LIFE Posts - The power of words - part 2

This week we continue to discuss the power of words (heavily leveraging the Freedom curriculum^[1]), and we’ll begin by looking at a table of contrasting words – those that speak life vs. those that speak death.  Please note, if this message brings up any painful emotions, immediately bring those emotions to the Holy Spirit in prayer.  Recall our earlier discussions on forgiveness, and how forgiving frees us from the bondages of the past.  This message may reveal hurts that you may have buried from your conscious awareness – please know that your loving Savior Jesus wants your complete healing and freedom from every wound of the past.

As you read the below table, imagine the effect these words would have on someone hearing them if you said them.  Next imagine the effect these words would have on you if they were spoken to you.

These contrasting pairs of expressions demonstrate the powerful impact words can have on someone.  Words of life can put us on cloud nine, while the words of death can send us into dark despair.  The Freedom we have in Christ heals us of the wounds that we have received from others and also provides us the path of repentance to be completely forgiven for anything we have done.  The devil wants us to freeze in an emotional state of turmoil – if the table above causes any turmoil in your emotions spend some time in prayer and meditation on the Love your Father in heaven has for you. 

James 3:1–12 (AMP2015) ^3:1 Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. ^3:2 For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. ^3:3 Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. ^3:4 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. ^3:5 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! ^3:6 And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). ^3:7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. ^3:8 But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. ^3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. ^3:10 Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. ^3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? ^3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. ^[2]

James 3:1-12 discusses the powerful impact of the tongue.  James tells us that the tongue can defile our entire body (James 3:6) and uses three metaphors to describe the tongue. 

1. James 3:3 – A horse's bit.  Just as a small piece of metal in a horse’s mouth steers where it will take its rider, the tongue sets the direction we will go in and can influence the direction others take.
2. James 3:4 – The second metaphor is a rudder.  Huge ships driven by winds or even propellers are steered by a comparatively tiny device, the rudder.  The human tongue only weighs about 2 ounces, but through the words it speaks it can move very many people. 
3. James 3:5 – The final metaphor is a spark or small flame – which can ignite a massive forest fire.  James tells us that the tongue can ignite a fire of unrighteousness (James 3:6).

Just like a small spark can ignite a forest fire that destroys thousands of acres, a few words can cause great destruction in a person’s life.  Careless words can damage just as much as intentional ones – so we need to speak with care.  Perhaps you’ve been on the receiving end of destructive words – if so, please know there is good news.  You can be healed and set free from the effects of those words.  If you find yourself speaking words carelessly, you run the danger of speaking words that can seriously hurt others.  Let’s look at some ways to tame the tongue.

First, guard your heart.  Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) says, “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.^[3]” Why does the Bible tell us to spend this effort?  In Matthew 12:34 (NLT), Jesus says, “… For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”  The Greek word for heart, kardia, means the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, i.e., the heart or mind.   In other words, Jesus is saying what is going on in our soul will be revealed by the words we speak.  Maintaining proper spiritual order is needed to guard our heart, which enables the taming of our tongue.  By feeding our mind, will and emotions God’s Word and ways, we guard our heart.  By doing so, the way we talk will reflect that and bring life.  Conversely, if we’re feeding on the world’s things, we’ll speak words of death. 

For some of us, our upbringing, or our past before coming to Christ was filled with words that tore others down instead of bringing life.  Being exposed to such an environment, especially at an early age, wires us to repeat the same cycle of speaking in an ungodly way.  Because you experienced an environment full of verbal attacks, criticisms, cursing, hopelessness, negativity, or any other sinful manner of thinking, it is natural in human ways to repeat those words and ways.  Repeating the same sins committed by our predecessors is a form of generational sin.  Forgiving those who set the wrong example and for any words they hurt you with is a key step to breaking such generational sin patterns, followed by repenting of committing those sins, and asking for the help of the Holy Spirit to no longer repeat them.

