Our Communication
Philadelphia Baptist Church
8/5/2007 Sun. a.m.
Our Communication
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good toh the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Introduction: Speech: how many of you have been hurt by the words of somebody in your life? The tongue is an amazing thing isn’t it? With it we can be the wind beneath someone’s wings, or we can take the wind right out of their sails. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a supervisor, or a friend, you have an incredible power to encourage or deflate others with your words.
Congress
Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens, and then everybody disagrees...They’ve already started arguing over who will be the speaker at next year’s conventions. What they better worry about is who is going to listen.
Will Rogers, Best of Will Rogers, B. Sterling, 1979
1. Rotten Words. The word translated here “corrupt” (σαπρός) in the original Greek could literally be translated “1 rotten, putrefied. 2 corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out. 3 of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless.” (λόγος) “1. words, or speech.”
You can ask yourself two questions to know whether you’re speaking rotten words:
A. Are our Words Shameful? If you say something in someone’s presence that you wouldn’t say in front of someone else, those words are rotten. This might be crudeness, or it might be speaking of someone else in a negative way.
B. Are These Words Hurtful? The angry parents who yell at their children excessively, or the married couple who scream at each other constantly: this is an example of rotten speech.
The Biggest Impact in Communication…
Verbal—what I say…7%
Vocal—how I say it…38%
Visual—how I look, act, etc…55%
2. Helpful Words. The Greek word for “benefit” is literally “grace-giving.” Again, two questions you can ask yourself to know whether your words are offering grace to someone else:
A. Are These Words Helpful? Helpful words aren’t always easy to hear, but they are always meant to build up.
B. Do These Words Offer Grace? If I’ve been insulted and I insult in return, it’s a “fair deal,” but if I give kindness for rudeness, I’ve offered grace, unmerited favor.
What is Jesus Doing Right Now?
If we had a telescope capable of peering into the highest heaven, what would we see Jesus doing right now? What is His present ministry?
1. He Is Ruling from His Heavenly Throne (Eph. 1:20; Mark 16:19; Phil. 2:9, 1 Pet. 3:22).
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
2. He Is Directing and Empowering His Church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:1–2; Rom. 15:18).
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3. He Is Interceding for Believers (Rom. 8:34, 1 John 2:1; Heb. 2:17–18, 7:25).
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
4. He Is Preparing a Place for Us (John 14:1–3).
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
5. He Is Receiving the Souls of Those Who Die in Christ (Acts 7:54–59).
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
6. He Is Being Praised by Angels (Rev. 5:11-14).
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
If Christ is doing all this for us in heaven, what are we doing for Him on earth?
3. Before You Speak: Five Profound Questions. I know none of us will carry around this list of five questions, but there may be one or two of these that really apply to us that we need to go home and pray about:
A. Is It True (1 Thess. 2:5; Prov. 29:5)? Helpful words are always true words. Do you give out false encouragement? The Bible calls this flattery. Words should be true, not just happy words. Do you spread unchecked rumors? Have you ever gotten an email from a Christian brother or sister warning you about something, only to find out later that it’s not true? Do you spread negative information about others that you don’t know to be true?
B. Is This Appropriate for This Situation (Prov. 10:32)? Timing is equally important as truth. Here are some examples to consider in the timing of our words:
(1) Anxious Hearts Need Kindness (Prov. 12:25).
(2) Broken Hearts Need Tears (Prov. 25:20; Rom. 12:15).
(3) Teaching Needs Pleasantness (Prov. 16:21).
(4) Annoyance Calls for Silence (Prov. 11:12; 29:11).
(5) Age Calls for Respect (1 Tim. 5:1).
C. Will These Words Be Heard (Prov. 25:11–12; Matt. 7:6)? If someone isn’t open to listen to you, there’s no reason to continue speaking (Prov. 9:8).
D. Is My Motivation to Help or Hurt (Prov. 12:18; 27:5–6; 1 Pet. 3:9; James 3:9–12)?
E. Is This My Responsibility (Prov. 24:11–12; 26:17; Lev. 19:17; Luke 17:3)?
Conclusion: I don’t know which of these questions may have our name on it, but I pray that this week we will think about these and consider which of these questions we need to personally consider. May we all continue to throw out the words that are rotten, and become wise in our speech.
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h to...: or, to edify profitably