The Truth About Words

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me..."  Is this really true?

Proverbs 18:20-21 :  From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with he harvest from his lips he is satisfied.  The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Notes:  Tongue = fire.  Words = fruit.  A person's tongue has the ability of life and death.


Matthew 12:33-37 : “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Notes:  Tree = heart (If the heart is good then the words of a person will be good)

1. Words Cost:
• Psalm 141:3 : Set guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Psalm 39:1: I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.

  Notes:  -Words can cost friendships, relationships, marriages, even people's salvation.
               -People do not hate Jesus, they hate the people that say they are Christians.  Typically
                 because of what people say (Hypocrites).
               -Only God can change the heart.  That is through prayer and the reading of the bible

      2.  Words Hurt:

• Proverbs 26:18-19 : Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arros is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
• Ephesians 5:3-4 : But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

      Notes: Even joking can be harmful.  Look at the analogy given for joking!.

• James 3:5 : Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

       Notes:  Tongue = fire.  If the heart is like a tree and a tongue is like a fire.  This verse above
                    means that one word can spark a fire among multiple hearts like a forest fire.

       3.  Words Last:

• 2 Timothy 1:3, 5 : I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

        Notes:  Words not only effect people for the bad, but can also effect people for the good.
                     Prayers equals positive communication or speaking that comes from a good heart.
                     Good or bad words will be remembered and can last forever.
                     The effects of a word spoke can effect the lineage of a family.

Our words are like seeds.  What seeds are you planting?  a healthy tree in someone else or a unhealthy tree in someone else?

Are you producing life or evil?