Heavenly Wisdom About Our Tongue Message 4 in Heavenly Wisdom For Earthly Living Series from Proverbs PROVERBS 18:21 (NKJV)

Transcription

1 Message for THE LORD S DAY EVENING, March 11, 2012 MESSAGE 4 in Heavenly Wisdom For Earthly Living Series from Proverbs Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister Heavenly Wisdom About Our Tongue Message 4 in Heavenly Wisdom For Earthly Living Series from Proverbs PROVERBS 18:21 (NKJV) As we continue with our series of messages from the Book of Proverbs I would like for you to please turn with me in your Bibles to Proverbs 18:21. P R A Y E R Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ************************************************************* I N T R O D U C T I O N What does Solomon mean by, Death and life are in the power of the tongue? He means Our words have the potential to do the greatest GOOD or the greatest HARM. Our words can HELP or our words can HURT. Our words can BUILD UP or our words can TEAR DOWN. Our words can DELIGHT or they can DESTROY. The tongue has been compared to carrying a concealed weapon everywhere we go. We will never be asked to check it in at the door, nor will a security scanner ever detect it. But yet it is a loaded weapon that should be handled with the utmost of caution and care. You notice the latter part of verse 21 says, and those who love it will eat its fruit. What does that mean? Well IT refers to the tongue. Those who love the tongue,

2 those who love to talk must be prepared to reap the consequences of talking too much. You see, as our words increase, so does the risk that we will say the wrong thing. ******************************************************* The Book of Proverbs has a lot to say about our tongue. In fact, the subject of the tongue and how we use it is mentioned over 150 times in this book alone. As we study these proverbs this evening we are going to note a very distinct difference between the TONGUE OF A WISE MAN and the TONGUE OF A FOOL. I. The Tongue of A Wise Man 1. As you are going to see in these verses, a wise man knows how to discipline his tongue to say the RIGHT WORDS at the RIGHT TIME in the RIGHT WAY. 2. Let s see what Proverbs teaches us about the kinds of words a wise man speaks. (A) First, the obvious: A wise man speaks WISE words. Proverbs 10:13-14 (NKJV) Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Proverbs 16:23-24 (NKJV) The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Think of the wise man s tongue as the index of the all the knowledge that is in his heart. When a wise man speaks, his words have weight, his words have authority. (B) A wise man speaks FEW words.

3 Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 17:27-28 (NKJV) He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. It was James Sinclair who said, At times it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people wonder if you re a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. Remember earlier I told you as talk increases so does the risk of saying the wrong thing. A wise man understands that and is very guarded in what he says. A wise man knows when to speak and when not to speak. (C) A wise man speaks APPROPRIATE words. Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. mouth, Proverbs 15:23 (NKJV) A man has joy by the answer of his and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV) Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. And one of my favorite verses in Proverbs.. Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV) A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. When a wise man speaks the RIGHT WORDS in the RIGHT WAY at the RIGHT TIME, it is like giving a precious piece of jewelry to the person or persons who needed to hear those words. If the situation calls for encouragement or comfort the wise man knows the appropriate words to say and not to

4 say. If the situation calls for correction or rebuke, the wise man knows how to say it in a way that will build the person up rather than tear them down. A WISE MAN SPEAKS WISE WORDS. A WISE MAN SPEAKS FEW WORDS. A WISE MAN SPEAKS APPROPRIATE WORDS. (D) A wise man also speaks TRUTHFUL words. Proverbs 8:6-7 (NKJV) Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Proverbs 12:19 (NKJV) The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:22 (NKJV) Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. A wise man speaks the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He doesn t stretch the truth, exaggerate the truth, or twist the truth. He doesn t tell white lies, black lies, or purple polka dotted lies. The wise man doesn t tell halftruths or three-quarter truths. He simply speaks the truth. A WISE MAN SPEAKS WISE WORDS! A WISE MAN SPEAKS FEW WORDS! A WISE MAN SPEAKS APPROPRIATE WORDS! A WISE MAN SPEAKS TRUTHFUL WORDS! (E) And a wise man speaks RIGHTEOUS words. Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV) The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 10:21 (NJKV)The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom. The mouth of a wise man flows with edifying words that

