WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:07.980 Research has shown that for the average person, not for the extremely talkative person or the extremely shy person, 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:12.419 but the average human being will spend one-fifth of their life talking. 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:16.219 I don't mean one-fifth of life in conversation where you're both talking and listening, 00:00:16.580 --> 00:00:24.199 but a fifth of your life is speaking words, whether that's with your mouth or tweeting, texting. 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:26.940 But we're communicating a fifth of our life. 00:00:26.940 --> 00:00:31.260 That is, again, researchers, they say, I don't know where they get all this stuff, 00:00:31.380 --> 00:00:43.240 but they found that in one year of our life, we will say enough words that it would fill 120, 200-page books of words, just your words. 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:47.359 Which, if you live to be 73 years old and you learn to speak when you were three, 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:54.060 that would mean you'd have said enough words in your life for more than 9,000 books of just you. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:59.000 And if words are such a part of the human experience of our lives, 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:02.780 it makes sense to us that God has some things to say about how we should speak. 00:01:03.160 --> 00:01:04.079 And truly, he does. 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:07.560 This summer, we're spending this whole summer through Proverbs. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:10.280 We've called it Proverbs, Ancient Wisdom for Postmodern World. 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:14.320 And you'll find that in the book of Proverbs, there's all these various verses, 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:16.579 these pithy sayings that are God's word, 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:21.319 but in each chapter, it deals with a whole bunch of different issues. 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:27.359 But there's this thread you can bring between the various chapters of the various themes that the various chapters address. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.299 And so, instead of doing what we normally do here at Church of the Messiah, 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:32.879 going through a passage and unpacking it from the Bible, 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:39.500 we're going through themes in Proverbs and picking these verses that speak to the same issue throughout the book of Proverbs. 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:44.459 And so, to keep you from having to flip through your Bible back and forth and losing yourself along the way, 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:47.819 we have this insert in your bulletin, and you can follow along. 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:50.280 The verses that I speak from are going to be from here. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:51.519 They're all from the book of Proverbs. 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:55.640 It would be really helpful for me if you can pull this out now as we dig into this. 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:00.039 The Bible has a lot to say about the words that we speak. 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:02.079 Proverbs 10, verse 11 says, 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:07.379 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:11.659 And at the bottom, on the other side of your insert, you'll see Proverbs 18, verse 21 says, 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:17.000 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:24.579 The words that the scriptures have to say about words can seem so intense that it almost can seem exaggerated, 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:28.680 especially when, as little kids, we may have said, when someone says something mean to us, 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:32.840 the famous saying, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never harm me. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:35.960 Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never harm me. 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:39.800 That's one of the most ridiculous things a young child has taught, 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:45.900 because words can have such devastation and have such potential for life. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:50.480 If you think about it, all that you understand about who you are, the good, the bad, 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:53.819 all that you perceive yourself, last week we talked about how we see ourselves 00:02:53.819 --> 00:02:57.020 as we looked at pride and humility, all that we understand about who we are 00:02:57.020 --> 00:03:01.500 and in relation to other people and to God, and all of that has been shaped by words. 00:03:01.980 --> 00:03:06.500 We understand about our calling, our purpose, our value, all that stuff is by words. 00:03:07.100 --> 00:03:11.219 Words shape our lives. Words can also destroy our lives. 00:03:11.700 --> 00:03:15.219 I mean, any more evidence of this you can see in the amount of news stories 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:18.700 that have come out in the past few years of young people who have taken their lives, 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:21.439 who have committed suicide because of the relentless bullying. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:26.159 The bullying was not, normally it was not physical abuse, it was just words. 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:29.079 Words that cut deep. Words that shape us. 00:03:30.079 --> 00:03:34.439 And so what we see from the book of Proverbs is that part of what it means to live life 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:38.639 the way God made us to live, to live life the way we were designed to as human beings, 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:44.000 is to be people who use our words with wisdom in righteousness for the glory of God. 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:48.560 Now there's a number of different ways that we can misuse our words, 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:53.860 and three of them, which I heard recently in a pastor's preaching on a similar theme, 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.800 actually the exact same theme, I was visiting a church in Toronto, 00:03:57.219 --> 00:04:01.500 and he defined, he chalked these three different categories Proverbs deal with 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.140 as jabber, lies, and gossip. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:06.680 And I'm going to borrow the same themes from him. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:10.000 We're looking today at jabber, lies, and gossip. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.520 So starting with jabber, again, this is the first page of the insert you have. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:18.259 Jabber is defined as those extra careless words, empty words, 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:20.960 that we don't need to speak, that we speak anyways. 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:23.660 And here's what Proverbs has to say about that. 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:27.960 And this is only a small selection of what the book of Proverbs speaks to regarding jabber. 00:04:28.340 --> 00:04:29.639 Proverbs 13, verse 3. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:32.360 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:35.100 He who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.080 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:42.420 but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:48.780 And these two verses are addressing not someone speaking filthy words 00:04:48.780 --> 00:04:52.500 that would harm people with the content of the words, 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:55.980 but rather it has to do with this image of someone who is just careless with his words, 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:56.860 who speaks a lot. 00:04:57.580 --> 00:05:00.020 I don't know if you can see because of the light shining on my face, 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:04.840 but I'm blushing right now because this is one of the many things that I really struggle with. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.340 I told my roommates that I was speaking on this today, 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:14.379 and their response was to laugh heartily, somewhat deridingly, 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:17.539 as they joined me in amusement at, and in my case, 00:05:17.599 --> 00:05:20.419 just embarrassment for how I could speak about this. 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:23.560 Because I have been a man who I would define as someone 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:27.000 who has let his lips just open wide. 00:05:27.559 --> 00:05:29.359 And what the scriptures are showing us here, 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.879 and it was kind of miserable preparing this sermon because, 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:35.060 again, there's a lot more verses than the few that I've chosen for you today, 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:37.920 but in Proverbs again and again and again, 00:05:38.020 --> 00:05:41.220 it tells us that even if you're someone who's not putting people down, 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:44.340 even if you're someone who's not speaking death into people's lives, 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:46.620 if you're someone who has no restraint over your lips, 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:47.280 and you just speak, 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.220 then you are someone who's going to come to ruin for yourself 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:51.720 and also harm others. 00:05:51.780 --> 00:05:53.040 It's not okay. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:55.560 Now, as we look at this, 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:59.860 I've heard a number of sermons on words and speech throughout my life, 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.260 and the way that I often hear it spoken of, 00:06:02.340 --> 00:06:04.260 and it's partly because James in the New Testament 00:06:04.260 --> 00:06:07.960 speaks about how it's just about impossible to tame the tongue, 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.140 to change the way we speak. 00:06:09.580 --> 00:06:11.900 And so the way I often hear words preached about is, 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:14.140 here is God's holy standard for words, 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.740 and you and I are going to fail at that standard, 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:18.379 therefore we need a Savior. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:20.640 That's why Jesus died, and then end of sermon. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:23.620 But the Scriptures, though, it does teach us that, 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:25.759 that we won't obtain the holy standard, 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:27.339 the perfect standard God has for us. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.439 The Scriptures don't simply teach us that we're always going to fail. 00:06:30.539 --> 00:06:34.479 The Scriptures also speak into our lives as to how we can actually change, 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:38.599 as how we can actually have our words be words that bring life and only life. 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:40.039 We're not going to be perfect at it. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:41.060 We'll always need a Savior, 00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:44.560 but the Savior not only saves us from the consequences of our sin, 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:46.759 He also saves us from sinning itself. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:50.279 And so as we continue to live the Christian life and look to God in His Word, 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:52.919 we're actually able to find hope and help to change. 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:56.299 And I'd illustrate that by saying, 00:06:56.419 --> 00:06:58.459 if your house is covered in spiderwebs, 00:06:58.719 --> 00:06:59.819 you have two options. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.079 You can either always be trying to get rid of spiderwebs, 00:07:02.119 --> 00:07:04.359 which is what I've spent the last few decades of my life, 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:05.799 just trying to deal with words and always failing, 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:06.919 because there's always more spiderwebs, 00:07:07.099 --> 00:07:09.059 or you can go and get rid of the spiders. 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:11.379 And as you get rid of the spiders, 00:07:11.559 --> 00:07:12.719 you can then get rid of the spiderwebs, 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:14.079 and the spiderwebs are gone forever. 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:15.979 I hope you didn't get lost in that. 