Are You Killing or Bringing Life?
Key Passage: Proverbs 18:21
Date: June 2, 2025
Take your Bibles, if you would, turn over to Proverbs 18. We are going to start just a quick, short series for the month of June. Now, that last Sunday night, the 29th, we had something different, but just really on this subject of our words. How important are our words tonight? Here is the title: Are you killing or are you bringing life?
Many of you already know the verse we are going to use, Proverbs 18. While they are getting the instruments and chairs and everything else, you heard about the three preachers that went to Alaska on a hunting trip. They were out of town, just relaxed, having a good time. The first preacher said, well, I’ll be honest with you, when things are going a little bad around the church, attendance is down, deacons are giving me a hard time, Brother Josh and the bus give me a hard time, and all that. He said, I’ll pull a little swig out; it kind of helps me through.
The other guy said, well, I’ll be honest, since you’re confessing, I’ll be honest with you. When things are really bad at our church, he said, I got a little bit of that—it’s prescription now—but I’ll take some of that medicine. Some people kind of frown on all that, but they are just confessing poor and their hearts out.
The third preacher didn’t say a word. They said, “Come on now, Brother So-and-so, we’re confessing. What’s your deal over there?” He said, “Well, I’ll be honest with you. I’m the world’s worst gossip, and I can’t wait to get home right now.”
So, Proverbs 18, Proverbs chapter number 18. We will start off with one verse right there: Proverbs 18 and verse number 21. Proverbs 18:21. Would you please stand just to show the Word of God respect? Proverbs 18, verse number 21 of God’s Word. My Bible there says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” That is just a powerful statement right there. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. By the way, that last part, you reap what you sow. This world talks so much about karma. I’ll say, forget karma, man. Way before that was ever around, you reap what you sow, the Bible says. There is much that stuff is all mixed up. The Bible says, “Reap what you sow.” But, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Just a little bit tonight, just kind of getting us going on this subject: Are we killing? Are we bringing life?
Let’s just pray for a minute. Lord, preach you blessed. Lord, tonight, would you show us the power, the importance of our tongue, our words? And then, Lord, I pray you to challenge us. Everywhere we go, Lord, may we bring life. Father, I do ask that you would specifically challenge us to bring life through our words, in our marriages, in our home, Lord. Father, across the board, we need that. Lord, just speak to us where each one of us needs it. Just speak to us, Father. We thank you for what you do. Father, we do ask for these things in the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen. Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.
That thing like that. You know what I am talking about? There is so much power in that little member. It is really just incredible. The Bible literally says you are either bringing death or you are bringing life with that thing right there.
Sometimes we will sing “Father Abraham,” and we’ve got every motion in the world, and sometimes you stick your tongue out and all that. There is so much power just in your words. We could go on tonight about the power in our words for a long time, but it is amazing. Everywhere you go, you are either bringing life or you are bringing death.
Has anybody ever had an aerosol can that somehow got a hole in it? Maybe when you were little, you had a BB gun, you shot a hole in that, and it is spraying. You go over there to pick it up, and sometimes it is amazing how long it will last just spraying. Everywhere you go, it is just spraying. That is what we are doing with our words. Everywhere we are going, we are just spraying it out; we are either spraying death or life. It is in our tongue. It is so amazing.
We were at a restaurant years ago, my wife and I, and it is amazing to see this. I have never seen it again, but they had brought a plate out that was very hot, in like an iron skillet, but it had a wooden part around it made of some kind of wood—I am not sure what kind. It had caught that wood on fire a little bit and was smoking. They brought that plate out and set it down at the table, and everybody at that table started coughing. You could see it like a wave start coming across the restaurant. We watched and we were kind of like, “Man, look at everybody coughing.” That is… We were kind of joking, laughing at them, and then it got to our table, and we started coughing. You could not stop it. It was like, “Wow.” It just filled that whole room of that restaurant; everybody was coughing. And that is what we do with our words. It is either bringing death or life—our words. It is really amazing how powerful our words are.
Let’s just talk about that death for a second. We will look at the bad part for just a second here: the death part. Look over, if you will, in Proverbs 12. You are already in chapter 18, but look over in chapter 12. Proverbs talks much about this, but look in verse number 18. Tonight will probably be in Proverbs a lot on Sunday night. Look in verse number 18, Proverbs 12, verse number 18. He says, “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.” That is interesting. Words cut deep, and they leave scars.
