THE POWER OF WORDS Sunday 19 January 2014

When God speaks  Genesis 1: 1-3 In the beginning...  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command. Hebrews 11:3  My words will not return void but will fulfil the purpose for which I sent them. Isaiah 55:11  Praise him sun and moon, praise him all you shining stars, praise him you highest heavens and you waters over the seas. Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were put in place for ever and ever, he gave a decree that will never pass away. Psalm 148:4-5  “Is not my word like fire” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

Our words are powerful  A gentle word can break a bone. Proverbs 25:15  The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 ...take ships as an example. Although they are so large, and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever it wants to go....Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire....it corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire. James 3:4-6

Words can build or break  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up... Ephesians 4:29  All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. Luke 4:22  Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6  Always be prepared to give an answer...do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Words flow from the heart ...how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:

God looks at the heart  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7  Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as an apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablets of your heart. Proverbs 7:3

...the word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart”, that is the word of faith we are proclaiming,. That is you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame”, Romans 10: 8-10 ...Those who are dead in sin, their throats are open graves. Romans 3:131 Words of faith

Words of confession  In Nehemiah it records, “They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of a day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshipping the Lord their God. Nehemiah 9:3  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5: 16  He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses them and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28: 13

The power of God’s word: The Bible  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105  God’s word is the sword of the spirit. Ephesians 6:17  The word of God is living and active, sharper than a two edged sword. Hebrews 4:12

Quoting scripture  When Satan tempted Jesus, His response was, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,“ Matthew 4:4

The power of Jesus and his word  Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:3

What Jesus says about our words  “...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17: 20  "Have faith in God” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer. believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”. Mark 11:22-24

Words of Praise  Say to God how awesome are your deeds. Psalm 66:3  I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth...Psalm 34:1

Words in prayer ...When you pray, go into your room close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard by their many words.” Matthew 6:6-8

The Word – logos In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2