Say It Out Loud

Why do the things I say about myself stick so hard?

A word said out loud lands differently than a thought that just passes through. Dennis Watson was called an evil boy at nine years old and carried it for decades, and the tongue keeps doing that to all of us, building a case for what we already suspect.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.

Proverbs 12:18

So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

James 3:5–6

What do I do when a situation in my life looks too dead to come back?

Ezekiel stood in a valley of bones bleached by the sun and was asked if they could live. Most of us have a marriage, a child, a bank account, or a dream that feels like that valley, and the instinct is to say there is no hope here.

Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass by them all around; and behold, there were very many in the open valley, and behold, they were very dry. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”

Ezekiel 37:1–3

The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live. I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”

Ezekiel 37:5–6

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

Romans 4:17–21

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?” So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude standing around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”

John 11:39–44

How do I speak God's word over something instead of just my own opinion about it?

Ezekiel was not told to give the bones a pep talk or to work up confidence in himself. He was told to say what God said, which is a different thing from positive thinking, and the difference is whose power is behind the words.

Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word.

Ezekiel 37:4

…so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

Isaiah 55:11

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’” Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”

Matthew 4:4–10

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;…

Ephesians 6:17

Where have I been speaking death over something God wants me to trust him with?

It is easy to describe a spouse, a child, a job, or a future as already finished and then wonder why it stays that way. The sermon names the habit plainly: we write people and callings off with our mouths and then act surprised at the deadness.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29

For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Is it really true that God gets the last word over my story?

Ezekiel did not raise the bones; he spoke and God did the heavy lifting. That is the whole hinge of the sermon, that the outcome rests on God's power and not on how convincing our own words are.

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Ezekiel 37:10

I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46:10

I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:11