Developing A Mouth that is Wise and Restrained

Developing a Wise Mouth

NOTE: Wisdom is “The character building presence of God that when embraced and followed produces right character in us and generally makes things go well.

If we are going to develop a wise mouth then there is no substitute for the character building presence of God and He has to be embraced!

1. Proverbs 15:2 “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.”

2. Proverbs 15:7 “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.”

3. Proverbs 16:23 “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.”

4. Proverbs 22:17-18 “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips.”

NOTE: Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Prov. 2:2-6 So when He says “Make your ear attentive to wisdom (Character building presence), incline your ear to understanding (Knowledge of the Holy One), for if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord (reverence to obey) and discover the knowledge of God (Understanding). v.6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

NOTE: We often convey “knowledge” on the fly, processed with the worlds agenda.

We complain while we are trying to make a point about why things should be a certain way.

We mindlessly regurgitate what we heard some where with no real contemplation of what it even means.

If we are going to develop a wise mouth we have to know God, learn from His word His ways and crucify this flesh so that His Spirit can lead this mouth.

Developing a Restrained Mouth

NOTE: Why have a restrained mouth?

1. Proverbs 10:19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

NOTE: It doesn’t matter how careful you think you can be when we talk a lot we miss God’s wisdom and true knowledge.

2. Proverbs 17:27-28 He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he with a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

NOTE: When I restrain my lips it gives me time to pursue God’s wisdom and words in my spirit. I keep out of trouble, I sound a lot less foolish at times and people see me as different.

3. Proverbs 25:8 “Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you.”

ILLUST: We are so quick to argue our point aren’t we. We are so quick to correct someone in view of what we think we know without the full picture. And so often we look foolish.

ILLUST: The other day I was looking for my notes on proverbs. I written them by hand and shoved them in a note book. I went through two notes books over and over saying they have to be somewhere or did someone take one of my notebooks as usual. . . . April says did you use my note book? I said you mean you use mine. So she pulled a notebook out of her bag and sure enough I had picked up her note book, written in it and shoved some of my other notes in it and there it all was in her notebook that I had used.

Just a couple ideas on how to develop a restrained mouth.

Practice Silence

Begin to ask the Spirit to direct your speech and listen. Only speak when He leads.

Determine to speak only words that heal.

a. Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.”

b. Proverbs 12:18 “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

c. Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

4. Determine to speak only truth.

a. Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.”

b. Proverbs 26:28 “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”

CLOSE: Today Can we say that our mouths are not as wise as we often think and that we aren’t as restrained as we think we are? If you struggle with a foolish or unrestrained mouth the only way for that to be changed is to make our ear attentive to His Presence. To cry out to God and say change my mouth Lord.