July 28, 2024
Speak Life
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
What name does that voice call you?
“After speaking on a panel with another colleague, I was impressed with her leadership. So I sent her an email that said, “You were total dope the way you facilitated our panel today.” She wrote back, “At first when I read your email, I thought it said, ‘You were a total dope the way you facilitated our panel today.’” She told me it was her first experience with that kind of national responsibility and was feeling anxious about it. In other words, her negative mindset distorted my message to fit with the insecurities she felt at the time.” - Bryan Robinson Ph.D.
Genesis 27:34 NIV
When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!”
Genesis 27:36 NIV
Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”
Genesis 27:37-38 NIV
Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”
Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.
“The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.” — Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author
Proverbs 18:21 NIV
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
“I found this surprising result, half (50%) of all the words that people produce from their working vocabulary to express emotion are negative. And 30 % are positive and 20% are neutral.” - Robert Schrauf, ABC News, February 1, 2005
Ephesians 4:29a NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
Unwholesome (σαπρὸν/sapron) = “corrupt, worthless, rotten, or ‘bad fruit’.
Matthew 7:17-18 NIV
“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a badtree cannot bear good fruit.”
The fruit of the tree identifies the tree.
Ephesians 4:29a,b NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…
Ephesians 4:29c NIV
… only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”
James 3:7-8 NIV
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:9-10 NIV
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.
Be careful what you say to others, especially to your children, they might believe you.
Ephesians 4:30-31 NIV
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
The key is to flood the evil thoughts with the truth about how God feels and who He says we are.
Numbers 6:23-26 NIV
“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’”