Mouthwash

Introduction

Dad story - The best son I never had.

That stuck with me.

The old saying : Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” That’s not always true.

People’s words matter, and your words matter too.

Words can have a lasting effect, whether they are good or bad.

Tension

Words can be messy. We are human, and we make mistakes.

Has anybody ever said something and instantly wished you could take it back? Have you ever said something without a filter?

You think, “Yup, I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

Sometimes we speak without thinking about the power in your words when

We’re angry, trying to be funny, or just trying to fit in with our friends without us.

I want to challenge you today : Most of us would say, “Yeah, I believe in God.” or Yeah, I’m a Christian.” But does everything else that comes out of your mouth affirm that we are Christians?

Or do the words that come from our mouths sound like the world around us?

Do we gossip like everyone else? Complain like everyone else? Do we have bad attitudes towards are parents or teachers?

Make fun of people and talk bad about others? Do you talk negatively about yourself?

I want tonight to be a kind of reality check, because sometimes our mouths— our words— are doing damage without us even noticing.

“Okay, but it’s just words.” Chill!

The Bible says words are never “just words.”

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

In Luke 6:45 - Jesus says : A good man out of the good treasure in his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Translation : Your words show what’s happening inside you.

Drink example - If someone bumps into you and a drink spills out of your cup, whatever was already inside the cup spills out. If it’s water, water spills out. If it had soda, soda spills out.

The same thing happens with our heart.

When life bumps us - when we’re stressed, annoyed, embarrassed, or frustrated - Whatever is inside our hearts spills out through our words.

Truth

Our main verse for today is Romans 10:8-9 - The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart… that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Confession - We think it’s just a word that we hear at church, an admission of a crime, when someone confesses doing something.

Confession is both of those things, but there’s more to it.

Look at Romans 10 - Confession is to declare with your mouth.

There is so much power in what we say out loud.

My fear for us is that maybe we said a prayer once to receive Jesus as our Lord, but are the rest of our words really declaring and confessing the Christian life we are called to live?

Or are our words gossip, perverted, attention-seeking, vulgar, negative, or judgmental?

When it comes to our words, the Bible is so clear on their power and how we are to use them.

Application

There are three areas in our lives that we need to confess :

1.) Confess that Jesus is Lord

Romans 10:9-10 - “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

This is how we receive salvation from our sins, and our eternity is changed forever.

2.) Confess Our Sins

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

James 5:16- Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Here’s where I think we get it wrong. I think there are a lot of us who confess our sins to God, but there are some sins in our lives that require righteous people to help us get through and walk in freedom from our sins.

Ethan Zondory/Luke Williams - I’ve had multiple students who would confess their sins to God, but it wasn’t until the confessed with me that they actually started to walk in freedom.

Confession of our sins requires action.

3.) Confess God’s Promises

Some of you may be thinking, “I don’t know God’s promises, how am I supposed to talk about them?”

Read the word!

Feeling anxious: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV).

You feel like you're not good enough: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

You feel overwhelmed with stress/pressure: Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken (Psalm 55:22 NIV).

You're going through something difficult and out of your control: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4 NIV).

When you don't know what decision to make about your future: "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).

Feeling lonely or alone : Matthew 28:20

Landing

What if we spent a little more time confessing truth and declaring God’s promises?

It will shape us from the inside out, and the more it will overflow into the rest of our lives.

CHALLENGE : Pick a bible verse and practice confessing it out loud every day this week. Try to memorize one. Write it down, and next time you get bumped by life, let His words be the first thing to come out of your mouth.

Close In Prayer