The Transformative Power of Our Words
Summary
In this first week of the "I Do Declare" series, we delve into the profound impact of our words. Words are not mere sounds; they carry the power to shape lives, influence relationships, and alter destinies. The Bible emphasizes the significance of our speech, with nearly 400 references to the tongue, mouth, and lips. James 3:5-6 likens the tongue to a small rudder steering a large ship or a spark igniting a forest fire, illustrating its potential for both good and harm. Our words can build up or tear down, and they reflect the state of our hearts. As Luke 6:45 states, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."
Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue," suggesting that our words plant seeds that bear fruit over time. This is not just about avoiding negative speech but about intentionally speaking life and truth, aligning our words with God's perspective. Our words can either encourage and uplift or discourage and wound. The story of my youth pastor, Ted Marvin, illustrates how a few carefully chosen words can inspire and propel someone forward, as his encouragement in my early guitar playing days did for me.
We are called to be intentional with our words, recognizing their power to influence not only our lives but also the spiritual realm. The Bible warns of an invisible enemy seeking to destroy us, and our words play a crucial role in spiritual warfare. As we continue this series, we will explore how to replace negative speech with God's truth, understanding that Jesus, the Word made flesh, embodies God's message of love, forgiveness, and grace.
As we prepare for communion, we reflect on Jesus' words, "It is finished," a declaration of our redemption and worthiness. We must ask ourselves if we are planting life or destruction with our words, if we need to forgive others or ourselves, and if we truly know what God says about us. Let us align our speech with the truth of the gospel, offering and asking for forgiveness, and embracing the freedom and life God intends for us.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Words: Words are not just sounds; they have the power to shape lives and destinies. The Bible emphasizes the importance of our speech, likening the tongue to a rudder or a spark that can ignite a fire. Our words reflect the state of our hearts and can either build up or tear down. [12:46]
2. Intentional Speech: Proverbs 18:21 teaches that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Our words plant seeds that bear fruit over time, influencing our lives and those around us. We are called to be intentional with our words, speaking life and truth that align with God's perspective. [39:34]
3. Encouragement and Influence: A few carefully chosen words can inspire and propel someone forward. Encouragement can be a springboard for growth and development, as illustrated by the story of my youth pastor's encouragement in my early guitar playing days. [44:02]
4. Spiritual Warfare: Our words play a crucial role in spiritual warfare. The Bible warns of an invisible enemy seeking to destroy us, and our speech can influence the spiritual realm. We must replace negative speech with God's truth, recognizing the authority and power in our words. [51:29]
5. Communion and Reflection: As we prepare for communion, we reflect on Jesus' words, "It is finished," a declaration of our redemption and worthiness. We must ask ourselves if we are planting life or destruction with our words, if we need to forgive others or ourselves, and if we truly know what God says about us. [58:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to "I Do Declare" Series
- [02:15] - The Power of Words
- [05:45] - Biblical References to Speech
- [08:30] - James 3: The Tongue's Potential
- [12:46] - Proverbs 18:21: Life and Death in the Tongue
- [15:20] - Words as Seeds
- [18:00] - Personal Story: Guitar and Encouragement
- [21:45] - The Impact of Encouragement
- [25:10] - Intentionality in Speech
- [28:30] - Spiritual Warfare and Words
- [32:00] - Communion Preparation
- [35:45] - Reflection and Forgiveness
- [39:34] - Closing Prayer and Communion Instructions
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "I Do Declare" Series - Week 1
Bible Reading:
1. James 3:5-6 - "Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body."
2. Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
3. Luke 6:45 - "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to James 3:5-6, how is the tongue compared to a rudder or a spark, and what does this imply about its potential impact? [12:46]
2. What does Proverbs 18:21 suggest about the consequences of our words, and how might this relate to the idea of words planting seeds? [45:57]
3. In Luke 6:45, what is the relationship between the heart and the words we speak, and how does this reflect on the state of our hearts? [49:33]
4. How did the pastor's youth pastor, Ted Marvin, use his words to influence and encourage the pastor's early guitar playing? [44:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the metaphor of the tongue as a rudder or spark in James 3:5-6 help us understand the potential for both positive and negative outcomes from our speech? [12:46]
2. In what ways can the concept of words as seeds in Proverbs 18:21 be applied to our daily interactions and relationships? [45:57]
3. How does the idea that "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" in Luke 6:45 challenge us to examine our inner thoughts and feelings? [49:33]
4. Reflecting on the pastor's story about Ted Marvin, how can encouragement serve as a catalyst for personal growth and development? [44:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent conversation where your words may have planted seeds of either life or destruction. How can you be more intentional with your speech in future interactions? [45:57]
2. Consider a time when someone’s words had a significant impact on you, either positively or negatively. How can you use this experience to guide your own use of words with others? [44:02]
3. What steps can you take to align your speech with God's truth, especially in moments of frustration or anger? [51:29]
4. Identify an area in your life where you often speak negatively about yourself or others. What specific changes can you make to replace these words with affirmations that reflect God's perspective? [48:04]
5. During this week, how can you practice forgiveness for words spoken over you that have caused hurt, and how might this affect your spiritual and emotional well-being? [58:04]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of speaking life-giving words into your daily routine, especially in your family or workplace? [48:04]
7. As you prepare for communion, what words of Jesus resonate with you, and how can they inspire you to speak words of love, forgiveness, and grace in your own life? [58:04]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Words
Words are not just sounds; they have the power to shape lives and destinies. The Bible emphasizes the importance of our speech, likening the tongue to a rudder or a spark that can ignite a fire. Our words reflect the state of our hearts and can either build up or tear down. [12:46]
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where your words may have torn someone down. How can you seek to repair that relationship today with words that build up and give grace?
