Power of Our Words

Lesson Outline for July 17, 2025

Power of Our Words

Life and Death, Victory or Defeat begins in our minds and departs from our tongue

• What do you think about words and your use of words?
• Have you ever “felt” compelled to just say a thing?
• How many of you grew up bombarded with witty responses, sarcasm, negative statements?
• Power of songs/music – sound has a vibration and frequency “Eye of the Tiger”
• Are you aware of what you bless or curse for yourself, your family or others?
• What are phrases or words you say or hear (have heard)?

 

I’m/You’re a mess –  My/Your life is a mess –  I can’t live without ______ (Jacob said this of Benjamin UST), I am poor. – I’ll/You’ll never get ahead. – We’ll never make it. –  I’ll/You’ll never amount to anything –  I’m/You’re stupid – You can’t do that!  – I’m sick and tired of ______  – I wish you were never born – We should have never gotten married – I didn’t want you anyway,

And, then there is…, Good luck. What’s the magic word…., works like a charm? Knock on wood, etc

Can you say Amen or So be it after stating any of the above? If not, I recommend, not saying it.

Are we being TOO spiritual, or are we deceived? – The secular world is selling it by the millions

The original self-help, human performance and psychology book is in one 66 volume set – the Holy Bible

• How many secular studies show the power of words; books, seminars, classes – build your self-esteem, enhance performance, “what comes around goes around”, “reap what they sow”…
• New Age, Occult practices, Hinduism, “karma” “aura” use of the word “energy” spiritual references…

Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions

• Word – #G4487 “rema/rhema” – word from a living voice, utterance, command, declaration – Eph 6:17;
• Word – #G3056 “logos” utterance, what someone has said, sayings of God, moral law, discourse, doctrine, teaching; with respect to the mind/soul – thinking, reasoning, meditating, law suit, matter in dispute, a report, anything reported in speech; John 1: ; Eph 4:29
• To Write– #G3056 “graphe” a thing written, writing, a book or contents in a book,
• Time – #G2540 “kairos” specific or proper time
• Speak – #G2980 “laleo” talk, emit sound, utter, tell, use words to declare what’s in one’s mind (Luke 1:19, 20, 22)

The green is the author’s notations in the verses below. Bold text added for emphasis

 

You have the right to remain silent

The timing and speaking of our words matter

Luke 1:18-20, 59-64 “And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak (laleo)to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words (logos), which will be fulfilled in their time (kairos).”

59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Matt 26: 62-65 ESV – 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.”

Matt 27:11-14 ESV – “11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”

Matt 4:10 ESV “Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’“

• We see releasing – the speaking and timing of our words in the Luke 1 passages
• Gabriel was releasing God’s word – this originated from God’s heart – Luke records Paul in Acts 13:22 that David was a man after God’s heart
• Gabriel struck Zechariah dumb/silent because Gabriel did not trust Zechariah with the word given. Zechariah’s speaking restored after – (timing) he wrote the name “John” and it was spoken
• Zechariah was the spiritual authority over his family – he gave the name, then he spoke
• Men you are the spiritual authority in your home! Your words matter!
• Gabriel visited Mary, documented in the same chapter of Luke 1, but she believed by faith- Not struck dumb
• Jesus remained silent in front of the Caiaphas, the Council and Pilate – not compelled to speak
• Jesus calmly and confidently quoted Deuteronomy 3 times, and rebuked Satan away from Him

 

Where do the words come from that we speak? We must guard our heart!

Consider your life – do we become what we think and speak?

Prov 23:7 ESV – “for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

Prov 23:7 NKJV – “For as he thinks in his heart, so [is] he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.”

Prov 4:20-25 ESV – “20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight (spiritual sight, soul, mental faculties); keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”

Prov 18:6-8, 20-21 ESV – 6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight (strife, case at law), and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8 The words of a whisperer (#G5372 “nirgan” backbiter, slanderer, gossip) are like delicious morsels (gulped, swallowed greedily); they go down into the inner parts of the body. … 20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. 21 Death and life (context=physical) are in the power (physical/literal) of the tongue, and those who love it will eat (good or bad consequences) its fruits.

