Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
April 1, 2007 - W0713

Today we’re going to be talking about something that all of us need to hear about:  the power of words.  Your words are messengers and couriers of death or life…

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21)

Your tongue is a very powerful instrument.  As the passage above says, your tongue has the power to bring death or life.  The book of James likens the tongue to a fire and has this to say…

“…See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  (James 3:5-6)

Quite a shocking scripture, huh?  How many of us have felt the death blow of someone’s words, or conversely, felt the comfort of someone’s uplifting words.  Words can endear you to someone or cause you to be brutal enemies.  Words can touch or break a heart.  Words can instill confidence or fear.  Words are powerful.  With a word, God created the heavens and the earth, raised the dead, and cast out demons.  Words are very powerful, and depending on how we use them, they can help or hurt.

WORDS CAN:

·        FOCUS ON YOURSELF OR ON OTHERS.

We all like to hear the words:  “I love you.”  “Thank you.”  “You’re doing a great job.”  “I’m so proud of you.”  “You’re accepted.”  (In golf, I like to hear, “Take a mulligan.”)   These are words we look forward to.  These words build us up and convey God’s love, grace, and acceptance.  On the other hand, words such as, “Do you understand me?” “See what I mean.” and “I’m tired of this!” convey disappointment, frustration and rejection.  Notice the first group of words which focuses on others expresses support and acceptance while the second group which suggests non-acceptance is focused on the speaker (yourself).  Another thing words can do…

·        BUILD UP OR TEAR DOWN.

Listen to the contrast: “You’re beautiful.” “You’re the best!” …versus “What a pain!” “You just slow me down.”  Words can build someone up or tear them down.  The danger with the second set of words is that you start to believe them after a while, and when you start to believe them, you become your own worst enemy.  Let me share a story…

There was once a little girl by the name of Norma Jean, whose mother had always told her that she was no good.  She told Norma that if anyone ever told her, “You’re smart” or “You’re pretty” that, in fact, she was not.  At the age of 36 years old, Norma Jean killed herself despite what most people would have thought was a glitzy and glamorous life.  Most people knew Norman Jean Worstenson better as Marilyn Monroe.  A third thing words can do is…

·        HEAL OR WOUND.

Consider this...an employee shows up for a meeting a little late one day.  One co-worker says, “I hate it when people come in late.  Late people are so selfish and inconsiderate.” While a second co-worker says, “You must’ve had a good reason to be late. Now that you’re here, we can really get rolling!” How do you think these two co-workers make the employee feel?  Our words have the power to wound or heal people.

Continuing the story, the employee apologizes for being late. He explains that his daughter was sick all night with a 104 degree fever.  So often we are quick to pass judgment on a person or situation without sufficient information or consideration of the complete story. In our haste, we often speak earthly words which wound and hurt people rather than Godly words which can heal or inspire people.

So what are some of the principles we should observe in taming our tongues?  The first is…

1.     PRACTICE EXPRESSING APPRECIATION.

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” (Prov. 25:11)

We have all heard the saying, “If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all,” but that is not so.  Not saying anything is not enough. The Bible teaches that in fact, we need to practice saying something good; it’s not sufficient to just avoid saying something bad.  Every person has one thing in common:  a hunger for sincere appreciation. 

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it.” (Prov. 3:27)

If you see someone doing something good, it is in your power to express appreciation.  Practice appreciation.  Sometimes when people do good things but no one is there to express appreciation, their hearts flatten.  There is a story about a man who witnessed a boat sink.  When he saw the boat sink, he jumped into the frigid cold water and rescued someone.  After that, he rescued another person, then another.  In total, he rescued 17 people but in the process, he suffered extreme hypothermia and as a result, became an invalid.  Fifty or so years later, one of the news programs decided to do a story of this man and his extreme heroism.  When asked what his most vivid memory about the whole incident was, he said it was that not one of the 17 people he saved had ever come to see him or thank him for saving their life.

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb. 3:13)

Contrary to what many people think, you don’t overcome evil with nothing but rather with good.  Make a promise to compliment or express appreciation to someone ten times a day. At first, it may be a struggle to find ten things to be grateful for or think of ten things you can compliment someone on but after a while, with practice, it becomes natural and then almost necessary once you’ve established the good habit.  And the blessings you speak will do wonders for many others.  Once you’ve establish a habit of expressing appreciation…

2.     DEDICATE YOUR THOUGHTS TO GOD TODAY.

One of my best prayers is, “Lord, may my thoughts please you today.”

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6:45)

So how do you make sure you’re building good treasure? 

·        THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” (Prov. 15:28)

This passage tells us that the righteous takes time to consider what to say and checks their heart and motive before responding to ensure that their words build up and heal others (and glorify God) – as opposed to letting one’s mouth speak tear-downs that can wound or discourage people. Words are powerful and can cause a lot of transgression but if we stop to think first, we will increase the likelihood that our words will build up or heal.  Then lastly…