Guarding Our Words: The Power of Speech in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Words to Shape Lives

Our words hold immense power, capable of blessing or harming those around us. Proverbs 13:3 teaches that guarding our lips is akin to guarding our lives, as rash words can lead to ruin. This requires vigilance and self-control, beginning with our thoughts. By being mindful of what we say, we can ensure that our words reflect the grace of God and build others up. The Bible encourages us to use our speech to edify and encourage, rather than to tear down or harm. [02:36]

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV): "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where your words may have hurt someone. How can you seek reconciliation and use your words to bring healing today?

Day 2: Idle Words and Their Consequences

Idle words are unproductive and often reactionary, similar to vomit. To avoid speaking impulsively, we must be still and allow our emotions to settle. This practice helps us to speak with intention and grace. By taking a moment to pause and reflect before speaking, we can ensure that our words are thoughtful and considerate. This discipline not only prevents harm but also allows us to communicate more effectively and lovingly. [06:23]

Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV): "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Reflection: Recall a time when you spoke without thinking. What steps can you take to pause and reflect before speaking in future situations?

Day 3: Guarding the Heart and Mind

Setting a guard over our hearts and minds is essential for guarding our speech. By storing God's word in our hearts, we can arrest unauthorized thoughts before they become unwholesome words. This practice aligns our speech with God's truth, allowing us to speak words that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. The Holy Spirit aids us in this process, offering us words that are peaceable, considerate, and full of mercy. [16:45]

Psalm 19:14 (ESV): "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Reflection: What specific scripture can you meditate on this week to help guard your heart and mind against negative thoughts and words?

Day 4: Removing Harmful Traits from the Heart

Removing bitterness, rage, anger, clamor, slander, and malice from our hearts is crucial for speaking words that build others up. The Holy Spirit aids us in this process, guiding us to choose words that bring healing and peace. By allowing the Spirit to transform our hearts, we can become more like Christ in our interactions with others, offering kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. [21:56]

Colossians 3:8-10 (ESV): "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."

Reflection: Identify one negative trait you struggle with. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you remove it and replace it with a Christ-like quality?

Day 5: Becoming an Oasis of Peace

Living in the Spirit allows us to become an oasis in a world filled with anger and hatred. By being filled with the Holy Spirit, we can offer refreshment and strength to those around us, reflecting the grace and love of Christ. Our words and actions can serve as a source of encouragement and hope, drawing others closer to God. As we live in the Spirit, we become conduits of His peace and love, transforming the environments we inhabit. [46:05]

Isaiah 58:11 (ESV): "And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Reflection: How can you intentionally create an atmosphere of peace and encouragement in your home or workplace this week?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we are called to live a life that reflects the teachings of Christ, particularly in how we use our words. Ephesians 4:29-32 challenges us to avoid unwholesome talk and instead use our words to build others up, reflecting the grace of God. Our words have the power to either bless or harm, and we must be vigilant in choosing them wisely. Proverbs 13:3 reminds us that guarding our lips is akin to guarding our lives. Words spoken rashly can lead to ruin, much like a rash that irritates the skin. Our speech is a reflection of our heart, and Jesus taught that we will be accountable for every idle word we speak.

Idle words are those that are unproductive and reactionary, often spoken without thought. They can be likened to vomit, a spontaneous and often harmful release. To avoid this, we must be still and allow our emotions to settle before speaking. James 3:1-2 warns that teachers will be judged more strictly, emphasizing the importance of being faultless in our speech. This requires self-control, which begins with checking our thoughts before they become words.

Guarding our speech involves setting a guard over our hearts and minds, as King David prayed in the Psalms. By storing God's word in our hearts, we can arrest unauthorized thoughts before they become unwholesome words. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. The Holy Spirit aids us in this process, offering us words that are peaceable, considerate, and full of mercy.

We must also remove bitterness, rage, anger, clamor, slander, and malice from our hearts, as these are harmful to others. Instead, we are called to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgave us. The Holy Spirit guides us in this, helping us to choose words that bring healing and peace. By living in the Spirit, we can become an oasis in a world filled with anger and hatred, offering refreshment and strength to those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Our words have the power to bless or harm, and we must choose them wisely. Proverbs 13:3 teaches that guarding our lips is akin to guarding our lives, as rash words can lead to ruin. This requires vigilance and self-control, beginning with our thoughts. [02:36]
2. Idle words are unproductive and often reactionary, similar to vomit. To avoid speaking impulsively, we must be still and allow our emotions to settle. This practice helps us to speak with intention and grace. [06:23]
3. Setting a guard over our hearts and minds is essential for guarding our speech. By storing God's word in our hearts, we can arrest unauthorized thoughts before they become unwholesome words. This practice aligns our speech with God's truth. [16:45]
4. Removing bitterness, rage, anger, clamor, slander, and malice from our hearts is crucial for speaking words that build others up. The Holy Spirit aids us in this process, guiding us to choose words that bring healing and peace. [21:56]
5. Living in the Spirit allows us to become an oasis in a world filled with anger and hatred. By being filled with the Holy Spirit, we can offer refreshment and strength to those around us, reflecting the grace and love of Christ. [46:05]
** [46:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Last Week's Challenge
[00:23] - Ephesians 4:29-32
[01:28] - The Power of Words
[02:36] - Guarding Our Lips
[03:28] - Rash Words and Reactions
[04:44] - Words Reflect the Heart
[06:05] - Idle Words and Their Danger
[07:12] - Conscientious Speech
[08:01] - Be Still and Know
[09:02] - The Goal of Perfect Speech
[10:49] - Foundation of Self-Control
[12:16] - Ministering Grace
[13:18] - The Danger of Sarcasm
[15:19] - Stationing a Guard
[16:45] - Guarding the Heart
[18:32] - Storing Up Goodness
[21:31] - Removing Harmful Traits
[23:43] - Digging Out the Root
[26:39] - Following the Spirit
[29:31] - Do Not Grieve the Spirit
[32:43] - Restoring Spiritual Strength
[37:34] - Kindness and Forgiveness
[40:25] - The Kind Ones
[46:05] - Becoming an Oasis

