Life and Death in Our Words

Summary

The evening opens with thanksgiving for the privilege of coming into God's house, and a look at the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15). In the ancient East the coins on a wife's headpiece marked her honor as a bride and wife, so losing one meant losing her standing. She turns the whole house upside down to find it, then calls her friends to rejoice - and in the same way heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. God has given us the honored status of His children, and we are called to live worthy of it.

The heart of the evening is the power of the tongue (James 3). Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). The ten spies spread an evil report of unbelief and perished in the wilderness, while those who trusted God's promise lived to enter the land. An officer in besieged Samaria doubted Elisha's word of deliverance and died without tasting it. Our words are the rudder, the small spark, the GPS that steers the whole direction of our lives, so we must season our speech with the salt of grace and speak faith instead of fear.

The service closes with the storm at sea (Mark 6). Jesus sent His disciples across the lake in simple obedience, yet a contrary wind rose against them. A storm is not always a sign that you are outside God's will. Jesus sees you in your distress, walks out toward you, and stills the wind - so do not stay silent in the storm. Cry out to Him, for every storm is an invitation to draw nearer to God.

Key Points

• Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, and God has given us the honored status of His own children.
• Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and what we say today shapes our tomorrow.
• Spoken unbelief destroyed the ten spies, while confessed faith preserved Caleb and Joshua.
• Doubting God's promise of provision cost the officer of Samaria his life, so guard the words you speak about God.
• The tongue is small, but like a rudder or a spark it steers and can set fire to the whole of life.
• Storms come even when we are obeying God; they deepen our roots rather than prove we are lost.
• In every storm cry out to Jesus, who already sees you, comes to you, and calms the wind.