Second, gauge your tongue.  As we discussed in last week’s LIFE Post, we need to monitor our speech like a gauge, just as we would a critical instrument in our car’s dashboard.  Like an engine governor that both monitors and limits the RPMs of an engine to prevent damage, we need to both monitor and control what is coming out of our mouth.  Decide in advance to be obedient to God’s Word, as in Colossians 3:8 where it says to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.  Submit yourself, and specifically your words, to the Holy Spirit.  Recall that your words reveal what your spiritual condition is.  Being aware of your responses, even simple things such as quickly complaining about or yelling at your phone when it doesn’t work because of some software update, because your words may be revealing something about your spiritual heart that needs attention.  You may not be verbally lashing out at another person, but your words still are revealing the present condition of your spiritual heart.  If you tend to say things you regret when in an emotional state, decide in advance to step away and calm down before speaking.

Third, garnish your speech.  A garnish is something chefs place on a plate of food to make it look more appealing.  We can choose to add garnishes of blessing in the words we say to others.  This may take some effort, which has the beneficial effect of slowing our speech down as we focus on identifying life-giving words to share with others.  For example, instead of saying a simple “good morning” while passing by a co-worker, adding a sincere “I pray you have a wonderful day today” injects life into their day.  Note, garnishing our speech means to state something that is true – it is not making up “nice” things that are untrue.  This takes effort, since a trite statement will not deliver the life God wants us to bring into others’ lives.  By walking with the Holy Spirit, and asking Him to give you life giving words, you’ll find He gives you exactly what to say.

This week, ask the Holy Spirit each morning to help you do these things to tame your tongue, keeping it in submission to God’s Will.  Prayerfully consider the following application thoughts, journaling your thoughts and responses. 

Application/Questions/Journal your thoughts

• Of the three ways to tame the tongue listed above, are any of them easier or more difficult than the others for you?  Enlisting a brother or sister in Christ as an accountability partner can be crucial to making progress in areas that are difficult for us. 
• In the natural world, gauges have to be calibrated in order to be trusted.  For example, if someone gets new tires on their vehicle that aren’t exactly the same diameter as the original ones, the vehicle's speedometer will no longer provide accurate results.  Our speech needs to be gauged against a calibrated standard of reference – which is the Word of God.  Consider the words you’ve spoken recently and ask the Holy Spirit’s assistance in measuring them against 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – which will reveal how loving your words have been.
• Our environment greatly affects our soul and spirit.  1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB warns us that, “bad company corrupts good morals.”  Proverbs 13:20 NASB says that “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools with suffer harm.”  Romans 12:2 NASB tells us to “not be conformed to this world…”  Just as we should gauge our own words, we should measure the words, images, and messages we are taking into our eyes and ears.  Part of our sanctification is being cleansed of worldly ways, but we can become numb to worldly ways when constantly exposed to them.  What media – music, movies, even news – are you consuming?  Does that media align to God’s truth and Word?  During a normal day, do your conversations with others align with the Word of God?  This can be very challenging, especially for those who work in an environment that is full of non-believers.  Ask the Holy Spirit for revelation and understanding – how to guard your heart while going about your daily life.  Rely upon Him for both wisdom and power to be transformed more into Jesus’ likeness wherever you are.
• We all have thoughts that we don’t express outwardly in communication to others; however, our inner thought life can be described with words.  Some people have what is called an inner monologue where their inner thoughts are structured in a manner that they talk to themselves silently.  In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to “… take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  Just as the words we say to others have the power of life and death, the words we say or think to ourselves do too.  How can you apply the three steps to tame the tongue of your inner thought life?  Verbalize the steps you identify, asking the Holy Spirit for help to not just identify them, but to put them into practice.
• Generational sin is a sad reality that indicates the consequences that sin brings; just as the first Adam brought in the legacy of sin into all mankind, the sins of our ancestors can strongly sway us to sin in the same way.  Worse still, our sins, if unrepented, can impact generations after us.  Praise God, however, because the victory Jesus bought for us on the cross is complete – and we have by His strength the power to break any generational sins that are in our family line, being freed from them completely.  Spend some time with the Holy Spirit, seeking His insight about sin patterns that may have been passed down to you.  Submit anything He reveals to you to Him, repent, and receive His forgiveness and grace.  Be sure to forgive those who may have passed down those sins, so that the enemy doesn’t gain a foothold in your life due to unforgiveness. 

