The Power of Your Words Can Change Your Life
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship • Nov 1, 2026 • 28 min
Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.
Summary
Themes
Key Points
- 1.Spiritual maturity is measured by how well a believer controls and manages their speech.
- 2.Just as a small bit controls a 1,500-pound horse, your speech has the power to direct and override powerful forces in your life.
- 3.Like a small rudder guiding a massive ship through fierce winds, proper speech can steer your life in the right direction despite adverse circumstances.
- 4.Uncontrolled speech acts like a small spark that ignites a forest fire, causing widespread destruction in relationships and personal lives.
- 5.God placed the tongue in a cage called our mouth behind bars called our teeth to remind us how dangerous uncontrolled speech can be.
- 6.Demeaning or cursing another human being is an attack on God Himself, because every person is created in the image of God (imago Dei).
- 7.Our speech is directly connected to the condition of our heart; trying to reform outward vocabulary without addressing inner heart issues is ineffective.
- 8.Both heaven and hell seek influence over our tongue because controlling our speech ultimately determines the direction of our entire life.
Sermon Moments
“When you open your mouth and stick out your tongue for your physician, it reveals your physical health. God asks you to stick out your tongue because your speech reveals your spiritual maturity.”
“A small bit in the mouth of a 1,500-pound horse can override its immense strength and dictate its direction.”
“A ship's small rudder can steer a massive vessel through strong contrary winds based on where the pilot desires it to go.”
“God put the tongue in a cage called our mouth behind bars called our teeth so it wouldn't escape too quickly and cause destruction.”
“Whenever you put down another human being, you have attacked God because you attacked the imago Dei, the image of God.”
“The mouth is attached to the heart. Trying to change your speech without addressing your heart is not addressing the cause that needs the cure.”
“Both heaven and hell seek control of the tongue. If hell gets hold of it, it directs life to be hellish; if heaven gets hold of it, it directs life to be heavenly.”
This Week
Remember This
Your tongue directs the trajectory of your life, and controlling your speech through a transformed heart allows God to align your entire life with His purpose.
A Challenge for You
Don't look at the tongue as just a little wiggling thing in your mouth. Look at it as a spiritual tool that can take you to the next spiritual level and bring God more involved in your life.These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.
8 passages. Tap one to see how it was used, hear it, or read it.
More from Dr Tony Evans
Continue learning from this pastor
