WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.339 wise and righteous speech using my own speech. 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:10.339 And so, Father, one thing that I do know is that nobody here today needs to hear my words. 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:15.259 They don't need to hear my thoughts or what I have to say about speech. 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:17.760 But they do need to hear yours. 00:00:18.379 --> 00:00:22.199 They need to hear your word and what you have to say about it. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:28.780 So, Lord, I pray that you would use this very flawed vessel to speak your word and that 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:31.400 you would give us eyes and ears to hear your word. 00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:33.200 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:34.020 --> 00:00:35.240 You guys may be seated. 00:00:37.380 --> 00:00:38.179 Good morning. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:45.620 I was thinking this morning that today was supposed to be our last day at Abiding Acres, and yet 00:00:45.620 --> 00:00:49.359 now next week is, and yet here we find ourselves today. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:56.040 We make plans, but we do what the Lord wills, and the Lord wills that we are here today. 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:03.039 So, today we're continuing our series in Proverbs and looking at what it has to say about speech. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:10.299 Now, over this past week, I've been thinking and trying to come up with some sort of illustration 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:14.060 or story about why speech is important. 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:18.259 And in fact, it's actually been pretty hard for me, actually. 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:24.560 It was actually the very last thing that I put together for this sermon because I couldn't 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:25.420 come up with a story. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:30.519 I came up with a few things initially, and I was working on them and mulling them over, 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:32.519 and eventually I tossed them out. 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:37.820 And so, I kind of went back to the drawing board, and I thought a little bit more, and 00:01:37.820 --> 00:01:42.859 I came up with a few more ideas, and I was working on them, and I eventually tossed those 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:43.460 out as well. 00:01:44.320 --> 00:01:49.719 And so, yesterday I was thinking and praying about it and, quite honest, feeling pretty nervous 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:53.659 because I still had nothing, and I realized something. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:01.359 I'm not sure that I need a story or illustration to make us understand the importance of speech. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:06.599 And the reason is because we have a lot of experience with it. 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:12.740 There's no story that I can give that can capture the importance of speech because we live it every 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:13.099 day. 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:17.340 All of us have experience of bad speech. 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:23.240 We have the experience when somebody speaks a word to us, and it wounds us deeply. 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:30.859 We all have the experience when a particular comment someone might make to us might shape 00:02:30.859 --> 00:02:34.680 the way that we think or feel about ourselves for years to come. 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:42.740 Or, we've all had the experience in which someone's tone of voice might tell us everything we need 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:44.860 to know about how they feel about us. 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:48.099 And we've had good experiences too, haven't we? 00:02:48.700 --> 00:02:52.260 We have experience when a kind word might brighten our day. 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:59.520 Or maybe a particular encouragement from a teacher or a mentor completely changes the direction 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:00.240 of our life. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:07.740 Or, we've had the experience in the blessing of when a prayer or a particular scripture is 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:10.840 given to us from a brother and sister in Christ in a time of need. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:15.020 I know that Mike, Eric, and I experienced that last week. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:18.080 So we've had experiences. 00:03:18.340 --> 00:03:22.260 We all had a lot of experience with good and bad speech. 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:28.000 And yet, with all that experience, don't you think we would be good at it? 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:33.340 Especially us as Christians, don't you think this should be an area that we are knocking 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:34.280 out of the park? 00:03:36.299 --> 00:03:37.659 But we don't, do we? 00:03:38.799 --> 00:03:44.439 Our tongues seem to be a particularly difficult area to handle. 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:51.659 And this has been true for Christians of every age, but it seems particularly true for us, 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:52.099 doesn't it? 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:59.240 And if the tongue is naturally difficult to tame, the internet sure doesn't make it any 00:03:59.240 --> 00:03:59.979 easier, does it? 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:06.759 So, I don't think I really need an illustration, because we all understand the importance of 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:07.120 speech. 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:07.919 We live it. 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:11.079 You only have to live so long to understand it. 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:16.620 So, before we get into it, let me help us kind of orient ourselves just a little bit. 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:21.860 Maybe you're watching online or here, and this is the first time you're joining us. 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:25.280 And so, let me just kind of frame our time together this morning. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:31.939 We've spent the last several weeks going through the first nine chapters of Proverbs, verse by 00:04:31.939 --> 00:04:32.340 verse. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:36.199 And in these chapters, we have a father who's writing to a son. 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:39.860 And if we could kind of summarize what the father's saying. 00:04:39.860 --> 00:04:41.740 He's basically saying this. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:49.600 The father is calling the son to leave his youthful life behind and choose the righteous 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:52.520 wise and not the path of the wicked fool. 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:59.300 So, after those first kind of eight, nine chapters, we've got a huge chunk of Proverbs. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.240 Chapters 10 through 29. 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:04.819 And it's a collection of these kind of hundreds of different Proverbs. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:08.800 And they kind of discuss how we apply wisdom to our life. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:15.860 And because this section of Proverbs is kind of somewhat randomly put together, it doesn't 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:18.259 really lend itself to go verse by verse. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:21.379 And so, we've been looking at these areas topically. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:25.500 And so far, we've looked at self-control and anger. 00:05:26.039 --> 00:05:27.420 Today, we're looking at speech. 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:30.560 In the future, we're going to look at justice and diligence. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:33.540 So, our goal this morning is pretty simple. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:38.879 We're going to investigate what God's Word has to say about speech. 00:05:39.420 --> 00:05:43.079 And then we're going to try to apply that wisdom to our lives. 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:45.519 And that last part's really important. 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:54.079 Because typically, when we use the word wisdom, we typically use it to mean that someone who's 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:56.099 collected a lot of knowledge. 00:05:57.019 --> 00:06:00.539 But that's not quite what the Hebrew word means. 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:02.139 It means a little bit more than that. 00:06:02.479 --> 00:06:04.819 It's not just a collection of knowledge. 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:08.560 It's an applied application of that knowledge. 00:06:09.299 --> 00:06:11.139 So, you can think about a craftsman. 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:18.459 A craftsman not only has the knowledge how to build a house, but he actually has the skill 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:19.500 to build it. 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:24.979 So, we don't want to just collect information about speech today. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.819 We also want to see how to skillfully apply it. 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:33.860 So, I've got three simple points here this morning. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:40.879 One, the first point is, what does Proverbs have to say about the characteristics of foolish 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:41.400 speech? 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:47.840 Two, what does Proverbs have to say about the characteristics of righteous speech? 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:52.240 And three, how do we skillfully apply it to our lives? 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:54.420 So, let's jump in. 00:06:55.259 --> 00:06:56.420 First, foolish speech. 00:06:56.420 --> 00:07:03.100 Proverbs has a lot to say about foolish speech, and not surprisingly, it usually says foolish 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:05.879 speech comes from the wicked or fools. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:11.360 And when we study the foolish speech, we can start to see some characteristics of it. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:17.420 And so, the first characteristic of foolish speech is that it's violent and destructive. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:21.180 Listen to how Proverbs describes foolish speech. 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:23.740 Proverbs 12, 6. 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:27.000 And I'll be giving a lot of verses. 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:32.540 It's probably best just to write the verse, or write the verse, chapter and verse down, 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:34.699 and not trying to write the whole thing. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:36.480 So, Proverbs 12, 6. 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:40.399 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood. 00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:42.920 Proverbs 11, 11. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:49.340 By the blessing of the upright, a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked, it's 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:50.079 overthrown. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:52.699 Proverbs 16, 27. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:59.639 A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 00:08:00.859 --> 00:08:06.219 So, foolish speech is when we have a particular intention to injure. 00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:12.199 It's the type of speech that's looking for an opportunity to strike and draw blood. 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:20.039 It's when we make a particular response or have a tone or an attitude that's crafted in a way 00:08:20.039 --> 00:08:23.699 that it can inflict the most damage to the other person. 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:31.939 Foolish speech has the intention of destruction always kind of lurking beneath the surface. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:35.820 So, this isn't just a random misplaced word. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:37.740 It's not a slip of the tongue. 