Bernadine spoke on "The Power of the Spoken Word:
THE POWER OF THE SPOKEN WORD
Never
underestimate the power of the words!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Prov. 18:21.
James compared the tongue to a destroying fire, a dangerous beast, and a
deadly poison James 3:5-8. Speech is a matter
of life or death. Proverbs teaches a lot
about human speech:
I.
Speech is an awesome gift from God.
A professor wrote: “The ability to speak comes so naturally that we are
apt to forget what a miracle it is.
Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to
tell time or how the federal government works.
Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our
brains.” We might say that when God
created our first parents, He gave them the ability to speak and understand words. We are made in His image, He communicates…
therefore, we have the wonderful gift of speech.
Proverbs 16:1 “The answer
of the tongue is from the Lord.”
The Lord gave Adam
instructions about life and he later shared with Eve; they both understood what
God told them. 2:15-17, 3:2-3 Adam named the animals 2:18-20 and gave a
descriptive name to his bride v. 22-23.
Satan used words to deceive Adam and Eve 3:1-5.
We should never take for
granted the value of this divine gift and waste and abuse it. Wise words are compared to gold and silver.
10:20. 25:11-12. Ecc. 12:9-11.
Words are like refreshing water. 10:11. 18:4, 13:14, 14:27. We must be wise in our use of words but also
be prepared to listen. 16:22. The soil of the heart must be prepared and
the seed of the Word planted or the water won’t do us much good.
Right words are like nourishing, health giving food. 15:4, Right words
help to heal a broken
spirit. 16:24 12:18
We need to dedicate our gift
of speech to the glory of God!!!!
II.
Speech can be used to do good!
When the doctor tells us
to “Stick out our tongue” … he is looking for indication of our health. This principle applies to the Christian life,
for what the tongue does reveals what the heart contains. Matt. 12:34…inconsistent speech bears witness
to a divided heart. James 3:10.
What we say
can help or hurt other people. Our words can bring
beauty and value, nourishment, refreshment and healing to the inner
person.
Our words
can bring peace instead of war. 15:1, 18. Solomon is advising us to have a gentle
spirit and a conciliatory attitude when we disagree with others. It can defuse the situation and make it
easier to settle the matter peacefully.
War in the heart – words will be
destructive missiles instead of healing medicine. James 3:14.
Earth wisdom and heavenly wisdom are opposite. James 3:17.
Our
words can help restore those who have sinned. Prov. 25:12. 28:23, 10:17.
In the matter of restoring a relationship in Matthew 18:15- 20…words are so important. During the whole procedure, we must be much in prayer, seeking the Lord’s wisdom
for our words!
Our words can instruct the ignorant. Prov. 15:7
16:21 4:7 As we gain wisdom, we will be able to share it with
others. 10:13
Our
words can rescue the perishing.
Prov. 14:25 If my testimony could
save an innocent person from death and I
refuse to speak, then my silence would be a terrible sin. 24:11-12.
Whether it is rescuing prisoners from execution or lost sinners
from eternal judgment, we cannot plead ignorance if we do nothing.
Our words can encourage those who are
burdened. 12:25, 15:23 When we are walking in the Spirit daily and
being taught by the Lord, we will know how to “speak a word in season to him
who is weary. Isa. 50:4. Prov. 16:24. The Royal British Navy has a regulation which
reads, “No officer shall speak discouragingly to
another officer in the discharge of his duties.” We need to practice that regulation in our
homes and churches.
We can speak words of encouragement and healing to the broken hearted and they are all around
us!!!
III.
Speech can be used to do evil! Scriptures warn us that words can be used to deceive,
control, and destroy. It is estimated
that the average American is exposed to over 1,500 “promotion bites” in the
course of a day, some of them subliminal, and undetected, but all of them
powerful. Whether it is political
“double talk”, seductive advertising, or religious propaganda, today’s “spin
doctors” know how to manipulate people with words. But it
is not just the professional promoters who are guilty, you and I can
turn words into weapons and damage others.
We hurt others
by lying. 12:19
12:22. When words cannot be
trusted, then society starts to fall apart.
Contracts are useless, promises are vain, the judicial system becomes a
farce, and all personal relationships are suspect. 25:18.
A liar enjoys listening to lies 17:4…the ears hear what the heart loves,
so beware of people who have an appetite for gossip and lies.
Proverbs 24:26. We should be honest because we are honest
people in our hearts, walking in the fear of the Lord and not because we are
shrewd bargainers who follow a successful policy.
We hurt others
by gossiping. Lev. 19:16.
Talebearer is the translation of a Hebrew word that means “to go about”
and is probably derived from a word meaning “merchant.” The talebearer goes about peddling
gossip! 11:13. Gossips flatter people by sharing secrets
with them, but to be one of their customers is dangerous. 20:19. 18:8
People who feed on gossip only crave more…we must develop instead an
appetite for God’s truth 2:10. 16:27-28
26:20
We hurt others by
flattery. Means to stroke or caress with
the falt of the hand. Flatterers
compliment you profusely, appealing to your ego, but their praise is far from sincere. They pat you on the back only to locate a
soft spot in which to stick a knife.
29:5 26:28 Most of us secretly enjoy flattery and
dislike rebuke, yet rebuke does us more good.
27:6, 28:23. We must beware of people who give us insincere praise with
selfish motives, especially if they begin their flattery first thing in the
morning 16:24-25. Do you enjoy hearing
somebody agree with what we think of ourselves?
We hurt others
by speaking in anger. 29:22, 16:21.
Many people carry anger in their hearts while they outwardly pretend to
be at peace with their friends, and they cover their anger with hypocritical
words. 26:23.
Ambrose Bierce, “Speak
when you are angry, and you will make the bet speech you will ever regret.”
We hurt others
by impetuous speech.
29:20 18:13 15:28 12:18.
Reckless words can hurt others but they can also hurt us because we
utter them. 21:23
We hurt others
by talking too much. 10:19 15:2
James 3:1-2 Proverbs 11:12-13,
17:28
We hurt others
by talking instead of working. 14:23
Mankind seems to be
divided into three classes: DREAMERS who
have great ideas but never accomplish much, TALKERS who exercise their jaw
muscles and vocal cords but not their hands and feet, DOERS who talk little but
with God’s help turn their dreams into realities.
IV.
Only God can Help us use the gift of
speech for good.
Psa. 141:3 Our sacrifice to the Lord Rom. 12:1 includes
the lips and the tongue. We must also
yield our hearts to the Lord, because what comes out of the mouth originates in
the heart.
Prov 16:1 and 19:21 …give
you great encouragement.
God gives us in the
indwelling Holy Spirit a “Spiritual radar” so that we can assess a situation
and make the right reply. 10:32
“Empty barrels make the
most noise”…is true. Too often in
meetings, those who talk the most have the least to say. We must prepare our hearts, be filled with
the Word and led by the Spirit and we will be a part of the answer and not a
part of the problem.
18:21 10:11
A choice to make – CHOOSE LIFE!!!!
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