Untitled Sermon (2)

New Living Translation Psalm 64

Psalm 64

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O God, listen to my complaint.

Protect my life from my enemies’ threats.

2 Hide me from the plots of this evil mob,

from this gang of wrongdoers.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their bitter words like arrows.

4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent,

attacking suddenly and fearlessly.

5 They encourage each other to do evil

and plan how to set their traps in secret.

“Who will ever notice?” they ask.

6 As they plot their crimes, they say,

“We have devised the perfect plan!”

Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

7 But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,

suddenly striking them down.

8 Their own tongues will ruin them,

and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9 Then everyone will be afraid;

they will proclaim the mighty acts of God

and realize all the amazing things he does.

10 The godly will rejoice in the LORD

and find shelter in him.

And those who do what is right

will praise him.

New Living Translation Chapter 4

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Christ Is Our High Priest

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Preaching Resources

Scripture Passage 

Psalm 64; Hebrews 4:12-16 

Focus Statement 

The tongue is a powerful instrument, and how it can be used to cut down and destroy or it can be used to heal and build up. But there is an instrument even sharper than the sword that is our tongue, and through the grace of God it can help us to control it. 

POINT OF RELATION 

[Tell a time when your words cut someone else down and the consequences of that.] 

THINGS TO CONSIDER 

We all have used words that have been more harmful than good. Destructive words can flow so easily when we have lost our tempers or are caught up in moments of ego and/or selfishness. Yet, at what cost do our words come? 

WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS 

If there is one thing that the Bible is consistent on regarding sin and evil, the tongue is often the first instrument to wield it and what an awfully destructive instrument it can be. Humans, sinful as we are, can absolutely cut people down and destroy them with their words. The truth is, the tongue is the most destructive tool we have as human beings. Sure, real swords destroy physical life. They can maim and kill. However, once dead, there is nothing more a sword can do to you. The tongue on the other hand, it delivers wounds that can poison hearts and souls…wounds that last an entire lifetime or more! How so more, because our words can lead someone not just into psychological and emotional peril, but spiritual peril as well. 

That is why the early church focused so much on right doctrine and the proper Christology, or how we understand who Jesus is in relation to God. Getting these words right are SO VERY IMPORTANT because we are dealing in ETERNAL matters! Amen! So, yeah…the Bible is clear that the tongue is, more times than not, a wicked, evil, vile, venomous weapon that, when recklessly wielded, can literally kill people on the deepest of levels. 

The Psalmist’s description of the tongue is just that, a deadly weapon. He wrote in verses 3-5 of people, “sharpen[ing] their tongues like swords and aim[ing] their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret.” He wrote that such people taunt God by thinking that no one notices their wicked ways, but God notices. In verses 7-8, “But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.” 

We also know what James thought of tongue from the previous worship series, Living Faith. He called the tongue a “flame of fire” and a “world of wickedness”. So, it is pretty clear that the tongue is a nasty little organ. With that said, if wielded properly, the tongue can also produce much good. 

People can be built up, encouraged and given renewed life through words that come off the tongue. The question is, how to we control that little wagging tool in our mouth? The answer is in our Scripture in Hebrews today. The answer is THE WORD OF GOD. First off, the Word of God is the Bible. If we read, Scripture we will come face-to-face with out sins. It’s impossible not to, for the Bible is a mirror of our sinfulness. It commands us to see ourselves in the light that God sees us. 

The Bible, then, is the word of God and acts like a double-edged sword cutting away our sinfulness. With that said, theologically speaking, the Word of God isn’t merely a book…but the very person of Jesus the Christ, God the Son, second person of the Holy Trinity! Don’t believe me…let’s check out Revelation 19: “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU 

Friends, the word of God (or the Bible) leads us to and guides us in following the WORD OF GOD, Jesus Christ. If we read it actively and regularly, we will not only draw closer to our Lord and God, but we will begin to learn what God desires, not only for us but for all creation. You will begin to transform from the inside and the words and actions that flow through you will look more and more like Jesus. I want to challenge you to read your Bible every day and if you don’t have a Bible, let me know and I will get you one! 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US 

As a Church community, how can we begin to better model godly speaking. We have a wonderful community here with very loving and welcoming people, but all it takes is one or two to be talking negatively about this or that…and the DAMAGE IS DONE. How can we learn to use our tongues in a JESUS kinda way instead of a SATAN kinda way…a way that seeks to tear down and divide. I challenge us, as a church, to begin to examine and assess the ways we communicate with each other and the way we communicate the Gospel of Jesus out to the world! Amen? Amen.