Our Words

[0:00] Luke 6, 45 Luke 6, 45 The Lord Jesus is addressing the Pharisees.

[0:18] ! Luke 6, 45 The Lord goes on, I'm speaking tonight about our words.

[1:10] Our words have power. Power. Your words are powerful. Proverbs 18, 21 it says that Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

[1:23] Your words can speak life to people or death to people. Let's look at some words that speak death. Words that speak death and then some words that speak life.

[1:35] Powerful, both. God's word tells us of some words to avoid. Some speaking to avoid. Words that speak death. In 2 Timothy 2, 16 through 18.

[1:49] Paul says, Like a canker.

[2:21] Now, we know there's the canker worm. It speaks of that which causes decay and corruption. Words that eat like a canker. It's a like to our word cancer.

[2:32] Words that are lethal, that are fatal. Toxic words. Toxic words. Toxic words. Powerful, toxic, death speaking words. And Paul says, Hymenaeus and Philetus speak words that eat like a canker.

[2:49] Like a cancer, if you like. And he says, Son, profane and vain babblings. Now, we know profanity means speaking against God, doesn't it? Profane in God's name. Speaking God's name in vain.

[3:01] Profane and vain words. These are words that are words of death. Words that are like a canker. In other words, words that gradually sap the life out of people.

[3:14] Words that are poisonous in their effects. Words that sap our strength and bring death. We're told to avoid such words. We call on to watch our words right through the Bible.

[3:27] Right through the scriptures. Especially in the book of Proverbs. There's many such references to our speaking, our words. Our words have power.

[3:39] In Psalm 141 verse 3. The psalmist cried, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. Set a watch.

[3:51] It's got the sense of a watchman of a sentry. Someone standing in guard duty. Set a watch. Guard my lips. Keep the door of my lips. In Proverbs 21, 23 it says, Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.

[4:09] Keep your lips, keep your mouth, keep your tongue from speaking that which are words of death. Now words can get us into all kinds of trouble, can't they?

[4:21] Let's think of the things that we say. It's been said, if you were to take a tube of toothpaste and to squeeze it out and then try to put that toothpaste back into the toothpaste tube.

[4:36] It's virtually impossible, isn't it? And that's a bit like our words. Once they're out, they're out there. We can't retrieve them. It's like when you go on a paper chase, you know, and they, as some runners run and they drop paper as a trail and it blows around all over the place and it's pretty much impossible to pick up the paper or the feathers or whatever they use that they drop behind them.

[4:57] And our words are like that too. Once they're out there, they can't be taken back. So let's look at some words of death, if you like. Words that speak death.

[5:08] Words such as murmuring. Murmuring, you see that in Exodus 16, verse 2. We read that the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

[5:22] Here they were, the children of Israel. They'd just been miraculously rescued out of Egypt's bondage and slavery. In the previous chapter, they're singing God's praises and they're rejoicing over his deliverance.

[5:35] But in Exodus, we see in Exodus 16 that the people murmured. The whole congregation, you know, if they'd put it to a vote, he'd have got voted out of office, really.

[5:47] In Exodus 15, we read that when the people came to Mara, they could not drink of the waters of Mara, for they were bitter. Therefore, they called the name of it Mara.

[5:58] And the people murmured against Moses saying, what should we drink? You know, they were getting thirsty there. And Moses, it says, verse 25 of Exodus 15, it says, He cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

[6:18] Then he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them. So the people murmured, the water was bitter, and Moses cried unto the Lord. He came through a tree into the waters, and it made the waters sweet.

[6:33] The people murmured, it's a constant thing. Through Exodus, we see it a number of times. They grumbled, they complained. Their words were as bitter as the water of Mara.

[6:44] But God turned the bitter waters into sweet. Yet still they complained. Later, as we see in Exodus 16, verse 8, Moses said, The Lord heareth your murmurings, which he murmur against him.

[6:59] And what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord. When they murmured against Moses and Aaron, really they were murmuring against the Lord. They were murmuring about the God-ordained authority that was established, the godly order.