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:40.419 It's speech that has a mission. 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:47.120 And in Proverbs 16, it says that the mission is to function like a scorching fire. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:55.440 Some of the most common language that Proverbs uses to describe the effects of foolish speech 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.379 is the destruction of a city. 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:06.259 And I don't think I have to provide any examples for us at what the damage a scorching fire can do to a city. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:08.840 Fire devours. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.740 It consumes. 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:15.919 It takes a once whole structure and leaves it rubble. 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:19.100 We understand this imagery, don't we? 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:20.560 We've seen it. 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:23.320 We've seen the effects of fire on a city. 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:25.139 It destroys. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:26.460 It burns. 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:27.820 It tears down. 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:31.639 Foolish speech functions in the same way. 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:35.480 It leaves a wake of destruction in its path. 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:39.500 But that's not all it does. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:44.679 The destruction not only affects those around the foolish speaker, 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:48.179 it actually affects the foolish speaker himself. 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:50.779 Proverbs 18, 7 says, 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:56.179 A fool's mouth is his ruined, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 00:09:57.740 --> 00:10:01.919 Foolish speech not only consumes like fire those on the receiving end, 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:04.659 but it also burns up the fool themselves. 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.679 It's like a cancer that's breaking you down inside. 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:11.319 And the stakes are high. 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:16.319 Proverbs 18 says that the foolish speech is a snare to his soul. 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:20.579 This is much bigger than just hurt feelings. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:23.319 This has spiritual consequences. 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:28.059 In fact, Proverbs 11, 19 says, 00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:37.359 Now, the Hebrew word for destroy here in this Proverbs, 00:10:37.479 --> 00:10:40.459 it's interesting because it's used elsewhere in the Bible. 00:10:40.819 --> 00:10:43.039 And if we look where that other word is used, 00:10:43.239 --> 00:10:46.079 it kind of gives us an idea of what type of destruction 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:48.539 is talking about in this Proverbs. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:56.699 So the word used for destruction here is the same word used for the destruction of the world in the flood. 00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:05.980 It's the same word that is used for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis chapter 18 and 19. 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:08.820 So this isn't just bumps and bruises. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.840 This is decimation. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:15.600 It's not just about wounding and hurting each other. 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:19.480 It's about a spiritual laying waste of each other. 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:25.300 Foolish speech is destructive and violent, 00:11:26.060 --> 00:11:30.340 destroying like a fire those around you as well as the fool himself. 00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:33.800 Well, you might be saying to yourself right now, 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:35.860 Well, I'm glad that's not me. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.560 I don't have any intentions like that, right? 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:41.519 When I talk to people, I don't want to destroy them. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.860 I don't have violent intentions. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:46.379 Well, maybe those aren't always our intentions, 00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:50.879 but those are the consequences of foolish speech. 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:56.840 And let's not be so fast to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:03.540 But Proverbs also talks about foolish speech not being blatantly destructive or violent. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:11.440 So our second characteristic of foolish speech is that it's deceptive. 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:17.000 Listen to Proverbs 26, verses 24 through 26. 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:24.980 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:29.019 When he speaks graciously, believe him not, 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:32.379 for there are seven abominations in his heart. 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.740 Though his hatred be covered with deception, 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:39.220 his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:45.200 Sometimes foolish speech is spoken in a way 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:49.759 that can disguise the hate and deceit that's hiding in someone's heart. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:55.700 Where sometimes foolish speech might be flowing from our lips, 00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:58.720 or sorry, gracious speech might be flowing from our lips 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:02.620 when sinful motives are sitting in our hearts. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:06.379 The point is, let's not be so quick 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:10.279 to rule ourselves out of the category of the foolish speaker 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:12.960 because we don't have what we would consider 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.139 blatantly violent or destructive speech. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:18.779 We need to do some heart work. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:23.159 Each of us needs to check inside of ourself 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:26.199 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:31.819 Is there any time that our speech is just fancy decoration 00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:36.679 that is hiding a heart that actually wants some destruction for the other person? 00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.860 I mean, think about Jonah. 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:43.139 Jonah was a guy who went to Nineveh, 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:48.480 Nineveh, and he is preaching repentance to the Ninevites. 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:51.080 He's preaching, you need to repent. 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.980 You need to give in to your sin. 00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:55.480 You need to repent from your sin. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:59.919 All the while, he doesn't want God to show them mercy at all. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:03.439 Does that describe us? 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:05.439 Does that describe me? 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.960 We need to ask deep down, 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:12.600 do we actually want to see people broken when we speak? 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.420 And I'm not talking about a holy brokenness 00:14:16.420 --> 00:14:18.639 when the Spirit convicts us. 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.620 I'm talking about, 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:24.100 do we want to be in a Hollywood movie scene 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:27.259 where we get to kind of charge into the room 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:29.160 and we tell it like it is 00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:31.700 and then we slow motion walk out of there 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:33.860 while the room explodes behind us? 00:14:34.300 --> 00:14:36.600 Do we want to bring destruction? 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:40.040 We have to ask the Holy Spirit to search our soul 00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:43.480 because foolish speech is violent and destructive 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:47.279 and sometimes its intentions can be deceptively hidden, 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:49.460 not only from ourselves, but from others. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:55.860 So, I think there's a question we can be asking ourselves. 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:58.580 We can use our fellow brothers and sisters 00:14:58.580 --> 00:15:00.080 to help us with this question. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:05.740 What effect do you see my speech having on other people? 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:11.379 Maybe we don't see the destructive nature of our speech 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:14.720 so we can use the help of our brothers and sisters 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:18.399 and we need the help of the Spirit. 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:23.279 This is something that can be difficult and hard 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:26.840 and without the Spirit opening your eyes 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.379 to your destructive speech, 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.440 if you have any, 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.680 you won't be able to see it. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:36.199 So, the third characteristic of foolish speech 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:38.359 is that it is constant. 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.899 Now, before you start nudging your spouse 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:44.479 or person next to you 00:15:44.479 --> 00:15:46.319 because they're a consistent talker, 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:49.439 Proverbs is not talking about the person 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:51.019 who just likes to talk a lot 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.939 or maybe an extrovert. 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:55.840 This is talking about someone 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.320 who is constantly arguing. 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:01.240 They never stop. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:05.820 They keep speaking and speaking and speaking 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.620 and they never let it go 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:10.080 because they have to be right. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:13.620 So, this isn't talking about someone 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.980 who's just talkative. 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:19.139 This is a perpetual, argumentative manner 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:20.920 in which they speak with others. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.700 Proverbs 20, verse 3 says, 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:28.280 It is to one's honor to avoid strife, 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:32.080 but every fool is quick to quarrel. 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:35.040 So, the foolish speaker 00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:38.820 is one who is not looking for resolution 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:40.060 in their discussion. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.780 They're looking for submission. 00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:46.540 They want the other person 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:49.580 to wave the white flag 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.660 and they're doing that 00:16:50.660 --> 00:16:52.440 not because they've been convinced 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:53.580 of the person's argument, 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:56.180 but because they just want it to stop. 00:16:57.900 --> 00:17:01.379 The unrelenting, argumentative speech 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:04.000 does not flow out of a conviction 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.240 to hear gospel truths proclaimed, 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.000 but simply because they want 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.600 their own opinion heard. 