Gen.

1:3
And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

The power of the word is nowhere more evident than when

looking at the word of God.

 Representative over the earth

Capacity to speak Participate in his divine nature and authority

Power in the Word of Man

Prv 18:21
DEATH and life are in the power of our tongue.

Sirach 28: 17-18

The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as by the tongue.

Cursing Reviling Guile False witness

Slander Gossip Negative Humor

Calling upon a supernatural power to bring harm on another.

Insulting and hurling verbal abuse at

another.

Using deceitful and misleading words to cloak malicious intentions.

Testifying falsely in a court of law to anothers harm.

Speaking Evil of another, usually to third parties. The utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage anothers reputation. Charges are false and distorted

Biblical words focus less on the truth

or falsehood underlying the charges made,

and more on the inappropriateness of

making them in the first place.

Katalalos: Speaking Against

Diabolos: Slanderer Devil Satan

Blasphemia: denotes an act of sacrilege An act of speaking againts GOD An act of speaking against that which which is closely associated with HIM

James 4: 11-12 Do not speak against one another,

brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or

judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of a law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the ONE who is able to

save and destroy; but who are you who judge your
neighbor?

When GOD gives us the authority to Act as a Judge, We must act with Grace, Love and Concern for others, but also with Strength and Firmness.

Matthew 18: 15-17 And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in

private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

But if he does not listen to you, take one or more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses,

every fact maybe confirmed. And if he refuses to listen

to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile or

Tax collector.

The real alternative to slander is

Courtesy and the Showing of Honor.

Proverbs 17:4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips;

and a liar gives heed to a mischievous

tongue.

Avoid Slander by:

Avoid the company of those who regularly speak slander, or at least refuse to discuss issues that might lead to slander.

Avoid Slander by:

Refuse to take heed of the slanderous

information that has been passed on to us.

Gossip
Useless, silly, and critical speech
about other people, speech that subtracts

from the respect and esteem your listeners

have for them.

Rom. 1:29-30
They are filled with every form of
wickedness, evil, greed and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery and spite. They are gossips and scandalmongers and they hate GOD.

Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about grossiping
reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.

BUSYBODY
A worst type of gossip
not only talks about inappropriate topics of conversation, but actively pries into others affairs in order to offer unwanted advice and be recognized by all as in the know.

Gossip
1.

speaking about other peoples problems in a way that could reflect on their character or competence.

2.

Speaking about other peoples weaknesses, temptations

and sins
3.

Speaking about other peoples private and personal affairs.

4.

Speaking critically about various areas of other peoples

lives.

Not a Gossip
1.

Speaking about other peoples virtues and

admirable qualities.

2.
3.

Speaking about other peoples successes.

Speaking about other peoples blessings.

SLANDER and GOSSIP are serious offenses against GODs Law, they involve the ROBBERY of a persons most cherished possession ONES GOOD NAME.

Negative Humor Slapping someone with a smile

The Purpose Behind the Slap:

1.

To express affection, appreciation and familiarity.

2. To 3. To

Administer correction. communicate malice and contempt.

Consequences of Negative Humor:

1.

Emotional insecurity.

2.

Jealousy, criticalness and

competitiveness.

3.

Inhibition in speaking openly, freely and

personally to others. It can be infectious and habit forming.

4.

Proverb 18:21
Death and LIFE are in the power

of the tongue.

1.
2.

Gain Mastery over the tool.

Have a clear vision of the goal.

3.

Know how to use the tool to reach the goal.

Fundamental Elements in the use of our Tongue:

1. 2.

Gain full control over it. Learn what GOD wants us to accomplish through it.

3.

Acquire practical knowledge on how the job is done.

James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is religious,

and does not bridled his tongue,

this mans religion is vain.

Col 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.

Characteristics of Gracious Speech: Expressing Praise and Affection Proverb 16:24 Gracious speech is compared to honey, since they both bring pleasure and health.

Characteristics of Gracious Speech: Correcting with Meekness Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man is over taken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness or meekness.

Characteristics of Gracious Speech: Communicating of Faith and Joy

Characteristics of Gracious Speech: Making Peace Sir. 18:18 A fool is ungracious and abusive.

Characteristics of Gracious Speech:

Showing Courtesy
Sir. 6:5

A pleasant voice multiplies friends,

and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.

Ways of Showing courtesy during conversation:

1. 2.

Listen attentively when others are speaking. Do not interrupt another while he is

speaking.
3.

Take interest in the lives of others rather than simply talking about ourselves.

A Tongue that Glorifies GOD

First Greatest Commandment:
You shall Love the Lord your GOD with all your HEART, with all your SOUL, and will all your MIND.

Ways of Glorifying God with our Speech:

PRAISING GOD Ps 65:1

Praise is due to thee, O God,

in Zion.

Ways of Glorifying GOD with our Speech:

THANKING GOD We have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ, We have been filled with the Holy Spirit, We have been adopted into the family of God.

Ways of Glorifying GOD with our Speech:

CALLING UPON THE LORD

Calling on the Lords help glorifies him

because it acknowledges him as the

beneficent source of our protection,

provision, and sustenance.

Ways of Glorifying GOD with our Speech:

PROCLAIMING GODs
GLORY TO OTHERS

Ways of Glorifying GOD with our Speech:

CONFESSING JESUS
Mt. 10:32-33
So every one who acknowledges me

before men, I also will acknowledge before

my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my father who is in heaven.

Our tongue is a gift from God of tremendous power and nobility, able to speak words of salvation and build up the people of God in love, able to sing with the angels of the glory and goodness of the heavenly king.

Thank you!