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading
- Ephesians 4:29-32
- Proverbs 13:3
- James 3:1-2

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Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 4:29-32, what specific types of speech does Paul instruct believers to avoid, and what should replace them? [00:46]
How does Proverbs 13:3 describe the relationship between guarding one's lips and one's life? [02:52]
In James 3:1-2, what warning is given to those who teach, and how does it relate to the control of speech? [09:02]
What analogy is used in the sermon to describe the danger of idle words, and how does it illustrate their impact? [06:40]

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Interpretation Questions

How does the sermon explain the connection between our words and our heart, and why is this significant for believers? [04:44]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping believers guard their speech, according to the sermon? [27:54]
How does the sermon suggest believers can "store up" goodness in their hearts to prevent unwholesome words? [18:32]
What does the sermon imply about the importance of removing bitterness, rage, and other negative traits from our hearts? [22:15]

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Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where you spoke impulsively. What steps can you take to be more intentional with your words in the future? [06:40]
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with bitterness or anger. How can you begin to address and remove these feelings with the help of the Holy Spirit? [22:15]
Consider the people you interact with regularly. How can you use your words to build them up and reflect God's grace this week? [12:16]
What practical steps can you take to "guard your heart" and ensure your thoughts align with Philippians 4:8? [18:32]
Think of a time when you felt spiritually or emotionally "nauseous." How can you practice being still and seeking God's guidance in such moments? [08:01]
How can you become an "oasis" for others in your community, offering refreshment and strength through your words and actions? [46:05]
Choose one aspect of your speech that you want to improve. What specific action will you take this week to work on it, and how will you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in this process? [27:54]

Sermon Clips

Ephesians chapter 4 verses 29-32 this is where Paul we know Paul is calling the Saints of Ephesus and he's calling all Christians up to this standard of living a life that's worthy of the calling you receive, clothing yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and stripping off that old man and he continues to be specific in his instructions to the Believers. [00:00:43]

Do not let any septic word go forth from your mouth, but only that which is good towards building up according to the need in order that it may give Grace to those who are hearing, and do not grieve the holy spirit of God by whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption. [00:01:31]

He who guards his lips guards his life. You want to guard Your Life Begin by guarding your lips. We damage ourself too often by the things we say. He who guards his life guards his lips guards his life and then it says but the one who speaks rashly comes to ruin. [00:03:02]

Idle words are spontaneous, they're just they come out quickly they spring out their reactionary they're impulsive and you know what they're similar to a word that I have to kind of say carefully they're similar to vomit, it's like throwing up with words you feel sick to your stomach. [00:06:28]

The more conscientious we are about our words, the more prudent we will become of all things. You will so grow in your discernment and in your judgment and in your Prudence how careful you are when you become conscientious about words. [00:07:11]

If any man is never at fault in what he says he is a perfect man he's complete, he is mature he is functioning the way God intended he is able to keep his whole body in check. You know how he's able to do that, because in order to control a word you must first check a thought right. [00:09:34]

We need to set a guard at our mouth to arrest any unwholesome word, it needs to be seized before it leaves our lips and injures somebody and what we have to do because that would raise a question for us is well how do you store up what how do you do this. [00:16:04]

Above All Else David told Solomon guard your heart with all diligence because from their flows the issues of life. So how do you how would you and I set up a guard in our heart so that our thoughts would be guarded and our mouth would be guarded so that we recognize unauthorized thoughts and arrest them before they become unwholesome words. [00:16:48]

Let be removed from you all bitterness and rage and anger and clamor and slander along with all malice and be kind toward one another tenderhearted forgiving each other just as God in Christ forgave you. [00:01:49]

We must believe that this life is possible yes we must stop comforting ourselves why everyone does it nobody's perfect stop that. Our example is Jesus Christ amen not other people, we are to live like him walk like him it we are the imitators of the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:24:18]

We are all tempted we live in a fallen world we experience difficulty I'm I'm telling you it's not going to be easy, but remember even though Jesus was God's son he learned obedience through the things he suffered, and we need to learn obedience like he did. [00:44:46]

You and I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that rivers of Living Water will flow out of our innermost being and when rivers of living water flow out of us that makes us an oasis and that means others can come to us to be refreshed yes because they they know that there is a place they can rest. [00:46:04]

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Guarding Our Words: The Power of Speech in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Words to Shape Lives

Day 2: Idle Words and Their Consequences

Day 3: Guarding the Heart and Mind

Day 4: Removing Harmful Traits from the Heart

Day 5: Becoming an Oasis of Peace

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Guarding Our Words: The Power of Speech in Faith

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