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:14.720 Proverbs 18, 2 says, 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:17.259 A fool takes no pleasure 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.360 in understanding, 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:21.680 but only in expressing his opinion. 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:27.519 Sometimes we use the modern phrase, 00:17:27.939 --> 00:17:29.199 Boy, that person sure likes 00:17:29.199 --> 00:17:30.159 to hear himself talk. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.599 And that's kind of what this proverb 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.619 is getting at here. 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:36.939 It describes the foolish speaker 00:17:36.939 --> 00:17:40.240 as one who enjoys expressing 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.439 his own opinion, 00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:46.279 but has absolutely no humble intention 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:49.019 of actually hearing the other person 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.500 and engaging with them. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:53.980 And by humbly listening, 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:56.559 I don't mean that we are agreeing 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.299 or validating everything 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:00.039 the other person says. 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:03.220 There are some absolute truths 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.519 that we as believers 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.160 will not compromise on. 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.039 However, 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.720 we do take pleasure 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:12.519 in understanding people 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:15.000 so that we can preach 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.119 the gospel to them. 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:19.099 But the fool is only interested 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.619 in expressing his own opinion. 00:18:23.979 --> 00:18:26.139 Proverbs 29, 9 00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:29.039 expresses this a little bit more vividly. 00:18:30.219 --> 00:18:30.659 It says, 00:18:31.179 --> 00:18:33.079 A wise man has an argument 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.059 with a fool 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:36.039 and only rages 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.599 and laughs 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.399 and there is no quiet. 00:18:40.719 --> 00:18:41.599 Can you guys see 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.619 how it's describing 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:44.199 the constant nature 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.920 of foolish speak? 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.819 It's not aiming 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.200 at anything specific. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:51.900 One moment it rages, 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.720 the next moment it laughs, 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.860 and all the time 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:55.840 it never stops 00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:58.640 because it has no righteous end. 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.360 So again, 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:04.840 let's not be so quick 00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:06.819 to dismiss ourselves 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:08.360 from that category of speech. 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:12.299 This constant argumentative speech 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.119 may take on 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.879 some subtle forms. 00:19:16.479 --> 00:19:18.000 Maybe it looks like gossip. 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.419 Instead of speaking 00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:22.259 directly to the other person, 00:19:23.919 --> 00:19:26.799 in order to gain understanding 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.919 and reconciliation, 00:19:29.199 --> 00:19:30.599 do we talk behind their backs, 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:32.519 criticizing and belittling them? 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:35.579 Or maybe when we speak, 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.699 we're constantly 00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:38.659 spinning the information 00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:39.619 to make ourselves 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.259 look better. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.199 If we're constantly 00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:44.359 spinning to make ourselves 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:44.960 look better, 00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:45.899 we're not looking 00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:46.720 for understanding 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.539 and reconciliation, 00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:48.939 let alone 00:19:48.939 --> 00:19:49.579 we're not speaking 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.139 the truth. 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:52.819 Or maybe 00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:53.919 we're constantly 00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:55.419 condemning others 00:19:55.419 --> 00:19:56.879 without the 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.639 corresponding 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.519 reconciliation. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.220 Are we constantly 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.480 pointing out the wrong, 00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:04.759 pointing out the wrong, 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.980 pointing out the wrong, 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.339 and never pointing 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.980 that person 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.200 to the reconciling 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.140 power of Christ? 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.119 We are 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:13.879 absolutely 00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:14.700 called 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.720 to condemn 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.200 sin. 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.279 But foolish 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.980 speech 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.019 does this 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.859 without 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:22.220 the larger 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.059 context 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.920 of speech 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.980 that points 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.579 a sinner 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.359 towards their 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:26.920 need of a 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.240 Savior. 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.359 In the same 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.039 manner that 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.559 I 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.779 am a sinner 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.619 in need of a 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:32.900 Savior. 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:35.480 So foolish 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.120 speech is 00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.740 destructive, 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.140 it is 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.019 deceptive, 00:20:39.560 --> 00:20:40.000 it is 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.700 constant, 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.100 it wrecks 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:43.000 havoc wherever 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.820 it goes, 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:44.960 and it 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.460 eventually 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.300 consumes 00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:46.860 the one 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.580 who spews 00:20:47.580 --> 00:20:47.820 it. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.080 So church, 00:20:50.280 --> 00:20:51.100 I spent a little 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:52.120 time on 00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:52.660 this area 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:54.700 because this 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.519 isn't a game. 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.600 Our speech 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.340 is not 00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.019 a game. 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:01.240 sinful 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.900 speech 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:03.460 is real 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.019 sin 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.119 and it 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.519 carries 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.079 with it 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.400 the 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.099 devastating 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.759 effects 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.420 of real 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:08.839 sin. 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:10.960 And we 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.200 need to 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.519 take it 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.000 seriously. 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.259 So let's 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.680 move on 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.180 to righteous 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.599 speech. 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.400 The first 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.079 characteristic 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.099 of righteous 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:21.619 speech 00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.799 is that 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.180 it is 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.700 humble 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.879 and gentle. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.079 And when you 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.420 look at 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:26.940 Proverbs, 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.819 Proverbs has a 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.619 very poetic 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.539 nature to 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:29.700 it. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.419 A lot of 00:21:30.419 --> 00:21:30.759 times in 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:30.980 Hebrew 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.379 poetry, 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.279 you've got 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.259 comparison 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.740 type 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.220 sentences. