There is an old saying that,
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”.
The only problem with this is that it is not true. As much as we may want to believe it, this completely contradicts God’s Word.
As we will see this morning, our words are much more powerful than sticks and stones.
Our words have power, it is just a fundamental truth of the invisible spiritual world that God created and we live in. Christian author John Eledredge describes it this way, “Christians are meant to be amphibians; that is to say, we are made to live and move comfortably between two worlds—this natural world, and the supernatural world of the Kingdom of God.”
[2 Corinthians 4:18 NET] “18 … For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”
[2 Peter 3:10 NASB95] “10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
In our pride and arrogance, we ignore God’s word about how the world actually works.
According to God’s Word, with our words as Christians:
- We can bless people or we can curse people.
- We can build people up or we can tear people down.
- We can speak words of love, truth, hope, and life
- or we can speak words of hate, lies, despair, and death.
- All of this applies to other people but also to ourselves.
At creation, God spoke.
[Genesis 1:3 ESV] “3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
When Jesus healed people, He spoke.
[John 5:8 ESV] “8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’”
When Jesus raised the dead, He spoke.
[John 11:43 ESV] “43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’”
When Jesus cast out demons, He spoke.
[Mark 1:25 ESV] “25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!’”
[Matthew 15:17-20 NLT] 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart–that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts,
murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with
unwashed hands will never defile you.”
[Romans 10:9-10 ESV] “9 … if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
[Matthew 12:35-37 NLT] “35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil
person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account
on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you (not guilty) or
condemn you.”
“ ‘idle’ or ‘careless’ word they speak (rhēma argos). This refers to empty, useless, or malicious speech—like
gossip or harmful chatter—that fails to build others up or honor God”
[Ephesians 5:4 NLT] “4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes–these are not for you. Instead, let
there be thankfulness to God.”
1. Cursing
These are not curse words like four letter words. These are words spoken against someone to cause them harm or punishment.
God curses with His words – [Genesis 12:3 ESV] “3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
But we are commanded not to curse others.
[Romans 12:14 ESV] “14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
We can speak curses in prayers for others.
[Luke 9:54-55 ESV] “54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ 55 But he turned and rebuked them.”
2. Gossip – the Christian sin
[Proverbs 26:17-21 NLT] “17 Interfering in someone else’s argument (gossip/busybody) is as foolish as
yanking a dog’s ears. 18 Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon 19 is someone who lies
to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” 20 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when
gossip stops. 21 A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights
wood.”
[Proverbs 18:6-8 NLT] “6 Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. 8 Rumors (gossip) are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.”
3. Lying
[Proverbs 26:28 NLT] “28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.”
[Proverbs 19:5 ESV] “5 A false witness (liar) will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.”
[John 8:44 NIV] “44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
[Revelation 21:8 ESV] “8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
4. Sarcasm / Mocking (Scoffing)
[Proverbs 12:18 ESV] “18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
5. The tongue can set your whole life on FIRE!
[James 3:1-9 NLT] “1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small
rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.
5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest
on fire.
6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness,
corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell (Ghenna) itself.
“Hell is the place of the future punishment called “Gehenna” or “Gehenna of fire”. This was originally the valley
of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit
symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.”
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless
and evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of
God.”
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CONTROL OUR TONGUES APART FROM CHRIST!
What can we do then? – with humans it’s impossible but it’s not impossible for the Lord
1. Confess your sin – take ownership of your words/tongue
2. Repent – turn from your sin by God’s grace
3. Humble yourself before God and ask for HIS POWER to change
4. Repent quickly and ask forgiveness quickly to the person you sinned against with your words
[2 Peter 1:3a NLT] “3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life…”
[James 4:7 NLT] “7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Life and Death are in the power of the tongue
[Proverbs 18:20-21 ESV] “20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Repentance
If anyone wants to turn away from gossip, lying, sarcasm, cursing others or yourself, then I will lead you in a prayer. It is important to speak this out loud. Please confess any specific sins that come to mind.
“Father God, please forgive me for my sins of gossip, lying, sarcasm, and cursing. I ask Your forgiveness in Jesus’ Name. I repent and turn from these sins now. Lord Jesus please help me to speak in love, truth, hope, and life to everyone in my life by Your grace. I receive your forgiveness and cleansing now according to 1 John 1:9.
Father God, I ask You to heal all those that I have hurt with my words. I cancel all curses that I have spoken over myself or others in Jesus’ Name. Please heal them and heal any brokenness in their lives that I may have caused.
Father God, I release them to You and ask that You bless them. I give my mouth and my words to You. Help me to honor You with my words from now on. I ask all this Jesus’ Name.”