Phil 4:8-9 ESV – 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

• How does this move you to guard your heart?
• Prophecy over yourself and your family – blessings and life!
• Thoughts are the root of our words; thoughts begin in your mind; our 5 senses are involved
• Thoughts originate from four places: 1) ourselves; 2) demonic realm – John13:2; 3) others; 4) God
• Take your thoughts captive, obedient to Jesus Christ; have the mind of Jesus Christ
• Do not accept/receive from others what is not for you, ungodly – (this is not a pass to reject righteous counsel)
• Think on your life – what words have you spoken, or you “received” in agreement spoken over you? – “I will never get married.., hurt again like that.., I hate…, I would die for… , He/she drives me crazy…, No one will ever …,

 

What do you want to eat? Choose to bless, not curse. Discipline your mouth

Discipline comes from the mind, our will, it’s developed; discipline takes over when motivation is gone

Mark 4:23-24 ESV – “23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.”

James 3:5-6, 8-11 ESV – “5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. … 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?”

Psa 101:5 ESV – “Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.”

Eph 4:29 ESV – 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Eph 5:4 ESV – “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Ecc 5:1-6 ESV – “1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. 4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”

• What are your thoughts as you read these verses?
• Holy Spirit will help you change your thinking / heart – the “well of your words”
• Do these verses compel us to change what we say

 

The power of agreement

1 Sam 17:10-11, 16, 43, 45 ESV – “10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. … 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. … 43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. … 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name (character, authority, a representative) of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

Prov 26:2 ESV –“ Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.”

• Receive only what is righteous; reject lies from the “enemy” – don’t come into agreement with a curse it will land / activate
• Ungodly fear is a spirit (2 Tim 1:7)
• For 40 days the giant/Philistines put a spirit of fear into the Israelites with words and threats – the Israelites agreed with what was spoken – Saul was fearful and it cascaded down
• The Israelites served Almighty God, yet King Saul and his army received/agreed with a word – a curse without a cause can’t land – the curse landed – same today for believers
• We can come out of agreement (break/cancel) with the lies of the Devil, the prince of the air (Eph 2:2)
• Come out of agreement with: fear, anxiety, sexual bondage, abandonment, rejection, false identification, addiction, poverty, worthlessness, ungodly relationships, ungodly thinking, double mindedness…

 

Power of words

Victory or defeat begins in our heart/minds and departs from our tongue

Gen 1:3, 26 ESV – 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. … 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Matt 26:73-74 ESV – 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.”

John 18:5-6 ESV – “5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”

Psa 149:6-8 ESV – “6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,”

Eph 6:17-20. “..,and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

• Our words are powerful and release words into the atmosphere bringing manifestations
• Have you noticed things in your life you set on fire? Do you see a pattern with your children?
• Satan and his kingdom are legalists; they know the spiritual laws – they are always looking to snare you
• Peter gave legal right to the enemy again (his previous sin was pride) – now he swore “I do not know the man” – false oath (Zech 5:3) and he lied (Ex 20 & Deut 5)
• Jesus shows us the power of words, and His name
• Our praises can be a spiritual weapon; our words can bind and loose; break and tear down, heal and deliver (see also Matt 16:19; 2 Cor 10: 3-5
• Sword of the Spirit, the word “rhema” of God is spoken word
• Our prayers can be weapons – do you pray from a position and posture of VICTORY
• Just like in the natural – some battles are longer and more intense – keep praying, releasing, get a “battle buddy” and maybe a platoon, or company in prayer

 

Prayer

Psa 141:1-4 ESV – 1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Last thoughts

• Guard your heart – allow Holy Spirit access to all places of your heart
• God promises to accomplish His will in our life – give Him access, have faith and obey
• God contends and fights against those forces fighting against us
• Focus on your heart, and your words, tongue, mouth – will follow
• God’s word, His truth and faith bring victory; Speak blessings – life, not curses
• As a man, husband, father – you are the spiritual authority in your life and over your family
• Discipline comes from our mind, heart, will (soul); discipline takes over when motivation is gone
• Don’t use the excuse – “it’s the way I was made” – God did not make you for defeat, to be in a spiritual prison; or to curse others
• Some victories in our life take time – persevere-, just like natural warfare
• We will reap what we sow – it’s a spiritual law
• Don’t give access / legal right to the enemy

 

Other verses on repentance for self-study

Pro 18:6-8 ESV – 6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Luke 6:45 ESV – “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Mat 12:34-37 ESV – “34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Prov 16:21-24 ESV – 21 The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. 22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Prov 12:13-14, 18, 20, 22 ESV – 13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. 14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him. … 18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. … 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. … 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Matt 21:19 ESV – “19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.”

Rom 10:9 ESV– “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Act 8:32-33, 35 ESV – “32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth. 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.”

Eph 2:1-3 ESV – “1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience– 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Psa 35:1-2 ESV – “Of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!”