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:17.400 What I'm trying to say is, 00:07:17.660 --> 00:07:18.660 if you find, like me, 00:07:18.780 --> 00:07:20.640 that you are ashamed of your words, 00:07:20.700 --> 00:07:21.819 but you try and try, 00:07:21.900 --> 00:07:23.860 and you can't get rid of your foolish words, 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:25.200 we're going to look at, 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:27.020 how do we actually deal with the things 00:07:27.020 --> 00:07:29.259 that are driving those foolish words, 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:30.280 or those lying words, 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:31.439 whatever those words you're struggling with, 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:33.300 what are the things that are driving that? 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:34.200 And as we deal with that, 00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:36.720 we'll find actual help to change. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:40.980 In the Gospel of Luke 6, verse 45, 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:42.040 Jesus says, 00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:43.560 out of the abundance of the heart, 00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:44.740 the mouth speaks. 00:07:45.640 --> 00:07:47.360 And so in order for us to change our words, 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:48.600 we need to change our heart. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:50.420 We need to change the stuff that's in our heart, 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.920 and in that we'll find hope. 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:53.939 So we'll continue. 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:56.300 Proverbs 17, verse 27, 28, 00:07:56.580 --> 00:07:58.879 whoever restrains his words has knowledge, 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:00.819 and he who has a cool spirit 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:01.920 is a man of understanding. 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:04.340 Even a fool who keeps silent 00:08:04.340 --> 00:08:05.500 is considered wise. 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:07.100 When he closes his lips, 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:09.000 he is deemed intelligent. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.779 Proverbs 29, verse 20, 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:13.959 do you see a man who is hasty in his words? 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:17.120 There is more hope for a fool than for him. 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:19.540 Now as we read through these, 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:20.639 and we're seeing in this, 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:22.100 as Proverbs are speaking into 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:23.740 how devastating it is 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:25.620 for someone to just let their words run wild, 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.779 sometimes we'll feel guilt about this type of thing, 00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:32.320 conviction from God. 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:33.500 There's other times, 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:34.759 at least a lot of my life, 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:36.279 although I'll have a brief moment 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:37.120 of feeling some shame 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:39.039 over how careless I am with my words, 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:40.200 and I just speak so many words. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:41.480 Other times, 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.000 I don't feel any conviction over this. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:45.620 And I think some of you in the room 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:46.440 could probably relate to me, 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:47.200 that there are certain things 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:47.899 that you read about 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:49.220 how devastating it is 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:51.820 to just let the open wide your lips, 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:52.340 and you're like, 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:53.039 really? 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:54.200 In my life, 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:55.060 I use a lot of words, 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:56.940 and there's a number of my friends 00:08:56.940 --> 00:08:58.120 who think it's really funny, 00:08:58.299 --> 00:08:59.220 and that's part of why 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.860 they think I'm a funny person 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:01.279 because of this. 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:02.220 It can actually, 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.940 I'm sure some of my friends 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:04.779 think I'm ridiculous 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:05.659 for how many words they say, 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:06.799 but other people find it funny, 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:08.019 and it's one of those things 00:09:08.019 --> 00:09:08.980 that isn't necessarily 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:09.439 something you're going 00:09:09.439 --> 00:09:10.379 to feel conviction of. 00:09:11.299 --> 00:09:12.559 But what we know 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.779 in Psalm 119, 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:15.219 verse 9, 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:15.600 it says, 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:16.559 how can a young man 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:17.399 keep his way pure? 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:18.559 As it says that, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:19.439 it's not just talking about 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:20.500 how can someone stay away 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:21.360 from sexual impurity. 00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:21.600 It means, 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:21.740 no, 00:09:21.819 --> 00:09:23.199 how can you walk in life 00:09:23.199 --> 00:09:24.059 the way you were made for? 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:24.459 And it says, 00:09:24.719 --> 00:09:25.699 by guarding your way 00:09:25.699 --> 00:09:27.399 according to God's word. 00:09:28.079 --> 00:09:28.919 By guarding our way 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:29.860 according to God's word. 00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:31.100 If we're going to base 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:32.659 our morality 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:33.339 morality 00:09:33.339 --> 00:09:35.100 and the way we live life, 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:38.240 not on our own feelings 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.399 of what is right and wrong, 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.600 but on God's word, 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:41.799 then we see very clearly 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:42.620 that jabber 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:44.379 is something that must go. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.100 So how do we change that? 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:47.980 Well, 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:49.799 as I did some research 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:51.039 on why people jabber, 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.939 and it's not just Bible scholars 00:09:52.939 --> 00:09:53.539 or pastors 00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:54.399 who speak about this, 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:55.480 but you'll actually be able 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:56.179 to find a research 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:57.600 from other academics 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:58.379 about why people 00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:59.839 just speak and speak and speak. 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:01.240 And there's a few reasons 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:01.699 that I've found. 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:02.540 One of them is that 00:10:02.540 --> 00:10:04.600 some people speak a ton 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.920 because they don't think 00:10:05.920 --> 00:10:06.960 anyone else has anything 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:07.720 to say of value. 00:10:08.020 --> 00:10:08.500 They always think 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.320 that they have the answer 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:09.800 to everything. 00:10:10.160 --> 00:10:10.759 I was at lunch 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:11.440 with a few people, 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:13.220 and there was two people 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:13.640 in particular 00:10:13.640 --> 00:10:14.300 who were just talking 00:10:14.300 --> 00:10:15.259 the entire time, 00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:16.280 whether we were talking 00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:17.000 about politics 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:17.940 or church stuff 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:18.560 or sports. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:20.420 They had every answer. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:21.560 And there was someone else 00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:24.280 there who was a good listener. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.379 They were asking questions, 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:26.240 and they never got 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:27.320 to really say anything. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:29.160 And it seemed to me, 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:29.980 I'm judging them, 00:10:30.040 --> 00:10:30.720 but it seems to me 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:31.820 that it really seems 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:32.879 like they have such confidence 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.779 that their answers 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:34.800 are the answer 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:35.820 that they never stopped 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:37.040 to ask this other friend 00:10:37.040 --> 00:10:38.759 what he thought about anything 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:39.740 because it didn't seem 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.620 like they really cared 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:41.279 what he had to say. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.180 So sometimes we find ourselves 00:10:43.180 --> 00:10:44.279 jabbering because we're arrogant. 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:45.680 Others of us 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:46.820 will find ourselves jabbering 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:47.480 in times where we're, 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:48.420 it's not that we're arrogant, 00:10:48.560 --> 00:10:49.680 we're actually really insecure, 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.560 and we feel really nervous. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:52.300 And some of us, 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:52.899 our default, 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:53.840 when we're nervous, 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:54.960 is to start speaking 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:56.259 tons and tons of words. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:57.139 I do that. 00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:58.199 It's embarrassing, 00:10:58.340 --> 00:10:58.740 but I do. 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.080 Others of us 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:00.899 will find ourselves 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:02.779 just speaking foolish words 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:03.919 just because of lack of care. 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:04.939 And I think that might be 00:11:04.939 --> 00:11:05.600 one of the issues with me 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:06.860 where you're just used 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:07.419 to just speaking 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:08.299 because you just speak. 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:09.699 You're not really thinking about it. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.100 In every single one 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:12.679 of these three driving forces 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:13.620 for why we speak 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.740 so many words, 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:16.860 the antidote to this 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.019 is the fear of God. