The Power of Words Proverbs 15 · Join the Journey

We live in a world where our words have more power than ever before.

You can stand in your kitchen and say, “Hey Alexa, play my favorite playlist,” or “Siri, turn off the lights,” and just like that — something happens.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could say, “Hey Google, make me a better person”?

Wouldn’t that be nice if it worked?

But while our smart devices only respond to a few commands, the truth is, our words are always turning something on or off. They can turn up anger or turn it down. They can turn on encouragement or shut it off.

The question is — what are your words producing?

Are they creating life or destroying it?

Are they turning up peace or stirring up wrath?

Words have power — not because of technology, but because God designed them to. That’s why Proverbs talks so much about how we speak.

Wisdom for Relationships

Last week we finished looking at God’s wisdom for our relationships. We saw that we need to guard our hearts because everything we do and say flows out of them — how we interact with strangers, neighbors, enemies, friends, and family.

We’ve touched on the topic of our words before, but today we’re coming back to the power of words and how we can be wise with our words.

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Proverbs 15.

If you don’t have one, there are some on the back table.

(Proverbs is in the Old Testament, right after Psalms and before Ecclesiastes.)

Proverbs 15:1–7

We’ve seen this all through Proverbs, but again we see a comparison — there is power in our words: they reveal our hearts.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.”

“The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge…”

The wise not only possess knowledge, but the way they use it makes it attractive and desirable to others.

But “the mouth of fools gushes folly.” The fool’s many words, like a spring bubbling over, only reveal how foolish they are. Their words expose their sin and their rejection of God’s wisdom.

Proverbs 29:11

“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”

(NASB: “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.”)

There is power in our words because they reveal our hearts and affect our relationships.

With our words, are we turning away wrath or stirring up anger?

Are we showing how desirable wisdom is, or are our words gushing folly and sin?

Are our words soothing or perverse?

Are they a tree of life or crushing spirits?

Are we spreading knowledge or revealing that our hearts are not upright?

With our words, are we building others up or tearing them down?

Words Can Grieve the Spirit

Proverbs gives us the principle, but the New Testament shows us how it plays out in the life of believers empowered by the Spirit.

There is power in our words — they can grieve the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:29–30

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Paul makes a direct connection between the power of our words and how we interact with others.

It grieves the Holy Spirit when we tear down our brothers and sisters who are sealed by that same Spirit. Instead, we are called to use our words to help and build others up.

Ephesians 4:31–32

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit with your words.

Use your words to help and build others up.

Words Can Reveal Jesus

Not only must we avoid tearing down, but we also must not be backhanded, two-faced, fake, or phony with our words. James addresses this:

James 3:9–12

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

Friends, this shouldn’t be. How can we praise God and then turn around and curse others who are made in His image? How can say that we love and follow Jesus and turn around and gossip and destroy other?

John tells us that if we say we love God yet hate our brother or sister, we are liars.

There is power in our words — they can reveal Jesus.

Our words reveal our hearts. They affect our relationships. They can grieve the Spirit. They can reveal Christ.

How to Be Wise with Your Words

1. Listen quickly and speak slowly

James 1:19

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

Do you find yourself always needing to have the last word? Or maybe, instead of actually listening, you’re only thinking about what you’ll say next?

How many fights could be avoided if we were quick to listen instead of quick to speak? Even if you’re foolish, you’ll look wise if you’re quick to listen and slow to speak.

Proverbs 17:28

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”

2. Think before you speak

Proverbs 13:3

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”

The wise pause and think before they speak. How many times have you said, posted, or texted something you regretted? Me too.

The foolish speak their feelings; the wise guard their lips.

Use this simple filter before you speak — T.H.I.N.K.

Is it True?

Is it Helpful?

Is it Inspiring?

Is it Necessary?

Is it Kind?

When you’re angry, wait before responding. Maybe type the email or text but don’t send it until you’ve cooled down. A slow word is often a wise word. Ask God for self-control with your words.

3. Use your words to bring healing, not harm

Proverbs 12:18

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Our words can wound or heal — and we get to choose which. When conflict happens, aim to restore, not destroy. As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Offer forgiveness as God has forgiven you. Offer correction with gentleness and respect, not harsh criticism.

4. Speak the Truth in Love

Ephesians 4:15

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Tim Keller once said,

“Truth without love is harshness. Love without truth is sentimentality. Both are forms of cruelty.”

And Randy Alcorn added,

“Grace without truth is deception. Truth without grace is destruction.”

Don’t twist or hide the truth to avoid discomfort. We often avoid clarity because we tell ourselves we’re being kind — but when we’re unclear, we’re actually being unkind.

Truth and love must work together in our words.

Be honest with humility and compassion. Avoid gossip and exaggeration. Speak the truth in love, and speak to build up — not tear down.

Ephesians 4:29

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up… that it may benefit those who listen.”

Our words should strengthen, encourage, and add value to others. They should build up according to their needs and benefit those who hear them.

At Journey Church, we:

“We build strong relationships, walking side by side through the messiness of life with prayer, accountability, and encouragement.”

I can’t tell you how many times a few simple words have either encouraged me or brought me down throughout my life and ministry.

So make encouragement a habit — speak words that bring life every day. Encourage your neighbors, co-workers, spouses, and kids. Don’t just think something good about someone — say it! We are quick to criticize; let’s be quicker to encourage. Replace sarcasm and criticism with encouragement.

5: Speak to Reflect Jesus

Colossians 4:6

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”

Be gracious with your words, even when correcting someone.

Let your words reflect Jesus — seasoned with salt and full of grace.

Our words have power: to hurt or to heal, to build up or to tear down.

Be wise with your words — be quick to listen, slow to speak, thoughtful before you respond, speaking truth in love to build up and reflect Jesus.

The Word That Changes Everything

We’ve talked about how our words can build up or tear down, but there’s one word that changes everything — the word of faith that confesses Jesus is Lord.

Romans 10:9–11

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’”

Today, maybe you need to confess your faith in Jesus for the first time — believing in Him, turning from your sins, and being joined with Jesus in baptism, testifying to everyone that He is your Savior and Lord. Use the power of your words to confess your faith in Jesus today!