Day 2: Intentionality in Speech
Proverbs 18:21 teaches that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Our words plant seeds that bear fruit over time, influencing our lives and those around us. We are called to be intentional with our words, speaking life and truth that align with God's perspective. [39:34]
"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Psalm 141:3, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you often speak without thinking. How can you practice intentionality in your speech today, ensuring your words align with God's truth?
Day 3: The Impact of Encouragement
A few carefully chosen words can inspire and propel someone forward. Encouragement can be a springboard for growth and development, as illustrated by the story of my youth pastor's encouragement in my early guitar playing days. [44:02]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life could use a word of encouragement today? What specific words can you use to uplift and inspire them?
Day 4: Words in Spiritual Warfare
Our words play a crucial role in spiritual warfare. The Bible warns of an invisible enemy seeking to destroy us, and our speech can influence the spiritual realm. We must replace negative speech with God's truth, recognizing the authority and power in our words. [51:29]
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a negative thought pattern you struggle with. How can you use God's truth to combat these thoughts and speak life into your spiritual battles today?
Day 5: Communion and Reflection
As we prepare for communion, we reflect on Jesus' words, "It is finished," a declaration of our redemption and worthiness. We must ask ourselves if we are planting life or destruction with our words, if we need to forgive others or ourselves, and if we truly know what God says about us. [58:04]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: As you prepare for communion, what words of forgiveness do you need to speak to yourself or others? How can you align your speech with the truth of the gospel today?
Quotes
According to their needs, right? That it may benefit those who listen. Well, you know, let's talk about what that means. So unwholesome talk, here's what it means: rotten, corrupt, worthless. It's not building people up. It's cutting them down. Instead, Paul tells us to speak only words that build others up, meaning use speech that is edifying, encouraging, and useful for others' growth. [00:34:53] (23 seconds)
Most of us here can think back to a time where someone used their words to either build you up or tear you down. And some of these things, right? Some of these words we remember for years and years, right? Think back to a time where you've experienced this, positive or negative. It was the year 1992. I had started playing the guitar. My dad taught me a couple chords. [00:38:16] (32 seconds)
But let me tell you the truth. So this conversation was a springboard. It encouraged me. It pushed me. But here's the honest truth. What it did was it was a springboard for an interest in music and in production and in sound and obviously in the guitar. I'm amazing. That was a lot of years ago. I couldn't do that today. But it was a springboard forward for where I am today, right now, standing in this place. [00:44:40] (31 seconds)
We can start a forest fire with what we say. We can really cut people down with what we say. But listen, listen to what the Bible, the Bible warns us that we have an invisible enemy that is trying to destroy us, right? Maybe you've heard the scripture talk about the devil is like a lion, a roaring lion walking around seeking whom he may devour, right? He's here to kill, steal, and destroy. [00:50:38] (26 seconds)
The church typically would call this something like spiritual warfare, right? There is a battle that we cannot see. And so much of the battle is won with the power and the authority that we have in our words. So again, today we're beginning to talk about the power of our words and how that affects other people and how it affects ourselves. But starting next week, we're going to talk about that power and authority that we have in our words. [00:51:13] (23 seconds)
Jesus on earth is God's message to us. That message of love. Message of forgiveness. Message of grace. Notice the message of reconciliation. We talked about that over the last couple of weeks. That is God's word for us. What does God say about us, right? Jesus is God's divine communication to humanity. So we have the scripture. The Old Testament. The Bible as a whole. It shows us the character of God. [00:53:43] (39 seconds)
Today, we're going to focus on remembering what Jesus said about us. What God says about us. Right? Jesus didn't speak life. He is life. His very being was life. His words were always true. Always powerful. Always life-giving. And on the cross, his last words. These are so powerful. And they have such rich meaning. Again, we're going to dive in over the next few weeks. But his last words. It is finished. [00:54:41] (31 seconds)
Some of us think, you know what? I believe this for other people. But not for me. Why is that? Because that's not what God says. It may have been what people said. And that people might be you. Because of what I've said about myself. Because of what you have said about yourself. I believe that other people. This is good for other people, but not for me. You don't know who I am. You don't know what I've done. [00:56:41] (32 seconds)
We have to believe what God says about us, though. Am I worthy to live this free life? So as we take communion in just a moment, again, I'm going to pray. And then I want everybody to just kind of sit for a minute. Let's do a little inventory. Do I need to ask for forgiveness? Do I need to offer forgiveness? Because this is the time where we remember what Jesus did for us. [01:02:00] (27 seconds)
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