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.179 In the case of these arrogant people, 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:21.639 they're not fearing God. 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.899 They're so confident 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:23.519 in themselves 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.819 that they let their words be many. 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.220 In the case of someone 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:28.039 who's really nervous 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.079 and jabbering away 00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:29.860 because they're so nervous, 00:11:30.319 --> 00:11:31.299 they're fearing people. 00:11:31.439 --> 00:11:31.740 They're afraid 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.840 of what other people will think. 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:34.419 But in both cases, 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:35.799 as well as in the case 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:36.720 of the one who's just careless 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.799 and not thinking about life, 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.000 as you turn to God 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.240 and you fear God, 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:42.100 all of a sudden, 00:11:42.199 --> 00:11:43.019 you'll find that your words 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:44.379 begin to be less. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:45.720 And so, Andrew, 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.220 if you could put up 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:46.919 the first point, 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:48.199 the heart issue 00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:48.980 we need to deal with 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:51.379 is that through the power of God, 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.340 I become free of being, 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.279 I can't really, 00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:56.779 of jabbering words 00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:58.340 through cultivating a heart 00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.179 that fears God. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:00.320 Do you want to say that 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:00.840 out loud with me, 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:01.559 especially because I can't 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:02.399 really see the screen? 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:03.899 Together, 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.759 through the power of God, 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.059 I become free 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:08.399 of jabbering words 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:10.320 through cultivating a heart 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.740 that fears God. 00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:13.620 The point is 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.779 through the power of God 00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:16.559 because you and I can be like, 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:16.840 okay, 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:17.899 we're not just going to deal 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.840 with the spider web 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:19.620 of jabbering words, 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:19.960 we're going to deal 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.700 with the spider 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:22.560 of lack of fear in God, 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.560 so I'm going to really 00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.340 try to fear God. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.220 But if we try to do it 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:25.860 in our own strength, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:26.799 we'll find ourselves failing. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:28.659 We get to cultivate 00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.639 a heart that fears God. 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:30.560 We're able to have success 00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:30.960 in this 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.740 through the power of God. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:33.379 And so, 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.500 one of the ways we do that, 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:34.980 obviously, 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:35.639 is through prayer. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.060 We pray, 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:36.299 God, 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:37.259 help me to fear you. 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:37.980 This isn't something 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:38.980 I can do on my own, God. 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.759 I know you deserve 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:41.500 all the fear in the world 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.480 and the holy fear, 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:45.379 but I'm jabbering right now. 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.000 What am I saying? 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:46.560 So, 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:47.320 the point is this, 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:48.539 just pray for the fear of God. 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:49.500 The second thing 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.360 is you spend time 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:50.919 in the word. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.219 You spend time thinking 00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:52.980 on the greatness 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.159 and the power of God. 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.939 That helps cultivate 00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:56.819 a heart that fears God 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:57.339 as you understand 00:12:57.339 --> 00:12:58.159 who this God is 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.000 that we're fearing. 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.339 It's not a fear 00:13:00.339 --> 00:13:01.399 of like just being scared 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:01.699 of him, 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:03.159 but a fear of reverence, 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:03.959 a fear of awe, 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:05.419 and a concern 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.319 that you care more 00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:07.959 about what he says, 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:08.659 what he thinks, 00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:09.519 than what anyone else 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.179 says or thinks. 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:11.139 You're concerned 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.139 about him 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.379 and his evaluation. 00:13:13.959 --> 00:13:14.639 And as we cultivate 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.000 a heart that is oriented 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.740 toward God, 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:17.899 we will find 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.379 that are words 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.179 that are so many 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:20.639 become much less 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.559 and that are words 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:22.319 or words of wisdom. 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:23.799 Now, 00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:24.759 the next theme 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.559 that Proverbs speaks 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:26.699 of regarding words 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:28.199 is that of lies. 00:13:28.959 --> 00:13:29.559 Proverbs 12, 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.179 verse 19, 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:31.199 truthful lips 00:13:31.199 --> 00:13:32.019 endure forever, 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.299 but a lying tongue 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:34.399 is but for a moment. 00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:35.859 Proverbs 12, 00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:36.279 22, 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:36.939 lying lips 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:37.659 are an abomination 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.500 to the Lord, 00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:39.739 but those who act 00:13:39.739 --> 00:13:40.319 faithfully 00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:41.539 are his delight. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.339 There are times 00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:43.959 where lies 00:13:43.959 --> 00:13:45.039 seem so innocent, 00:13:46.099 --> 00:13:47.500 but Proverbs 12 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.019 tells us 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:48.579 that lies 00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:49.359 are an abomination. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.259 Those white lies, 00:13:50.339 --> 00:13:51.019 we don't see that, 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:51.579 don't trouble 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.659 our conscience at all. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:54.639 God hates them. 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:55.959 They're an abomination. 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:57.000 This word is used 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.240 for bringing something 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.320 that is unholy 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.379 into the temple 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:00.820 and offering 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:02.820 a blaspheming, 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.220 unholy sacrifice 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.280 in the temple of God. 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.620 That is what words 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.280 are like 00:14:08.280 --> 00:14:09.240 that are lies. 00:14:10.280 --> 00:14:10.860 Proverbs 14, 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.420 25, 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.740 a truthful witness 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:13.600 saves lives, 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:14.639 but one who breathes 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.100 out lies 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:15.820 is deceitful. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.300 And then Proverbs 21, 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:17.740 verse 6, 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:18.680 the getting of treasures 00:14:18.680 --> 00:14:19.580 by a lying tongue 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.540 is a fleeting vapor 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:22.099 and a snare of death. 00:14:22.719 --> 00:14:23.860 The way that I have 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.039 sometimes looked at lies, 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:25.879 and I think probably 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.779 the way some of you 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:27.500 look at lies, 00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:28.699 is that lying 00:14:28.699 --> 00:14:29.519 we often think of 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.480 as something 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.899 where we've said words 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.759 that are not true, 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:33.339 a fabrication. 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.219 You've said something 00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:34.839 that's not true. 00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:35.699 And so the way 00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:36.259 that some of us 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:36.939 play this game 00:14:36.939 --> 00:14:37.659 is that if we can 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.620 say something 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.959 that the actual words 00:14:39.959 --> 00:14:41.139 we say are not lies, 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:41.839 then we think 00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:42.439 that we are okay 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:43.019 on this one. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.500 And to illustrate 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:45.099 how that looks 00:14:45.099 --> 00:14:45.620 in our lives, 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.019 a few years ago, 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:47.620 I think it was 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.319 just last summer, 00:14:48.599 --> 00:14:49.659 I was with a really 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.360 good friend of mine 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:50.680 and we're going 00:14:50.680 --> 00:14:51.500 to call him Steve. 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:52.740 And Steve and I 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.320 were walking up 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.080 the stairs of his house, 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:54.720 the light was off 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.480 because we just arrived, 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.740 and as we get up, 00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.340 he was in front of me, 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:57.879 as he gets up 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.860 the top of the stairs, 00:14:58.919 --> 00:14:59.539 he put his hand 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.580 on the little platform 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.220 by the stairs, 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.740 and we hear crash! 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.419 And this beautiful, 00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:06.220 exotic vase 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:08.060 that his wife's sister 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:08.899 had bought for her 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.700 in like turkey 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.259 or something 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.379 was now in pieces 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.019 irreparable 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.600 on the floor. 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.300 This, regrettably, 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.060 wasn't the only thing 00:15:15.060 --> 00:15:15.700 Steve had broken 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.220 in their first 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:17.220 seven months of marriage, 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.460 so he was frustrated. 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.240 He was actually horrified. 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.860 No, what am I going to do? 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:24.560 And I, being a clever chap, 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.480 I'd like to think of myself, 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:26.800 I pick up the pieces 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.139 and I'm like, 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.759 Steve, I got your back. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.259 Your wife is going to be 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.340 so frustrated with you 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.000 because you've broken 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.720 a lot of stuff already 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.480 and you're married to her 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:33.980 and whatever else, 00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:35.980 but I, I'll be easily 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.820 forgiven by her wife 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:37.139 because she's like, 00:15:37.180 --> 00:15:38.100 oh, that's Daniel, 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:38.379 whatever. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.720 So I'm going to break 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.340 this again. 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:41.440 I'm going to smash 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:41.899 it on the floor. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.960 When she comes home, 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.480 you can say, 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:45.440 honey, the vase is broken, 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.200 and she'll say, 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:46.940 who broke it? 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:47.639 And you can say, 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.940 Daniel smashed the vase. 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:49.840 It's a true statement. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.620 He's like, 00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:52.000 Daniel, you would do that for me? 00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:52.960 I'm like, yeah, man. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.560 Like, I'm a friend 00:15:53.560 --> 00:15:54.440 that's closer than a brother. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.000 Let's do this. 00:15:55.260 --> 00:15:55.880 So you take the thing 00:15:55.880 --> 00:15:56.520 and look at each other 00:15:56.520 --> 00:15:57.780 and then smash, 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.380 I break it. 00:15:58.780 --> 00:15:59.400 I go home, 00:15:59.460 --> 00:15:59.740 and I'm like, 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.280 yeah, man, 00:16:00.380 --> 00:16:00.980 I'm a good friend, 00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:02.020 and I'm a truthful friend. 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:02.180 I'm like, 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:02.620 this is going to be 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.340 a true thing we say. 00:16:03.760 --> 00:16:04.680 So she comes home. 00:16:04.880 --> 00:16:05.460 She sees it. 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.100 She's devastated. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:06.880 She loves the vase. 00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:07.660 It's irreplaceable. 00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:08.600 Her sister's not going back 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.660 to Turkey anytime soon, 00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.879 and she says, 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:12.480 who broke it? 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.360 And Steve is like, 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:15.919 I did. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.179 And then I got a text 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.939 from him moments later 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.319 saying, 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.259 pray for me. 00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:21.120 My wife is so mad. 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:22.279 And I was just like, 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.100 man, 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.879 we had a plan. 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.819 It was a truthful plan. 00:16:25.219 --> 00:16:25.919 And he's just like, 00:16:25.959 --> 00:16:26.279 Daniel, 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.059 you're actually, 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:30.519 your plan that we made together 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:32.019 was a plan of lies. 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:32.419 I'm like, 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:32.860 but no, 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.839 I'm trying to challenge him on it. 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:34.199 Like, 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.139 it would have been 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.699 a true statement. 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.220 He said, 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:36.360 no, 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:36.639 Daniel, 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.600 lying is not just fabrication. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.300 Lying is deception. 00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:42.320 Lying is deception. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.220 When we are telling, 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:44.899 whether or not 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:46.480 we're fabricating, 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:48.019 we're able to deceive people 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.560 intentionally by omission, 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:51.019 by just avoiding 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.820 saying a certain thing. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.960 We can lie by exaggeration. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.879 We can lie by 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.360 emphasizing something. 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.259 So we can lie by 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.180 fabrication, 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.159 omission, 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.379 exaggeration, 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:04.140 or by emphasizing something. 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.819 And while we do those things, 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.319 if we're doing, 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.519 if we're playing word games 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.180 in order to 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.480 intentionally deceive someone, 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.279 it doesn't matter 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.560 whether the sentences we say 00:17:11.560 --> 00:17:12.600 are actually true sentences, 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.840 we're lying. 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.140 And to do that 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.860 is an abomination 00:17:15.860 --> 00:17:16.720 to the Lord. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.320 In the case of 00:17:19.320 --> 00:17:20.140 my friend and I, 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:21.820 who we're calling Steve 00:17:21.820 --> 00:17:22.320 this morning, 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:25.460 Proverbs 21 says, 00:17:25.560 --> 00:17:26.340 the getting of treasures. 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.279 And what Steve and I 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:27.960 were trying to do is, 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.080 we're trying to get a treasure, 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.320 a treasure not of money 00:17:30.320 --> 00:17:30.880 in this case, 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.120 or of a new vase, 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.160 but we're trying to get a treasure 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.820 of his wife not hating him. 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.420 That's the thing 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.140 we were going for. 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.200 We're trying to get that. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.360 And we really thought 00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:39.120 that if we were able 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.259 to play this game, 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.519 that we'd get this treasure. 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:43.340 But Proverbs 21 says, 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.440 the getting of treasures 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.180 by lying tongue 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.160 is a fleeting vapor 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:47.319 and a snare of death. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:48.779 I'm convinced 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.620 that if my friend Steve 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.700 had said that lie, 00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:51.480 which was, 00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:51.860 we thought, 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.180 if he had gone that route, 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.559 it would be the kind of thing 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.080 that either 00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:57.100 would continue to build 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:57.920 and have to keep lying, 00:17:57.980 --> 00:18:00.039 keep lying to safeguard 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.120 that thing we were trying to get, 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.720 that her not being mad at him. 