THE POWER OF WORDS (PART 1), August 16th, 2020
CENTRAL THOUGHT
Our words carry power; we mar or make with them.
HYMN: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
TEXT: Psalm 19:14, 34:12-13, Prov. 18:21, Rom. 10:6-13
INTRODUCTION:
Spoken words are not ordinary, they carry power, they can lift, build, encourage, give hope, strength and give life; they can also destroy, mar, discourage, and kill. It is however sad, that most people including believers, are not conscious of the words they speak. It is common to see believers speak carelessly without weighing the impact of their words upon the hearers.
The power of words is vivid at creation. God made the universe by His word (Gen. 1:1-15; Heb. 11:3). God also made man in His image and likeness; man who is God’s image also possesses creative powers in his words. This study will examine the power of words in the regenerated man.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To understand the meaning of the phrase “the Power of words”.
- How is the power of words reflected in our individual salvation?
- To know why it is necessary to check the words of our mouth.
Q1. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY “THE POWER OF WORDS” AS EXEMPLIFIED IN GENESIS 1:11-15, 20, 24
(Reflect on Numbers 23:19)
The literary meaning of word is “a thing that you say” while power has been defined, in the context of our use by the Oxford Dictionary as “the ability to do something/to control people or thing”. When read together “power of words” means, the ability of the things you say to control people or things.
The power of words therefore is the ability to control people or things by the things we say. This for the believers goes beyond the physical, but the believer through the power of words could control the physical as well as the spiritual.
In Genesis God created the earth by the words of His mouth. Things came into being as He spoke. Scriptures recorded no resistance to the spoken words of God; once God spoke, it came to pass without delay. By the words of His mouth He made heaven and earth and all therein. The words God spoke were not ordinary, they carried power and fulfilled the purpose for which the words were spoken i.e. to create. As God’s people, we are to be mindful of our words. Believers have God’s nature and therefore possess the same creative power. But it is common knowledge that most believers’ words do not carry this same power and grace because they talk carelessly without realizing that they are gradually and constantly eroding the power of God carried by their words. Sin is also another factor that inhibits this power.
In Num. 23:19, emphasis was placed on God’s ability to say and do what He said He would do. God’s word is eternal, nothing shall diminish it, even the earth and heaven would pass but His word abides forever. While men could lie, change their-minds, God is not like man. His words are yea and amen, forever settled in heaven.
Q2. HOW IS THE “POWER OF WORDS” REFLECTED IN OUR INDIVIDUAL SALVATION?
Romans 10:6-13 Salvation starts when an individual believes he/she is a sinner in dire need of salvation and realizes that only Jesus can redeem him/her from sin. This act of belief is faith. The repented sinner is thereafter expected to confess his/her sins, ask for forgiveness as well as confess Jesus as Lord. This confession is not a mere wish, nor is it a silent prayer. It involves the act of speaking out with the mouth, renouncing the old man, and proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus over his/her life.
The proclamation of Jesus as Lord marks the immediate translation of the repented sinner from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The sinner’s prayer i.e. “spoken words” at salvation are not ordinary. Likewise, the daily spoken words of a saved person do not carry less power. We only need to realize that the way the sinner’s status changes at conversion through faith and the power of his words, so does the believer’s word’s carry power and could change things. Therefore, we should be guided in the use of our words.
Q3. WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO CHECK THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTH?
Psalm 19:14, 34:12-13, James 3:12, Proverbs 6:2, 15:1, Matthew 12:36-37.
The believer is expected to be circumspect in the use of words. He/she is required to be careful in speaking as his/her words convey power. In Psalm 19:14, the Psalmist being totally sold out to do the will and bidding of God, sought and desired to please God, not only in his heart “meditations” but also in the words of his mouth. Believers are admonished to do likewise. The Psalmist was determined to please and be accepted by God.
Another reason why it is necessary to check the words of our mouth according to Psalm 34:12-13; is for us not only to have long life but to see good in the longevity of life granted to us by God. A man who checks the words of his mouth has been described by our brother James as a perfect man (James 3:12). The act of guiding the words we speak has been further described as having ability to control the entire body.
It is note-worthy that a lot of people have entered into untold/unforeseen troubles because of the use of their tongue. This has been vividly described by scriptures, Prov. 6:2, we could ensnare ourselves with our words. Even the police usually warn at the point of making arrest that, the person to be arrested has the option to be silent as any word said then or thereafter would be used as evidence against the person in the court of law. Careless talk therefore, could land us into avoidable and unimaginable troubles. Scripture is right when it said in Matt. 12:37 that, we are justified or condemned by the words that we speak.
In some situations, where there is tension, pressure, confusion, and lack of direction, the right word spoken in the right way and right time could just be the solution to the problem. While speaking the same words in a different manner could aggravate the solution. Words are not only in spoken words, but also in the manner and way that the words are spoken. Little wonder two persons may say the same thing that could have different impact on their listeners. It is true that a soft answer turneth away wrath, while grievous words stir up anger.
Above all, the necessity to check our words is born out of the fact that, we shall give account of every idle word that we speak. This should be a constraint to every believer in the use of words.
The class should mention others.
Daily Living Application:
If our meditations are right, the words of our mouth would not be wrong. By bringing ourselves into line with the word of God, we become creative beings, and carry the required weight of power.
Memory verse:
James 3:2
“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body”.
Daily Devotional Guide:
Monday: The power of words.
Gen. 1:11-15
Tuesday: Power of words and our salvation.
Rom. 10:6-13
Wednesday: The necessity of checking the words of our mouth.
Ps. 19:14, 34:12-13
Thursday: Negative influence of words.
Prov. 18:8, Num. 13:26
Friday: Positive impact of our words.
Prov. 12:17-19, 21:23, 1 Pet. 3:10
Saturday: How we can check the words of our mouth.
Eph. 4:29, Col. 4:6, and E