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:34.960 So the 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.220 first 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.759 sentence is 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.579 compared to 00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.000 the second 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.500 sentence, 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.299 and sometimes 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.079 those comparisons 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.980 are similarities, 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.059 and sometimes 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.779 those comparisons 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.259 are opposites. 00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:44.700 And Proverbs 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.359 use a lot of 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.240 those opposite 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.000 comparison 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.679 ways. 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:49.740 So listen 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.279 to Proverbs 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.019 15.1. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.539 A soft 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.139 answer 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.899 turns away 00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:54.519 wrath, 00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:55.980 but a harsh 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.839 word stirs 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.359 up anger. 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.240 righteous 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.740 speech 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.079 is 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.720 gentle. 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.359 Or 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:03.200 Proverbs, 00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:04.319 this particular 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.220 proverb uses 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.700 the word 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.240 soft 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.019 instead of 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.339 gentle. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.319 Now if 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.659 you're like 00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.000 me, 00:22:10.179 --> 00:22:10.819 the first 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.220 thing that 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.720 pops into 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.119 your head 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.419 when you 00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:13.019 hear soft 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.460 answer 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.759 is Mr. 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.119 Rogers. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:17.720 Hello 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.460 boys and 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.039 girls, 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:19.899 would you 00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:20.319 like to 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.759 be my 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.220 friend? 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.579 That's 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.539 not what 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.439 soft answer 00:22:25.439 --> 00:22:26.659 is talking 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.019 about. 00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:27.759 Proverbs 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.540 is not 00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:29.140 encouraging 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.040 us to 00:22:30.040 --> 00:22:30.980 walk around 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.900 speaking to 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.380 each other 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:32.779 in these 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.240 gentle 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.779 whispers. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.700 Soft 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.100 answer 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.019 does not 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.800 necessarily 00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.779 indicate 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.420 volume, 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:41.900 but it 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.500 indicates 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.660 control 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.180 and 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.860 effectiveness. 00:22:46.320 --> 00:22:46.920 A soft 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:48.019 answer is 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.620 one that is 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.460 spoken in a 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.340 manner that 00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:51.140 will quench 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:52.220 another person's 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.560 anger. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:52.619 water. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.019 It's like 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.299 putting water 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.179 on a fire 00:22:56.179 --> 00:22:57.059 to suffocate 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.419 it. 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.339 Righteous 00:22:59.339 --> 00:22:59.960 speech is 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:01.220 gentle in 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.779 the way that 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.079 it is 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.679 direct, 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.139 but loving. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.919 It's 00:23:05.919 --> 00:23:07.139 humble in 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.659 the way that 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.539 it is bold, 00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.740 but not 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.200 arrogant. 00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:13.179 I can't 00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:13.879 help but think 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.460 of the way 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.079 that Jesus 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:16.059 speaks in 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.039 Matthew 22. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.759 And this is 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.159 when the 00:23:19.159 --> 00:23:20.000 Pharisees are 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.519 coming to 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:20.879 him and 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.299 they're asking 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:21.779 him about 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.500 paying taxes. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:23.940 And in 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.819 Matthew 22. 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.399 15, 00:23:26.159 --> 00:23:26.960 it says, 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:27.839 the Pharisees 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.759 came to 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.460 entangle 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.179 him in 00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:31.039 his words. 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.139 So you 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.700 see those 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.299 deceptive 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.799 intentions? 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.319 They came 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.059 to entangle 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.480 him. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.339 And when you 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.740 hear they 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.039 came to 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.440 entangle 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:38.599 him, 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:38.879 you should 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.559 think they 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.039 came with 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.480 foolish 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.059 speech. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.119 And they 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.639 asked him, 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.279 they said, 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.119 is it lawful 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:45.839 to pay taxes 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.379 to Caesar? 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.440 And what 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.720 they were 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.519 really trying 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.599 to do is 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:49.819 they were 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:50.200 trying to 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.480 put him 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.859 into a 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.319 no-win 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.039 situation. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.139 They 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.359 really 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.659 didn't 00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:54.359 care what 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:54.919 his answer 00:23:54.919 --> 00:23:55.359 was. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.000 They just 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.740 wanted an 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.500 answer that 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:57.799 would get 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.059 him in 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.319 trouble. 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:00.259 And so you 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.639 can also 00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.700 think they 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.559 spoke without 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.500 wanting to 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.139 understand. 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.440 More foolish 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:05.980 speech. 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.200 So what did 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.819 Jesus do? 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.899 He didn't just 00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:12.000 roast him on the 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.679 spot for their 00:24:12.679 --> 00:24:13.339 deceptiveness. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.179 He didn't kind 00:24:15.179 --> 00:24:16.460 of timidly say, 00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:17.339 well, you know, 00:24:17.399 --> 00:24:18.259 that's not really a 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.940 fair question. 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:20.759 He gave them 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.779 a soft answer. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.680 He said, 00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:24.920 give to Caesar 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.799 what is Caesar's 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.840 and give to 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.400 God what is 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:27.940 God's. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.279 Do you 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:29.740 remember what 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.400 a soft answer 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.880 produces? 