POWER OF WORDS
1. Most of us have heard the saying, “sticks and stone can break my bones but words will never hurt me.”
2. This saying is a lie. The Bible says that this saying is a lie.
3.
In Prov.
4. The writer was exactly right.
5. Instead of saying “sticks and stone can break my bones but words will never hurt me,”
6. The saying that is all too famous should be revised to say this:
7.
Sticks and stones can break my bones but words
can wound forever.”
8. We have just had an election. We saw cases where words mattered.
9. When people allege that a politician is a big spender, liberal, wants to send our children to war…
10. These words have an impact.
11. Words are so powerful that a single term can leave us with a flood of emotions.
12. The word “dentist” is a single word but it carries a lot of meaning for some people.
13. Amputated. It is just one word, but it is a powerful word.
IF WE THINK ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH SPEECH, WE FIND THAT OUR WORDS USUALLY FALL INTO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES.
A. Words either serve as tools or they function as weapons.
B. Most of us have seen examples of how words serve as weapons.
C. People use words to embarrass and humiliate others.
D. Words are used to belittle, taunt, and defeat people.
E. In other cases, words are used to frighten, control, and force people to do things.
F. Words are one of the most powerful weapons that people have.
G. Speech can be used to entrap, mislead, deceive, and discourage people.
H. Words can be used to undermine people and ideas.
I. It is through speech that people are sometimes turned against someone or something.
J. People are attacked by words.
2. Speech can also be used as a tool.
A. By our words we can communicate with other people.
B. We can inform people about things and share ideas. We can transmit knowledge.
C. Words allow us to explain and illustrate truths.
D. Speech gives us an excellent way to teach and instruct others.
E. It is through speech that we can encourage and comfort people.
F. Our ability to speak is one of the ways that we can offer assurance to people.
G. Speech is a means of persuading others to do what is right.
3. Because human speech is such a powerful force, the Bible has some things to say about it.
A. We heard the scripture reading – Jas. 3:1-2.
B. The power of speech is seen in what was read.
C. If we can control the tongue we can control the entire body; speech is this powerful.
D.
The writer of Proverbs (
E. He said that “death and life” are in the tongue – READ.
F. Our speech can be a tool or a weapon.
G. Our speech can be compared to a knife.
H. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, it can be productive and useful.
