Good morning, Radiant! Mike Young is teaching today. Continuing "Summer of Wisdom" in Proverbs: wisdom is rooted in fear of the Lord, fueled by a teachable spirit, and avoiding foolishness. Today: the incredible power of our words.
Scripture References: Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs (various), Matthew 12:33-37, James 3, Romans 8:9-11, Romans 10:9-10, Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 28:23, Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 15:4, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:28
Key Points:
- Words: Weapon & Divine Reflection:
- Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."
- Our words, unique to humans, reflect God's image. He spoke creation; we wield similar power.
- Every word carries spiritual weight: fostering flourishing or destruction. Reckless speech yields bad "fruit"; Spirit-led words bring peace.
- Words' Source (Matthew 12):
- Jesus: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matt 12:34). Words perfectly mirror our heart.
- Bitter hearts speak cutting words; Spirit-filled hearts speak grace.
- Jesus warns: "Account for every careless word" (Matt 12:36).
- Jesus' "harsh" words (e.g., "brood of vipers") were perfectly aimed to expose hypocrisy, unlike our own. He perfectly tamed His tongue.
- Proverbs on Speech: Death-Bringing:
- Lying (Prov 12:22): Erodes trust.
- Gossip/Slander (Prov 11:13): Destroys relationships.
- Hasty (Prov 29:20): Causes irreversible damage.
- Contentious (Prov 15:1): Escalates conflict.
- Flattery (Prov 28:23): Insincere praise entraps.
- Proverbs on Speech: Life-Giving:
- Truthful (Prov 12:19): Established forever.
- Gracious (Prov 16:24): "Like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul."
- Well-timed (Prov 25:11): Precious, beautiful.
- Comforting/Gentle (Prov 15:4): Bring healing; "a gentle tongue is a tree of life."
- Restraint (Prov 17:28): "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise." Silence can be powerful.
- Words Shape Eternity:
- We can't perfectly tame our tongues; only Jesus did. He lives in us!
- Rom 10:9-10: mouth confession saves. Rom 8:9-11: Spirit in us gives life.
- God gives us words to proclaim the Gospel, bringing others from death to life. More than avoiding negative speech, actively bringing God's Kingdom.
Conclusion:
Our words hold incredible power. We're imperfect, but Jesus, the living Word, perfectly tamed His tongue to bring life, even through death. We now partake in His "fruit."
Call to Action:
At the table, confess foolishness/death-bringing words. Ask God for His ways. Then, stop talking and listen for His voice. Let the Holy Spirit transform your mouth to proclaim good news and bring life.
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