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.500 Or even if he was successful in it, 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.339 it would be the kind of thing 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:06.680 that just, 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.019 that although he, 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.660 although she would not be mad at him 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.940 over the broken vase, 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.000 it would be the kind of thing 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.279 that would, 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.099 in the back of his mind, 00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.799 be plaguing him, 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.480 be plaguing him. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:14.960 And what he thought 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.660 he had achieved 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.720 through deception 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.519 would be something 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.059 that would actually be 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.900 harming his friendship. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.000 And this isn't just 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.859 my analysis of it. 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:21.779 This is from the Bible, 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.839 that lying lips 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:25.460 bring death, 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.599 that the treasures 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.480 we get through lying 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.720 is just a fleeting vapor. 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.259 It's not something 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.279 that can actually last. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.740 So if we're afraid, 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:34.519 if we're afraid of reality 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.299 and still we're lying, 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.160 the deal that's going on right here 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.119 is that we're not entrusting 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:39.180 the one who is truth. 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.180 God defines himself, 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:41.680 Jesus says, 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.299 I am the way, 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.039 the truth, 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.619 and the life. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.740 And this is one of the many reasons 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.899 that lying is, 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.240 that deception is something 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.200 that is so abhorrent to God, 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.460 is that it is against 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.579 his very nature 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.279 and his identity. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.259 He is truth. 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.379 And in any situation 00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:57.039 where you might lie, 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.519 whether it is because 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.660 you've broken a vase 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.639 or because maybe 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.879 your child is asking you 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:03.059 if their painting 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.940 is a beautiful painting 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:05.119 and it's actually horrendous 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:06.819 or you're trying to get 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.740 into a baseball game 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.960 and you want to get 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.779 a student ticket 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.599 and you're not actually a student, 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.519 whatever it may be, 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.220 whatever the thing 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.220 that may be driving your lie, 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.920 maybe you're at work 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.500 and you're trying to 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.119 cover your own back 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:17.119 because you messed up 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.619 on something. 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.819 In every case, 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.339 what we're doing 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.440 is that we're not entrusting, 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.759 we're not trusting the truth. 00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:23.059 We think that the truth 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.400 is not a safe place for us 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.460 and so we're trying to 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.599 look out for ourselves 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:27.200 as we lie 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.240 or look out for a buddy 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.559 as we lie. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.019 And so how we deal 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.079 with the words of lying 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.039 is by dealing with the heart 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.420 that's not just trusting the truth. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.359 So if you can put up 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.120 the second point. 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.839 Thank you, Andrew. 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.480 Let's read it together. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.720 Through the power of God, 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:45.279 I become free of lying words 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:47.140 as I entrust myself 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:49.339 to the one who is truth. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.880 Through the power of God, 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.099 I become free of lying words 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.160 as I entrust myself 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:54.359 to the one who is truth. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.839 And so if you find yourself 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:56.819 being someone that lies, 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.659 the thing to do 00:19:58.659 --> 00:19:59.799 is to go to God, 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.879 confess it, 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.059 every time confess it, 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.619 but go to God 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:02.859 and say, 00:20:02.939 --> 00:20:04.279 Lord, don't just change 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.220 my words. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.139 Don't just help me 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.639 stop lying. 00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:08.139 Help me to trust you 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.460 who is truth. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.139 Help me to live 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:10.720 in the truth. 00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:12.339 As we find that our hearts 00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:13.819 begin to trust God 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.700 in the truth, 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.679 we'll find that we're able 00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:16.859 to actually have the courage 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:18.000 to speak the truth. 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:19.559 Jabber, 00:20:19.939 --> 00:20:20.279 lies, 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:20.960 are both things 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.700 we can overcome 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:23.139 as is gossip. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:25.259 Proverbs 11, 13 says, 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.100 whoever goes about 00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:27.740 slandering reveals secrets, 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.360 but he who is trustworthy 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.960 in spirit keeps the thing covered. 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.960 Proverbs 16, verse 28, 00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:34.759 a dishonest man spreads strife 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.840 and a whisperer 00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:37.140 separates close friends. 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:40.240 Proverbs 17, 9, 00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.360 whoever covers an offense 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.080 seeks love, 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.600 but he who repeats a matter 00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:44.920 separates close friends. 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.640 Again, we see that 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.960 that whispering gossip 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.900 not only has the power 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.540 to keep people 00:20:50.540 --> 00:20:51.460 who could have been friends 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.240 from being friends, 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:54.480 but it is such a devastating thing, 00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.759 even though it might feel 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.440 so good, 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.539 that it has the power 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:59.700 to separate even close friends. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.259 And I know there are people 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.680 in this room 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.559 who know these words 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.180 to be true, 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.840 and it's a devastating truth. 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:06.500 Proverbs 18, verse 8, 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.220 the words of a whisperer 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.880 are like delicious morsels. 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.640 They go down 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.460 into the inner parts 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.000 of the body. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.480 What this is saying 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:15.240 is that gossiping words 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.779 is something that 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.279 can be so delightful, 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.240 so enjoyable. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.220 It's like delicious morsels, 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:20.640 it says, 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.360 that go down 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:22.100 into your body. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:23.640 It can feel so good. 00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:24.600 And truly, 00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.620 even jabbering 00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.140 may be something 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:26.840 that just doesn't seem 00:21:26.840 --> 00:21:27.600 to bother us, 00:21:28.300 --> 00:21:29.000 and lies may be 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.840 something we justify, 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.200 but gossip is something 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.940 that we can so enjoy. 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:33.720 In fact, 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.600 if you're a gossiper, 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.360 there's a good chance 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:36.440 that some of your friends 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.980 actually value you 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.660 for that. 00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:40.140 You're someone that they, 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.380 like, 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.620 I've been working 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:42.600 in politics for a while, 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.540 and when I talk 00:21:43.540 --> 00:21:44.040 to my friends 00:21:44.040 --> 00:21:44.400 who are interested 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.860 in politics, 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.380 they'll ask me, 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:45.960 can you tell us 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.460 some stories? 