I. In the hands of someone who is unskilled and careless, it can do incalculable harm.
4. This information has been in the Bible for a long time.
5. Just prior to Prov. 18:21 there is a comment about speech in Prov. 16:24.
6. I want to read this passage as well – Prov. 16:24 – READ.
A. Some use speech to soothe and help people.
B. Others use it in a way that results in severe damage.
C. Whether it is during a hospital visit, while in someone’s home, or at work,
D. Some use speech in a way that is destructive.
E. The destructive nature of the speech is further described in Prov. 25:20.
7. I cite this reference because winter is coming upon us. This may be a reference you want to turn to.
8. This passage contains an illustration that is best understood by thinking about winter.
9. Supposed that a little later in the year we have a very cold day; the temperature is well below zero.
10. We wear our heaviest coat to some public place.
11. We remove our coat, do what needs done, and then prepare to leave.
12. As we get ready to go, we discover that someone has stolen our coat.
13. Because of the circumstances we must go out into the sub zero weather without any protection.
A. This is one of the pictures in Prov. 25:20.
B. If you have found the verse let’s read it together – READ.
C. Who would be so low as to take a person’s coat in the middle of winter?
D. Such an act is almost unthinkable.
E. The writer said that this is similar to a person who is careless in their speech.
F. The comparison involves someone who has a “heavy heart.”
14. Someone who is really happy comes to a the person who is despondent and says, “Let’s sing.”
15. There is a time for singing and joy but the situation in Prov. 25 is not this time.
16. Notice that the person who wanted to sing did not say foul words.
17. He did not take the Lord’s name in vain.
18. He was simply careless in his speech.
19. This carelessness is compared to someone who steals a person’s clothing during a cold, winter day.
20. THIS PROVERB SHOULD REMIND US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR SPEECH IN EVERYDAY LIFE.
A. For the most part I believe that God’s people are concerned about their communication.
B. Members of the church try to avoid the kind of cursing that is found in the world.
C. Swearing is one of the things that God’s people try to avoid.
D. This is good and right.
E. Yet, this is not the only thing to be mindful of when we think about speech.
21. Listen to what Paul said in Col. 4:6 – READ.
A. This past week I came across an illustration that really impressed me.
B. There was a young man who was a problem child in school; he was always going to see the principal.
C. On the day being described, a teacher had taken again him to the office.
D. This time the principal asked if the child had been punished each previous time.
E. The young mean sneeringly said, “yea. I am ready to be beaten again. Dish it out.”
F. The principal asked why the young man had again brought to his office.
G. The student said that he was there for fighting.
H. He had shoved another child’s head into the sandbox.
I. The principal asked why he had done this; the boy said, “I didn’t like the way he looked at me.”
J. The child then said, “If I thought I could do it, I would shove your face into something.”
22. The principal said that the rebellious student was going to learn about a new word—grace.
23. The principal tried to explain grace but the boy just glared at him.
24. Pretty soon the child said, “Are you just going to let me go – no spanking?”
A. The principal said that the boy would not be punished.
B. However, he added that there had to be consequences for actions.
C. The boy said he knew there had to be a catch. He held out his hand for the slap.
25. The principal told the teacher to get the paddle.
26. The principal took it and then handed it back to the teacher.
27. He then turned to the child and said, “I want you to count the blows.”
28. The principal closed the child’s hands and pushed them away. He then stretched out his own.
29. The principal then said, “BEGIN.”
A. WHAP. The hands of the principal were struck.
B. Then they were hit a second time and a third time. Then came a fourth.
30. This illustration is primarily designed to describe grace, love, and the atonement.
31. Yet, is it not also related to speech?
A. The principal could have screamed at and threatened this young man.
B. He could have heaped verbal abuse upon the child.
C. He could have used words designed to inflict guilt and shame.
D. There are times when guilt, shame, and perhaps threats are appropriate.
32. Yet, this man spoke words of grace.
33. Instead of saying words that wounded like a sword, he was kind.
34. His words were backed up by his deeds.
35. This story—true or not—ends with the young boy sobbing in remorse.
36. WHEN WE LOOK AT JESUS, WE FIND THAT HE USED GREAT CARE WHEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE. SOMETIMES JESUS HAD SOME NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY, BUT WHENEVER IT WAS POSSIBLE, HE SPOKE WORDS OF GRACE SEASONED WITH SALT.
A. He never tried to be the kind of person who takes a someone’s coat in the middle of winter.
B. In Mt. 9:2 Jesus said that a person’s sins were “forgiven.”
C. He encouraged the sick by telling them, “You are healed. Rise up and walk.”
D. Jesus met sinful people like the woman at the well in Jn. 4.
E. Other people would have condemned her and probably had said bad things to her in the past.
F. After all, she was with a man she was not entitled to be with.
G. She was a Samaritan.
H. People could have said a lot of bad things about her.
37. Jesus spoke words of grace. He told her about “living water.”
38. The Lord’s kindness extended to other people and times as well.
39. There were times when people needed food.
40. The disciples said the crowds were too great. They should be sent away.
41. Jesus said, “have them sit down.”
42. The disciples said that little children were a bother and should be run off.
43. Jesus said, “suffer the little children to come unto me.”
44. The people who were executed on crosses said horrible things.
45. While in agony Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.”
46. The Bible teaches that our speech helps determine if we are a child of God or a child of Satan.
47. this is certainly seen in the life of Jesus.
48. For my final reference I want to read Prov. 15:28 – READ.
49. The people of God need to be concerned about how they talk.
50. This concern goes far beyond foul speech and impure words.
51. God’s people are to be concerned about speaking with grace.
52. The people of God must strive to say the right thing at the right time.
53. The saved do not want their words to cut and hurt.
54. Few Christians would steal a person’s coat in the dead of winter.
55. Far less attention is often paid to what is said. This is a serious error.
56. Are we a Christian? Do we pay close attention to how we communicate with others?
57. When our speech and actions are right, we will be a light to the world.
58. We will be like that principal who changed a life.