The Power Of Words

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.

________________________________________

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