When, What, and How to Speak
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When do you speak?
When do you speak?
When emotions run high, speak little.
When emotions run high, speak little.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
When driven by the wild extremes of emotion, the tongue becomes a wildfire.
We are a danger to ourselves and others when we allow emotion to rule our speech.
When God speaks, you speak.
When God speaks, you speak.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus’ authority came from His Father. What God decreed, Jesus was willing to speak to others and demonstrate with His life. He was not afraid to speak with authority, because it was not His own authority.
Where God has given you authority, never be afraid to speak God’s truth and God’s leading.
While the Scriptures are clear that emotion-led speech is dangerous, God is just as clear that neglecting our responsibility to speak and lead culminates in failure.
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
Saul was afraid to take the stance God had ordered him to take, instead being influenced by the people around him. It resulted in disaster and the loss of his authority.
The Holy Spirit’s leading is essential if we are to lead holy lives. When it comes to talk, the Holy Spirit must be in control.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
When opportunity to teach comes, take it.
When opportunity to teach comes, take it.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
What do you speak?
What do you speak?
Speak Christ
Speak Christ
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Speak what you know [and avoid what you don’t]
Speak what you know [and avoid what you don’t]
6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Be careful of the conversation where no one knows, but everyone wants to sound intelligent.
Avoid needless controversy
Avoid needless controversy
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Avoid worldly philosophies
Avoid worldly philosophies
You may think this is obvious, but it is so easy to fall into the trap of speaking words that are easy to hear and easy to say.
How do you speak?
How do you speak?
Speak simply and clearly
Speak simply and clearly
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Speak naturally
Speak naturally
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
Let your words that you speak in a formal setting reflect what someone would hear if they secretly recorded a conversation in your home. Don’t pretend to be spiritual in conversation if you are not in your own house.
Speak boldly
Speak boldly
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Bold speech is not something that is beyond you. It is simply having the courage to say what you know to be true regardless of how someone else will respond.
You may feel like a failure after having “offended” someone or having been rebuked by a godless society, but God does not count such as failure.
Jesus spoke little on His way to the cross, but every word He did speak was mocked and scoffed. Jesus was not a failure. Neither are you.
Speak honestly
Speak honestly
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Speak respectfully
Speak respectfully
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Conclusion:
Never rely only upon your words to share your love with people around you.
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
But never underestimate the power of your words. You can tear down and destroy, or you can build up and encourage.
Choose right words.