Power of Words

I hate you! I love you! You are a disappointment! I am proud of you! You will never grow up to be anything! You can be whatever you want to be as long as you work hard. You are lazy. You are hard working. You are stupid. You are smart. Simple words can cause someone to feel special and loved or it can cause hatred, anger or depression. There is so much power in words and we can see it every day in our own lives. If a loved one praises or condemns you, it can ruin your day. Your boss scrutinizes your work or lack of hard work. Or if your boss shows appreciation for your hard work and dedication. Your child saying, I love you versus them saying I hate you. Simple words that can pierce your soul for good or bad. Proverbs 13:3, The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his ruin. Matthew 12:36-37, I tell you that on the day of judgement people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned. The words we see spoken today create more hate and anger and sometimes leads to death.

                Jesus had power in His words. We see it many times in the Bible. The more famous one is Matthew 8:5-13 (Luke 7:1-10), a centurion heard about Jesus, went to him and was pleading to heal his servant lying at home paralyzed and in terrible agony. A centurion were of high standards, well payed, they were able to read and commanded over 80 soldiers. The centurion showed so much faith and humbleness by saying that he is not worthy to have Jesus come under his roof and He only needed to say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus says He has not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith and the servant was healed that very moment. In Luke 7:11-17, a widow’s son died and was being carried out. Jesus had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.” He touches the open coffin and says, “Young man, I tell you get up!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. Matthew 8:16, He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. John 4:46-54, a royal official comes to Jesus and pleads with him to heal his son, who was about to die. Jesus tells him to “Go, your son will live.” The man believed and found his son healed. Mark 7:24-30, a Gentile mother comes to Jesus to ask him to cast out the demon in her daughter. Jesus says to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” The mother replies, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” She was showing her faith and saying she only needed crumbs to have her daughter healed by Jesus. Jesus says, “Because of this reply (showing her faith), you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” Jesus’ words alone had great power and could heal without needing to touch.

                Prayer is power and it is words are used to heal, guide, strengthen and comfort. There is power in the words not only what we speak but what we hear. The voice of the Holy Spirit speaks to us. We can see how powerful the words are when we are filled with Spirit. In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and his wife Sapphira sell a piece of property. They both kept back a part of the proceeds and gave a portion to the apostles. The Spirit filled Peter was given insight and asks, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” After hearing these words, Ananias drops dead. His wife, three hours later is questioned by Peter and she also lies. Instantly she dropped dead after Peter says, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out.” The words in the Bible give us unimaginable strength over this world and the spirit world. Continually repeating them and memorizing them in our hearts help us when we face dark times and temptations. The word should be in our heart and it is part of the armor of God. It is the Sword of the Spirit and the Sword is the Word of God. The belt of Truth gives us the Word which becomes the Sword and can defeat any enemy. Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan and there is power in those words! We must do the same.            

                We see Jesus tempted by Satan in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. The Word of God is our Sword against Satan and our Shield of Faith defends us against his attacks. Satan tempts Jesus and says, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus replies, “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Words from God give eternal life and sustenance for our soul. No food could ever give that feeling. Satan then takes Jesus and stands him on the pinnacle of the temple and says, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Satan is so well versed with the Word of God that he will twist it for his advantage. Lucifer knows how to use the pulpit at churches to spread his word and not the Word of God. The wolves in sheep clothing have been among us since the beginning and they will continue to do the Lucifer’s bidding. Jesus replies, “Do not test the Lord your God.” The devil then takes Jesus to a very high mountain and says, “I will give you all these things (all the kingdoms of the world) if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.” Jesus defeated the devil’s temptation with the power of His words.

The words of Lucifer only bring death, doubt, lies, temptation, cause unbelief, suffering, rebellion and despair. Genesis 3, we see the words of Lucifer cause the loss of paradise. “Did God really say, you can’t eat from any tree in the garden,” Eve answers and says, “But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’” Lucifer answers, “No! You will not die. In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” We all know what happens next and the world lost paradise until Jesus sacrificed himself for all sinners. We see in Job 1, Satan speaks to God about Job and says, “Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns and he will surely curse you to your face.” God allows Satan to bring suffering to Job but in the end Job is rewarded for his faith many times over.  The words of Lucifer are intended to bring hate, disbelief, anger, anxiety, despair, sin, all the things Jesus does not want for you in your life. There is a reason the devil is called the Adversary and Tempter. His words will always be the opposite of God’s word.

The Word of God and the word of the devil is always opposite. Jesus uses His words to speak the truth, show love, compassion, heal, bring peace, comfort, to rebuke and guide us on the narrow path. The devil uses words for causing doubt, anxiety, hate, depression, all things to damn your soul. We are the children of God and our Heavenly Father speaks to us with love. We can see the joy our words can bring in people but it can also cause pain. Our words can be used as a testimony to show the power of God. How it brings comfort and saves the lost soul. The words you hear in church, from a pastor, Christian music can touch your heart and bring you closer to God. The people and the words they use around you can affect your relationship with God. It can bring you closer or it can cause doubt if it is coming from a non-believer. The words that come out of our mouth should be words of love and encouragement. John 14:10, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does His works.” Those who truly do the works of Jesus will have words similar to Him and will keep His commandments.

I Peter 2:1-2, Therefore, rid of yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up into your salvation. This is how powerful words can be, Pope Francis expresses support for same-sex civil unions. There was also a time where the Pope promoted using conscience to navigate tough moral questions. This is the leader of the Catholic Church, using his words to spread the acceptance of sin to millions of followers! His word is not following the Bible. We must know the Word of God to decipher the words of untruth! We will suffer for Christ’s sake, I Peter 2:21-22For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. Romans 10:8-10, The message is near in you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim. If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. We must not be lost and be able to fight the words of Satan! Let no deceit come out of our mouths and the knowledge of the Word of God will help us know the truth from lies. We must confess of God’s truth to the world to combat the lies we hear every day in this world. Our words must be pure! 

James 3:8, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. The devil is full of wisdom as stated in Ezekiel and used his words to convince other angels to follow in his rebellion. He continues that war now using social media and technology spreading his words to deceive the world. Taming our words will not be an easy task. Every day it is a battle and we continually need to be in the presence of prayer using our words, asking God for help. Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit. This is true now, more than ever. Our words produce fruit and each believer is known by its own fruit. Luke 6:45, A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Ephesians 4:29, No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. Choose your words wisely as there is power in the words we speak. The last words none of us want to hear is “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers (Matthew 7:23)!” Rather we want to hear Jesus saying to us, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!” Do not be deceived by the words of this world and accept sin. The true Word of God gives us His commandments and there is not deviation or acceptance of anything else in our lives. Use the power of words to give light and salt to the lost world!