More than just Words
Surrendering Your Senses • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
What is the best food that you can’t go without the rest of your life?
What would life be like if thats all you had?
The health we want is determined by the food we eat and where it comes from. Cinnamon rolls and cheese cake don’t make for a healthy life. Watermelon and grapes (two greatest fruits) make for a healthy life! It’s not just that I eat watermelons and grapes but it matters where the vine is planted. If a farm is planted in the wrong area where it is susceptible air/water/soil pollution, NO ONE should be consuming that fruit!
Will you look in Matthew 12:33-37 and observe how Jesus uses a similar illustration to address our words and where they produce.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
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Let’s pray together
Tonight, all three points populate a single sentence:
where I am PLANTED, determines what I PRODUCE, and forms the PERSON I am
where you are PLANTED
where you are PLANTED
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
It’s all about where its planted! To make a good tree or a bad tree, its all about where it is planted! Where you are planted is determined by the people you regularly hang out with and activities you partake in.
Think about the 3 main people in your life ——— Think about the 3 main things you do in life
That determines where you are planted! Is it polluting your life or is it producing your life?
Every plant needs water and sunlight to grow. When its able to get fertilizer there is a boost in the growth.
WATER - plants use this to dissolve nutrients from the soil and it keeps the stem firm and upright! Where you are planted, you need some understanding that helps you break down the message of the Bible and reach application
SUNLIGHT - energy from the sunlight fuels the growth of the plant. Growth becomes when faith is put to action! Some people plant their christian walk in a pew or a chair and expect growth. Right now is where you get your water to gain understanding of the Bible’s message. We’re talking about growth that comes from serving and sharing. The next step for many in this room is serving. Maybe you haven’t started serving because the opportunity hasn’t presented itself clearly. If serving is what God is calling you to do next, GO FOR IT!
FERTILIZER - fertilizer fills in what the soil might be missing so the plant can grow faster, stronger, and produce more fruit or flowers. No matter where you are planted, everyone needs a little extra in their life. What you missed on a Sunday or Wednesday can be found in a daily quiet time, prayer, meditation.
EITHER MAKE THE THE TREE OR MAKE THE TREE BAD ——— FOR THE TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUITS
Where you are PLANTED…
determines what you PRODUCE
determines what you PRODUCE
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
YOU BROOD OF VIPERS creates a really interesting picture or flashback right here. LISTENING SAY “OH YEAH”
This phrase means “offspring of the snake/serpent.” Who can think of a connection between this phrase and the previous verse?
Listen to the question of Jesus, “How can you speak good, when you are evil?” Filthy movies, with vulgar music, added with inappropriate images determines what you produce. Who you are comes out by what you say. I am not talking about your polished language to me or another adult/leader/mentor in your life. Your words with your siblings, friends, close ones.
Why does it matter if our speech has some inappropriate jokes or crude language? It is a representation of the condition of our heart For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Words are not just words, but they come with purpose that leads to action and movement of the heart
John Piper story of asking A to build a prayer. Words are more than words.
I asked ChatGPT—I typed in, “Please compose a 30-second prayer to God in the spirit and theology of Don Carson in praise to the glory of God's grace.” Three seconds later, this is what I was given:
“Gracious Father, we bow before you, the sovereign Lord of history and redemption. From eternity past, you purposed to lavish grace upon undeserving sinners through the blood of your beloved Son. We praise you for the glory of your mercy—unearned, unmeasured, made manifest in Christ crucified and risen. May our lives, redeemed and sanctified by your Spirit, be vessels of praise to the riches of your grace. To you be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
That’s a machine. And I’m asking—is that praise?
“This people honors me with their lips and their bytes, but their heart is far from me.”
So let’s clarify the purpose of the universe—quick, I’m done, I got 19 seconds. Let’s clarify: Why were you made?
Words—computers do words better than you. Seriously, better than me. Computers do words. But they don’t feel anything.
Therefore, the universe is created to have people who feel.
This is amazing. Think of it. The universe exists to have people in God’s image who feel the worth of grace, who feel the glory of grace, who feel the beauty of grace, who feel the wonder of grace—and then everything in their life takes on a totally new meaning of action and praise to God.
Words are not just words, but they come with purpose that leads to action and movement of the heart. What you got to say is all about what you’re about!
Where you are PLANTED… determines what you PRODUCE…
and forms the PERSON you are
and forms the PERSON you are
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
There’s a Marvel movie where the main character is about to have his moment and someone tells him “Show them who you really are.”
Jesus presents two options of people & treasure in verse 35. A good person only has good treasure to share. An evil person only has evil treasure to share. There person you are is all you share with others.
BUMP YOUR NEIGHBOR SAY THIS NEXT PART IS FOR YOU — — BUMP THEM AGAIN AND SAY ITS MORE FOR ME
The person you are is the person you will have to give an account for one day!
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Can we all take a moment to reflect on this?
Our words are not just words.
Our words are a reflection of the heart.
Our heart is a reflection of who we are.
Who we is who will be judged. Will your words JUSTIFY YOU or will they CONDEMN YOU?
