One Word at a Time

Ignaz Semmelweis / Dr / He worked at 2 maternity clinics in 1840’s / right next to each other / one staffed with Dr’s / other with midwives / Over time he noticed / one ran by Dr’s had 5x as many deaths from childbed fever / to him this was unacceptable / started investigating / watching / what he observed shocked him / Dr’s would do an autopsy on a woman who died / then go immediately deliver a newborn without washing their hands or instruments

To you and me / germ culture / obvious / but not in those days / It was Years later germs were discovered / so Semmelweis told the Dr’s / “lets wash our hands and instruments using chlorine” / He didn’t even know chlorine was a disinfectant / just thought it would get rid of the smell of the corpses

They started washing / guess what? / It changed everything! / Not fully understanding why / although such a simple insignificant act / it truly was matter of life and death

I think we can relate / as we look at our lives / we notice things that are unacceptable / we know we need to change / we try / after no success / we stop trying / What if impacting those around us / is something that seems so insignificant / would you be willing to try it / even if you don’t understand why it works? For those of you who said yes / here it is…….. words!

It’s what God tells us / one word at a time / one person at a time!

Luke 7 36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

I. JUST WORDS

A. Establish foundational truth

1. Prov 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death!

a. They say We speak between 10-16,000 words a day

1. I wonder if it’s because we say so many / every day / makes it easy to underestimate the power they have / one word at a time?

a. 16,000 words is like a 60 page book / every day.

1. And somehow / every single / individual / word matters

B. Are words worthless?

1. Like the Dr’s who didn’t understand why washing hands was important…

a. maybe we don’t realize why words are all that significant

1. I know I am guilty of just talking to talk sometimes / my kids have learned it from me / Especially one of them

a. Sometimes I have to be called out on my word choices / word choices are vital

Read of a pastor who wanted to stir his congregation / too many were getting lazy / not doing anything / so he put a phrase in his sermon he had heard on social media / He said it’s like sometimes you just want to “Netflix and Chill” / He thought he would connect with the younger crowd (even some of you older saints are like what’s wrong with that) When he got off stage / his phone was blowing up / People saying I don’t think that means what you think it means / Someone even asked him what he thinks it means / He said to watch a movie and relax / they said maybe look it up

He did / Watch Netflix and chill / actually means watch tv / and well…. It’s a euphemism for sex

2. I think maybe that’s our problem / we can be careless about the words we speak

a. We can naïve to the power words have

C. Words Create Worlds

1. God created the world with power of His words / He literally spoke world into existence

a. Gen / there was nothingness / but then God spoke it!

1. Gen 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

a. Continued speaking / until there was a galaxy / with people / plants / creatures!

2. Flip a couple pages / we see words have power of death too

a. Satan comes on scene / form of a serpent / got Adam / Eve to rebel against God / HOW? He SPOKE!

1. Satan used words to bring death / where there was life / darkness where there was light

b. Interesting: Serpents words weren’t even true / but still had power

When I first got saved / I had a very critical spirit / spoke words to cut people down / for good reason / slackers / not doing enough / not doing things MY way Worst part / I could say awful things / even to my wife / someone I loved / wake up the next day as if it never happened / say mean things all over again Interesting / God had to get a hold of me / problem wasn’t them / it was me / God had to change me! / I was destroying world around me with my own words

1. God hard wired power of words into universe

3. We see John introducing Jesus as THE WORD

a. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1. Jesus is the WORD in human flesh

a. Throughout His ministry / we see Him continually using words to bring heaven to earth

b. Mark 1:38 He Tells disciples lets go SPEAK to people / this is why I have come!

c. Luke 4:18 The spirit of the Lord is upon me, anointed me to proclaim, to speak!

4. When a storm arose / in a boat / raging seas / what did Jesus do?

a. He rebuked the storm / spoke to it

1. He didn’t think good thoughts toward it / wrinkle His nose like girl in bewitched / he spoke

5. Jesus at the grave of Lazarus / he revived him / death to life / How?

a. Didn’t need magic / or special prayer cloth / he spoke

1. John 11 Lazarus come forth, and Lazarus came out!

II. Your World

A. Your world is created by words

1. We’ve all had people who have helped up / encouraged us / spoke lifegiving words / helped us believe

a. You’ve also had words spoken that felt like death / words that have stayed with you

Someone polled people / asking people to reveal negative words that were tattooed on their souls / shaped their lives in a negative way / Here are some “No one will ever want to be with you” “You’re damaged goods” “You are irresponsible” “You’re just not smart enough” “I wish you were never born” “Why can’t you be more like your sister”

2. Matthew Lieberman / neuroscientist pointed out / we use language of physical pain to describe relational pain

a. “She broke my heart” “He hurt my feelings”

Lieberman decided to study the brain / see the differences between physical pain / relational pain / In his book “Why Our Brains are wired to connect” he said “Looking at brain scans side by side, without knowing which was an analysis of physical pain and which was an analysis of social pain, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

