When Your Lips Tell On Your Heart

Don’t Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

Psalm 37:30–40 ESV

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. 32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. 36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

INTRODUCTION

An African proverb says, “When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth.”

My brothers and sisters, what we utter with our lips is nothing but a direct reflection of what resides within our hearts.

Have you ever witnessed someone utter a truthful, yet perhaps harsh or untimely word, only to hastily add, "I’m sorry, I take that back"? Here lies the crux of the matter: as Scripture reminds us, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." You see, you cannot simply retract what comes out of your mouth, because your month only speaks what is located in heart.

The title of my sermon this morning is, “When Your Lips Tell On Your Heart.”

Growing up, there was a familiar saying among the children in my neighborhood. Whenever they caught one of their peers stepping out of line, a playful yet stern warning would echo down the street: "Oooooooo. I'm gonna tell on you." What comes off you lips, tells what is lodged in your heart.

If everything that comes out of your mouth is negative, you have negativity lodged in your heart.

If every time you open your mouth, you are complaining, that means there is dissatisfaction in your eart.

Word have power and words have purpose.

Words can build you up, but words can also cut you down.

In words of young, "Ooooooo. Your lips are telling on your heart.”

Every word we utter is a revelation, a telling sign that exposes the true nature of our hearts.

When I was small, Mrs. L.E. Herrington, the children’s choir director, taught us a song that went something like this:

“Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see, Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.”

And one of the verses said, “Oh, be careful little tongue what you say.” The words on your lips open the window to allow others to see what is in your heart.

ENCOUNTERING THE TEXT

Our verse of focus this morning, Psalm 37:30, says, "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue calls for justice."

This is a compound statement; a righteous person does two things: speaks wisdom and calls for justice.

SPEAKING WISDOM

While both speaking and calling engage the power of words, they serve a different purpose and have a different impact.

We speak to convey knowledge; we call to get someone’s attention.

We speak during worship services when the pastor preaches or Brother Caldwell teaches.

We speak during worship services when one of us gives our testimony.

We speak when the deacons stand and lead us in prayer.

We speak in church meetings when we share the minutes or give the financial report.

We speak in meetings when we are conducting business.

We speak when we are fellow-shipping with one another.

But how does a righteous man speak? The text says that a righteous man speaks with wisdom.

When you speak with wisdom, your words align with the Bible.

When you speak with wisdom, what comes off your lips is guided by the Holy Spirit.

When you speak with wisdom, you say things to build people up, not tear them down.

When you speak with wisdom, your words bring peace and harmony, not confusion and discord.

When you speak with wisdom, humility, and sincerity come out of your mouth.

That’s speaking with wisdom.

CALLING FOR JUSTICE

But the text also says that a righteous man calls for justice with his lips.

When you speak, you share information.

But when you call, you are pleading for change.

A call for justice is not voicing concerns; it is a powerful challenge to persuade someone to do the right thing.

It was a call to justice when Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I have a dream."

It was a call to justice when Susan B. Anthony said, "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand."

It was a call to justice when Mahatma Gandhi said, "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent."

It was a call to justice when Amos said, "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"

It was a call to justice when Micah said, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

There is still a need for the righteous to issue a call to justice.

Somebody needs to call for justice. Climate change and third world countries impoverished areas all over the world are already feeling the effects.

Somebody needs to call for justice. The gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger and bigger. We need fair wages, improved working conditions, and worker-friendly policies.

Somebody needs to call for justice. Women are still paid less when they do the same job as men and have the same qualifications.

Call for justice. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fact that health disparities are real, and elderly and minority populations are affected more by every type of disease, ill health, and sickness.

Call for justice. The cost of higher education is getting higher and higher, and soon only the rich will be able to afford college.

Call for justice. Schools in poor communities in the state of South Carolina and nationwide are underfunded in comparison to privileged neighborhoods.

Verse 30 says that the righteous, “speak with wisdom and call for justice.”

So what is it that will cause you to speak with wisdom and call for justice?

THE LAW OF THE LORD

I believe that answer shows up in verse 31. According to Psalm 37:31 “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.”

When the Bible talks about having the law of God in the heart, it is not talk about memorialize the scriptures. It refers to internalizing the scriptures. It means more than just knowing the laws intellectually; it involves demonstrating them through your actions and how you live.

CELEBRATION/WHOOP

When the word of God gets real, when the Word of God gets in your heart, it will change the way you live. It will change the way you talk.