I forget; I had a lady call years ago, and she said, “I think I’ve said something so hurtful to my husband. I don’t know if we can ever get past it.” She never told me what it was, and I did not ask her. She said, “I just…” It is pretty good of her to own up to it. She said, “I don’t know if there is any hope.” She said it was so hurtful and cutting. Wow. Words—just amazing, the power of our words.
You have heard me tell this story many a time about the fellow whose dad was an alcoholic. He said, “My dad wasn’t just an alcoholic; he was a mean alcoholic.” He said when Dad got drunk, you never knew what was going to happen. We were kind of used to that happening. But he said one day Dad had been out drinking, and he drove in the driveway, drove to the house, and he drove literally into the house and crashed. Dad ended up with the car inside the house. He ended up getting out of the car inside the house. Imagine that! He said, “I was in my bedroom, and my dad just crashes in, and he gets out of the car into my bedroom.”
He said that did not really get me too bad; we were kind of used to that. He said Dad grabbed me and put me in a headlock, and that did not bother me. We were used to physical abuse and whatnot. He said Dad had a gun; he was drunk, and he put the gun to my head. He said, “I was used to all that. That was kind of typical.” He said, “But my dad said two words, and that did so much more damage than all his physical abuse and driving in there and all.” He said, just two words. For the next years and years, I tried to spend my life overcoming those two words. It is just the power of your words. The driving in there being drunk, physical abuse—all that is bad enough—but the words. He said Dad had that gun to my head, and Dad said two words: “You’re worthless.” And he pushed me away and walked off, kind of like, “You’re not even worth me blowing your brains out.” He said those two words did so much more damage than driving into the house drunk and physically. Words—the power of your words! Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
There is a guy, 42 years old, and he said this: “I’m working myself into the grave because of a couple words that were said to me 30 years ago.” A lot of times it is people close to you that can really get in your heart real quick with their words. He was told this: “You will always be a bum.” He said, “I am learning 30 years later—I’m 42—I am working myself into the grave trying to prove those couple of words wrong. I understand the power of your words.” Wow! Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Someone said, “If your foot slips, you may recover your balance, but if your mouth slips, you cannot recover your words.” Let me say this about that: you cannot recover it, but this will go a long way—it is two words: “I’m sorry.”
By the way, with children—and some of these things I have been talking about are for parents to children—that is so very, very important. Children can be amazing in their resilience when you are just honest and say, “I’m sorry, I messed up. Forgive me.” Do not make excuses, turn it and twist, and blame it on something else. Do not do all that. Just say, “I’m sorry.” But the power of words—death and life are in the power of the tongue.
Now we talk just a bit about the death. Let’s talk about this: death and life. Somebody say amen! Let’s go to the good side of the street, amen—life! Life is in the power of the tongue. Look over in chapter number 10, chapter number 10 of Proverbs. There are so many verses in the book of wisdom in Proverbs about our words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. I love it if the Holy Spirit would just challenge us to be life-givers everywhere we go, especially in our homes, but everywhere we go—just life-givers at work, being a life-giver, at home being a life-giver, at a family reunion being a life-giver, and at church being a life-giver, and everywhere—just be life-givers with your words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
Look at Proverbs 10, look at verse number 21. “The lips of the righteous feed many.” Wouldn’t it be nice for us to know why? They are feeding a whole lot of people. “The lips of the righteous feed many,” but fools die for want of wisdom.
Not too long ago—well, I’ll be honest, last Saturday night—I came up here. I was just a little tired and felt like I did not have much life in me. I usually sit over here a lot of times on Saturday night. I pulled up a sermon, actually the same sermon Brother Bill—you have been talking about the two Bills, Johannins. It is funny; I was trying to text Miss Patty and Brother Bill Sr. yesterday, people in her class, and ended up texting Miss Patty and her son, Bill. I have to get that right. Anyway, I was up here on Saturday night, and I just kind of needed something, so I pulled up a sermon. Man, I tell you what, that thing brought life to me. I was like, “Thank you, Lord, that’s what I needed.” When I got done with that sermon, I was like, “Praise the Lord!” I needed that. It was an old-school preacher, and I determined I’m going to listen to more. I do not get to listen to preaching like I like; I am going to listen to more old-school preaching and just get some good old preaching in there. What brought life to me? It was just words. That is all it was. The guy just sang a bunch of words, but those words were kind of like a balloon just getting deflated—they brought life to me. Words. Words are so very important; you can bring life.