[7:16] And in effect, as they murmured against Moses and Aaron, they were murmuring against the Lord himself. Murmuring is dangerous, it's contagious.

[7:27] Contagious, as the saying goes, misery loves company. People who murmur want to rope others into their murmuring and sort of band together. And they say, come join the camp of complainers.

[7:41] And this caused discord and dissatisfaction and ultimately rebellion. In Numbers 13, there were some spies who brought back a bad report.

[7:53] And then in Numbers 14, all the people murmured again. They hankered after Egypt and they left. And these ten wicked, unbelieving spies murmured against God's plan.

[8:06] They said the giants are there, you know, they're like grasshoppers, all these enemies. It's a hopeless plan. But it was God's plan. It was God's plan of redemption.

[8:17] And they caused others to murmur too. Words that spread like a canker. The words of the unbelieving spies. And yet faithful Joshua and Caleb would reach the promised land.

[8:30] They stood firm. They stood firm and believed God's word. They believed God's plan, God's promise. And they did not join the camp of the complainers.

[8:41] Our words had power. It was powerful. The words of the murmurers brought trouble and doubt. But rather let's stand in the camp of Joshua and Caleb.

[8:54] They stood on God's promises. They would not murmur, but they believed. They had faith. We should not murmur, but pray and have faith. Stand fast in the faith.

[9:05] Moses fell on his face before God and started praying when the people were murmuring. Likewise we too, when situations come that make us feel down and despairing, let us pray and depend upon God.

[9:20] Later in number 16, Korah influenced the hundreds of leaders to join him. Again in murmuring against God. And God's authority and God's judgment fell upon them.

[9:32] So murmuring is sin. In 1 Corinthians 10 verse 10, Paul says, Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

[9:43] It's certainly something to avoid. Because when we complain, and even humanly speaking we can all find something to complain about. And when we complain, really we're expressing a dissatisfaction and a discontentment.

[10:00] It's really unbelief isn't it? Isn't God able to lead us and guide us? Doesn't all things work together for the good, for them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose?

[10:14] It's disbelief isn't it? Unbelief to have that complaining spirit that comes forth in murmuring, in complaining words. Words that speak death. It's discontentment.

[10:25] What did Paul say? He said, I have learnt in whatsoever state I am there with to be content. Philippians 4 verse 11. You know, someone has said, when you are not satisfied with God's will, you will want your own.

[10:41] It's a danger isn't it? When we're not satisfied with God's will, where God has planted us and placed us, we should be satisfied with that. And not discontent. In Philippians 2 verse 14, Paul says, do all things, all things, without murmurings and disputings.

[10:58] Murmuring is dangerous. You know, another of Paul's letters speaks about Christians biting and devouring one another. You know, they're taking pieces out of each other, as it were.

[11:09] Gnashing on each other with their teeth, as it were. In a figurative sense, that they were like cannibals, attacking their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

[11:21] And that causes much harm and hurt. When we groan and whinge and complain and bear grudges and not forgive. It's like gangrene. You know, this is another sense of this word, canker.

[11:33] Words that eat like a canker. It's like gangrene. You know, have you ever seen, you know, in times past without medical wonders of today, that if you've got gangrene in your limb, you know, that's about your only hope, is to chop it off before it kills you.

[11:51] And that's what words that eat like a canker. We need to chop them off. It festers. It causes gossip and misunderstanding. So, brothers and sisters, we need to guard against that as a church.

[12:03] Let us guard the words of our mouth and avoid hurt and chaos words. We see churches torn apart by strife and disunity and division when such things are let loose.

[12:18] And we should stand firmly against them. It's as if some Christians need to be told that criticizing and complaining is not actually a spiritual gift.

[12:32] You know, they almost think that they've got this spiritual gift of, you know, they call it the gift of discernment of spirits. We know that's a real gift. But it's that sense that they've got their God's appointed critics to find fault.

[12:47] And they've got such an anointing for it too. And it's dangerous, brothers and sisters. It's dangerous to have that. Some resort to using cross words instead of taking things to the cross.