It will stop you from whining and lead you to worshipping.

It will stop you from accusing others and cause you to affirm others.

It will stop you from fearing and move you to faith.

It will stop you from grumbling and guide you to gratitude.

It will stop you from speaking words of hate and lead you to offer help.

It will stop you from speaking words to judge and give you words fill with joy.

It will stop you from speaking words of retaliation and cause you to speak words of reconciliation.

Are you aware that the tongue is a dangerous thing?

James 3:5 Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Let me say it differently: that little thing in your mouth can do some big damaged.

That little thing your mouth is a pink tornado.

You know what tornadoes do. They out small, but it grows and becomes powerful.

The pink tornado is a little member of the body, but it can do devastating damage.

The tongue can change lives, or it can stir up confusion.

That pink tornado will tear i[ everything that gets in its way—tearing through relationships, destroying reputations, ending friendships, stirring up wars, and demolishing communities.

The tongue is a pink tornado. It comes swiftly. It is unpredictable. You never know what a tornado is going to do or the tongue of a wicked person is going to say.

It stirs up gossip, issues out slander, and thrives on negativity.

Long after the tornado is gone, its effect is still present.

Your words can leave scars for years, impact children for a lifetime, stir up anger that won’t go away.

James 3:8-9 says, "With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with the same tongue, we curse our brothers.

I don’t know about you, but God has been too good to me. He has blessed me, how in the word can I use my tongue to cuss somebody else.

I don't know about you, but my hands were not made to tear others down, they were made to build people up.

I don't know about you, but my ears were not made to hear gossip, they were made to listen with empathy

I don't know about you, but my eyes were not made to see the bad in others, they were made to see the beauty in others.

I don't know about you, but my feet were not made to walk over people, they were made to walk alongside them in solidarity.

I don't know about you, but my mind was not made to hold on to hurt and hatred. It was made to healing and love.

I don't know about you, but my heart was not made to hold grudges, it was made to be grateful.

I don't know about you, but my actions were not made to cause harm, they were made offer help.

I said the lips tell on the heart.

So if my lips are telling on my heart, they telling the world that deep down in my heart I love the Lord.

My lips are telling the world down in my heart, there is nothing but praise for what he’s done for me.

What is your lip saying about your heart.

With this mouth, I will praise my God.

When the bottom falls out, I will praise my God.

When my back is against the wall, I will praise my God.

When the devil is busy and man is messing, I will praise God.

When the storms rage around me, I will praise my God.

When doubts cloud my mind, I will praise my God.

When loneliness creeps into my soul, I will praise my God.

When fear tries to grip my heart, I will praise my God.

Why

I praise because he woke me up this morning.

I praise him because he started me on my way.

I praise him because he’s been better to me than I have been to myself.

I praise Him because He comforts me in times of sorrow.

I praise Him because He guides me through the darkest nights.

I praise Him because He lifts me up when I fall.

I praise Him because His love is unwavering and eternal.

I praise Him because He fills my life with purpose and meaning.

I praise Him because His grace sustains me each day.

I praise Him because He is my strength in times of weakness.

I praise Him because He showers me with blessings beyond measure.

Paul and Silas praised him in jail cell, and the doors flung open.

The three Hebrew boys praised him in the fiery furnace, and they walked without a burn.

When Daniel prayed to God in the lion's den, the Lord shut the lions' jaws.

When Little David praised God before battle, big old Goliath fell with a single stone.

When Hannah prayed fervently for a child, the Lord opened her womb, and she birthed a priest.

When Joshua and the Israelites marched around Jericho praising God, the walls came tumbling down.

When Esther fasted and prayed for her people, they were saved from destruction.

When Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus after His resurrection, she praised Him and was the first to see him alive.

When the Samaritan woman at the well encountered Jesus, she praised Him and went running back to town and said, "Come see a man."

I stopped by this morning to tell you, “Run and tell that.”

Tell them how God saved you.

Tell them how God lifted you up.

Tell them how God made a way.

Tell them how God saved you from the brink of destruction.

Tell them how God lifted you from the depths of despair.

Tell them how God made a way when there seemed to be none.

Tell them how God rescued you when all hope seemed lost.

Tell them how God lifted you up when you were ready to fall.

Tell them how God made a way out of the darkness into His marvelous light.

Tell them how he died on Friday.

Tell them how he got up early on Sunday.