Speak Life: The Transformative Power of Words
Summary
The sermon, "Speak Life," emphasizes the power of words and the importance of aligning our speech with the Word of God. The speaker begins by highlighting the potential impact of our words on our relationships, marriages, and communities, especially during difficult seasons. They suggest that our words can either build up or tear down the world around us, and that we should be mindful of the fruit of our words. The speaker shares a personal experience of struggling with financial stewardship and proposes the idea of an app that measures the positive and negative words spoken, similar to tracking income and expenses.
The speaker then delves into the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones, using it as a metaphor for the transformative power of God's Word. They emphasize that God works through a process and encourages listeners to celebrate small wins and not despise the days of small beginnings. The speaker also highlights the importance of being prepared to deliver the Word of God to others, comparing believers to physicians empowered by God to bring healing, deliverance, and hope to people in various situations.
The sermon continues with a discussion on the concept of being placed in a valley by God, using the example of Ezekiel being brought to a valley full of dry bones. The speaker encourages the audience to consider the possibility that God has placed them in their current difficulties to bring about resurrection and transformation. They also emphasize the importance of faith in prayer and the power of speaking the precise word needed over a situation.
The speaker concludes by discussing the role of prophets in the Bible and the importance of the power of words. They explain that prophets are individuals appointed by God to hear His voice and declare His word to others. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of speaking life over various aspects of one's life, such as work, family, and challenging relationships. They encourage the audience to allow the Word of God to dictate their reality rather than solely relying on what is seen.
Key Takeaways:
- Our words hold power and can control the direction of our lives. We should be mindful of the fruit of our words and strive to align our speech with the Word of God. This can bring about transformative change in our lives and the lives of those around us. [09:40]
- God works through a process and is patient. We should not despise the days of small beginnings but instead celebrate small wins as they are part of God's transformative work in our lives. [31:37]
- Believers are empowered by God to bring healing, deliverance, and hope to people in various situations. We should be prepared to deliver the Word of God to others in season and out of season. [28:52]
- God may place us in difficult situations or "valleys" for a purpose. These valleys can be opportunities for us to participate in bringing about resurrection and transformation. [15:32]
- Faith is crucial in prayer. We should ask for what we need in prayer and believe that we will receive it. Speaking the precise word needed over a situation can bring about change, as demonstrated in the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones. [49:33]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Speak Life"
#### Bible Reading
1. Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The Valley of Dry Bones
2. Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
3. James 1:6-8 - "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Ezekiel's initial reaction when God asked him if the dry bones could live? How did he respond? [03:31]
2. According to Proverbs 18:21, what are the consequences of the words we speak?
3. In James 1:6-8, what is the result of asking with doubt? How does this passage describe a person who doubts?
4. What metaphor does the speaker use to describe the impact of our words on our lives and relationships? [01:41]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Ezekiel responded with "O Lord God, you know" when asked if the bones could live? What does this reveal about his faith and understanding of God's power? [03:31]
2. How does the story of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37 illustrate the transformative power of God's word? What does this suggest about the potential impact of our words when aligned with God's will? [05:03]
3. What does it mean to "speak life" over various aspects of our lives, such as work, family, and relationships? How can this practice influence our reality? [09:40]
4. How does the speaker's analogy of an app tracking positive and negative words help us understand the importance of our speech? What practical steps can we take to ensure our words are life-giving? [01:41]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where your words either built up or tore down someone. How could you have spoken life in that situation instead? [09:40]
2. Think about a "valley" or difficult situation you are currently facing. How can you apply the lesson from Ezekiel 37 to speak life and hope into that situation? [15:32]
3. The speaker mentioned the importance of celebrating small wins and not despising the days of small beginnings. Can you identify a small win in your life that you can celebrate this week? [31:37]
4. How can you prepare yourself to deliver the Word of God to others in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to be ready to speak life into someone else's situation? [28:52]
5. The sermon emphasized the power of faith in prayer. Is there a specific prayer request you have been hesitant to bring to God due to doubt? How can you shift your mindset to ask in faith without doubting? [49:33]
6. Identify a relationship in your life that feels like a "valley of dry bones." What specific words of life can you speak over that relationship this week to bring about transformation? [15:32]
7. The speaker encouraged the audience to allow the Word of God to dictate their reality rather than solely relying on what is seen. What practical steps can you take to immerse yourself more in God's Word and let it shape your perspective? [19:22]
This guide aims to foster deep reflection and practical application of the sermon "Speak Life," encouraging participants to align their speech with the transformative power of God's Word.
