Power and significance of speech

Jeremiah Poulsen

James • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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A person’s speech has an enormous influence for good or ill and is a sure guide to character.

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Transcript

The impact of speech

It has the power of life and death

Pr 18:21; Jas 3:1–12

It can bring ruin or joy to the speaker

Proverbs 12:13–14 LEB

13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble. 14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good, and the reward of a man’s labor will return to him.

See also Ps 140:9; Pr 10:14; Pr 13:3; Pr 14:3; Pr 18:6–7; Pr 18:20; Pr 21:23; Ec 10:12–14

It can destroy others

Proverbs 11:9 LEB

9 With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

See also Job 19:2; Ps 55:20–21; Ps 57:4; Ps 64:3–4; Ps 140:3; Pr 11:11; Pr 12:6; Pr 12:18; Pr 16:27

It can bring life to others

Proverbs 10:11 LEB

11 A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness, and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

See also Pr 10:20–21; Pr 10:31–32; Pr 16:21; Pr 16:23–24; Pr 25:12; Is 50:4; Eph 4:29

The timing of speech

There is an appropriate time for speaking

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 LEB

1 For everything there is an appointed time, a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to bear and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to root up what is planted; 3 a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; 8 a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

See also Pr 15:23; Pr 15:28; Pr 25:11–12

There is an appropriate time for silence

Proverbs 11:12–13 LEB

12 He who lacks sense belittles his neighbor, but a person of intelligence will remain silent. 13 A gossip walks about telling a secret, but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.

See also 1 Sa 10:27; Pr 10:19; Pr 17:27–28; Pr 21:23; Pr 26:4; Ec 5:2–3; Am 5:13; Hab 2:20; Zep 1:7; Jas 1:19

Spoken witness produces faith

Romans 10:17 LEB

17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word about Christ.

See also Is 50:4; Ac 2:40–41; Ac 28:23–24; 1 Pe 3:15

Jesus Christ was silent before his accusers

1 Peter 2:22–23 LEB

22 who did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth, 23 who when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly,

See also Mt 26:63; Mt 27:14; Lk 23:9; Jn 19:8–9

Speech is an expression of a person’s character

Matthew 12:34–37 LEB

34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say good things when you are evil? For from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person from his good treasury brings out good things, and the evil person from his evil treasury brings out evil things. 36 But I tell you that every worthless word that they speak, people will give an account for it on the day of judgment! 37 For by your words you will be vindicated, and by your words you will be condemned.”