Scripture of the week

Romans 12:2 (NLT) ^12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ^[4]

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) ^27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. ^[5]

Colossians 3:2 (NLT) ^3:2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ^[6]

Colossians 3:8 (NLT) ^3:8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ^[7]

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT) ^10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ^10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ^[8]

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) ^5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. ^[9]

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT) ^4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. ^[10]

Proverbs 12:25 (NLT) ^12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. ^[11]

Proverbs 10:11 (NLT) ^10:11 The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. ^[12]

Weekly prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You that Your Word is true, and You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Holy Spirit, help me be conformed to Your Will with my heart, my focus, and my words.  Lord may I be ever aware of the power that the words I speak have, and as the Psalmist prayed, I too pray “may the words of my lips and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing to You.”  (Psalm 19:14).  Amen.

Freedom Facet

As noted last week, our tongues have great power to bring life, or to bring destruction.  It is impossible to tame the tongue on our own, even if we desperately want to.  We need to rely upon the Holy Spirit to tame the tongue – by asking Him for His guidance and submitting to His direction, we can indeed tame the tongue.  Do this and watch how He does amazing things through you your spoken words, and to you with your internal thoughts about yourself!

Jesus's Freedom is for those who call Him Lord - those who believe in Him. If you’ve not yet accepted Christ Jesus as Your Lord, and would like to, say the following prayer aloud.

Lord Jesus, I confess and realize that I am a sinner, and without You, I am lost and separated from God.  Thank You for going to the cross and dying for my sins – I ask for Your forgiveness for my sins, and I thank you and receive the forgiveness of my sins Your Word says is now mine!  Holy Spirit, I thank You that You now reside within me.  I lay down my will for Yours and ask for Your daily guidance and direction to make me more and more like You.  Amen!

The Bible tells us that if we confess Jesus as Lord with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God resurrected Jesus from the dead, we are saved for eternity.  If you’ve just accepted Jesus as Lord, know that heaven is celebrating right now (Luke 15:10)!  Rejoice because you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and now have begun the process of sanctification becoming like Him. Keep coming back, as we explore Freedom facets and what our Identity in Christ truly is. Share this joyous news with a brother or sister in Christ and get connected in your local church!  LIFE is yours!

Small Group Invitations - Week of September 6, 2026

Below are invitations to just a couple of Men's Small Groups that are happening this week, both a part of Celebration Church, Georgetown, Texas. If these don't work for you, or if you're not a Celebration Church, TX attendee - regardless of the church you attend - being a part of small group is immensely important! If you're not involved in one, I pray that you find one that works for your schedule and you get plugged in. Being connected in the local church will bless you immeasurably! Also - with the fall semester starting, many churches are offering Freedom small group classes. If one is available near you, I pray you plug in to it - the Freedom Small Groups are life changing!

Tuesday Morning Men's Fellowship Group: 6am - 7am at Rudy's BBQ in Round Rock, Texas. Join us for a time of fellowship where we'll discuss the message from the Pastors on Sunday, the newsletter contents, or whatever is going on in the lives of the brothers meeting.

Friday Morning Celebration Men: We're back on-campus with the fall semester start! Join us at 6:30 am at the Celebration Church Annex in Georgetown, TX for fellowship and discussion about God's Word. We'll conclude at 8am so people can get to work.

^[1] Freedom Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, AL; Freedom – Celebration Church, Georgetown, TX

^[2]  Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[3] The Amplified Bible. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[4]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[5]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[6]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[7]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[8]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[9]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[10]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[11]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[12]  Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.