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.320 It turns away 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:32.920 wrath. 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.299 And so in 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.200 verse 22 it 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.559 says, 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:36.860 when they 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.420 heard it, 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.539 they marveled 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.180 and they 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.740 left him 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.059 and went 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.380 away. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.440 Jesus gave 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.440 a soft answer 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.180 that turned 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.840 away the wrath 00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:45.700 of the Pharisees. 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:49.000 His answer 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.759 wasn't weak. 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.019 It wasn't 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.559 timid. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.019 It wasn't 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.559 shy. 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.700 It wasn't 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.680 unrealistically 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.380 bubbly. 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.660 It was 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.140 controlled. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:57.640 It was 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.120 direct. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.299 It was 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.420 gracious and 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.920 gentle. 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.860 Jesus could 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.960 have absolutely 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.900 lit them up 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.259 for their 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.900 deceptiveness. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.100 He would 00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:07.319 have been 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:07.700 right in 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.180 doing that. 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.680 But he 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.160 gave an 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.980 answer that 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.680 was filled 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.660 with truth 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.480 given in 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.840 love. 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.859 It was 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.939 direct and 00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:17.259 loving. 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.220 It was 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.139 bold but 00:25:19.139 --> 00:25:19.740 not arrogant. 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.459 And did 00:25:21.459 --> 00:25:21.879 you notice 00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:22.679 the power 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:23.459 of a soft 00:25:23.459 --> 00:25:23.799 answer? 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.679 Look at the 00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:26.199 effect it 00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:26.480 had. 00:25:26.959 --> 00:25:27.459 They walked 00:25:27.459 --> 00:25:28.500 away and 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.439 they marveled. 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.579 Humble and 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.459 gentle answers 00:25:32.459 --> 00:25:33.799 are powerful. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.359 They carry 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.859 weight. 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.519 Proverbs 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.419 25 15 00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.179 tells us, 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.279 with patience 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.039 a ruler 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.639 may be 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.199 persuaded 00:25:42.199 --> 00:25:43.220 and a 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.199 soft tongue 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:45.039 will break 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.519 a bone. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.660 I see a lot 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.039 of broken 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.440 bones. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:48.819 It's kind 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.059 of hard 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.420 to break 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:49.880 bones. 00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.200 A soft 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:53.220 tongue has 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.860 the power 00:25:53.860 --> 00:25:54.360 to break 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:54.720 bones. 00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.100 But did 00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:55.460 you notice 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:55.920 something in 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.240 the beginning 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.539 of that 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:56.840 proverb? 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:57.940 With 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.700 patience. 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.400 Righteous 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.539 speech is 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:01.980 humble, 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:03.279 gentle, 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.600 and powerful 00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.580 but it 00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.080 requires 00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:06.860 patience. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:08.960 And to be 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.620 quite frank, 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:10.440 this is the 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.759 complete opposite 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.379 of our 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:12.920 hot take 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.599 society. 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.099 A hot 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.519 take is 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.099 when you 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.740 kind of 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.339 give your 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.119 opinion and 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.819 typically it's 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.079 a pretty 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.940 strong opinion 00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.379 and you 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:20.759 give it as 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.200 fast as 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.579 you can. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.140 Someone 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.619 asks you 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:22.819 and you 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.240 just shoot 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.579 off the 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:23.859 cuff. 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.539 You want 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:24.859 to be the 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.299 first to 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.720 say it. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.279 Hot 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.339 takes are 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.059 the absolute 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.740 opposite of 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.200 a soft 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.680 answer. 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.599 Yet 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:34.940 righteous 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.460 speech is 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.220 characterized as 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.700 humble and 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.879 gentle and 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.319 powerful. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:41.679 our second 00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.539 characteristic of 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.220 righteous speech. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.539 It is 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.759 restrained. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.319 So if 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.179 foolish speech 00:26:48.179 --> 00:26:49.099 is constant 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.779 and Proverbs 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.819 then portrays 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.960 righteous speech 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.179 as extremely 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:55.299 cautious and 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.980 restrained. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.659 Proverbs 10 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.039 19 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.659 Sin is not 00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:00.240 ended by 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.740 multiplying 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.759 words but 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.439 the prudent 00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:03.299 hold their 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.740 tongue. 00:27:04.939 --> 00:27:05.579 To be quite 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.220 honest, this 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.139 can be really 00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:07.619 difficult, 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.099 can't it? 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.460 Holding our 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.240 tongues and 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.980 not speaking 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.200 might be one 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.799 of the hardest 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.619 things we have 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.079 to do in 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.299 life. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.059 I don't think 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.419 that's an 00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:16.200 exaggeration. 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.000 Proverbs 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.659 though has a 00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:19.619 lot to say 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:21.079 about restrained 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.740 speech. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.819 Proverbs 17 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.299 10 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.799 It tells us 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.319 not to 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.539 rehash old 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.139 events. 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.139 Be restrained. 