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:47.980 And throughout the years, 00:21:48.040 --> 00:21:49.400 I'd have some juicy stories. 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.920 There's some hilarious stories 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.780 from doing interviews 00:21:51.780 --> 00:21:52.540 with politicians 00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:54.580 where they act 00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.460 in such a ridiculous 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.120 and foolish manner 00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:56.740 in an interview. 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.620 They give you 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.700 this amazing story 00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.100 you can tell, 00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.940 and people will laugh 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.040 with you at the story, 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.360 and they want more stories, 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.019 and I can produce 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.620 more stories, 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.720 and it actually makes you 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.600 someone that people 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:06.300 will actually want 00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:06.920 to talk with, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.519 and hear you speak 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.200 because you have 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.320 these juicy morsels 00:22:10.320 --> 00:22:12.060 that are so delicious 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:12.900 to listen to. 00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:15.019 Gossip isn't just something 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.980 that doesn't convict us. 00:22:16.040 --> 00:22:16.700 It's something that actually, 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:18.980 that we can enjoy so much, 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:21.160 and yet, 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.400 gossip separates 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.940 close friends. 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.539 It devastates relationships. 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:27.180 Proverbs 26, verse 20, 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.940 For lack of wood, 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.960 the fire goes out, 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.740 and where there is 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.420 no whisperer, 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.360 quarreling ceases. 00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:32.860 You'll see that 00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:34.299 in Proverbs, 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.340 King Solomon 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.080 chose to use 00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:37.160 the term whispering 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.600 for most of his references 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.220 to gossip. 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:42.980 The reason I'm so thankful 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.680 that he did that 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.940 is that when we talk 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.440 about gossip, 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.240 it's easy for us 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.900 to think of gossip 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.620 as something that is 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.819 motivated by spite, 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:49.960 that is motivated 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.880 by a destructive desire, 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.279 and so I found it 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:54.720 in my own life 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:56.140 when I chat with my friends 00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:57.500 about maybe we should 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.299 stop gossiping. 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.500 People will often say 00:22:59.500 --> 00:22:59.920 things like, 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.700 well, no, gossip 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.299 is defined by its motivation, 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.240 and we're not sharing 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.319 this stuff because of an ill, 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.839 for ill reasons, 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.700 but in Christian circles, 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.880 some of the gossip 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.819 that we're trying to address 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.860 is actually in the form 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.660 of prayer requests. 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:12.539 I was trying to say, 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:14.319 hey, I think we've been 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.080 sitting by gossip 00:23:15.080 --> 00:23:16.120 and sharing these things. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.519 It doesn't feel like 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.519 it's gossip if it ends 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.620 with, can you pray for them? 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.140 That's often the case 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.880 in church circles, 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.440 but when King Solomon 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.240 talks about whispering, 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:24.940 he's saying that 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.680 it's not just the motivation 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.500 that makes it gossip, 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.640 it's the information. 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.200 It's the information 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.700 that is not yours to tell, 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.319 and one of the things 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.600 that I noticed just recently, 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.420 even as I was preparing 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:35.960 for this, 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.160 is that I received a text 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.580 from a friend 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:37.879 who said, 00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.720 hey, I'm going through 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.460 some tough stuff. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.359 Can you pray for me? 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.240 I wrote back, 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.039 hey, do you want 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.659 to be specific? 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.139 And they said, 00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:44.619 no, I don't feel comfortable 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.899 sharing what I'm going through, 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.319 but can you just pray? 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:47.939 God knows. 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:49.139 And so I prayed for them. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.259 And yet, 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.799 at the same time, 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.480 I find that we can be, 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.619 although so discreet 00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.919 about our own needs 00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:57.000 and our own situations 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.639 we're going through, 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.099 when it comes to someone else, 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.119 it's so easy for us 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:01.000 to just share 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.199 all the dirt, 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.179 all the confusion, 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.799 all the stuff 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.759 someone else is going through, 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.339 being like, 00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:06.220 hey, can you pray for them? 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.720 And I know that 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.420 a lot of those times 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.480 it's motivated by a good thing. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.779 We actually care about that person. 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.500 And yet, 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:11.960 for ourselves, 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:12.500 we're discreet. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.120 For someone else, 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.559 we're not. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.279 Whoever goes, 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.200 Proverbs 11 again, 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.380 whoever goes about slandering 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.279 reveals secrets, 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.680 but he who is trustworthy 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.180 in spirit 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.279 keeps the thing covered. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.980 Every single one of us, 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.660 as we live life, 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.600 ends up with information 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.360 about other people 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.440 that we can choose 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.279 to keep covered 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.120 or we can choose 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.680 to reveal. 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:33.620 The person of God, 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.440 the godly person 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.440 will finish their life 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.940 with a huge reservoir 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.220 of things they could have said 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.779 about people 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.799 and chose not to. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.240 But the person 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.740 who is not honoring God 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.340 with their lips 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.720 because they're gossiping 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.600 is someone 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.720 who just shares that stuff. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.039 Now, 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.200 every single one of us 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.980 should have stuff 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.480 about people. 00:24:50.600 --> 00:24:50.640 Well, 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.160 every one of us 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.820 will have stuff 00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:52.299 that we can share 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:52.960 about other people, 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.900 but it'd be gossip. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.259 So if you and I 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.680 don't know what it feels like 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:58.480 to want to speak 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.620 about someone's stuff 00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.839 but choose not to, 00:25:00.979 --> 00:25:01.759 if you know what it's like 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.139 to sometimes 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.379 like white bare knuckle 00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.899 gripping you, 00:25:03.939 --> 00:25:04.939 like I will not share 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:05.239 the stuff, 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:06.079 but you have the stuff 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.539 to share, 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.199 there's a really good chance 00:25:08.199 --> 00:25:09.459 you don't feel that 00:25:09.459 --> 00:25:10.719 because you're gossiping. 00:25:11.419 --> 00:25:12.179 If you don't know 00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:12.699 what it's like 00:25:12.699 --> 00:25:13.339 to have something 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.979 that people would enjoy hearing 00:25:14.979 --> 00:25:15.779 but you're choosing 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.539 not to say it, 00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:18.119 there's a really good chance 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:18.819 it's because you're just 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.639 someone who just gives 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.419 into that desire 00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.319 and just gossips. 00:25:21.979 --> 00:25:23.099 I've been guilty of it 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:24.619 and I believe many of us 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.039 in this room 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.799 are guilty of it. 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.959 So why do we gossip? 00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.279 What is it in our hearts 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.359 that allows us to gossip 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:32.279 or drives us to gossip? 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.420 From the little bit 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.160 of research I did, 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.579 it seems that a lot of times 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.079 we gossip 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:38.559 because of insecurity 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.379 in our lives. 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.599 Sometimes we'll gossip 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.160 because we want to put 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.079 someone else down 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.099 so that people will think 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.940 of us as being 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.700 a better person. 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.420 Sometimes we gossip 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.399 because we're insecure, 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.099 we don't have anything 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.160 really meaningful to say 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:50.420 and so it's just easy 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.539 to revert to gossip. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.339 Again, 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.039 it's another type 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.619 of insecurity. 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.700 And then other times 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.220 we can gossip 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.859 just because, 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.160 again, 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.880 it's being motivated 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.800 by a concern 00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.420 to have people 00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.140 pray for something 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:01.080 but you're just not 00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:01.980 truly loving, 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.960 caring for that person. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.200 And so, 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:05.160 one of the ways 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.660 we're able to deal 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.460 with that spider 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.759 that's driving gossip 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:09.019 is, 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:09.640 if you can put up 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.259 the next point, 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.920 that through the power 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.300 of God 00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:14.080 I become free 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.840 of gossiping 00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:16.060 as I find my identity 00:26:16.060 --> 00:26:16.519 in God. 00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:18.200 That the antidote 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.940 for insecurity 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.920 that would drive gossip 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.960 is that we become 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.820 more secure 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.940 in who we are in God. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.700 So we need to prove 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.480 ourselves to people 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.680 by putting others down. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.460 So if you'd read it 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:26.880 with me, 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.019 through the power 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.620 of God 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.960 I become free 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.740 of gossiping 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.580 as I find my identity 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.259 in God. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.240 So that's something 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.880 to pray for 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.779 if you find yourself. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:36.720 This is something 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.620 I've wrestled with 00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:38.380 in the past 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.240 bunch of years 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.960 where I found 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.940 in high school 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:43.220 I was incredibly insecure 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.820 and it would manifest 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.460 itself sometimes 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.860 in gossip. 00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:47.100 And so in God's grace 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:47.920 by his power 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.019 I'd pray that God 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.820 would you help me 00:26:49.820 --> 00:26:51.160 to see how you see me? 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.620 Would you help me 00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:53.400 to stop being insecure? 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.259 And over time 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.660 seeing, 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.279 it's still something 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.160 a work in progress 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.100 but seeing God 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:57.640 actually bring 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.440 such security 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.279 such freedom 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.460 such a sense 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.340 of belonging in God 00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.279 and value in him 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.200 and there's freedom 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.180 from gossip in that. 00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:07.380 And then another thing 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:07.660 to pray 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.460 and it's not on the screen 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.660 but if you find yourself 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.360 that you're praying 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:12.200 for someone gossiping 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.779 not motivated 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.720 by anything ill 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.540 or anything insecure 00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:15.620 but actually maybe 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.500 motivated by a good thing 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:16.920 you want people 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.900 to pray for people's stuff 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.600 and you're just careless 00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:20.080 and sharing other people's stuff 00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:21.180 that's embarrassing for them 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.860 or it's just not yours 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.259 to share 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.060 I'm just praying 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.200 God, would you help me 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.519 to be someone 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:27.099 who's walking in wisdom? 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:27.899 Would you help me 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.940 maybe that first thing 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.559 about jabbering 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.139 to be someone 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:31.220 who's living 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.879 in the fear of you 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:34.500 that as you fear God 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.399 you're able to get victory 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:36.539 over this stuff. 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.460 Death and life 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.379 are in the power 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:41.940 of the tongue 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:43.339 and those who love it 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.220 will eat its fruits. 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.619 Whether what you and I 00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.139 are struggling with 00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:48.639 is gossip 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.240 or jabber 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.759 or lies 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:51.420 it can be so difficult 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.259 to get victory 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.859 on this stuff 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.460 and so I hope 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.160 that there's encouragement 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.019 in the message today 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.960 as we look to God 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.160 for these various heart issues 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.539 that we can find victory 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.460 over these things. 