Counseling. Well, I’ve got to go to counseling. Counseling is a big thing in the end times, and I am not saying it is bad. It is very helpful at times. It can be so helpful. But you know what counseling is? Words. Words. It is amazing. I think of someone that recently went to marriage counseling, and they said, “Well, that helped us so much.” And I prayed, Lord, I have been encouragement. And they said, “It has helped us.” I have had people leave my office—I think of one instance for sure—and the person said, “I was so worried that I would come here and you would kind of say the same thing everybody has been saying.” I am so glad you did. They said, “I am leaving, and I have something I have not had in a while. I have got some hope. Praise the Lord.” I did not give them any money; it was just words. Words. I am telling you, you can bring life to people with just words. Words—death and life are in the power of the tongue.
When is the last time you tried to encourage someone? Encouraging people can bring life to them. I wonder how many people are just down and defeated, and words of encouragement… Can I say this? Just a little side note on this: Be careful. Sometimes we want to encourage people, but we are always telling them what to do. A lot of times they already know. Just encourage them. Just love on them. Encourage them. They can bring life to people. God says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Hey, when is the last time, maybe with your spouse, you brought life to them? Boy, I like some new life in my marriage! I’ll tell you how to do it; you do not even have to spend a whole lot of money—though if you want to buy them something, that is all right too, especially if they are a gift person. But your words, your words! Have you ever seen it? This is funny, but there is a lot of truth in it. Have you ever seen a fellow, and he is not a good-looking fellow? He is not handsome; he does not have muscles; he ain’t got all that. And he is with his real pretty wife, and you are like, “How in the world did that guy get that girl?” Anybody ever seen it? You say, “Yeah, I am looking at one of those guys right there.” But Ted has got to learn when to say amen. I guarantee you see those guys like that. If it has been very long, and they are happy, that is a man who is good with his words. He knows how to compliment his wife. He knows how to use words. So vital—if you are going to have good, healthy relationships, how do you do that? Words. Words. Words.
We will get one that is about the heart, but your words, right? Just the words. So vital, bringing life. He said, “Hey, you can bring life.” Look, if you will, over at Ezekiel 37, if you would, please. Ezekiel 37. How many have ever heard the song, “The Valley of Dry Bones”? I cannot get all those. Some of you, I think some of you guys are singing around here. I cannot remember all the hip bone connected to the neck bone—or not the hip bone connected—that would be a weird-looking fellow, wouldn’t it? That fellow would be put together real interestingly. But this is the passage where it talks about the Valley of Dry Bones, a comparison to Israel. I want you to notice—sometimes we miss this. Look what he says, Ezekiel 37, look at verse number one: “The hand of the Lord is upon me,” Ezekiel carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley, which was full of bones. He caused me to pass by them round about; behold, there were very many in the open valley, and lo, they were very dry. Now, if you have bones that are very dry, they are dead, all right? You got me? That is what is going on here. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, thou knowest.”
And again he said it to me, “Prophesy.” What is that? Words. “Prophesy upon these bones,” and say—by the way, it is basically preaching at it—“Prophesy upon these bones and say to them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” I am not going to read it. We will get one more verse: “Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.” What he said? Hey, I want you to preach the Word of God to them, and that brings life. That is what the church is supposed to be on Sunday morning, Sunday night, Monday night too. But the church family gets to do that. Everything else is wonderful; it is important, but that is the time when they come, and God says, “Hey, I want you to prophesy the Word of the Lord,” and it brings life. It is God’s plan. And that is what he says to do in this valley of dry bones. Now, I am pointing that out to say, hey, preaching and the words of the Lord are just words, but they bring life. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. The Bible—what is the Bible? God’s words. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word.” Yeah. That is how you get nourishment. That is how you live—words.