5 point people to Christ. His words are seasoned with grace. The righteous words of a wise man feed and nourish the souls of others. As you search your own heart right now, ask yourself, Do my words reflect a heart of wisdom? -Do I speak WISE WORDS? -Do I speak FEW WORDS? -Do I speak APPROPRIATE WORDS? -Do I speak TRUTHFUL WORDS? -Do I speak RIGHTEOUS WORDS? ***************************************************************** Well, let s turn our thoughts for a few minutes to. II. The Tongue of A Fool 1. Remember I said earlier a wise man knows how to discipline his tongue to say the RIGHT WORDS at the RIGHT TIME in the RIGHT WAY. 2. That is not true of a foolish man. A foolish man does not discipline his tongue and therefore tends to blurt out the WRONG WORDS at the WRONG TIME in the WRONG WAY. 3. Let s see what Proverbs teaches us about the kinds of words a foolish man speaks. (A) A fool speaks FOOLISH words. Proverbs 14:7 (NKJV) Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. Proverbs 15:2 (NKJV) The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Remember what Jesus said about the connection between one s heart and one s mouth. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If there is no wisdom in the heart of a fool he can t

6 speak words of wisdom can he? He can only speak foolish words. (B) A fool also speaks MANY words. Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV) In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. (NIV) When words are many, sin is not absent. Have you ever been around someone that just doesn t know when to bite their tongue and zip their lip? I m talking about that person who speaks before their mind is in gear. That person whom you never have to wonder what they think because they just blurt it out. This verse we just read is a warning from God to all of us who are His people to guard against excessive talking, because as our words increase so does the risk of sinning with our tongue. (C) A fool speaks PERVERSE words. Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. One who is perverse in his lips is one who uses profanity or who makes vulgar remarks. Sometimes we refer to it as gutter talk. It seems everywhere we turn these days we hear people spewing forth profanity. We hear it on TV. We hear it in the movies. We hear it when we re out in public. And perhaps you hear it every day at work. Profanity is devil talk and it should never be on the lips of a child of God. The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it. -George Washington

7 (D) A fool speaks HARSH and ANGRY words. Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV) A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV) A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." - Ambrose Bierce A fool allows his anger to erupt into harsh words and actions without any forethought as to the consequences or the damage he may do to a relationship or friendship. The Bible doesn t teach that it is wrong to get angry, but Ephesians 4:26 does teach us to Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath. (E) A fool speaks GOSSIPY words Proverbs 11:13 (NKJV) A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. Proverbs 20:19 (NKJV) He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Many Christians tend to think of gossiping as a weakness or a short-coming. But in the eyes of God, gossiping is a sin. Did you ever wonder what causes a gossip to gossip? At the very root of a gossiping tongue is a pride-filled heart. -The gossip gets a certain sense of PRIDE in being the person in the know when it comes to everyone else s business. - The gossip also gets a certain sense of PRIDE in being the first one to pass along information. - And the gossip gets a sense of PRIDE in pointing

8 out the weaknesses and faults of others, in order to elevate themselves. Don t ever forget that old true saying, If someone will tell gossip to you, they will tell gossip about you. There are three questions to ask yourself before you pass along information about someone else: First, is it true? Second, is it kind? And third, is it necessary? (F) A fool speaks BOASTFUL words Proverbs 27:2 (NKJV) Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. It has been said, He who toots his own horn is a oneman band. Is there anything more nauseating than to be around someone who heaps praise after praise upon himself? Some people are like walking autobiographies. Their favorite topic of discussion is me, myself and I. Once again at the very root of the boastful tongue is a proud heart. (H) A fool speaks UNTRUTHFUL words. Proverbs 19:5 (NKJV) A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape. It is absolutely amazing what some people can do with the TRUTH. They can bend it. They can stretch it. They can twist it. And they can color it. Jesus tells us in John 8 that when a person lies they are speaking Satan s native language because he is the father of all who lie.

9 You see, in the eyes of God, A half truth equals a a whole lie. An ounce of truth weighs the same as a ton of falsehood. A little white lie is no different than a big black lie. A lie is a lie is a lie! *************************************************************************** C O N C L U S I O N One of the most beautiful singing voices in the late 60 s and early 70 s was that of Karen Carpenter, the talented singer who rose to stardom while singing with her brother Richard. At the young age of 32, Karen Carpenter died unexpectedly of heart failure, the result of many years of abuse caused by an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. It wasn t until after her tragic death that the underlying reason for her fatal obsession with weight control was revealed. It seems Karen had once heard a TV reporter refer to her as Richard Carpenter s chubby little sister. Those five little hurtful words became the catalyst that propelled Karen Carpenter down a self-destructive path to her death. (pick up Bible) Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. The key to controlling our tongue is to surrender the control of our tongue to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22,23 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Apart from the power of God s Spirit, self-control over our tongue is impossible. May our prayer be, Dear LORD, please put your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth.