Proverbs - Part 4
The Proverbs - THE POWER OF WORDS
Discuss the importance of words and how to speak with humility, restraint, and grace.
Four Areas of Need for Divine Help in our Speech, So we pray
Help us to speak appropriate words
Help us to speak with humility
Help us to speak with restraint
Help us to speak with grace
Key Takeaways
- Words have immense power - they can bring life or death, encouragement or discouragement
- We should pray for God's help to speak appropriate, humble, restrained and gracious words
- Pride is the root of many sins involving speech, so we must cultivate humility
- Gentle, kind words are healing, while perverse, twisted speech is something God hates
Topics
The Power of Words
- Words are the outward manifestation of what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34)
- The tongue has the power to bring life or death (Proverbs 18:21)
- An apt, well-timed word can bring great joy and encouragement (Proverbs 15:23)
- But ill-timed, discouraging words can deeply wound
Speaking with Humility
- Pride is the root of many sins and the devil's most destructive tool
- Humble speech is gentle, kind, and healing (Proverbs 15:1, 4; 16:24)
- God hates perverse, twisted speech that aligns with evil (Proverbs 8:13)
- We must be cautious that our words don't reveal pride in our hearts
Speaking Appropriately
- An appropriate word is the right word at the right time in the right way
- It uplifts, encourages, corrects and inspires when received with wisdom
- But it can also wound if spoken insensitively or without relationship
Next Steps
- Pray for God's help to:
- Speak with humility
- Speak with restraint (to be covered next week)
- Speak with grace (to be covered next week)
- Be mindful that our words reveal our hearts
WHAT ARE MY WORDS REVEALING ABOUT MY HEART?
WILL MY WORDS LEAD OTHERS TO SEE JESUS IN ME?
WHAT IMPRESSION AM I LEAVING?
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
IS GOD HONORED BY THE WORDS I AM ABOUT TO SAY?
LORD HELP US TO SPEAK With humility to all we encounter