THE POWER OF WORDS

Intro

Illustration: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words never hurt me

Proverbs 12:18 (ESV)

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Words are powerful!

Genesis 1:3 ESV

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

THE POWER OF WORDS

WORDS CARRY IMPACT

A person’s speech has an enormous influence for good or bad

Ex: The book of James describes the tongue like a rudder that controls a ship. Though it is small, there is lots of influence.

USS CONNECTICUT smashed into an underwater sea mountain. Compared to how our words can leads us to destruction if we are not careful

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

NEGATIVE IMPACT

Words that pierce. sword thrust…

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 12)

Some people’s normal speech pattern is constantly to accuse, belittle, manipulate, mock, insult, or condemn

Proverbs 11:9 “With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.”

Ex. Marriage arguments

Rash means displaying or proceeding from a lack of careful consideration of the possible consequences of an action.

Job 19:2 ““How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?”

POSITIVE IMPACT

Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life....

Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

A New Commentary on Holy Scripture: Including the Apocrypha (Commentary)

Some words are blows, others balm.

IMPACTS YOU PERSONALLY

You can influence your life by your words

Repeated self-talk (conversations you have with yourself) can become facts, even subconsciously.

Negative self-talk; distorts your outlook and Leads to stress (personalizing- you are the reason for your problems, filtering- focusing only on the negative)

You will never see better days until you speak better words. Ps Joe Zeabole

WORDS CARRY INSIGHT

The words we speak reveal what’s in our hearts

INTO OUR HEARTS

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Matthew 12:34-35 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Matthew 15:18 “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”

check your words, then check your heart

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” Lao Tzu

GOD’S WORD

IS SURE

Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

God’s words do not have an expiration. Milk is only for a certain time frame, it will expire. But, God’s words do not. They transcend times and places.

You can build your life upon the word of God!

IS SHARP

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Ex: Doctors Scalpel

My Favorite Illustrations Bible/God’s Word

When you have read the Bible you will know it is the Word of God because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness and your own duty.

—Woodrow Wilson

My Favorite Illustrations Bible/God’s Word

After reading the doctrine of Plato, Socrates, or Aristotle, we feel that the specific difference between their words and Christ’s is the difference between inquiry and revelation.

—Joseph Parker

God’s word exposes and brings revelation

IS SHAPING

Jeremiah 18:2 ““Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.””

APPLICATION

What words am I speaking? (text, typing)

Who’s words am I listening to? (includes music, news)

“all money ain’t good money.”

Psalm1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;”

Let us Be people who are mindful of our words. Let us use our words for building up and for edification, not to tear down.

Let us be a people who trust is What God says. Let’s read more so we know more of what God says!