Just a little bit, just kind of contemplate the power of words. If you have problems everywhere you go, if you have relationship problems everywhere you go, there is always contention and problems—friend, your words. Your words. I understand it goes back to the heart; we will get that. But your words—words are just key. Look, if you will, over in First Thessalonians chapter number 2. First Thessalonians chapter 2, and let’s just talk about life through our words. First Thessalonians 2, and look at one verse, verse number four. I hear the turning of the pages. Amen, I am glad you are looking at it up. Praise the Lord for it. Good. First Thessalonians 2, look at verse number four: “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we…” What is the next word? Speak. What is your Great Commission? Go, go! Matthew says teach; Mark uses the word preach—speak, all of it with words. “Even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” By the way, I have said this often, but God is much more concerned with this lifestyle evangelism. You just live it; yes, you live it in front of them so that when you speak, the more I have to hear. But the Bible is for much more than just living. The Bible is for speaking it. Why? Because you know what soul winning is? It is bringing life. Hopefully, if they accept it, it is bringing eternal life.
Someone asks, what does it say in Romans 10? It talks about how should they hear without a preacher? How can they hear unless a preacher is sent? And how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace from the mountains and all that. And then in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by what?” Hearing. “And hearing by the word.” You know what soul winning is? It is us going out and trying to speak life, really eternal life.
Brother Frank, by a miracle, is going to see the Savior. He went to Tuber Rivers Baptist Church back in the day, and a deacon and a fellow came to visit his house, and they spoke life to him. They told him about eternal life through Jesus Christ. By the way, Jesus is the Word. Notice that word when you are just talking about the power of your words. They came to speak life; they were not bringing death. They were bringing life through their words, and they told him the gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Frank bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior. By the way, he did that with his words, and he got saved. I always liked the next thing they did. Before they left, they said, “Hey, we want you to call somebody and tell them you just got saved.” If I remember right, he called his sister, Pam, and told Pam he just got saved with his word. I am just saying, soul winning is all about bringing life to people with your words. That is what it is all about.
Dad, for a while, for a good while, he sold insurance back when they had the routes more—a little bit of that going. You remember the insurance guys used to have their routes and collect, and all those good things. He would do that and sell life insurance. There is another life; life insurance is one of the main things. Dad would try to give eternal life, and the boss would say, “Hey, you are not supposed to be out there talking about religion. You are supposed to be out there selling insurance.” Dad would say, “Well, I am not just selling insurance; I am giving eternal life insurance out. Jesus paid it.” I watched Dad quit jobs, walk away from good-paying jobs because he said, “I am going to give out eternal life insurance.” The words—I am just saying your words—he was just bringing life.
This is interesting. I read this this afternoon: John Wesley at Worth. There was somewhat of persecution starting as the Methodist Church was splitting off. They say they brought a wagon load of Methodists before this magistrate. They were just trying to get him. But the prosecutor very quickly said, “Well, what have they done wrong?” That stunned the prosecutor. He was not quite ready for someone to just say, “Boom, what did he do wrong?” He was stunned for a minute. They say a man spoke up and said, “Please, sir,” talking to the magistrate, “they converted my wife. Before she went amongst them, she had such a tongue, but now she is as quiet as a lamb.” They say the magistrate said this: “Take them back and let them convert all the souls in the parish.” Those Methodists were using their words to tell them about Jesus, and they got Jesus, and Jesus changed the word. I am just saying the power of your words.
It brings life, or it brings death. Why? You say, “I want a sweet home, a sweet marriage, sweet kids.” Boy, I tell you what, you are going to bring life into that home or death in that home—your words. So very, very important. Look at salvation. Look over in Romans 10. Most of you know this; many of you will. Look over Romans 10. When someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, how does that happen? If you are following the Romans Road, typically one of the last verses we will use is over here in Romans 10. It is not the last verse I will use, but these are some of the last verses I will typically use, unless the Lord leads otherwise. Notice what he says over here in Romans 10. Look at verse number 9. Romans 10, verse number 9. By the way, sometimes you wonder, “Did they get saved or not?” Well, that is why the words are important. What does this say here, Romans 10:9? “That if thou shalt confess with thy…” What is the next word? Mouth. “…the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Typically, one of the last verses I will go to is verse number 19. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” By the way, it goes on down about the preacher that sinned, and that calling shows the belief in the heart. But he says right there with the mouth. It is Bible. It goes in line with other places in the Bible, Matthew 12:37: “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” He is talking about a good tree and a bad tree in the heart and all that, but he says your words.
