Words of Life; Words of Death

Text: Prov. 18:21

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (09/23/01)

Introduction:   

ILLUS: There is one thing you do all day long – TALK

For something we have so much practice with we sure do struggle.

James 3:2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

EXAMPLES:  Have you ever heard people say such things as…

·         “I can’t believe what I’m hearing when my son/daughter other speaks to me.”

·         “He talks so much it’s hard to get a word in edgewise.”

·         “You need to take whatever she says with a grain of salt.”

·         “It seems like we never have enough time to talk.”

·         “I don’t know why I waste my time talking, it doesn’t seem to make a bit of difference.”

·         “You can’t trust a thing he says.”

·         “She always has to have the last word.””

This is the real world in which we live!!

Is there hope? – YES!!!

Four Biblical principles that Give us Hope with our Speech

1. God has a wonderful plan for our words.

2. Sin has altered God’s agenda for our words, bringing hurt and confusion.

3. In Christ we will find all the grace we need.

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

4. The Bible teaches us how to get from where we are to where we need to be.

Let’s go back to the very beginning…..

I. God Speaks – Gen 1:28

This was a perfect world, even the world of communication was filled with peace, love & truth.

A. God spoke everything into existence – Gen. 1

B. God continues to speak today

What are the characteristics of divine communication?

1. God’s Words define Him

God reveals Himself, His plan & purpose in words.  In plain understandable language.

God defines His character, His will, and His truth in words.

LOOK UP & READ Isaiah 40:9-31

2. God’s words define His creation.

God knows us.  We only know ourselves when we listen to Him.

What we are, what we are to do, and the way we are to do it cannot be known apart from His revelation.

II. People Speak

Our ability to communicate in words makes us unique in all of creation.

Language is one of our most privileged endowments from God.

We depend upon it in relationships, commerce, it is the bridge between us and all others.

It was intended for man as agreat blessing and yet has become the source of so much sin and suffering.

A. Talk is not cheap

Our words belong to the Lord, they do not belong to us.  Why? Speech is His gift to us.  Talk was created for His purpose.  Our words belong to Him.

B. Talk is not neutral

We either speak words that aid in the accomplishment of His purposes, or ones that destroy and defeat God’s purposes in our lives.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR SPEECH?

1. Does your talk with others lead to Biblical problem solving?

2. Do your words encourage others to be open and honest about their thoughts and feelings?

3. Are you approachable and teachable or defensive and self-protective when talking with others?

4. Is your communication healthy in the principle relationships in your life?

Family / Workplace / Friends / Neighbours / Church

5. Does your talk encourage faith and personal spiritual growth in those around you?

6. Do you speak honest and humble words of confession when you sin and words of sincere forgiveness when others sin against you?

7. Do your words reflect a willingness to serve others or a demand that they serve you?

III. Satan Speaks – Genesis 3:1

We no longer live in the good and perfect world of Genesis 1.

There was another speaker in the Graden.

LOOK UP & READ Genesis 3:1-13

With the introduction of the Serpent’s words we see a number of firsts…

A. For the First time God’s Authority is challenged.

His position, authority, His very words are challenged!!

To be sure, the world would never be the same again!

APP: Imagine what life would be like if all our words were spoken in perfect submission to God?

But we have usurped God’s authority.  We say what we want to say, when we want and how we want to say it.

We speak as if we are in charge.  Yet one day we will give an account of all these idle words.

Matthew 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

B. For the First time there is an Interpretaion of life different from God’s

Satan’s words are the root of our desire to interpret life our own way.

He put a different “spin” on the same set of facts.

Today we live in a confusing world of many interpretations.

Opinion is exalted to a god-like status.  And lost in all the noise of idle chatter is the fact that God has given us His very Word!!

If we interpret events wrongly our words will be wrong.  Our communication problems are often interpretation problems.

We must allow God to interpret life for us!!!

C. For the First time a Lie is spoken.

Good Godly communication is always dependent upon truth.

We deceive, distort, and manipulate with our words.  We reshape the facts to our advantage.

We restructure events to the point of convincing ourselves that our perspective is true.

D. For the First time People speak against one another

Adam accuses Eve.

Blame shifting.

We accuse and blame when the heat of responsibility is put upon us.

E. For the First time words of Accusation are spoken against God.

“God, you gave me this woman!”

When we blame people and circumstances for our problems, below the surface we are also making accusations against God.

Talk is no longer easy or safe.  The world we live in is full of lies, manipulative words, angry words that wound, falsehoods that destroy, criticisms and condemnations that slander and tear down.  Words that challenge God, and the authorities He has set in place.

LOOK UP & READ James 3:3-12

With our talk we either mirror the Lord with words of life, words of redemptive value that edify and build up.

Or we mirror the words of death spoken by the serpent with speech that is destructive and manipulative.

We need to confess that there is trouble in our talk.

Conclusion:     (Review)

Our struggle is not one of technique, tone, or timing.  It is a struggle of the heart.  A battle within!!

Luke 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

TIME FOR CONFESSION

1. Do your words challenge the authority of God?

By condemnation, criticism, griping, complaining, undermining God’s appointed leadership.

2. Do your words reveal an interpretation of life other than the Lord’s?

Does your talk reveal a consistently Biblical view of life?

3. Have your words become infected with Satan’s lie that the things you need for life can be found outside of Christ?

EXAMPLES:

“I must win the argument”

“I must have recognition, appreciation, praise”

“I must get him to admit _______ ________ __________ if it’s the last thing I do!”

“This is the way it must be done”

“I have my right to happiness, peace, quiet, etc.”

_______________________________________________

Verses for CROSS REFERENCE

Proverbs 2:12  To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

Proverbs 2:16  To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

Proverbs 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3  Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

Proverbs 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 7:21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

Proverbs 10:19  ¶In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 12:6  ¶The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Proverbs 12:17  ¶He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

18  ¶There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

19  ¶The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 16:28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 17:4  ¶A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Proverbs 17:7  ¶Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Proverbs 17:14  ¶The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Proverbs 17:19  ¶He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

Proverbs 18:2  ¶A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs 18:8  ¶The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 18:21  ¶Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 19:28  ¶An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29  ¶Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

Proverbs 21:9  ¶It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Proverbs 22:10  ¶Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Proverbs 25:9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

Proverbs 26:20  ¶Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Proverbs 27:15  ¶A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

Proverbs 28:23  ¶He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Proverbs 29:5  ¶A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

Proverbs 29:8  ¶Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

Proverbs 29:20  ¶Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.