The Power of Words
(James 3:2-12)
Introduction
Dr. Ben Carson of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the U.S. has a nickname of “gifted hands.” He completely cured a four-year-old patient with a malignant brain tumor, though the other doctors already gave up on him. He was also the first doctor in the world to succeed in separating Siamese twins whose heads and bodies were conjoined. Even though he is a renowned doctor in the medical world, as his nickname “gifted hands” tells us, his childhood was quite miserable. He was born in Harlem and got into trouble by hanging out with thugs and became involved in fights, ever since his parents got divorced.
He was ostracized at school because he was an African American, and was always at the bottom of his class. Knowing that he had such a miserable and unlucky childhood, a reporter once asked him “What made you who you are today?” He answered, “It was my mother Sonya Carson. When I was the last in my class and shunned by classmates because I am African American, she always encouraged me saying, ‘You can become whatever you want to be if you work hard and are determined.’”
The power of words exceeds all of our imaginations. What is more, encouraging words from parents and teachers to children become the source of strength and courage for them for the rest of their lives.
1. The functions of words
1) It determines the direction of life
- The whole body is bridled
① A bit in the mouth of a horse
② A ship rudder steered away by a violent storm
2) The fountain of blessings and curses
① Hellfire ② wickedness that never rests ③ deadly poisons
3) Tools with which one praises God
2. The influence of words
? A book written by Emoto Masaro titled『Messages from Water』
1) If we speak abusive words to water, the crystal of water breaks into pieces.
2) If we say ‘thank you’ to water, it forms beautiful shapes of hexagonal crystal.
3) 60% of the human body consists of water ? If we hate each other and become angry at each other and say negative things,
the water inside our body is destructed to become the source of every disease. If we love each other and speak in grateful and
positive terms, however, the water inside us forms a beautiful hexagonal shape, becoming the source of health and life.
3. Words of the mouth, the key of heaven
? Jesus’ question at Caesarea Philippi * (Mt 16:16)
1) Our assured confession of Jesus becomes the rock of our faith
2) It also grants us the status to hold the key to heaven
- The role of binding and loosing
① Grace of forgiveness and righteousness
② Grace of holiness and the fullness of the Spirit
③ Grace of Abraham’s blessing and prosperity
④ Grace of being cured and healthy
⑤ The grace of eternal life, resurrection in heaven
- We must proclaim that these graces belong to us. And also proclaim that we are:
① Freed from sins
② Freed from immoralities
③ Cured from various mental and physical diseases
④ Freed from poverty and famine
⑤ Freed from death and despair
3) The results
- We must proclaim that we may enjoy good health as our soul gets along and everything goes well, and the varied promises of
heaven presented in the Bible are ours.
Conclusion
We shape our lives through thoughts, dreams and our confessions. If our thoughts and dreams are clear and our confessions
are definite, we can rule our lives.