3. Conclusion / emotional pain / just as real as physical pain

Story of a boy who had to get glasses / a few years back before they knew how to mix glasses with style / they were big / bulky / ugly / but needed / so he got the glasses / had to go back to school / as he walked into his class / kids started laughing / Nerd Alert! Nerd Alert! / he wanted to disappear / Luckily for him / teacher called him to the front / said I noticed you got new glasses / She continued / when you walked in you reminded me of someone / I think you look like Clark Kent / With just those simple words / his world changed

a. Our worlds are created by words spoken to us / with our words we create world around us / life & death

B. Rejecting the Message

1. Before you try and dismiss this / say your words don’t matter / think of this

Remember hospital story / most of the Dr’s hearing they needed to wash their hands rejected the message / one reason Ignaz could not explain why washing hands would matter / some Dr’s even mocked him

a. I can’t really explain why words have power either / I just know they do

Another reason Dr’s rejected Ignaz’s suggestion / if it were true / then the death of all those mothers was actually their fault! They didn’t want to have to admit / they caused so much grief

2. We may not want to acknowledge power of words / because it will be self-indicting

a. We know we have spoke words / brought pain / so we simply choose not to think about it

1. Wake up next morning / pretend it never happened

Another reason they rejected Dr Ignaz / seemed too simple / with all their education / Dr’s couldn’t believe the solution was as basic as “wash your hands”

!!!3. You may struggle to believe loving people / one at a time / simple as “Be careful choosing your words”

a. You may not believe it / but I challenge you to try it!

1. God says our words have power!

a. Right now you could be destroying your marriage / destroying your relationships / your testimony

b. Intentionally try changing the way you speak / words you use / see if it works!

C. Go back to the dinner party (Opening Text)

1. Here they are / Jesus invited to a Pharisee’s house / Simon / probably called a purity party

a. All the rituals were based upon cleaning / not being defiled

1. Something happened / broke all the rules

a. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there

2. Sinful life = town prostitute / showed up uninvited / burst through the door

a. She represented everything Pharisee’s were against / she was ruining all the purity they established

1. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

a. Here is a woman not caring what anyone else thought

b. Knowing she was undone / by the grace / love / that was being offered

b. Maybe she had a planned speech / but in this moment / she couldn’t find the words / as she let down her hair

1. In those days letting down your hair in front of anyone / not your husband / grounds for divorce

a. All the religious were expecting a rebuke to follow

b. Maybe Jesus to say / woman don’t you know how inappropriate this is? Not time or place!

c. She poured out all her perfume

1. Perfume = life she lived / what she put her trust in

a. She was giving it all up for a new life / something new to put her trust in

3. Everyone in room shocked!

a. Maybe Jesus / in His ignorance / didn’t know what kind of woman this was / Jesus could read their faces

1. So he tells a story in their presence / ending with

a. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown…

b. 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

D. Said all that to say this…. Why? What made her enter that room that day?

1. Maybe earlier that day / or even day before / she heard Jesus speaking a message of love / forgiveness

a. It had to be His words that changed her

1. Luke doesn’t tell us what he said earlier that day / but after some digging / I figured it out

a. Earlier in chapter / we see disciples of JTB asking if Jesus was the Messiah

b. Matt 11 we pick up same story / so we can determine it’s the same day

1. Matt does tell us what He taught that day

a. Imagine the woman in the crowd / hearing these words / words that have power

2. Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

a. Can you imagine her hearing those words?

1. Most women in her industry / get their from being sexually abused as children

2. Grow up hearing words of condemnation / low self esteem

a. As a child / she never dreamed of ending up there

b. No one grows up planning on being ashamed of their sin later in life / but we end up there none the less

1. She felt stuck / how her life would end

a. Here is Jesus / speaking words / Come to me. Find rest for your soul.

3. She can’t escape such words / so she seeks Jesus / grabs her most valued treasure / heads over

a. Jesus tells the room / why she did it / gratitude

1. To make sure no missed the point / He says a few MORE life changing words

a. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown..48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”…. 50 Go in peace!

b. Jesus’ words created a whole new world for her

1. Now think about this / Let this sink in

III. GOD GAVE HAS GIVEN US POWER TO SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE / CREATE NEW WORLDS (HOW?)

A. Speak words of Affirmation

1. Words build up or tear down / make decision to build up

a. Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Try it / ladies tell your husband “I am so glad I married you, I respect you” To your wife “I love you, you are beautiful”

To your kids “I am proud of the person you are becoming” Co-worker “You are great at what you do”

1. Speak words of life / create worlds

2. People will begin to live up too what you see in them / speak to them

B. Speak Words of Affection

1. God did this with us

a. Jer 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love;

1. In our hate filled word / we don’t need more hate filled people / speech’s

a. We need people to speak words of kindness / speak differently

C. Speak Words that Point People to Christ

1. I love JTB / people asked if he was Christ

a. He always pointed people back to Jesus / that is our job as believers

1. When people see you are different / ask why / point them to Jesus

D. Speak Words to God about People

1. Prayer / want to create worlds / speak to God about people / for people

a. Get God involved / pray God to bless them / show Himself to them / thank God for them

1. Our words can make all the difference in the world!

Begin your day / reading God’s word / speaking out loud His word / say it to others throughout the day

At the end of each day / post day analysis /

Who did I encourage? Who did I build up? Did I speak words to build life today?

Remember Matt 12:36 36 ...everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Should we take words so seriously? Yeah / literally matter of life and death