Friend, I am just saying words are so important. By the way, how many times—what a blessing! Sometimes you get to lead someone to the Lord. We had a man here this morning; he got saved maybe a month ago on a Saturday afternoon. He had visited once, I think, with his girlfriend. Later on Saturday afternoon, he got saved, and it is just a blessing to see him in church. He has been in church this morning, last Sunday, the Sunday before. Anyway, here is the thing: when he bowed his head and asked—he said he has been in church, kind of been around—but he asked, “Have you ever called on Jesus?” No. But he bowed his head and asked; he used to be a savior. He finished the prayer. Now, just saying a prayer, they do not understand, is no good, but sincerely finishing the prayer… Boy, he opened his eyes; you can tell he is pretty happy about it. It is neat sometimes to see the difference after they call on Jesus with their mouth to confess Jesus. Some people are not willing to pray out loud; I understand that. But when they are done, I always say, “Hey, were you calling? Did you mean that? Did you call on Jesus?” And they say, “Yes.” I said, “I am going to go by what you say with your mouth.” We have already shown them that verse, and I am going to go by what you say. They say, “I called on Jesus.” All right. You are confessing Jesus, but your mouth—that is important. Oh, my goodness, death and life are in the power of the tongue.
We will go over in Proverbs 16. Here is the interesting thought about our words. We are going to be done here in just a minute, but you can bring health. This is interesting—you can help somebody be healthy. That is pretty interesting. You can bring health to those around you. Watch this. Proverbs 16. Look at verse number 24, would you please? Proverbs 16:24. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet unto the soul and health to the bones.” Well, I like that. Those things—I can chew on those honeycombs for a while. You want to know more about honeycombs? Talk to Brother Joel; he will tell you all about it. But pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Yeah. Are you bringing help?
When is the last time, husband, when is the last time you bragged on your wife? Not just to get something out of her, but when is the last time you sincerely, thoughtfully, heartily complimented her? And it is different. Some like it in public; some do not like it in public. Everybody is different, but you are bringing life. By the way, if it is in public to be seen by everybody else, no, no, no. I am talking about you sincerely giving her a compliment. That is what I am told about it. Okay. But when is the last time you breathed life and gave her a compliment? Pleasant words—that is like a honeycomb. Wife, are you showing respect to your husband? Are you over-talking him? Every time he says something, are you disagreeing and arguing with it? How are you with your words? Our words—pleasant words are just sweet, and they can bring health to the bones.
This is an interesting thing. Look over in First Kings, if you would please. First Kings. We are going to wind it down; we will be done by 9:30, I am sure. We are getting there, just a little bit. I want you to see this interesting thing. This is King David; he is about to die, and he is giving a couple of words to his son, who is about to be King Solomon. I want you to notice what David, Father David, says to his son when he is on his deathbed. I think sometimes we will miss this. This is very interesting. Look at First Kings, chapter number two. Look at what starts in verse number one. We will not read all the way down, but let’s look at verse number one. First Kings 2:1: “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying…” He is giving his last words of advice to his son. Now look down at verse number six: “Do therefore according to thy…” What is the next word? Wisdom, Solomon. You are a wise fellow. “Do according to thy wisdom.” Verse 8: “Let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace.” Look down in verse number nine: “Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him. But his hoary head bring thou down to the grave with blood.”
Now here is the thing: A little bit later on, David is gone, and Solomon is a young king. God just meets with Solomon in a wonderful way. In one of those times in his prayer, God says, “I tell you what, Solomon, I will give you anything you want.” What did he ask for? Dad was just speaking to him—words of his life—saying, “You are a wise man.” He said it twice. Do you not know that was ringing in his head when God said, “I will give you anything you ask”? And he said, “I want to be a wise man.” I like to live up to those words, yes, so I know how to come in and out. I am the king of these great people Israel, but I guarantee you, friend, in the back of his head, “Hey, Dad, some of his last words, he said, ‘You’re a wise man.’” I like to live up to that. Words! What are we bringing to people? So very important.
Let me say this: If we really want to bring life to people with our words, let me tell you the key, friend: it is being Spirit-filled. That is really the key. Look, if you will, at a couple of different passages. John 6:63. We will look at two passages and a couple stores, and then we will be done. Being Spirit-filled—if you want to be a person that brings life, true life to people with your words—being Spirit-filled is the key. Oh, that is the key. You will have life to give to people.
Look at John 6:63 in God’s Word. We are looking at a couple of different places in the Bible. That is all right. Church time, amen. Look at this, John 6:63. Watch what he says: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth.” You know that word quickeneth? It means to bring life. “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” But be careful. I have wise words, but they may be a little bit proud words. “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Jesus speaking. By the way, Jesus was filled with the Spirit without measure, the Bible says. You talk about Spirit-filled! And he says these words: It is not flesh; it is the Spirit, and the Spirit brings life.
