PROVERBS #3: THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS
OPENING SCRIPTURE:
“Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do!” (Proverbs 4:7a, NLT).
• In May we are going on a month long journey through the Book of Proverbs.
THE BIG IDEA: Proverbs tells us that the power of life and death is in our tongue. That tells us that our words are powerful, and we need to use that power wisely.
STORY:
There was a man who lived in New York who was tired of the cold weather, so he decided to go to Florida. His wife was on a business trip at the time so he called her to let her know what he was doing and to tell her to meet him in Florida. When he arrived he sent her an e-mail to let her know he was there, but he got a few letters wrong in the address and instead of going to his wife the e-mail went to a pastor’s wife in Iowa whose husband had died the day before.
The little old lady turned on her computer, read the e-mail, screamed and fainted right on the spot. Her family and friends who were there came in saw her on the floor – and when they read the screen they understood why she fainted.
Dearest darling just wanted you to know I arrived safely. Looking forward to you being with me tomorrow. Signed, your husband. p.s. It sure is hot down here…
KEY TEXT: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:21).
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov. 12:18).
• “The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail more than his tongue.”
THE POWER OF WORDS:
“The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (James 3:5-6).
• VIDEO CLIP: Words Hurt!
ILLUSTRATION:
One dark night, when people were in bed, Mrs. O’ Leary lit a lantern in her shed,
The cow kicked it over, winked its eye, and said, there’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight.
On Sunday evening, October 8, 1871, the Chicago Fire started in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary. Before the fire died out two days later, it had cut through Chicago three and one-third square miles in size. Property valued at $192,000,000 was destroyed, 100,000 people were left homeless, and 300 people lost their lives. All because of one small spark.
• We need to build a firewall in our speech!
• “Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "I was only joking!” (Prov. 26:18-19). Don’t joke!
WORDS THAT SPEAK DEATH:
Words are like fire: Fire can either be a good or a bad thing. It can be used to warm your home and create an inviting environment, or the same fire can be used to burn down a home.
1. Death Words #1: Lying:
“There are six things the LORD hates -- no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.” (Prov. 6:16-19).
• In this list of seven things the Lord hates, two of them deal with lying!
• Proverbs 12:22 tells us that “lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.” God hates lying!
• Why does God hate lying? First of all, because He IS truth (John 14:6). And secondly, because Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44).
2. Death Words #2: Strife:
The last item on that list of things the Lord hates is someone who sows discord (Prov. 6:19).
• “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.” (Prov. 17:14).
• God’s Warning to those who stir up strife: “But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond all hope of healing.” (Prov. 6:15).
• QUOTE: “What a serious thing it is to stir up strife, especially among Christian brothers and sisters. That’s why I’m so grieved whenever I see someone stirring up strife in the church. I fear for that person’s well-being, because (of that Scripture).” (Robert Morris, The Power of Your Words).
• One of the reasons why the devil stirs up strife so much is because he knows how powerful unity is. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious anointing oil…For there the Lord commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore.” (Psalm 133).
3. Death Words #3: Gossip:
“A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much.” (Prov. 20:19).
• A gossip is a person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts.
• If someone will gossip TO you, they will gossip ABOUT you.
• “A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” (Pr. 16:28).
• Don’t spiritualize gossip by saying, “I’m telling you this so you can pray…”
ILLUSTRATION:
A woman in a village had maliciously gossiped about another lady in the village. One day she found out that she was wrong about this lady and had a change of heart. She went to the village’s wise man and asked how she could take back all the wrong she had done. The wise man told her to go home and kill her chickens and pluck there feathers and put them into a bag. After this she was to come back and see the wise man again, but on her way back she was to scatter all the feathers. The lady did as she was told. When she got back to the wise man, he told her, "Now go back and pick up all the feathers that you have scattered." The woman was astonished at such a command and said, "By now the wind has carried the feathers throughout the village and beyond." The wise man then told her, “And so it is with your careless words. They are like the feathers scattered in the wind. You cannot retrieve them.”
4. Death Words #4: Slander:
“Whoever spreads slander is a fool.” (Prov. 10:18b).
• Slander is worse than gossip because it is a false, malicious statement about someone.
• The Bible warns us not to keep company with a slanderer (1 Cor. 5:11).
• We have had people in the church spreading lies about Liza and myself.
• “Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.” (1 Tim. 5:19).
5. Death Words #5: Talebearing - Breaking Confidences:
“A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.” (Prov. 11:13).
• In the church, people should feel safe to confess their sins to one another and know that what they share will be kept in confidence.
6. Death Words #6: Contentious Speech:
“It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home.” (Prov. 21:9).
“As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.” (Prov. 26:21).
• A contentious person is someone who is argumentative, combative or quarrelsome.
• Do you like to argue just for the sake of argument? Stop it!
WORDS THAT SPEAK LIFE:
“Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.” (James 3:3-4).
• Not only can words destroy lives, they can also direct your life and destiny!
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Eph. 4:29).
• Don’t swear or curse or speak words of death.
• When you call someone names, you are shaping them negatively. i.e. “Loser!”
• STORY: Of the impact words had on Liza’s life – devastated her!
• The only words out of our mouths should be helpful, encouraging words!
A POSITIVE BIBLE EXAMPLE:
“Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:11-12).
• Gideon was NOT a mighty man of valor; he was hiding from his enemies.
• However – the angel spoke words of LIFE that shaped Gideon’s destiny!
CHALLENGE: Repent of death words, and choose to only speak words of life!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
