Series
Today - The Power of the Tongue (Words)
James 3:2- For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, & able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; & we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, & are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, where ever the governor lists. Even so the tongue is a little member, & boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, & sets on fire the course of nature; & it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, & of birds, & of serpents, & of things in the sea, is tamed, & has been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; & therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing & cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water & bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water & fresh.
Get ‘em saying yes –
Have you ever been hurt by words? Ever said something that you knew was wrong?
Ever had something said…
WORDS - What are they?
James “as powerful as the rudder @ ship”… “enough to start a forest fire”…
YET - they’re but a spark… Seem very INSIGNIFICANT compared to the larger scheme of things…
What are they?
Verbal expressions of an internal belief system…
i.e. Our words revel what really lies inside us… They are the ability to know us & how we tick…
Our belief system == Words…
Belief system comes from childhood… events… significant others… trauma…
** To change our Words - We must change our Belief System… == Healing… Focus… Maturing… Evaluation…
FOCUS Today - The Words themselves & Their Power!!
James – believed to be the ½ brother of Jesus…
i.e. Raised by the same adults on earth… -- Teaching us about words…
Interesting: The one thing we can attribute to his parents & them…
Jesus was lost - in their eyes -
What do you say if you lose your child @ store… home… moment?
Luke 2:48 … when they saw him, they were amazed: & his mother said, Son, why have you thus dealt with us? behold, your father & I have sought you sorrowing.
This pass == the way their parents probably spoke to them - Words of care… compassion… love… LIFE!!
This James – Words are important… We learn them from Parents!!
The Power of Your WORDS:
I. They are CREATIVE
Your words create… whether good/bad… happy/sad… lies/truth… life/death…
Your Words are Creative!!
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven & the earth. And the earth was without form, & void; & darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: & there was light.
“God said…”
The Spoken word of God == Creation of the World!!
God said, Let there be light… Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters…Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, & let the dry land… Let the earth bring forth grass… herb yielding seed… the fruit tree yielding fruit… Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night… Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, & fowl that may fly above… Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind…
God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
GOD SAID IT & IT WAS SO…
Over 1900 times - “I WILL… watch… praise… battle… win… run… walk… not… call… abide…
Over & over - the spoken words are Creating the FUTURE of People… Homes (we will serve the Lord)… Families…
What Future are Your Words Creating?
· Our Spoken Words Create Our World
· Our Outlook in Life
· Our Potential (David & Goliath)
** What You say is TRUE!
Jesus Used His Word to Create New Worlds For the Lives He came into Contact with…
John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; & without him was not any thing made that was made.
· Our Words can Change Our World
Matt. 17:20 If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; & it shall remove; & nothing shall be impossible unto you.
See it? BELIEF SYSTEMS == WORDS == CHANGE YOUR WORLD!
II. The Subtlety of WORDS
… we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us & turn about their whole body… Behold also the ships, which though they’re so great, & are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, where ever the governor lists. Even so the tongue is a little member, & boasts great things…
Words are Extremely Dangerous When NOT Used Properly
Like Barney Fife & His 1 Bullet!
They go in & leave no mark… No trace of their Impact on the Outside… There’s No Scar… Blood…
Yet - Once in - They Can Do Irreparable Damage!
We can ALL Remember Words (+/- - Life/Death) That Were Spoken to US - Maybe Years Ago… THAT STILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON US…
Said by Whom… Where we were… Felt like…
Yet when they’re Spoken 90% of the Time we throw them around like they mean Next to absolutely Nothing…
** Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them (dog). Sticks & stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts… Robert Fulghum
· Words are Typically Used out of HABIT
· Words Have Irreversible Effects
· Words are Reflective of the Words Used on US
Mirror of our parents
III. 3 Worlds Our Words SHAPE
a. Our World of SELF
** What are you saying about Yourself (Spoken or Not)
Again - THOUGHTS CAN ONLY COME FROM A SOURCE WITHIN
Prov. 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…
Your Words of Yourself are:
· Prophetic
Listen to Your SELF-TALK - For IT WILL Tell You Where You’re Going in LIFE!!
· A Prison or Possibility
· Public Display of Your Self-Belief
· Excuse or Exciting (True/Tales)
We create OUR World By the Words We Use…
With my words I either become better or worse…
I either challenge myself or make excuses for myself…
I either move forward or am bound with my words…
THE THING IS – WE DON’T GET IT!!
b. The World of Others
In general all those around us are impacted by our words…
Specifically - FAMILY
· Children
· Spouse
We WILL Say Things to Them We Won’t/Can’t Say to Anyone Else in Our LIVES!!
· Children are So Fragile -
Our Worlds are the Concrete that Fashions them in to the Adult they will become!!
Elephant…
T-Ball?… Kyndall & Ashton…
** Illustration from the Book
** If our Children Grow up with…
Are you building up your children with your words OR Are you Breaking them?
Are your words age appropriate?
Are you repeating the past?
YOUR Words are Being Bound Around their Neck & Written on their HEART!
· Spouse
Probably the Words Used the Way they’re Used Looks a lot like Your Mother/Father - Specifically Your FATHER!!
“I Love You”… “Thanks”… “You look nice”…
or Something Else?
c. Our SPIRITUAL World
The Words we use are to a great degree Creating the Possibilities within our Spiritual World!
2 Areas Specifically:
· PRAYER LIFE
· PRAISE LIFE
Prayer Life -
“you can say to this mt… all things are possible to them that believe… ask & receive…”
Do you Ask & Talk to God as a Beggar or a CHILD?
Beggar - begs & expects nothing but the lowest that could be offered
Child - Asks & Expects Something to Happen
Watch your children approach you before they learn your ways (+/-)
Jesus “OUR Father…
The Way We Pray to God – Has a Tremendous Impact in YOUR LIFE!!
Not Name it Claim it…
Faith - the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for…
AGAIN - Your Words Create Your World - Even Spiritually!!
Praise LIFE
We ALL VALUE SOMETHING & How You Worship GOD Says Something about Your WORLD!
Praise (Words of) WILL:
Get Rid of Depression - Put on the Garment of Praise
Clear Your Mind of the Stuff of this World - Sometimes that takes awhile
Builds Your Relationship With God
Just like Your Relationship with your Spouse…
Actions lead to Feelings… SINGING/Praise Can Change Your Feelings & BELIEF SYSTEM About GOD!!
The Power of Your WORDS Are SO Greatly Overlooked…
Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire… it defiles the whole body, & sets on fire the course of nature… But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; & therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing & cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be…
SELF
OTHERS
SPIRITUAL WORLD
They are ALL Formed by Your WORDS!!
