THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE TONGUE

This is a message shared with the parents of the Mt. Kenya Baptist School during the year 2009 Speech and Awards day. An encouragement to parents to endeavor to use their words to their children creatively. There is a great impact in life-giving words when they are coming from a parent or guardian to their son or daughter.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Numbers 14:26-28
26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. 28 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

This is the story of the children of Israel. Moses was used by God to lead the Children of Israel from bondage in Egypt to take them to the promised land.

Pharaoh did not want to let the children of Israel go until God demonstrated His power through 10 plagues. The Israelites became free but also were given lots of gold and silver by the Egyptians in Exodus 12:35. See also Proverbs 13:22

God has said that He will lead them to the promised land that flows with milk and honey.

God did not tell them that there would be no challenges along the way! HE SAID, “ I’LL GET YOU THERE. TRUST ME.” They run through some challenges.

The Red sea. The Pharaoh’s army coming after them. The Desert. No water. No food.

Everytime they faced a problem, they forgot God’s promise to get them to the promised land. And they cried out, “We’re going to die! Our problem is bigger than God’s promise.”

Does this sound familiar?

“I know God said, but the Red Sea…” God parted it.
“I know God said, but Pharaoh’s army…” God destroyed them.“I know God said, but the desert…” God brought water out of a rock

Israel saw God’s power again and again.

When they finally got to the Promised Land, just as God promised they found that there were giants in the land.

Parents and forks here today. God wants to take you to your personal promised land. He never promised there wouldn’t be Goliaths. God is still a giant killer, if you will have the faith of David. No obstacle is bigger than God.

Watch what happened when the 12 spies came from spying the Promised Land. Ten of them brought a negative report. They questioned the promise that God had given them.

Numbers 13:31 “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”

After all that God had done for them, they were still looking at their own strength and not on the promises of God. They essentially said, “We are nothing. They are stronger than we are.”

Numbers 13:33 “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

The reasons that the giants had more power than the ten spies is that the spies looked at SIZE OF THEIR PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THEIR PROMISE.

This is a common tactic of the enemy. Focusing on the signs of the giant. Talking about how big the problem is. Quit confessing that the storms and the winds and the waves are bigger than the power of Jesus.

PARENTAL ADVICE – LET US SPEAK LIFE TO OUR CHILDREN.

A game of football has the referee and the two assistance referees to ensure that the rule of the game are adhered to. The referee is responsible of calling (by whistle) fouls committed in the field of play.

Parents, our children are the best referees of really how we are playing in the game of life as we parent them. The ten spies spoke themselves into their own doom. We have the opportunity of doing different. Let our children see faith in us, resilience in us, hope in us, hard work in us! Let them learn from us all the virtues and Biblical principles from the walk the spot in our lives!

When they are young discipline them into obedience. When they are older discipline and teach them. In their teenage provide instruction, guide and counsel. In their young adulthood be their coach!

Our words of affirmation to our children will take them far. Avoid negative language!

Look for the best in your child. Remember Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

God desires that you eat the fruit of the life that He will provide for you and your children.