[12:59] Let's take it to the cross. Let's come before God. And when we have murmuring, it really reflects our unthankfulness to God. You know, as was referred to of late.

[13:12] In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. In everything give thanks. Being thankful for everything.

[13:24] And so even when we're in a miserable situation, we can still find a thankfulness in our spirit. Even when it seems despair prevails, we can not resort to murmuring and complaining or disputing.

[13:40] But have a sweet spirit. A thankful spirit. So there's certain things, certain words, certain kinds of speaking. Speaking, that is speaking of death as it were.

[13:51] Certain words that we should avoid, Christians ought to avoid and not have in their vocabulary. For example, Colossians 3 verse 8. We heard it earlier today I think.

[14:03] But now you also put off all these anger, wrath, malice. You know that? That's what it's talking about here. That's the Australian definition of those words.

[14:15] Anger, wrath, malice. You know? That's what it means. It means that getting hot under the collar and getting the steam coming out of the ears. Avoid that brother. Avoid that anger, wrath, malice.

[14:27] Blasphemy. How much, how often do we hear God's name used in vain? Or people use O-N-G. Really it's using God's name in vain.

[14:40] We shouldn't do that brothers and sisters. Paul says put off all these blasphemy. Don't use God's name carelessly, heedlessly. As if it's just some little glib phrase you use when you're feeling out of sorts.

[14:55] Put off all these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy. And filthy communication out of your mouth. Filthy communication out of your mouth. If you can't honestly say that is not a filthy word, don't use it.

[15:13] If it's a word that you're doubtful about, avoid it. Avoid it. Better to avoid it. If in doubt, don't. Ephesians 5 gives us a similar list. Words to avoid. Paul says in Ephesians 5, be ye therefore followers of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also have loved us and given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God.

[15:41] For a sweet smelling savour.

[15:57] Fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh saints. Fornication, all uncleanness or covetousness.

[16:10] It's like, you know, that's planet earth today isn't it? That's the top MTV. That's the top best sellers in the novels that people buy today.

[16:23] They're the hit movies of today. Fornication, uncleanness, covetousness. You know, the world's sense of sin, what the world refers to as love which is just purely the physical aspect.

[16:39] Uncleanness, just, there's no sense of purity and modesty and what's decent and honourable. And covetousness, greed, the almighty dollar.

[16:52] You know, the greatest and most famous, the ones we look up to. And their names are in the paper. And their names are on the Facebook and whatever it be.

[17:03] Plastered all over the gossip magazines. And their words speak to the world. When one of the worldlings who has got fame and credentials as the world would see it says something, for example, about theology, the world listens to them.

[17:21] There's some guy lately, I saw something about him as if he's, he's quoted as if he's an expert in theology, saying that there is no God and all religion is vain.

[17:33] Such ones are looked up to. But Paul says, let it not be once named among you, as become a saint. Saints. You are saints if you know God.

[17:44] If you are his. In other words, holy ones. That's what saints means. Paul goes on, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.

[17:57] Filthy jesting. Dirty jokes. That's what it's saying. It's talking about dirty jokes. Let it not be named. And Paul says in Ephesians 4, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[18:17] No corrupt communication. What does he mean? When something's corrupt, you notice it. You smell it. Corrupt communication. In other words, rotten.

[18:29] Rotten. It's that pervading influence. That rotten, stinking smell of rotten communication. Corrupt communication. Friends, there's words that defile a man.

[18:41] Defile a man. In other words, they're dirty. They'll defile you. Jesus says, Not that which goeth into the mouth defile a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defile a man.

[18:56] Now you can put some pretty foul things in your mouth. You know, people that booze away, or people that smoke, do damage to your body. Let's face it. But far worse than that, is what comes out of your mouth.

[19:10] What comes out of your mouth. Vulgar words. Curse words. Profane words. Flattery. Lying. Backbiting. Gossip. We will have to give account for our words.

[19:22] Their word will eat. Death doth a canker. Words that hurt. Words that spread like gangrene. Like a virus, if you like. James says, Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.