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.279 Whoever 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.079 covers an 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.039 offense seeks 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.619 love but he 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.460 who repeats 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.059 a matter 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.579 separates close 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.119 friends. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:39.399 sometimes the 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.119 wisest thing 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.799 we can do 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.339 is not 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.019 say anything 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.979 and that's 00:27:42.979 --> 00:27:43.379 hard. 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.019 Our 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.859 restrained 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.899 speech might 00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:48.519 also be in 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.279 the sense of 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.439 who we speak 00:27:50.439 --> 00:27:50.739 to. 00:27:51.739 --> 00:27:52.159 Do we 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.279 gossip or do 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.819 we speak to 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.239 the person 00:27:54.239 --> 00:27:54.759 directly? 00:27:55.699 --> 00:27:56.439 Proverbs 25 00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.339 9-10 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.439 Argue your 00:27:58.439 --> 00:27:59.039 case with 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.519 your neighbor 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.199 himself. 00:28:00.919 --> 00:28:01.559 Do not 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.519 reveal another 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:02.979 secret. 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.140 secrets. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.460 But it's 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:05.900 not only 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.620 who we 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.180 talk to 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.680 that the 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.299 restraint of 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.740 our speech 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.140 might be 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.700 connected to 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.980 it's also 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.900 the where 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.599 and the 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.339 when do 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:13.920 we speak. 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.680 Do we 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.220 speak to a 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.960 person now 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.360 in the 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.579 moment or 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.000 do we show 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.779 some restraint 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.480 and speak to 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.000 them later? 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:23.099 Do we speak 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:23.799 to the person 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.599 over social 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.620 media or 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:28.079 should we be 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:29.440 restrained and 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.000 speak to them 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.759 in person? 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.880 Where and 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:35.400 when matters 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.180 and it takes 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.740 restraint. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.000 It's easy to 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.700 open the mouth 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.160 and let it 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.880 fly but it's 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.920 hard to be 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.579 restrained. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.599 But Proverbs 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.200 tells us that 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:46.420 righteous speech 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.660 is restrained. 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.559 Third characteristic 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.079 of righteous 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.839 speech and 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.819 church this is I 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.460 think the 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.059 biggest point. 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:56.960 This is the 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.279 defining characteristic 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.880 I think of 00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.660 righteous speech. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.759 when we speak 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:03.799 it should be 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:05.140 giving life 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:06.000 to those 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.880 who hear it. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.220 Righteous speech 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.619 is life giving. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.180 Proverbs uses 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.900 some of its 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.819 most vivid 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:15.079 language when 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:16.359 speaking of 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.059 righteous speech. 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:17.859 And Proverbs 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:19.539 10 11 compares 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.519 righteous speech 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.299 to a well 00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.099 of life. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.460 Proverbs 15 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:26.039 4 it compares 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.960 it to a tree 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.519 of life. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.579 life. 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.539 So in both 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.680 images we have 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:32.440 this idea of 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.299 something that 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:35.000 sustains life. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:36.839 It would be 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:38.319 absolutely necessary 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.759 for a well to 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.720 be around in 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.819 order to sustain 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:43.059 life for a 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.720 family and its 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.180 livestock. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.639 A tree would 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.700 provide shelter, 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.720 shade, a 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.539 source of food. 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.579 These images 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.500 were used 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.440 because it would 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.779 be understood by 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.440 the original 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:58.339 readers that 00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:59.920 life flourishes 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.480 around wells that 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.940 give water and 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.859 trees that give 00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.240 fruit. 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.420 And so in a 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.240 similar way 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:09.299 life flourishes 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:10.680 around the 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.879 life giving words 00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.639 of the righteous 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:13.180 speaker. 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.139 So you may be 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.920 asking yourself 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:18.759 well how does 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.660 righteous speaking 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.480 give life? 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.019 How does that 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.559 actually work? 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.960 that's a good 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.339 question. 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:24.859 Is it because it's 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:25.859 just nice and 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.940 warm and gentle 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.700 and doesn't hurt 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.500 people's feelings? 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:30.079 Is it because that 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.619 positivity is just 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.500 kind of better than 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.039 negativity? 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.679 No, it's not any 00:30:35.679 --> 00:30:36.139 of those. 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.139 Righteous speech 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:39.579 gives life because 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:41.220 it points us to the 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:42.200 source of life, 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:42.879 Jesus. 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.399 The moment we start 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.899 hearing well of life 00:30:46.899 --> 00:30:47.919 or tree of life, 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:48.799 we should start 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.460 thinking about the 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.279 gospel of John. 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:53.440 John is constantly 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.859 speaking of Jesus 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:56.000 as the source of 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.359 life. 00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:57.839 In fact, in the 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.700 gospel of John, we 00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.759 get Jesus as famous 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.960 as I am, several 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.700 of which speak about 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.460 him being the 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.419 source of life. 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.399 Jesus says in 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.519 John 6, I am the 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.200 bread of life. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.319 He says in John 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.500 11, I am the 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.819 resurrection and 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.419 the life. 00:31:14.179 --> 00:31:14.899 He says in John 00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:16.139 14, I am the 00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:17.119 way, the truth, 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.899 and the life. 00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:19.419 He says in John 00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:20.899 10, I came that 00:31:20.899 --> 00:31:21.480 they may have 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.500 life and have 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.180 it abundantly. 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.120 So how does 00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:27.000 righteous speech 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.779 give life? 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:30.460 Because wise 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.700 speech springs 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.559 forth from 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.740 and points 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.640 to the 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.420 giver of life, 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.259 Jesus. 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:40.079 Church, if 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.200 Jesus is the 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.120 source of life 00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:43.140 and he has 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:44.099 redeemed us 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:45.680 back, unifying 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:47.059 himself with us, 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.859 God, then how 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.799 could our words 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.879 not be coated 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.559 with life? 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:53.119 Scripture tells 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.919 us that out of 00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:54.679 the heart the 00:31:54.679 --> 00:31:55.659 mouth speaks. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.659 Luke 6, 00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.579 45 says, 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.839 the good person 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.639 out of the good 00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:02.099 treasure of his 00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.859 heart produces 00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:03.279 good. 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:05.019 The evil person 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.940 out of the evil 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.940 treasure produces 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.500 evil. 00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:08.960 For it is out of 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:10.119 the abundance of 00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:11.279 the heart that the 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.299 mouth speaks. 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:14.639 The mouth is an 00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:15.799 indicator of the 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.119 heart. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.319 The mouth reveals 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:18.940 the heart. 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:20.039 The mouth can 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.879 make visible the 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.259 unseen heart. 00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:25.680 So if our mouths 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:27.180 spew forth foolish 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:28.379 speech, what does 00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:29.159 that say about our 00:32:29.159 --> 00:32:29.480 hearts? 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.500 Brothers and 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.259 sisters, based on 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.960 God's word given 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.899 to us in Proverbs, 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.079 I would plead to 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:36.240 you that if our 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.539 hearts have been 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.720 raised from death 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.759 to life by the 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.519 blood of the Lamb, 00:32:40.899 --> 00:32:41.980 then out of these 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.379 newly raised hearts 00:32:43.379 --> 00:32:45.460 must flow life-giving 00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.019 speech. 00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:49.160 We must take the 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:50.079 path of the 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.240 righteous speaker, 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.700 which is humble, 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:55.740 gentle, restrained, 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.100 and life-giving. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.819 And we are to 00:32:58.819 --> 00:33:00.299 avoid foolish speech, 00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:02.160 which is deceptive, 00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:04.000 constant, and 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.039 eventually a ruin 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.680 to all. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.460 So we've taken 00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:09.259 some time to look 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.720 at the various 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:11.559 characteristics of 00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.519 foolish speech and 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.900 wise speech, but 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.880 that's not good 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:15.360 enough. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.160 It's not good 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.980 enough just to 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:19.160 have the knowledge 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:20.480 of righteous speech 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:22.259 and foolish speech. 00:33:22.780 --> 00:33:23.960 As I mentioned 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:25.080 earlier, we want to 00:33:25.080 --> 00:33:26.200 be able to 00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:28.140 skillfully apply 00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:29.580 that knowledge. 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:31.200 So how should we 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.800 let this knowledge 00:33:32.800 --> 00:33:33.600 function in our 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:34.000 lives? 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.680 How do we 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.880 skillfully apply it? 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.620 Well, since there's 00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:39.759 an innumerable amount 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:41.620 of scenarios we could 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.759 go over, I don't 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.339 want to pick some 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:44.279 random scenarios. 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.139 What I want to do 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:45.759 is I want to look 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:47.359 at a proverb and 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.459 see how it 00:33:48.459 --> 00:33:50.179 skillfully applies 00:33:50.179 --> 00:33:56.339 how to live a 00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:56.959 righteous speech 00:33:56.959 --> 00:33:57.219 out. 00:33:58.199 --> 00:33:59.299 So in order to do 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.159 this, we're going 00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:00.819 to use Proverbs 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:04.339 26, 45, kind of 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.519 as our framed 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.139 example. 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:09.000 So Proverbs 26, 4 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.559 through 5 says, 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:13.019 Answer not a fool 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:14.099 according to his 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.900 folly, lest you be 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.920 like him yourself. 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.920 Answer a fool 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.720 according to his 00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:21.079 folly, lest he be 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.960 wise in his own 00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.599 eyes. 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:25.119 So this proverb is 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.539 telling us in one 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.900 instance to answer a 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:29.340 fool and in another 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:30.260 instance it's telling 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.500 us not to answer the 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:31.900 fool. 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.420 And so what's the 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.680 deal? 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.700 Should we answer? 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.640 Should we not answer? 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.519 When should we do 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:36.679 it? 00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:38.679 Well, let's take a 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:38.879 look. 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.219 We'll go through 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.759 this quickly. 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:43.460 The key phrase comes 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:45.900 in answer the fool 00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:46.699 according to his 00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.539 folly, which is in 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.699 both of the 00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:49.119 sentences. 00:34:49.379 --> 00:34:50.119 But the difference is 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:51.359 that in each sentence 00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:53.420 the way in which we 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.980 answer the fool is 00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.420 different. 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.099 In the first 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:58.559 situation, if we 00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.579 answer the fool 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.759 using the same 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:01.960 speech and tactics 00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:03.900 they do, we become 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.519 like the fool 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.139 ourselves. 00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:06.960 Answer not a fool 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.599 according to his 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.500 folly, lest you be 00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.339 like him yourself. 