You Are What You Speak (Matthew [12]31-37)
You Are What You Speak
Text: Matthew 12:31-37
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (04/21/02)
Introduction:
Have you ever spoken words that you wished you could retract?
Have you ever lashed out in anger? Spoken words of harsh criticism out of bitterness or a spirit of revenge?
Prideful words of Strife and Contention???
Belittled, demeaned or lied about someone? Only to think about it later on and say, “I wish I’d never said that!”
“I wish I could have those words back.” “I can’t believe I said that”. “Man, why did I say that!?”
Maybe the more important question is – Did you learn anything from that, Did you take something profitable from the experience?
One thing we ought to learn is that our words are a revelation of who we are.
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Therefore, we must take sole ownership for our words. We are responsible for them and accountable for them.
This passage clearly points out where the problem with our words begins…
I. It all Begins with the Heart. Vs.34-35
Give CONTEXT and brief explanation of the passage.
The deep problem with these self-righteous men was in their heart!
A. A DEFINITION of Heart.
We are obviously not talking about the physical muscle that pumps your blood.
We are talking about…
The Inner Man
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
The Seat of Your Personality
The Mind, Will & Emotions
The Control Centre of Man – (The True Nature of Man)
It involves your attitudes, your thinking, motivation, belief system, world-view etc.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
B. ILLUSTRATIONS of the Heart
1. The Tree and it’s Fruit vs.33
The principle of the heart is clearly illustrated in this verse as Christ challenges the thinking of the religionists concerning His True Nature.
The nature of the tree corresponds to the fruit it produces.
Spiritually the nature of the heart corresponds to the fruit it produces.
2. The Venomous Serpent vs.34
Now the same principle is clearly applied to the Pharisaical crowd.
There is nothing positive about this illustration.
Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
WHY? – Because the tongue is a manifestation of the heart and it’s condition.
Oh the damage the tongue can cause………
ILLUS: The venom of a snake is a deadly cocktail of proteins and enzymes. A few of these are toxic, this is what gives the snake a lethal weapon.
There are toxins which attack the central nervous system, (Paralysis) can lead to asphyxiation or cardiac arrest. Myotoxins which degenerate muscular tissue. Some poisons can weaken arterial walls and lead to serious hemorrhaging. Other toxins are designed to Blind (Spitting Cobra).
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
3. The Overflowing Storehouse vs.35
Definition of ABUNDANCE vs,.34 – Overflowing or - that which Remains
The heart is a repository of good things or evil things.
To some degree, what you put in is what you will get out.
ILLUS: GIGO – computer lingo menas garbage in = garbage out.
But also, apart from regeneration the heart is a factory of deceit and idolatry – manufacturing it’s own idols, and belief system.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
So, What’s the Solution?
II. Some Need a New Heart.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
LOOK UP & READ Ezekiel 36:26-27 (EXPLAIN)
You need the regenerating work of God’s Holy Spirit. You must be Born Again!! You must be Saved!! You must have a new heart!!!
Some evidences of the new heart are that it is ….
A. A Heart that is Broken
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
B. A Heart that is Turned
Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
C. A Heart that is Whole
Psalms 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
III. Some Need a Renewed Heart
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
A. Confessing Our Sin
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
B. Cleansed by God’s Word
Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
C. Consecrated to Christ
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Conclusion: (Review)
It all begins in the Heart
Do you have a new heart?
Do you have a renewed heart?