[19:34] My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3 verse 10. Choose which side you're on. Blessing and cursing coming out of the same mouth.

[19:46] It's like, How can a sweet stream bring forth bitter at the same time? It's just going to get corrupted, isn't it? Blessing and cursing. So let's think about these things.

[19:58] Think about our words today. This is not to condemn, but to edify you, to build you up, to exhort you, to besit you lovingly, to consider your words. Consider them before you speak them.

[20:11] Let's redirect the energies that we waste in useless communication into words of witness. Words that will bless. Words of blessing, not cursing.

[20:22] Words that will build. We've looked at these words of death. These words of canker, of corruption, of damage.

[20:37] What about words that will bless? Words that will build. Healthy Christian communication. Our Lord Jesus is the perfect example of such a thing. In Luke 4 verse 22, He was just a child.

[20:51] All bear witness and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth. Those gracious words from the lips of our Saviour.

[21:03] He's full of grace and truth. What an example for us. Will our words be like these words?

[21:14] Words of truth. In Proverbs 12, 19 it says, The lip of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. I've known some Christians that were pretty rotten liars.

[21:34] It's a shameful thing. Be honest. Be honest. Please. Be honest. People have borrowed money off me and never paid it back.

[21:46] They've said they were going to pay it and they never did. Liars. That's a dangerous place to be. All liars go to hell, it says. Speak the truth.

[21:57] Be honest. Be honest. Don't lie. It's going to catch up with you. Speak the truth. Speak wisdom. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom.

[22:08] Proverbs 10, 31. But the froward tongue, in other words, the perverse tongue, shall be cut out. Bring forth wisdom with your words. Words that speak health.

[22:20] In Proverbs 12, 18 it says, There is that that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health. Proverbs 15, 4 it says, A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a bridge in the spirit.

[22:37] Truth, wisdom, health. Speak words that will impart them to other people. Let's guard those fleshly reactions, that human tendency to do the opposite of all those things.

[22:51] Truth, wisdom, health. Let's guard against unforgiveness about reacting. Let's forgive and heal hurts, not cause more harm.

[23:03] Friends, I'm saying this today because the devil wants to attack God's church. The devil wants to attack the church of God. And he does that by all kinds of subtle means.

[23:17] It's like I've heard it said of political organisations. They white-hand them. They white-hand them. They join and they subtly corrupt and undermine the whole thing.

[23:31] False flag. And sometimes the devil uses Christians. The devil is the accuser of the brethren.

[23:43] He wants people to be busy joining him in sowing seeds of discord. And he wants to attack us. So when we come across gossip or murmuring or hateful speech, let's question the person about what their motive is.

[24:00] What is their motive? Are they speaking truth? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Is it kind? Let's guard against such hurtful things. Brothers and sisters.

[24:11] The devil is doing a good enough job of accusing the brethren without us joining with him. So may God help us not to murmur but to pray.

[24:23] To pray we can all find faults. I find fault with the man I look at in the mirror every day. You know, he's looking worse every day.

[24:34] But you know, we see the faults so openly, don't we? So evidently. But may God help us not to murmur but to pray and praise God in the midst of our problems.

[24:47] Let's know that God's design and purpose is that which we can hold assuredly to. Let's rejoice knowing that whatever trouble faces us, it's for our good.

[24:59] God says so. Romans 8, 28. It's for our good. Even the bad things of life. It's for our good. And God's using these things to humble us, to test us, to strengthen our faith.

[25:12] So we can be ever more sure, ever more confident in him. Bring forth words that are good out of the treasury of your heart. Ask before you speak, are my words appropriate?

[25:25] Are they kind? Are they helpful? Are they words that encourage, that lift, that push? Build words of grace, gracious words. Colossians 4, 6. It says, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

[25:46] So think, friends today, how can I use the words of my lips? Will it be that I can say to God, let the words of my mouth be acceptable? Worship, praise, prayer.

[26:00] You can use your words in so many good ways, in so many constructive ways. Are they words that heal or hurt? Where's the bell or tear down?

