We’re in a series from the Book of Proverbs talking about wisdom. We’re talking about what wisdom is, we’re talking about how to grow in wisdom, we’re talking about how wisdom will benefit your life. And there’s one thing I’m saying every week in this series: you can’t go where you’re meant to go without wisdom, you can’t be who you’re meant to be without wisdom, you can’t have the future God wants you to have in your life without wisdom. Are you with me today?

So one of the things that it’s an attribute of God, one of the things that God gives us freely whenever we ask for it, whenever we reach for it, whenever we welcome it into our life, is wisdom: wisdom to make the best choices, wisdom to make good decisions, wisdom to not only know His Word but to apply His Word into our lives. And you know, a lot of people, they look at the Book of Proverbs—right now we’re camping out there—and they wonder, what is it all about? There’s all these cool little quotes and sayings. And you’re right about that. But I want to go to Proverbs chapter one and just look at how it begins and how it communicates to us what the book is all about.

It says, “These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king, written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, and to understand what life means and where it’s going.” Anybody that could use a little bit of that today? A little bit? And then look at the next line: a manual for living. You know, when you get something new, whether it’s a microwave or a new computer, there’s a little instruction manual. Are you thankful for that? Well, the Bible is the manual of life. And it says here that Proverbs is a manual for living, for learning what’s right, for learning what’s just and fair, to teach the inexperienced the ropes, and to give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women—you never outgrow the need to grow in wisdom. There’s still a thing or two it says, for the experienced, to learn fresh wisdom, to probe, to penetrate, cause us to ask ourselves questions: what is right, what is just, what is fair, what should I do, how do I do it, when do I do it. It’s the rhymes and the reasons of wise men and women. So there you go, that’s what it’s all about in the Book of Proverbs.

Today I want to talk about: be wise with your words. Be wise with your words. Our speech and how we use our words is the second most covered topic in the Book of Proverbs. Second most—the verses, in other words, are about words, speech, communication. That tells you how important our words are in our life.

I’m going to share a few of these Proverbs and encourage you to take notes and write these verses down. Look at them this week in your daily Bible reading.

Let’s start with Proverbs 18:21:
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

The tongue has the power… why don’t we say it together? “The tongue has the power of life and death.” And so the words that you speak are more than just a sound, more than just an expression. Your words are like seeds that produce a harvest. Your words have creative power. It’s what it means—your tongue has the power of life, meaning it brings things to life. Words have the ability, when you speak a word, like a seed going into the soil of your future. Your words have power to form your future, and you’re where you are today in part because of what you’ve been saying about yourself and your life. When you say something, you give life to what you’re saying, and if you continue saying it, it becomes a force that can’t be held back. That is shaping and forming your life.

Your life will always move in the direction of your words. In Ezekiel 37, Ezekiel shares an experience—some of you may have wondered where some of the verbiage in songs comes from—we listen up today. God showed him a vision of a valley filled with dry bones, a place that was dead. Then He tells Ezekiel to prophesy—in other words, just speak out over the dry bones and declare life to them.

So Ezekiel did what the Lord told him to do, and as he spoke, there was a noise—just imagine a valley of bones—and there was a rattling sound. The bones came together, bone to bone. As he spoke, tendons came on the bones, then muscle, then flesh covered the bones. And as he prophesied, they came to life as a powerful army.

The Lord explained to Ezekiel that the bones represented the people of Israel, who had repeatedly spoken negativity and death over themselves for years and generations. They were now a nation without life, without strength, without hope—like dead men walking. That’s not what God wanted for them; it’s not what He planned. But it’s what they were speaking, repeating from one person to the next, from one generation to the next. Their comments around the campfire, their murmurings in the dark of night, their complaining had resulted in spiritual death over the nation. The once powerful nation of Israel had become a boneyard.

God calls Ezekiel to declare His Word. He said: “Use your words to speak life.” God could have done it Himself—He has the power—but He works through men’s words. He found a man who would trust Him, have faith enough to look out at a dead, dry-bone valley, and speak life.

The word “revolution” came to my mind as I read this week. God was saying: would you start a revolution? A revival in the nation of Israel? Ezekiel, just speak life—start a revolution with your words that declares life, not death. Speak a future of blessing and hope.

As you speak words of life, the people breathing life into the nation will hear what you say, and God will begin to bring life. Graves will open spiritually, blessings will come as people receive the good news of life. Most people fail to see the connection between words and harvest. Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. What you say becomes your experience, and you end up in a harvest for good or bad—your words created it.

’m calling you today as men and women who believe in the power of God, the goodness of God—not to underestimate the creative power of your words—and to begin now. Maybe this is just a reminder: begin to change any kind of confession you have. We don’t want to confess our circumstances; we want to confess God’s Word over our circumstances.

For example: “I never have any good breaks. I’m always a day late and a dollar short.” Sound familiar? Or: “I can’t handle getting disappointed anymore. I can’t trust anybody.” “If you knew my bad experience in my last church, you’d understand why I keep my distance.” These words create a snare. Proverbs 6:2 says, “You are snared with the words of your mouth.” Snared means trapped—words can hold you hostage, hold you back from your potential.

One of the best ways to grow your life is to trade foolish, limiting words and replace them with wise words. Some people say things that aren’t “bad,” but they’re not wise. They’ll trap you. The Book of Proverbs says this: words that are not guided by wisdom build verbal prisons around your life. You are held hostage by what you have said.

Here are examples: “I don’t like working with women,” or “I can’t trust a man again.” For some, “I’m just not good with people,” “I can’t lose weight,” “I hate health food and exercise.” Or: “I can’t get up on Sundays,” “I don’t go to church anymore.” These confessions limit your potential.

Proverbs 12:14 says, “Wise words bring many benefits.” Proverbs 13:3 says, “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life, but the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Proverbs 11:11 and 16:24 also show that words build up or tear down. Gracious words are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

God is calling you to speak life like Ezekiel. Stop waiting for someone else to bring joy or peace. Begin today to overthrow the rulership of negativity, discouragement, and defeat in your life. Lock in wise words, speak life over your family, finances, relationships, and yourself.

This is not a one-day change. It’s not just a 24-hour thing. Changing your words is a lifestyle. Begin today, and never stop speaking life. Young men, young women, don’t follow discouragement or feelings—follow God’s promises. Confess faith over fear, life over death. Proverbs says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

I want to pray over you. Raise your hand if you receive this word. Father, we thank You today that Your Word brings enlightenment, wisdom, and guidance. As we choose new words, we will experience new life. Use our words as mighty weapons to break the power of the enemy off our lives, families, and communities. Let the wisdom of God flow in our minds and hearts. Let us live the best, most abundant life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you want to be right with God, raise your hand. Say: “Lord Jesus, welcome to my world. Forgive me of all my sin. Come into my life and make me a new person. I receive You today. My new beginning, my new start, I’ll never be the same again in Jesus’ name.”

All God’s people, shout a great big Amen! God bless you!