The Power of Words

Dorothy Dalton

Midland SDA Church

February 13, 2016

We can embark on a rigid exercise program, lift weights and eat right; yet still neglect the most powerful part of our body.  This little muscle, the tongue, may be the most powerful, most potent and dangerous member of our entire body. In fact, James 3:2b(KJV) says “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Have you ever said something and immediately regretted it? Maybe it even happened today. The Bible, especially, the book of Proverbs gives us a lot of wise counsel about our words. So, this morning I invite you to join me as we look at what I have learned from my study of this topic.

PRAYER

Recently, on TV I have seen damage from apartment fires, houses destroyed by fire, and some fires have resulted in death. Then there is the less severe situation, such as when I have burned some food I cooking, or burned a finger with a match that I believed to have been cold. All of which reminds me of what the Bible says in James 3: 6(NIV) The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. The tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.

There is the story I found from 2000 where a 46 year old woman was driving her van in the Black Hills of Wyoming. She stopped her van by the side of the road early on Friday afternoon August 24^th and lit a cigarette, then threw the lighted match on the ground.  She watched as a small fire started and did nothing.  She got back into her van then drove away.  Janice Stevenson said she never intended to start a large fire.  She just wanted to start a small one to watch it burn.  The only trouble was there was a wind that day that initially pushed the fire to the north and then switched to the south which caused it to jump the highway and rapidly spread threatening the structures at the Jewel Cave National Monument. It took 1000 firefighters over two weeks to control the fire.

This fire spread over 84,000 acres;

            Destroyed 239 million board feet of timber

            It cost $9 million to fight

Land and structural damage totaled about $11 million.  That includes replacing fences, stock tanks, wells and water pipeline, plus reseeding, weed control, tree planting and new fire lines.

Seven of ten goshawk nesting stands were destroyed and one mountain lion died. All from a little match.

Why do I tell you this story?  Because in James 3:6 (KJV) we are told that “our tongue is like a fire”. Could it be, that a wildfire can be caused by that littlest member of the body, the tongue?  We have seen the evidence of how a great forest fire can begin with a match or a little spark.  Is it the same with our words? 

            In Matt 12:34 Jesus says that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” and according to Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”. And James 3:8 calls the tongue a “deadly poison”.

            As a fool carelessly plays with a loaded gun, so many Christians, today, do likewise with their deadly tongue.  If only we could fully realize the untold damage that we are doing to the body of Christ!  If only we could see the full effect of the words we speak.  I shudder to think of how many times the words that have come out of my mouth have been like that woman’s match.  I’ve thrown out the word without even thinking and having no concept of the wild fire that it might ignite, as a result, and just walk off unaware of having created enormous damage.  The Scripture just spoken says; if we can control the tongue we can control everything else about our bodies.  There are many references in the book of Proverbs about the tongue, the mouth, the lips and the speech.

            Today, I want to focus on the power and impact of our words.  The scripture says that “our words have power to kill and give life”.  That is incredible power! Maybe the words spoken were not intended to cause harm but they can take life.  They can destroy life!  Proverbs 18:21 is a verse we should write down and memorize.  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The tongue can blacken a reputation and drive a man into poverty or death.  Small as it is the tongue can do vast harm.    Our words can do enormous good or enormous damage. They can be life giving or life destroying.  When that match was thrown into the brush by Janice Stevenson, she wasn’t thinking; but the consequences were devastating.  She was arrested about a month later and charged with destruction of government property and setting a forest fire on public land.

The trial court imposed its sentence with the following comments.  Only by the grace of God was someone not killed or injured seriously.  During her arraignment and prior to sentencing she submitted to a polygraph examination and admitted to her arson in three prior fires in Wyoming.

What if we had a similar sentence for words we have spoken.  You do know that our careless words do have consequences. If only we could see the full effect of the words we speak!  Perhaps a closer look into the Bible can help.

God made man, and God made man’s mouth and tongue, so surely He should be qualified to comment on the subject.  If it is such an important topic don’t you believe that God should have some good counsel concerning the use and misuse of the human mouth and tongue.  Let us consider some sins of the tongue as we find them revealed in God’s words.

First, let’s look at Proverbs 25:18 “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.”  The three types of weapons represent the effects of false witness upon the friend.  The maul was a war club that crushed in the heads or smashed the bones and bruised the flesh of its victims.  some attacks made upon a man’s reputation are crude and simply crush the sufferer down in ruin.  Others inflect deep cuts with sharp words, which incapacitate and often destroy as does a sword.  But one of the favorite weapons of the maligner of his fellow men is the arrow.  Speeding from a distance, it pierces the heart and saps the will so there is no strength to struggle against the stealth and enmity of the archer; who often disguises himself as a friend.  So a lying tongue is a misuse of a deadly weapon.  John 8:44 tells us that “Satan is the father of lies” and Provers 6:17 states that there at “seven things that are detestable to God; one of which is a lying tongue”. All who are liars will have their part in the lake of fire, according to Revelation 21:8

Proverbs 10:11 offers hope as it tells us that “the mouth of the righteous is a well of life.” The NIV and New American Standard instead of well of life says “a fountain of life.”  Words we speak can be life giving: like a spring in a dessert to someone who is thirsty.  Psalm 36:9 says God is the fountain of life.  If you want to speak words that will bring life to other’s you need to speak words motivated by God not, Satan.

            Our words can wound or heal, Proverbs 12:18 Tells us “there is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword”, Their words are sharp cutting, piercing, hurting words.  Have you experienced some of these words that are thrown around like a sword, without any thought of who might be at the other end or the consequences that might occur. This is a form of bullying that can affect all ages.

The rest of that verse says that “the tongue of the wise promotes health” Our words should produce grace, help and health.  Healing words cannot be over-emphasized.  People who speak words of encouragement into our lives.  I cannot over-emphasize how the encouragers have blessed my life.  Hopefully you have someone, who is there when you are discouraged. They seem to know exactly what encouragement is needed, to lift up your spirits.

Proverbs 12:25 says “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression” but, a good word makes it glad”. Words of kindness, blessing and healing.

“I know this is a hard time for you but I know you’re going to make it.”   Those are words that can bring health and refreshing to our spirit. 

            What about a flattering tongue?  It also is a sin.  The Bible speaks of flattery as a characteristic of the wicked, not the righteous.  Psalm 5:9 “for there is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher, they flatter with their tongue.  Flattery is just a form of lying, and it has no place in the life of a Christian.

            The Bible also speaks of a proud tongue. Psalm 12: 3-4 “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.”  The most annoying Christians in the world are those with proud tongues; because a proud tongue usually comes with two closed ears!  A proud-tongued Christian will talk much of his knowledge and service, but very little about the Lord. A proud tongued Christian is hard to teach or reason with because he thinks he knows everything.  God hates a proud tongue. Allow the Holy Spirit to use your tongue in the way of humility and kindness because pride will only quench God’s Spirit and damage your testimony.

            Can we overuse our tongue?  Ecclesiastes 5:3 says that “a fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words.  Some people are guilty of speaking too swiftly when they really need to wait before saying anything.  God’s words say the following in Proverbs 18:13 “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”  How many times have you had to eat your words because you spoke too swiftly?  James 1:19 warms us to be “swift to hear and slow to speak.”  Could it be that is why we have two ears and one mouth?

            What about a backbiting tongue?  Proverbs 25:23 and Romans 1:30 make mention of a backbiting tongue.  A backbiter is someone who uses their tongue against you when you aren’t present, yet they will not face you with their charges, or discuss them when you are present.  This is a cowardly backbiter, who enjoys stirring up problems rather than take steps to solve them.  A back biter is of no use to anyone and no one has ever been strengthened or edified through backbiting. Beware of the backbiters, especially the ones who sow discord among the brethren. Proverbs 6:19 tells is that a cowardly backbiter would rather stir up problems than solve problems.

            The Tale bearing tongue is mentioned in Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly”.  Leviticus 19:16 says “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.”  Every Christian has the duty to deny his own desires and seek to edify other Christians.  Romans 14:19 and Philippians 2:3 ”Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” Tale bearing runs wholly contrary to Christian edification.  Tale bearing, carrying and telling tales spreads all sorts of hurtful information around and Satan uses such information to hinder and tear down God’s work.  A victim of tale bearing according to Proverbs is a wounded person. (Prov 18:8) God forbid that a Christian should wound another Christian, but it does happen all the time.  Some Christians live as though they think God has “called” them to bear tails about other Christians.  Many are dedicated to informing the body of Christ on the latest news about someone’s personal life as part of their requests for prayer.  There are many nice words and phrases used to justify such conduct, but the Bible words is Tale bearing.

            Some people, Christians included, have a nasty habit of using their tongue for cursing.  Romans 3: 13-14 says, “Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” This passage deals strictly with unsaved people and poison and their ungodly ways, yet there are a great many professing Christians who curse regularly.  Why would you want to identify yourself with someone whom God describes as being Dead, Deceitful and poison?  

 it was Teddy Roosevelt who said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” but the truth is that if you speak softly you won’t need a big stick. Every Christians’ prayer should be, “Lord make my words gracious and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them.

A silent tongue is also a sinful tongue because we have been commanded to speak up and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.  In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power after that the holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We as Christians, have an obligation to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus.  To be silent about Christ is to sin against Him.  Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when Hhe cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.“ (Mark 8:38)  Pray for opportunities to speak up for your Saviour.  Don’t be found guilty of having a silent tongue. Now is the time to invite neigbors for our evangelistic meetings.

It is truly amazing all that man has tamed.  We stick our heads in the mouths of lions, We have dogs that can bark out jingle bells, elephants that play soccer, chimps that perform sign languages and donkeys that play basketball.  Man has conquered nearly every mountain in the world, yet he has yet to conquer his own tongue. We have identified our problem.  I cannot leave you without an antidote.

From SDA BC #3 pg 1164, The Lord will help every one of us where we need help the most in the grand work of overcoming and conquering self.  Let the law of kindness be upon your lips and the oil of grace in your heart.  This will produce wonderful results.  You will be tender, sympathetic, and courteous. You need all these graces.  The Holy Spirit must be received and brought into your character then it will be as holy fire, giving forth incense which will rise up to God, not from lips that condemn, but as a healer of the souls of men.

In closing, there is the story of a girl in Massachusetts, who had grown weary of all of the negative talk and low self-esteem in the students at her school.  So she put 1986 Post-it notes one on each locker in her school.  Her message to every student was two words.  She simply wrote, “You’re beautiful. Maybe those are the two words you need to hear today.

A couple renewing their wedding vows asked that the Prayer of St. Francis: be read.  They said the prayer had helped them—not just to strengthen their relationship but to serve as a guide as they helped others.  Here is an adaptation of the prayer that can guide us.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us speak words of love

Where there is injury, let us speak words of pardon

Where there is doubt, let us speak words of faith;

Where there is despair, let us speak words of hope;

Where there is darkness, let us speak words of enlightenment;

Where there is sadness, let us speak words of joy.

Where there is hurt, in faith, let us speak words of healing.

For it is in giving that we receive and It is in forgiving that we are forgiven.

Let us Pray!

James 3:2 in the message states If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.