[26:11] Words that lift or discourage? Question yourself. Question yourself. Do my words so care or are they careless words?

[26:22] A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but the verseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Proverbs 15, 4.

[26:33] Friends, just to wrap up here, the best thing that you can do with your words is something that's eternal. It's forever.

[26:45] It's an eternal, everlasting transaction. In Romans 10, verse 9, we read the best thing. Listen now. The best thing that we can do with our words, the best thing that we can speak is told us in Romans 10, verse 9.

[27:07] It says that the heart believes unto righteousness. Romans 10, verse 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

[27:26] Confess the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. And we're not talking about just some kind of mantra that you repeat after someone without really meaning it.

[27:37] Confess Jesus Christ as Lord, as the Lord, as the Lord of your life.

[27:49] Believe in your heart and confess him as Lord. It's the very best thing we can do with our words today. And all of this message is in vain without that. You can be a nice speaking person.

[28:01] You might never utter a swear word in your life. You might be the most upstanding citizen of our community and still go to hell. But it's confessing Christ as Lord that makes the eternal difference for you and for me.

[28:17] So, friends, I urge you today, if you've done nothing else, think of this thing. Think, do I know Jesus as my Saviour? Or is he just some kind of buddy, some big man in the sky that I think of when I'm just having a hard time?

[28:34] Or when I just care to think of him every occasional moment, I might feel a bit religious? Or is he really your Lord, your Lord?

[28:46] And if Jesus is your Lord, there's a wonderful new way of living that he makes possible. It says, for if any man is in Christ, he's a new creature, a new creation.

[28:58] All things are passed away. Behold, all things have become new. And that's the wonderful revolution that happens in a heart. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good.

[29:12] And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. We've spoken about words today.

[29:28] Powerful words. Every word we speak has power. The power of life, the power of death is in our tongue.

[29:41] We can make another mistake too as a Christian. The mistake of being silent.

[29:53] We can make that mistake too, can't we? When someone asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, be ready. Be ready to speak.

[30:04] Be ready to witness. Be ready to speak the gospel. Tell others about your Saviour. And about what he means for you. About his saving grace.

[30:15] Friends, we've been urged today. It's about the heart really. Where the words come. And maybe we need to ask God to cleanse our heart.

[30:27] And forgive us our sins. There's words we can utter. Careless words. Words like toothpaste. You can't put it back in the tube. But you can ask God to cleanse your heart.

[30:39] You can come to him. And he will cleanse us. If we confess our sins, he will forgive us of those sins. So let's just pray.

[30:50] As we just close quietly now. Lord, we thank you that you are the great God. And our Saviour. Jesus Christ. Lord, you came.

[31:05] And you spoke gracious words. Even to those ones who flogged you. And bruised you. And pierced you. You said, Father, forgive them.

[31:17] For they know not what they do. Gracious words. Words of grace. Your book is a book full of grace. Your salvation is grace.

[31:30] All grace. And you, Lord, are full of grace and truth. Help us, Lord, to find your grace today. If there's any yet to trust you, they'll know what it means to know that burden of sins lifted.

[31:44] Of that weight carrying. Of that burden. Of our guilt and shame. That it's carried. And paid for at the cross. Where you nailed it. For eternity.

[31:55] And paid for it there. We pray that if there's any here today, Lord, that they will seek after you. And find you. They'll cry out. They'll call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

[32:08] Even today. It could be that day of salvation. We thank you, Lord, that our words have power. Help us to be mindful. Guard our lips, Lord.

[32:19] Set a watch there. Help us, Lord, to shun those words of swearing and cursing that belong to the old flesh. The old man, the old nature.

[32:30] And clothe us, Lord, with your nature. Help us, Lord, when we slip. To confess. And to change us, Lord, from the inside out. We bless you, Lord.

[32:41] Let our lips be filled with blessing, not cursing. With edifying, not murmuring. We bless you, Lord, and thank you. Jesus, Lord. We bless you, Lord. And thank you. We bless you, Lord.

[32:52] And thank you. We bless you, Lord. And thank you. We bless you, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[33:03] Amen.