When I was 12 years old I moved from Canada to the U.S. It was a tough move for me, but it definitely had some perks. I was very excited to play baseball for the first time. I had grown up playing softball. Throughout middle school, I would hone my skills playing in Little League and Peewee until I reached High School: "The Big Leagues". I was thrilled and quite nervous to walk into the locker room to sign up for the team. Before the day was over I heard kids laughing at me. I didn't know why. It turns out the baseball coach, while looking at the signup sheet, had turned to several of the players after spotting my name and said, "Canadians can't play baseball!" After two years of feeling like an outsider, I quit.
DOCTRINE #1: WORDS
Words are powerful. God chose to make Himself known through words with the Bible. Our ability to handle words not only proves our ability in God's Eyes, but it plays a critical role in our salvation. If a person does not believe words are powerful, there is no reason to read the Bible.
Question: Do you believe words are powerful?
Next Doctrine: Doctrine #2
Table of Contents
If you need it, here is the support from God's Word...
SCRIPTURE
The following passages contained some form of "word" or "say/speak." The Hebrew and Greek both had multiple words that were translated into English as "word" or "say/speak." We will be looking at the difference between each and revisiting the following passages in later posts.
"1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:1-3)
(God created everything by speaking words. Think about it; everything that is physical began with words.)
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not." (John 1:1-5)
(Jesus was referred to as the Word. Could a Believer in Jesus recognize that Jesus is the Word while saying words aren't important?)
"14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.
15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:14-15)
(We are warned not to strive about words to no profit. This verse did NOT say you should NOT strive about words to a profit. In fact, the next verse stated we are supposed to handle the word of truth SO WELL that it brings a profit to ourselves and those who hear us.)
"8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:8-10)
(Speaking words is the way confession is made unto salvation.)
"32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
33 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 Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:32-37)
(The only unforgivable sin mentioned in the Bible concerned speaking against the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the mouth speaks what is in the heart. Jesus also said every idle word that all people speak, even believers, will have to be explained at Judgment Day. Jesus said our words could condemn us.)
"63 It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life." (John 6:63)
(Jesus stated the words He spoke are LIFE and profits us. Remember, 2 Timothy 2:14-15? We ought to handle the word of TRUTH so well it will yield profit.)
"1 Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3 Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell." (James 3:1-6)
(James said people could recover from mistakes people made in everything except words. He said the tongue can defile the whole body depending on the words that are spoken. In other words, if the words we speak cause us or others to stumble, the path leads to hell. There are huge consequences for the wrong words we speak.)
"20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil." (Proverbs 4:20-27)
(Here is a nice summary of some of the above passages. The passage from the Book of Proverbs stated the right words ought to be kept in the heart so they result in life.)
Do you still doubt the importance of words? I do not. It's no wonder so many peoples' favorite word is their name. Like all words, your name has meaning. Do you know the definiton of your name?
