The Secret Life of Words – Part 1
May 15, 2022
Introduction
Words continue to live the time they are spoken, heard or thought.
We are Held Accountable for Our Words
Matthew 12:33–37
God pays attention to what say, so we should pay attention to what we say.
Careless Words are not Inconsequential
Careless = Argos (Greek)
- “not working” (unemployed)
- Matthew 20:3–6
- “lazy, refuse to work as a life-style” (lazy)
- 1 Timothy 5:13
- Titus 1:10–12
- “useless, ineffective, not accomplishing anything” (unproductive)
- Matthew 12:36
- James 2:20
- 2 Peter 1:8
- “indifferent, careless” (unintentional)
- Matthew 12:36
- Speak with a purpose. Be silent with a purpose.
Why Does God Care about Our Words?
Words govern aspects of our lives.
- Ephesians 4:29
- Ephesians 5:4
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Mark 11:23
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2 Corinthians 4:13
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Philippians 4:6
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Psalm 107:2
- Proverbs 18:21
- Proverbs 21:23
- Proverbs 12:25
- Proverbs 10:19
- Proverbs 12:18
- Proverbs 18:13
- Proverbs 15:1
- Proverbs 11:13
We represent the state.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17–20
- We are ambassadors.
- As ambassadors, our words reflect the law, policy, position, and status of our home country.
- As ambassadors, our thinking and our speaking should reflect where our citizenship resides (Philippians 3:20)
- Our personal status is always the status of our citizenship, not residence. (Matthew 6:19–20)
- Matthew 6:31–33
© Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2022