Speak the Truth, Shame the Devil

In the first sermon of our new series, "Words Shape Our World," titled "Speak the Truth, Shame the Devil," we explore the profound power of words in scripture. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, emphasizing His word's divine authority. Genesis 1:1-3 shows the creative power of God's spoken word, bringing light to darkness. Proverbs 18:21 highlights the influence of our words, capable of life or death, and Mark 11:23 illustrates how faith-filled words can move mountains. Matthew 12:36-37 warns of the accountability we hold for every word, while Genesis 11:1-9 demonstrates how unified language can achieve great feats or cause confusion and division.

The sermon emphasizes the dual capacity of words to unify and divide, build and destroy. Unity is central to God's vision, as shown in Matthew 18:19-20, Psalm 133:1-3, and John 17:21-23, where agreement and harmony invite God's presence and blessings. The early church's unity in Acts 4:32 and Paul's exhortations in Ephesians 4:3 and 1 Corinthians 1:10 underscore the power of united speech and thought. Conversely, James 1:26 and Titus 3:2 caution against destructive speech, urging believers to speak kindly and build each other up, as echoed in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Ephesians 4:29. This sermon calls us to align our words with God's higher ways, harnessing their power for truth and unity to shame the devil and bring forth life and blessing.