Commandment # 9 - 'The Power of Words'

The week away at my mom's got me behind on my sermon notes. I've got the CD for hte 8th sermon, but haven't sat down to listen to it where I can take notes. I will do that very soon, but following are the notes from November 30's sermon regarding the ninth commandment, from the sermon series, "Living Life to the Power of Ten."

#9 - THE POWER OF WORDS
Exodus 20:16

Exodus 20:16 - "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

Pastor Mel started out by telling a story about a man named Alexander Papaderos. The story is too long to recount here, but I found it on the internet and if you are interested, you can go HERE to read it. It is a great answer to the question, 'What is the meaning of life?'
***Are you reflecting the light of Christ into the world in which you live?
***As we walk in this world, it sees the light of God reflected in our eyes.
***Don't give evidence that would injure the reputation of another person.
***The sin of silence is as powerful as the sin of lying lips.
***We need integrity in our words. We need to be speaking truth at all times.
***When people think of your life, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
***We build integrity by the way we live our life.
***God is truth and if we are to reflect Him to a watching world, we must be truthful in the way we live.
***Because God is truth, we can stand on His word with confidence.
***Our lives will be vindicated when we trust in God's word.
***As a Christian, our integrity is a powerful tool to a watching world.
***Our words have the power to build up or tear down.
***God is watching the way we regard others...do we build them up?
Proverbs 4:24 - "Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful and above all things beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
***Sin has damaged our heart and we have a self-centered nature that wants to build ourselves up and tear others down.
***To obey this commandment, we need to control our tongue.
***If you are walking with God, you won't be shaken by hurtful words. We know the truth and keep silent knowing we will be vindicated.
***Knowing the power of words, are you willing to let someone else hold you accountable for them?
***Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hold your tongue.
***Obey the Holy Spirit even if this means awkward silence.
***Ask the Holy Spirit to take away your anger and fill you with joy.
***Ask the Holy Spirit to help you encourage others. Speak words they need to hear.
***If you allow the world to taint you, how in the world will God use you to be a light to others?
***Your life can be of such upstanding nature that God can use you to speak truth to set others free!
This was a great sermon and I took 2.5 pages of notes! WOW! Such wisdom.