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.240 But the greatest hope 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.660 we'll find 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.200 is actually 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.460 for me at least 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.579 is in the beginning 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.700 of the Gospel of John 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.319 verse 1 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.500 it says these words 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:10.000 in the beginning 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.180 was the Word 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.140 and the Word 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:13.039 was with God 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.740 and the Word 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.440 was God 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.599 He was in the beginning 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.160 with God 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.099 all things were made 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.599 through Him 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.440 and without Him 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.279 was not anything 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.259 made that was made 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.119 in Him 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:21.779 in the Word 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.660 was life 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.599 and the life 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.500 was the light of men 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.740 the light shines 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.440 in the darkness 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.440 and the darkness 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.740 has not overcome it. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.440 This word that 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.380 the translators 00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.220 are putting into English 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.200 is the Word 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.279 is the Greek word 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.619 logos 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.339 which means 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:37.119 communication 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.239 it means 00:28:38.239 --> 00:28:40.179 to communicate something 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:41.319 they're translating 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.979 as the Word 00:28:41.979 --> 00:28:43.599 and as I was preparing 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.179 for this message 00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:44.599 I was just getting 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.179 so discouraged 00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:45.739 like man 00:28:45.739 --> 00:28:46.899 I've tried to change 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.959 my words so many times 00:28:47.959 --> 00:28:49.699 and as I stopped 00:28:49.699 --> 00:28:50.359 trying to prepare 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:50.739 the message 00:28:50.739 --> 00:28:51.559 and started just praying 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.659 and asked some friends 00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:52.919 for prayer 00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:53.919 like I don't deserve 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.719 to preach this message 00:28:54.719 --> 00:28:55.939 I can't speak 00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.259 as someone 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.379 who has mastery 00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.059 over all this 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.619 I can speak 00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:58.959 as someone 00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.779 who wants mastery 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.319 over this 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.599 and as I was preparing 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.159 this and looking 00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:03.039 to what does the Bible 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.639 not just Proverbs 00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.299 what does the Bible 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.179 say about words 00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:06.619 we see that God 00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.839 himself is the Word 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.459 that God himself 00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:09.419 is communication 00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:11.479 and so I want to invite you 00:29:11.479 --> 00:29:13.219 to join me in praying 00:29:13.219 --> 00:29:14.799 to the one who is the Word 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.119 that we would have victory 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.979 over our words 00:29:16.979 --> 00:29:18.379 that we would be people 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.500 not only looking to God 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.139 for forgiveness 00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:21.439 for our wrong words 00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:22.959 but that we would be a church 00:29:22.959 --> 00:29:24.139 that is looking to God 00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:25.479 for our words 00:29:25.479 --> 00:29:26.079 to be words 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:27.919 exclusively bringing life 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:29.939 how wonderful would it be 00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:31.019 that in every one 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.500 of our lives 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.459 and as a church 00:29:32.459 --> 00:29:33.199 as a church community 00:29:33.199 --> 00:29:33.719 church Messiah 00:29:33.719 --> 00:29:34.379 would be a people 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.879 who use their words 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:37.260 to speak encouragement 00:29:37.260 --> 00:29:38.680 sometimes we're necessary 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.500 to speak rebuke 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.300 that brings life 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.520 to be people 00:29:41.520 --> 00:29:42.840 who are affirming 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.340 and encouraging 00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:44.060 and exhorting 00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.740 each other 00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:46.360 walking in truth 00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.740 walking in restraint 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:49.440 walking in life 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.620 and love for each other 00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:51.880 and we find that 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.660 as we look to him 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.920 who is the Word 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.780 so if you can put 00:29:54.780 --> 00:29:55.580 the final point up 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:55.960 Andrew 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:59.320 read this with me 00:29:59.320 --> 00:30:00.160 I receive 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:01.460 the power of God 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.560 over my words 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.440 and my heart 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.399 as I look 00:30:04.399 --> 00:30:05.179 to the Word 00:30:05.179 --> 00:30:05.940 Jesus 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:07.879 as we speak about 00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:09.039 we're able to find 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.980 freedom from 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.519 bad words 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:13.460 through the power 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:13.819 of God 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.679 dealing with our hearts 00:30:14.679 --> 00:30:16.200 we receive the power 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.599 of God 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.619 the true and living 00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.440 power of God 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.119 the power that 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.119 spoke the world 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:20.679 into existence 00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.940 we receive that power 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.539 as we look to him 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.919 from whom the power 00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.440 comes to 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.019 the Word 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.460 Jesus 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.859 so let us look to him 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.579 now in prayer 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:28.980 would you 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.339 bow your hearts 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:30.779 with me 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.699 Heavenly Father 00:30:32.699 --> 00:30:34.359 I pray that as we 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.220 go out from here 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.659 today 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.799 in a few minutes 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.779 that you would 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.480 help us not to 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.059 just be those 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.779 who just try a little 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.859 harder to get our 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.480 words right 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.779 but that you would 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.539 help us to be a 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.240 people who are 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:45.419 living life by the 00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:46.939 power of God 00:30:46.939 --> 00:30:47.759 by your power 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.759 that you would 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.639 help each one of us 00:30:49.639 --> 00:30:50.299 deal with the heart 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:50.879 issues that are 00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:51.599 driving those 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:52.919 those empty words 00:30:52.919 --> 00:30:53.619 those jabbering 00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:54.199 or those lying 00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:55.139 or gossiping words 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:57.059 Lord I pray that 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.799 if the if the heart 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.539 issues aren't the 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.139 ones we've spoken 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.560 about today 00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:01.060 but our other 00:31:01.060 --> 00:31:02.060 driving forces 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:02.980 for why we're 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.759 speaking words of 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.020 death 00:31:04.020 --> 00:31:05.020 that you would 00:31:05.020 --> 00:31:06.220 minister and speak 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.940 into our lives 00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:07.720 about those things 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.700 that you would 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.520 make each one of us 00:31:09.520 --> 00:31:10.200 as individuals 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.120 and as a community 00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:11.759 a community 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.860 and a people 00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:14.120 whose words bring 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:14.540 life 00:31:14.540 --> 00:31:16.220 and not death 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.940 that you would 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.500 help us 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.880 without your help 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.860 we will not tame 00:31:20.860 --> 00:31:21.320 our tongues 00:31:21.320 --> 00:31:22.640 we will not have 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.020 victory 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:23.940 lasting victory 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.880 but Lord 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.820 by your power 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:27.200 by you who is 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.880 the Word 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:30.620 you can transform 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.040 us 00:31:31.040 --> 00:31:31.660 so would you 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.400 transform us 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.420 for your glory 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.360 and our good 00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:35.320 in Jesus' name 00:31:35.320 --> 00:31:35.920 Amen 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.120 Amen