:
Flattery – Proverbs 26:28
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
The kind of sweet speech that’s actually manipulative. It’s not praise; it’s bait. You want something from them.
You use charm like a weapon. You’re not building them up; you’re enslaving them to your approval.
Joking deceit Proverbs 26:18–19
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
You stab with sarcasm, then hide behind humor. You meant what you said, but you don’t want to be held accountable for it. Just take a look at Gossip and slander in Proverbs 16:28
28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
Whispers can be more dangerous than shouts. Because they come wrapped in secrecy and piety. But they are poison, killing trust, unity, and love.
Let’s be honest. These words, these sins of the tongue, are not rare. They’re common. They’re default mode for the flesh.
And they are utterly incompatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s the first truth we learn about words from our passage. The second truth we learn is that …
2. Words Can Wreck Relationships and Reveal Our Hearts
You might think words are small. But words sever. They sever friendships. They split marriages. They break churches. They silence sons and estrange daughters.
They divide what God has joined together. But even more importantly, these words are not just separating you from people. They are exposing your distance from God. Matthew 12:34
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
You want to know where someone is spiritually? Don’t ask them about their theology. Listen to their speech. Their sarcasm.
Listen their criticisms. Their gossip. Their silence when they should speak. Their voice when they should be silent.
Flattery breaks trust. Lies wound the soul. Bragging nauseates and isolates. Slander spreads darkness in God’s temple.
And every time we speak sinfully, we bear false witness about the One we claim to follow. You were made to magnify the worth of God. That includes your words.
But when your mouth is filled with fire instead of grace, bitterness instead of blessing, you deny Him. That’s why every word you’ve spoken that is contrary to the gospel is not a small mistake.
That’s not an overstatement. That’s what Jesus said. Matthew 12:36-37
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Now we have learned to use words properly. We have learned that words can wreck relationships and reveal our hearts, next we learn that …
3. The Gospel Is the Only Hope for Our Tongues
And this is where the good news crashes in. Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, never sinned with His words. Not once. Not in sarcasm. Not in anger. Not in frustration. Not in fear.
His words always pierced, always healed, always glorified the Father. And yet—when He stood before Pilate, falsely accused, He was silent. When the crowds mocked, He did not revile in return.
Why? Because He was absorbing the punishment for our sinful speech. He was taking our firebrands, our lies, our gossip, our flattery, onto His back. He was being judged for your tongue and mine.
And on that cross, He said: “Father, forgive them.” Not because they deserved it. But because He had paid it. This is the glory of the gospel: He who knew no deceit took the place of deceivers.
He who never gossiped died for gossipers. He who spoke perfect truth bore the punishment of liars. And now, He doesn’t just forgive your sinful tongue. He transforms it.
He gives you a new heart, and with it, a new mouth. So, if you're in Christ, you are not a slave to slander. You are not bound to bitterness. You do not have to manipulate, flatter, or fight to be heard.
Because listen, you are justified. You don’t need to justify yourself. You are loved. You don’t need to win approval. You are known. You don’t need to exaggerate.
You are safe. You don’t need to strike first. You are His. And that changes everything. So, what do we do with this? How do we respond? The best way I know how is to be …
4. Living in “Amen”: A Life That Agrees with God
“Amen” isn’t a throwaway line at the end of a prayer. It’s not spiritual punctuation. It means: “It is true. I agree. I submit. I believe.”
To live in “Amen” means that everything about you, your speech, your thoughts, your desires, agrees with God.
You agree with what He says about your sin; It's wicked. It's yours. It cost Christ His life.
You agree with what he says about His grace; It’s sufficient. It’s free. It’s for you.
You agree with what He says about your identity; You are justified, sanctified, adopted, and secure in Him.
When your life is a living Amen, you begin to speak blessing instead of cursing. Mercy instead of vengeance. Truth instead of flattery. Encouragement instead of sarcasm.
You use silence when needed because it does not tear down, it’s holy, but boldness when it’s needed. This is what Paul meant in Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
That’s the standard. That’s the calling. And by the Spirit of God, it’s possible. So, let’s close with thinking about how to live in the power of Christ-exalting speech.
Let me give you five ways to begin living this out:
1. Repent and Confess — Bring your words before God. Own them. Don’t excuse them. Confess with specificity, not vagueness.
2. Feast on the Word — The only way to pour out life-giving words is to fill your heart with life-giving truth.
3. Pray Psalm 19:14
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
4. Welcome correction — Ask someone you trust: “Where do my words dishonor Christ?”
5. Look to Jesus constantly — He is not only your example, He is your power.
If you feel conviction, that’s good because that’s grace. But don’t leave here with guilt alone. Leave here with hope.
There is forgiveness in Christ. There is power in Christ. There is freedom in Christ. And there is life, even for your tongue, in Christ.
So, live in Amen. Speak in Amen. Die in Amen. Because Christ is worthy.
