May 4, 2008

God’s BIG Give: Words

The Sacred Power of Words

Psalm 19:7-14

Opening Words: On March 2 the ABC Television Network premiered a brand new show, Oprah’s Big Give. It stars America’s newest golden girl, Oprah Winfrey. The eight one hour episodes are a competition. The contestants are asked to find creative ways to help complete strangers in some of life’s most challenging situations. As the ABC website states, “lives are changed in the blink of an eye.” When I read that I knew there was a sermon series inside. I found it!

I have called my newest sermon series God’s BIG Give. Consider this with me. Just like Oprah, God has been giving away some amazing things for a long time. Just like Oprah, God’s gifts changed our lives in the blink of an eye. Just like Oprah, God expects us to improve the lives of complete strangers. In this seven part sermon series we are going to be looking at some divine gifts. This morning we are looking to look at the gift of words. When was the last time you thanked God for the simple words that you speak? Let us hear God’s word’s from the Old Testament, Psalm 19:7-14.

Psalm 19:7-14 ⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

I love the story of Winston Churchill. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. "That's Winston Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men." When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!" Henry N. Ferguson once said, “If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?”

When was the last time you said something that you regretted later? It may have been it the heat of a family battle. Perhaps, it was in a moment of great frustration. It may have been a juicy piece of gossip. It may have been a medical fact that you misunderstood or it may have been a time when you were misunderstood. When was the late time you said something that you regretted later? My favorite United States president Calvin Coolidge once said, “If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it.” He also said, “I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say.”

I work with words for a living so I think I am qualified to say that words are complex. Ponder these things with me. There are some words I can yell. I can yell, “Merry Christmas!” I can yell, “Get your motorcycle off my lawn!” I can yell those things but the more significant the words are the harder they are to force out. I have never yell, ‘”The tests results came back came back. It is cancer.” There are special words that we never tire. The people in my life tire of my childhood stories or my favorite jokes but we never tire of hearing, “Thank-you!” We never grow tired of hearing, “I love you!” Words are complex.

When I was young my mother wanted us to develop a strong vocabulary. We would play word games. We learned to strange words. I still have a hard time say them. However, the one word I can barely say today without tearing up is God. Words are complex.

My goal this morning is twofold. First, I want you to appreciate the sacred power of words. There are 800,000 words in the English language. The average person only knows approximately 10,000 words and uses only 5,000 words daily. How many words do you utter in an average day? Do you spend your time in empty chatter or do you value every word as a gift from God? Second, as a disciple of Jesus Christ I hope you choose your words carefully. Your theme for speaking should be found in the nineteenth Psalm, verse fourteen, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Never forget, you are an ambassador for Jesus in this world. You may be the only Bible that they may ever read. Choose your words carefully. Choose your words wisely. With these themes in the background consider these three facts with me.

Words can change us physically!

First, words have the power to change us physically. I love the story of the football stadium filled with fans. Six gentlemen showed up at the first aid station seeking some relief. Their stomachs were upset. The doctor examined them and concluded it was food poisoning. What had they eaten? After a few quick questions, the doctor concluded the problem was a soft drinks dispenser in a concession stand. Trying to protect the crowd he had an announcement made over the public address system. The crowd was warned about the soft drink dispenser. Within a matter of minutes 191 fans showed up at the first aid station, each one claiming to be sick because of the faulty soft drink dispenser. They continued to question the original six and discovered the real problem. The problem wasn’t the soft drink dispenser. The problem was potato salad they had eaten during tailgating in the parking lot prior to the game. Another announcement was made. The problem was not the soft drinks. The problem was the potato salad. Within minutes the 191 fans reported their symptoms subsiding. Words have the power to change us physically.

Have you ever sat in that doctor office wearing that paper gown? Your physically examination is over. You felt fine going in but the doctor said to you, “You could lose some weight. That little cough concerns me and suddenly you feel sick. Words have the power to change us physically. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Words can change us emotionally!

Second, words have the power to change us emotionally. Pianist Arthur Rubenstein was once assailed by a stubborn case of hoarseness. When his little corner of the world learned of his situation and everyone assumed the worst. The newspapers were full of reports about smoking and cancer; He went to a throat specialist and was examined. Rubenstein said the specialist was emotionless. He told him to come back the next day. Rubenstein went home and assumed the worst. The next day there was another long examination, again an ominous silence. "Tell me," the pianist exclaimed. "I can stand the truth. I've lived a full, rich life. What's wrong with me?" The physician said, "You talk too much." With those four words his emotions were changed. His fear was replaced with relief. Words have the power to change us emotionally.

Have you ever had a bad day when everything seems to go wrong? You feel like you have failed at everything in your life. The clock may say, “2:00,” but you are ready to call it a day. Then you will get a card in the mail to thank-you for something you did in the recent past. Suddenly your emotions change and you are ready are ready for that next task. Words have the power to change us emotionally. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Words can change us spiritually!

Third, words have the power to change us spiritually. One of the most influential people in my preaching is a man named Fred Craddock. He is retired now but us once taught homiletics at Chandler School of Theology at Emery University. He told the story a missionary couple that served in China for many years. One day the word came down from the communist party that they must leave. They had twenty-four hours to collect their possession before guards would come and escort them to the airport. They would only be allowed to take two hundred pounds with them. The rest must stay. Immediately, a great problem was uncovered. The husband wanted to take 200 pounds of his sermons and a new typewriter. They were his life’s work. The wife wanted to take two hundred pounds of things they had collected in their time in Asia. When the guards appeared the husband ran ahead of his wife and put his sermons and his typewriter on the scale. They weighed exactly two hundred pounds. The guard looked surprised. He said, “How much do you children weigh?” They couple said, “You mean?” The guard said, “Yes!” The couple discovered that the sermons and the collectables meant nothing. There was no question. Their children must go. They suddenly discovered what was really important to them! Words have the way to change us spiritually. They have the power to help us prioritize our lives.

On December 16, 1974 I sat with a pretty girl by the name of Susan. I wanted to ask her out on a date but she wanted to ask me something else. She looked at me and said, “Russ, would you like to live for eternity?” Suddenly the date didn’t seem so important. I said, “Yes!” She prayed with me and those words changed my life forever. Words have the power to change us spiritually. Would you like to live for eternity? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Aesop, the ancient storyteller, told this fable: Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion's skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey's voice, said, "If you want to terrify me, you'll have to disguise your bray." Aesop's moral: Clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away.

There is a sacred power to words. Words can change us physically. Words can change is emotionally. Words can change is spiritually. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. You are representing the God of the universe in your little corner of the world, chose your words carefully. May the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be pleasing to God, everyday of your life. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”