No Ordinary Joe - The Blessing Series

No Ordinary Joe: Blessing

Genesis 48

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

2-06-2022

Turtle

When I was in junior high, I made the basketball team. The coach, who was known for verbally berating players, quickly gave me the nickname “turtle.” (I had not developed the puma-like quickness I have now!) He not only called me turtle on the court but, as the health teacher, he called me turtle in class. I can still remember being embarrassed when I would raise my hand and he would say, “Make it quick, turtle!” The class would laugh and I would too, but I was not laughing on the inside.

A Blessing

Fast-forward thirteen years. I was a week away from graduating seminary. Our class had gathered in a conference room to celebrate the end of exams, papers, and endless nights of studying. One by one, we were asked to sit in a chair in front of our peers.

As I sat down, I found myself laughing nervously. Dr. Dale Berry, one of my professors, laid his hands on my head and spoke this blessing over me:

“God has gifted you with the ability to speak the language of children and then translate for parents to understand. May God continue to use you to give energy where there is apathy, humor where there is sullenness, and hope where there is despair.”

These words now hang in my office in a shadow box and they are as meaningful today as they were twenty five years ago.

Words are Spirit

If I were to ask you to remember a time when someone’s words hurt you deeply, it would be a matter of seconds before memories would flood your mind. Why is that? Why do words from twenty years ago stick in our brains when we have trouble remembering where we put our keys this morning? [Or is that just me?]

My mother-in-law always cautioned me, “Words are Spirit.” What she meant is that our words have power in the lives of others. Our words can build up or tear down. The words we speak have the ability to bring life or death. They can hurt or bring healing.

Solomon, writing to his sons in the book of Proverbs, said,?

“The tongue has the power of life and death...” (Proverbs 18:21)

It’s been said, “sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt me.” I think the more realistic view is “sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can break your heart!”

In high school, I was invited to a party by a very popular girl. She said that I could come but my friends couldn’t. When I asked her why not, she said, “Because they are dorks. You are kind like the king of the dorks so that’s makes you kind of cool but not them.” Then she paused and said, “I meant that as a compliment.”

Solomon’s words again,

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18)

Once you have said something hurtful, it’s hard to take it back. I often say it’s like putting toothpaste back in the tube, which is always a messy situation.

If it is true that our words have power, then we need to use them for good. As Peter Parker (aka Spiderman) was told, “With great power comes great responsibility.” This is true in every arena of our lives but it is most important in our family relationships.

The way we talk to our spouses and children have the potential to set them up to feel blessed or cursed by our words. That means we have a spiritual responsibility to use our words to build each other up.

As a church that has a heart for the family, we want to help you to leverage your words to bring a blessing to the children and grandchildren that God has placed in your life. It isn’t something you automatically know how to do and many of us didn’t have good examples growing up. That doesn’t mean you can learn and apply what we will be studying today. God is ready, willing, and able to help you learn to use your words to bless others.

An Epic Family Reunion

Last week, the brothers went back to Canaan and tell their dad Jacob that not only is Joseph alive, but he is the prime minister of Egypt!

At first Jacob didn’t believe them and mat have even had a small heart attack. But after seeing the carts and all the provisions that were sent to him from Egypt, he “revived” and agreed to go to Egypt with them to see his long, lost son.

As they traveled south, he stopped at Beersheba to worship God and to seek His will for this journey.