Be mindful of what you say, make sure your words energize others in a good way. A good person’s words will benefit and build up many people. So motivate yourself in just 18 minutes with this fascinating study.
Updating: Sunday, September 18, 2022
Jesus called the people to Him and said to them, “Listen and understand this! 11 It is not what goes into a man’s mouth that makes his mind and heart sinful. It is what comes out of a man’s mouth that makes him sinful.” Matthew 15:10-11 (NLV)
What you say matters! Did your vocabulary change when you became a Christian? It should have and this is why [from Matthew 12:33-37 (CEV)]:
- 33 “A good tree produces only good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces.
- 34 You are a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show what is in your hearts. 35 Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts.
- 36 I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. 37 On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.“
- The sinner’s mouth is “full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14 and Psalm 10:7), is yours?
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it. (AMPC) Ephesians 4:29
Think about this:
Your words are powerful. So say good things that will help people. Amaze yourself by taking time to think before you speak. The result may blow your mind.
So, start by using three wonderful tips to bless those you meet …
3 Tips:
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Use Awesome Power
Have you ever thought about how amazing and powerful God’s words are? And God said, Let there be light: and there was light [Genesis 1:3 (KJV)]. What you say can be just as powerful, so speak with care. And unleash the power of your words!
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Plan to Encourage
The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense. [Proverbs 10:21 (NLT)]
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Energize With Words
As children of God the words we speak should help and benefit others; do your words energize or depress? The psalmist describes the words of the Lord as sweeter than honey; they bring light and give understanding. In John 6:63 Jesus says His words are spirit and life. His words energize people to live, in fact, they bring about change. You can do with your words as Jesus did with His!
Use Awesome Power
Awesome: beautiful, amazing, impressive, wonderful, magnificent, fascinating, incredible. Power: skill, talent, influence, effectiveness
People will be rewarded for what they say [From the fruit of the mouth of a person is their stomach satisfied]; they will be rewarded by how they speak [the yield/gain of their lips satisfies]. 21 What you say can mean [In the power of the tongue are] life or death. Those who speak with care [love it] will be rewarded [eat its fruit]. (EXB) Proverbs 18:20-21
the Awesome Power of Your Words
The psalmist in Psalms 119, describes the words of the Lord as sweeter than honey. As well as they bring light [wisdom] and give understanding [insight] to simple [childish, immature] people.
How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (NASU) Psalms 119:103 [Read Psalms 119:101-104] || The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. (WEB) Psalms 119:130 [Read Psalms 119:129-136 (focus verse: 130)]
Wisdom
My child, pay attention and listen to my wisdom and insight. 2 Then you will know how to behave properly, and your words will show that you have knowledge. (GNT) Proverbs 5:1-2
[read Proverbs 5:1-6 (1-2)].
First, you must listen to and learn from wise teaching. Then you can uplift others with incredible effectiveness!
God wants you to talk to those who listen to you in a way that they will benefit. For example, telling someone they are smart builds confidence. Also, simple phrases such as, “I’m so proud of you” or “you can do this” are powerful motivators. Conclusion: think about and use statements that will encourage and boost them!
Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. (NLT) Proverbs 12:14
[read Proverbs 12:12-14 (14)]
As mentioned earlier, in John 6:63 Jesus says His words are spirit and life. Spirit here refers to the Greek word pneuma. I.e, the spirit is that which animates and gives life, the body is of no profit (for the spirit imparts life to it, not the body in turn to the spirit (see reference in Biblehub.com).
Self-control
A person might think he is religious. But if he says things he should not say, then he is just fooling himself. His “religion” is worth nothing. (ICB) James 1:26
Treat others the way you want to be treated. More importantly, follow the advice given in 1 Peter 3:9-11:
- Pray for those that treat you badly.
- Do not say bad things about other people.
- Avoid sinful deeds by doing what is good!
- Always strive for and live in peace.
Leading all towards unity and love
And see happy days —
Let them keep their tongue from evil
And their lips from deceitful words,
11 let them turn from evil and do good,
Let them seek for peace and follow after it;
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And his ears are attentive to their prayers,
But the face of the Lord is set against those who do wrong.’ 1 Peter 3:8-12 (OEBus) [read 1 Peter 3:8-17 (9-11)].
Plan to Encourage
Encourage: boost, brighten, cheer up, refresh, inspire comfort, reassure, comfort, strengthen, praise.
Tell the truth; plan to say helpful things
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 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.
Make the Spirit happy
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:25-32 (NLT)
Check what you say
Do your words build up or tear down? Are they harmful or helpful, destructive or motivating/beneficial? The letter to the Ephesians (4:29) advised that the children of God should use words that are helpful, inspiring, and beneficial. In the same way, the Colossians were advised to say things that bring joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness; seasoned with salt – speech prepared with wisdom and sound judgment.
Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside the Christian faith. Make the most of your opportunities. 6 Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6 (GW)
Build hope and awareness
And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (NIRV)
- Let’s identify some of the situations when we are more likely to say destructive or harmful words:
- 1. When we argue or quarrel.
- 2. At a time when we are angry or jealous.
- 3. As well as when we get drunk or high.
- 4. Also when we are joking or when our feelings are hurt.
The Bible uses the following words to identify acts that are hurtful and destructive. Just a few examples:
Judging
- To criticize, blame or find fault and condemn as wrong. Therefore you have nothing to say in your own defense, whoever you are who set yourself up as a judge. In judging others you condemn yourself, for you who set yourself up as a judge do the very same things. Romans 2:1 (OEBus)
Gossiping
- A gossip or ‘talebearer’ is one who spreads or repeats a rumor or things heard. A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] — it is like scorching fire on his lips. 28 Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships. Proverbs 16:27 (CJB)-28 (TEV).
Backbiting
- To speak spitefully, slanderously, or evil of (an absent person or persons); to slander; to traduce (to defame or slander). Saying mean things about someone that is not present.
- Therefore, you should put out of your lives all malice [i.e., bad attitudes], and all deceit and hypocrisy, and all envy and unwholesome talk.
Complaining
- To utter expressions of grief, pain, dissatisfaction. As well as to utter expressions of annoyance or resentment. Also, to find fault.
- Neither should you people complain as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel [See Numbers 11:1]. 1 Corinthians 10:10 (AUV)
Lying
- Lying is the practice of telling lies. To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive; also to utter falsehoods habitually. To cause an incorrect impression; to present a misleading appearance; to deceive one.
- Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before. Colossians 3:9 (ICB)
Energize With Words
Energize: motivate, inspire, encourage, boost, empower, stir up, strengthen, build up, restore, pump up, uplift
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
God will judge what you say
35 The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. 36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37 (WEB)
Since the Lord will analyze everything we say, let’s make some adjustments. So, here are a few words from Proverbs to help us use wisdom in our speaking.
- Proverbs 10:19 (CEV)
You will say the wrong thing if you talk too much— so be sensible and watch what you say.
- Proverbs 15:1 (TLB)
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.
- Proverbs 13:3 (ERV)
- People who are careful about what they say will save their lives*, but those who speak without thinking will be destroyed.
- *The Bible Knowledge Commentary: By his reckless words he makes promises he can’t keep, divulges private information, offends, or misrepresents. People learn not to depend on what he says and do not want to be around him. He may also suffer physically or financially.
The Spirit, the best energizer
When the followers [disciples; a broader circle of followers, not the twelve disciples] of Jesus heard this, many of them said, “This teaching [that Jesus is the bread of life; 6:25–59] is hard [difficult; offensive]. Who can accept [obey; hear] it?”
61 Knowing that his followers [disciples] were complaining [grumbling] about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this teaching bother [offend] you? 62 Then will it also bother you to [what if you] see the Son of Man going back [going up; ascending] to the place where he came from [where he was before; heaven]? 63 It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh doesn’t give life [is useless; counts for nothing]. The words I told you are spirit, and they give life [or are from the Spirit who gives life]. John 6:60-63 (EXB) [Read John 6:41-71 (focus verses: 60-63)].
Control the tongue
It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. 5 Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! 6 The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. 8 But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.
9-10 My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right. James 3:4-10 (CEV) [Reference Psalms 52:1-5; Proverbs 15:1-4, 21:23; 1 Peter 3:8-12].
Conclusion
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. 44 You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes. 45 Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart. Luke 6:43-45 (CEV)
Be mindful of what you say, make sure your words are beneficial to others and not destructive. A good person’s words will benefit many people; Wise words bring many benefits. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope, which we don’t deserve, comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do. Be blessed my friends—Tim.
Scriptures to read and study
1 Corinthians 7:24-40 (focus verses: 32-35), 9:1-18 (focus verses: 7-12), and 10:23-31 (focus verses: 23-24). Ephesians 4:25-32 (focus verses: 29-32); Titus 3:1-11 (focus verses: 4-8); 1 Peter 1:3-12 (focus verses: 10-12). Psalms 119:97-104 (focus verses: 101-104); Proverbs 18:20-21.
Colossians 4:2-6 (focus verse: 6); Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (focus verses: 2-7); Matthew 12:34-37 (focus verses: 36-37). 1 Timothy 4:12-16 (focus verse: 12); Colossians 3:12-17 (focus verses: 16-17). 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (focus verses: 16-17); James 3:1-12 (focus verses: 4-6 and 8-10)
Related studies/lessons/snacks for further Spiritual growth:
♥ Question for “Your Words”: What are the results of your words, are they harmful or helpful?
See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