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Words
Our words are not just sounds or letters, they hold power and can control the direction of our lives. They can either build up or tear down the world around us. We should be mindful of the fruit of our words and strive to align our speech with the Word of God. This can bring about transformative change in our lives and the lives of those around us. [09:40]
Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Reflection: Reflect on your conversations from the past week. Were there instances where your words built up or tore down someone? How can you align your speech more with the Word of God today?
Day 2: Celebrating Small Beginnings
God works through a process and is patient. We should not despise the days of small beginnings but instead celebrate small wins as they are part of God's transformative work in our lives. [31:37]
Zechariah 4:10 - "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin."
Reflection: What small win can you celebrate today? How can you see God's hand in this small victory?
Day 3: Delivering the Word of God
Believers are empowered by God to bring healing, deliverance, and hope to people in various situations. We should be prepared to deliver the Word of God to others in season and out of season. [28:52]
2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the Word of God today? How can you prepare yourself to deliver it?
Day 4: Valleys as Opportunities
God may place us in difficult situations or "valleys" for a purpose. These valleys can be opportunities for us to participate in bringing about resurrection and transformation. [15:32]
Psalm 23:4 - "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Reflection: What "valley" are you currently in? How can you see this as an opportunity for resurrection and transformation?
Day 5: The Power of Faith in Prayer
Faith is crucial in prayer. We should ask for what we need in prayer and believe that we will receive it. Speaking the precise word needed over a situation can bring about change, as demonstrated in the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones. [49:33]
Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Reflection: What is one thing you need to pray for with faith today? How can you speak the precise word needed over this situation?
Quotes
"If you were to take inventory of all of the words that you spoke this past month, are you building up the world around you or are you burning it down?" (#!!00:31!!#)
"How wild would it be if there was an app that did a similar thing but instead of measuring your income and your expenses, it measured your words we month to month...the positive words that you speak that adds to your Green Mountain but the negative words that we speak, that's the deficit that shows how much we're negatively affecting the world around us." (#!!01:41!!#)
"A lot of the times what we're experiencing in our lives, we are self-sabotaging ourselves because we have not guarded our words. We've spoken out of our opinions, frustrations, and agreement with what the world is saying, instead of partnering with the word of God." #!!11:18!!#
"What this tells me is that God is patient and God works through a process prophetic declaration over a situation over a loved one over yourself sometimes it can be a oneandone thing but often times it's a process and sometimes we got to we got to look for the smallest win possible." #!!32:15!!#
"He's given us an authority and a power to go and deliver words to people over situations that set captives free that heal the sick that cast out demons that raise the dead that bring hope to hopeless situations that restore relationships." #!!28:52!!#
"But when we're going through a valley of dry bones when you and I are walking through the valley of the shadow of death isn't it tempting to believe that the only reason why we're there is because God left us...but this is what's so encouraging to me Ezekiel #!!16:04!!# wasn't abandoned there he was placed there he was placed there for what purpose so that the purpose of God the power of God could be worked through him if he was willing to partner with God and not get frustrated at god with what he was seeing." (#!!16:04!!#)
"Could it be that God has placed you so that you can be a part of resurrecting the world around you where has God placed you now you might be thinking okay cap what are we talking #!!17:08!!#." (#!!17:08!!#)
"Faith isn't denying what you see, it's calling forth what you can't see." (#!!17:42!!#)
"Faith looks like looking death straight in the eyes and speaking life over it anyway. It's not ignoring what's in front of you." (#!!18:11!!#)
"God says through Ezekiel he says can this impossible situation be turned around and what does Ezekiel say you know and what God does is he gives he gives Ezekiel these words to prophesy to these bones as a picture of how he will restore the entire nation again." #!!07:07!!#
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