Look, if you will, over in Second Corinthians—Second Corinthians is the last passage we will look at tonight, I believe—Second Corinthians chapter 3. Look in verse number 6. Second Corinthians, chapter 3, verse number 6. Look at this: “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit.” Now understand, this is about the Spirit, not the letter of the law, but of the Spirit. “For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.”
Friend, in other passages, the Holy Spirit actually regenerates you when you are born again. You are a new creature. The Spirit of God brought life to you. You are born again; you are born of the Spirit, born from above. The Holy Spirit brings life. When you are filled with the Spirit, yielded to Him, speaking His words, all you bring is life. Your family looks forward to you coming home because you bring life. Other people, when they are down, like to be around you because you bring life. Co-workers, even lost co-workers, many times want to be around you because you bring life with your words. Your ministry, whatever it may be, has life coming into it because you are yielded, you are filled with the Spirit, and you are bringing life to the people you minister to. Our words. Our words. I am so thankful I have had Spirit-filled people around. Sometimes, just in unique times, they say just the right thing. I thought about when I was 12 years old in a Christian school—a small Christian school, about 20 students. That teacher, I was 12 years old, quiet, shy, ran from my shadow, could not get away from it, shy and timid, a loner. That teacher said, “Paul, you will make a good preacher one day.” I never in my wildest dream dreamed of being a preacher—me! But I believe the Lord spoke through her, and that kind of planted a seed, and I began to just feel the Lord confirming in my heart. That was me talking to Paul. I remember in eighth grade—eighth grade was one of those years for me—God really touched me. I was 12, but I kind of waffled in seventh and eighth grade, starting to stray somewhat. I was on the front porch of the school—it was a larger school at that point, not a public school, but a Christian school with several hundred students. A girl in my eighth-grade class, her name is Becky—she turned out a good girl, and her husband has been in the ministry some—but I will never forget. She said something along this line: “Paul, hey, you are a good guy. You are one of those guys; you always do the right thing.” I cannot remember all the words. “You are a leader in our class,” whatnot. Just those words from that eighth-grade girl—God really touched me. It kind of got my identity back: “I am going to live for the Lord.” God used that—His words. To this day, I have never gotten to tell her. We had a 20-year reunion, and I was not there for it. I was president of the senior class, and I did not go. I should have been there. But when I see her, if I see her this side, I am going to tell her, “Hey, those words you said…” Just words. So very important, our words.
I remember one time we were struggling. I cannot remember what was going on here at the church; we were trying to add on a building or something, I do not know. I was struggling myself, and a man of our church at the time—he is a good man. I am a little bitter at him for moving away from us, you know, but he is a good man. I am joking about that, but still, my friend, he said just a few words. I do not even know if he knew it. I have told him, “Thank you for saying that to me.” He said a few words to me at a key time, what I needed to hear, and God just used that to bring life to me. Friend, I am just saying, death and life are in the power of the tongue. I would rather not go around killing everybody, especially people I love, but I can. I want to, but unfortunately, sometimes I do. Or we can go around everywhere we go, just giving life, giving life, giving life. “The lips of the righteous feed many”—just giving life.
Be a good night tonight and say, “Lord, I want to yield to you, and I want to yield to you, Holy Spirit, and I want you to fill me. Let me give life to all those around me.” Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please?
Maybe you are there tonight, and you are just going to do exactly that: “Lord, Lord, I want you to use my tongue to bring life.” We are going to have a word of prayer here, and I encourage you to come to an old-fashioned altar or stay, whatever the Lord wants. But you just say, “Lord, use me to bring life.” Maybe you need to go to the Lord tonight and say, “Lord, forgive me. I fear I brought death too much. I have sucked life out of my marriage or my home, my friends, and my co-workers, and I do not want to do that.” Would you spend some time tonight saying, “Lord, I yield to you, fill me of your Spirit. I am going to bring life everywhere I go with my words”? Would you stand, please? Let’s spend some time tonight. We are going to pray. Would you come? Just be obedient to the Lord and spend some time tonight.
Original File: Pastor Paul Chisgar ＂Are You Killing or Bringing Life？＂ - Sunday PM 06⧸01⧸2025 [mK3fiH9jLUo]