THE POWER OF WORDS
Pastor Joel Bernardino - January 8, 2026
Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
The Bible makes a powerful declaration: life and death are in the power of the tongue.
This means our words are never neutral. Every time we speak, we are releasing something—either life or death, hope or discouragement, truth or confusion.
Many believers desire to walk closely with God, but one of the clearest indicators of our spiritual walk is how we speak—to others, about others, and even to ourselves.
Today, we will look at the power of words, the promise attached to them, the command God gives us, the warning He provides, and how we can apply this truth in our daily lives.
WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO GIVE LIFE
Our tongue has the power to give life or to cause death. Walking steadily with God is revealed not only through prayer and worship, but through the way we use our words to build up, strengthen, and give hope.
Every word we speak either imparts life or releases death.
Though the tongue is small, its influence is great—it can heal or harm, encourage or crush, inspire faith or weaken it.
Illustration: Fake News
What happens when someone spreads fake news?
Truth is replaced by confusion. Reality becomes distorted. Fear, misunderstanding, and conflict begin to grow. People start reacting to lies as if they were truth, making wrong decisions and causing unnecessary division.
This is exactly what destructive words do. When truth is replaced by careless speech, lives are affected.
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Walking with God is revealed in the way we speak.
Life-giving words strengthen the weary, heal wounded hearts, and remind people of God’s promises.
Illustration: Words Spoken to a Child
Think of a child who repeatedly hears, “You are useless,” compared to another child who hears, “I believe in you.”
One grows up discouraged and fearful; the other grows in confidence and hope.
The difference is not intelligence or talent—it is consistent words spoken over them.
Illustration: The Story of Salome
I remember the life story of Salome. She was well-educated and not poor, yet she became involved in pornography and sex videos.
In an interview, she shared that what pushed her toward that lifestyle was the repeated words spoken by her parents, calling her “ugly.”
She wanted to prove that those words were wrong.
The truth is—she is beautiful, and many people admired her.
But destructive words shaped her choices before truth ever reached her heart.
A LESSON FROM THE LIVING MANNA
The Bible reminds us that we will eat the fruit of our words.
Words are seeds, and every seed eventually produces a harvest.
If our words are filled with faith, truth, encouragement, and hope, we position ourselves to receive God’s blessing.
Why did God provide manna daily in the wilderness?
To teach His people that they needed daily nourishment.
In the same way, life-giving words are spiritual manna. They nourish not only the listener, but also the speaker.
When we choose to speak in alignment with God’s Word, we are feeding our future with faith.
Illustration: Farming
A farmer does not harvest corn if he planted weeds.
If you continually plant words of anger, criticism, and unbelief, you cannot expect peace, joy, and unity in return.
SPEAK THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME
God does not only command us to speak well—He commands us to speak wisely.
Focus on life and hope, remembering that sometimes the wisest choice is silence.
Spiritual maturity is often revealed through restraint.
Illustration: The Quiet Student
I now understand that when a high school teacher describes the most well-behaved student, they often mean the quietest one.
Wisdom is knowing:
• What to say
• How to say it
• And when to say nothing at all
Proverbs 10:19 teaches us:
“Where words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
Silence, when guided by wisdom, can prevent unnecessary conflict and preserve relationships.
Illustration: The Neighbor’s House
While visiting a neighbor’s house, I misspoke and said, “The kid is like our kitten.”
Immediately, the person beside me signaled that I shouldn’t say that.
Realizing my mistake, I quickly clarified, “Our pet doesn’t really like being touched.”
I was relieved that I was able to correct myself in time.
Illustration: A Doctor in Surgery
A doctor does not speak casually during surgery—because every word matters.
In the same way, when emotions are high, wisdom calls us to pause, pray, and choose our words carefully.
RECKLESS WORDS BRING DESTRUCTION
Reckless words are a path to ruin. They are not harmless. They carry consequences.
Careless or destructive speech is a double-edged sword:
• It wounds the listener
• And it hardens the heart of the speaker
Words of anger, gossip, and criticism destroy trust, damage relationships, and ruin reputations.
Illustration: Gossip
Gossip is like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube.
Once it is out, you cannot put it back.
Apologies may help—but the damage is often already done.
APPLICATION
1. For Life
Before speaking in moments of anger or emotional tension, pause and ask:
“Will these words build up or tear down?”
A short pause can prevent a lifetime of regret.
Silence can be a powerful act of obedience.
Illustration: The Father and the Child
I heard a story from a pastor.
A father became angry when he saw scribbles made with a marker on his new car. In his anger, he struck his child’s hand.
When he saw blood, he panicked and rushed his four-year-old child to the hospital.
While the child was being treated, the father returned to the car, kicked it repeatedly, and cried out,
“My child is more important than you.”
But by then, the pain had already been done.
2. For Work
Avoid gossip, negative talk, and constant complaining in the workplace.
Instead, choose to be an encourager and a peacemaker.
Illustration: Two Organizations
In my previous employments, I worked in two organizations with completely opposite management cultures.
One was large, with abundant resources and manpower. Because of confidence and size, they ignored gossip and negative talk. Over time, the organization declined.
The other was small, with limited resources. Yet there was mutual respect. People greeted one another, laughed together, and enjoyed their work.
Within seven years, the smaller organization grew to more than double the success of the larger one.
That is the power of encouragement, respect, and peace in the workplace.
3. For Growth
Make it a habit to express appreciation intentionally.
Use texts, emails, messages, and spoken words to affirm others.
Become an agent of life wherever God places you.
Encouragement costs nothing—but it can mean everything to someone who is struggling silently.
Illustration: A Simple Greeting
I will never forget a moment from my younger years. I approached a mature and highly educated woman and asked, “Kamusta po kayo?”
She replied, “No one has ever asked me that with such genuine concern. Thank you.”
Then she added, “I’m carrying a problem in my heart. Could you pray for me?”
CLOSING
Real transformation happens when we move beyond merely listening to the Word and begin practicing restraint, encouragement, and gratitude.
When we pause before we speak and choose words that give life, we become instruments of God’s grace—bringing strength, courage, and hope to everyone around us.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
May we always choose life.