00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.799 Yet in the second 00:35:11.799 --> 00:35:14.099 one, according to 00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:15.460 his folly, it's 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.019 saying that we 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.179 actually give an 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:18.799 answer to the 00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.759 foolish things that 00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:20.599 are being said. 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.359 So in other words, 00:35:22.799 --> 00:35:24.299 we name and point 00:35:24.299 --> 00:35:25.179 out the foolish 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.339 speech and the 00:35:26.339 --> 00:35:27.259 destruction that it's 00:35:27.259 --> 00:35:27.599 causing. 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:29.119 We answer the fool 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.819 according to his 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.759 folly, lest he be 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.639 wise in his own 00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.000 eyes. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.280 So when we 00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:35.619 answer a fool, we 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:37.119 do so in a way that 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:38.980 exposes their foolish 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.579 speech. 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.300 But we never answer in 00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.380 a way that makes us 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.500 become a fool like 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:43.780 them. 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:45.940 Therefore, there's a 00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:47.360 skill in how we 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.460 answer the fool. 00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.739 So how do we do this 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:51.219 practically? 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.320 So if you're going to 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.519 answer the fool, or if 00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:55.119 you're going to answer 00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:57.159 someone, we might have 00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:58.039 to ask ourselves a 00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.379 question. 00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:01.659 Is my answer going to 00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.980 show the fool his 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:05.139 folly, or is my 00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.799 answer acting in the 00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:08.179 same manner as the 00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:08.440 fool? 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:11.139 And the answer to 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.940 that will give us 00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.659 whether we should 00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.859 answer them or not. 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.379 And guess what? 00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:17.000 This isn't easy to 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:17.679 figure out. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.619 It's hard. 00:36:18.899 --> 00:36:20.039 We can't always do it 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.719 by ourselves. 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:23.319 We need help from 00:36:23.319 --> 00:36:24.299 faithful brothers and 00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.159 sisters to help us 00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.619 decipher should we 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:26.940 answer. 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.359 So do you have any 00:36:29.359 --> 00:36:30.059 brothers and sisters 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:31.139 you can go to and 00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:32.719 ask them, should I 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.079 answer? 00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:34.019 How is my answer? 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:35.199 How is my speech in 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.879 this situation? 00:36:36.899 --> 00:36:37.960 Do you have a life 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.279 group that can support 00:36:39.279 --> 00:36:40.440 you that you can go 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:40.699 to? 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.960 Sometimes we don't 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:44.899 have the time to do 00:36:44.899 --> 00:36:45.199 that. 00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.679 And so more importantly, 00:36:46.799 --> 00:36:47.920 are we praying about 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.639 these things? 00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:50.440 Are we asking the 00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:52.000 Holy Spirit to help 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.819 us when it comes to 00:36:53.819 --> 00:36:54.679 righteous speech? 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:56.079 Help us know when we 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.859 should speak. 00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:58.039 Help us know when we 00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.620 should hold our 00:36:58.620 --> 00:36:59.000 tongues. 00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:01.180 If we're not praying 00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:02.120 about these things, we 00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:02.579 need to be. 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:05.220 So I think what we can 00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:05.880 gather from this 00:37:05.880 --> 00:37:07.780 proverb is that when we 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:09.079 speak or when we don't 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:10.680 speak, it requires a 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.960 skillful application. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.840 It requires us to know 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:15.820 first what wise speech 00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.460 looks like. 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:18.099 It requires us to know 00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:19.079 what foolish speech 00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:19.780 looked like. 00:37:20.200 --> 00:37:21.559 And then knowing those 00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:23.660 two things helps us to 00:37:23.660 --> 00:37:25.120 know what path to go to 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:26.440 so we can pursue that. 00:37:27.779 --> 00:37:29.219 We can take that and 00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:30.139 apply it to a lot of 00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:30.699 situations. 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:32.239 We can ask ourselves, 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:34.039 what does wise speech 00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:34.759 look like in this 00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:35.259 situation? 00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:36.839 What does foolish speech 00:37:36.839 --> 00:37:37.880 look like in this 00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.380 situation? 00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.799 Am I exhibiting the 00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:41.539 characteristics of any of 00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:43.099 those in this situation? 00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:48.179 I just want to give a 00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.739 word of caution and a 00:37:49.739 --> 00:37:50.880 word of encouragement as 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:52.980 we close when it comes to 00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:54.340 speaking and when we 00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.000 don't speak. 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:58.840 If we do decide to 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:01.039 answer, I just want to 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:03.179 give us a quick caution. 00:38:04.740 --> 00:38:06.440 When we lovingly show the 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:08.280 fool their folly, we must 00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:10.059 be ready to give up our 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.679 desire to be seen as 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:13.280 right in the fool's eyes 00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:15.360 because it's not going to 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:15.659 happen. 00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:18.900 We speak truth not because 00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:20.579 we want to be justified in 00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:22.559 their eyes, but because 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:24.219 we're being faithful to the 00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:25.440 one who is the ultimate 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:26.460 standard of truth. 00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:29.299 And how about when we 00:38:29.299 --> 00:38:30.400 don't answer the fool? 00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:33.860 Well, to be frank, on the 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:35.259 whole, Proverb actually 00:38:35.259 --> 00:38:36.659 presents arguing with the 00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:38.279 fool as an unprofitable use 00:38:38.279 --> 00:38:40.179 of our time, even when our 00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:41.460 argument or cause is 00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:42.500 entirely justified. 00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:46.079 But I want to encourage you 00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:46.960 in those times when we 00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:47.460 don't answer. 00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:48.219 You might be thinking, 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:49.639 well, if we don't answer, 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.299 don't they win? 00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:53.239 Well, no, not ultimately. 00:38:54.379 --> 00:38:56.579 Because God is a righteous 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:58.859 and holy God, and he will 00:38:58.859 --> 00:39:00.539 judge not only the actions 00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:02.699 of the wicked, but the 00:39:02.699 --> 00:39:03.980 speech of the wicked as 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.219 well. 00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:08.679 When we don't answer, what 00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:09.980 we're doing is we are 00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:11.619 trusting in the Lord to 00:39:11.619 --> 00:39:13.539 intervene by silencing and 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.980 stopping the foolish speech 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:16.400 and vindicating those who 00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:17.239 have spoken wisely. 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:19.759 God is a righteous judge who 00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:20.939 will make all things right, 00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:23.459 if not now and the last 00:39:23.459 --> 00:39:23.779 day. 00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:25.919 God will judge not only the 00:39:25.919 --> 00:39:27.299 actions of the fool, but 00:39:27.299 --> 00:39:28.819 also the speech of the fool 00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:30.759 so we can trust him to 00:39:30.759 --> 00:39:31.419 handle it. 00:39:31.799 --> 00:39:33.239 It's not our job to put the 00:39:33.239 --> 00:39:34.159 fool in their place. 00:39:34.419 --> 00:39:35.859 That will be accomplished by 00:39:35.859 --> 00:39:37.019 the risen and reigning king. 00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.939 We must leave it to the Lord 00:39:38.939 --> 00:39:41.139 to trust in him as he is a 00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:41.859 righteous judge. 00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:44.740 And in fact, isn't this a 00:39:44.740 --> 00:39:47.360 great summary of what the 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:49.160 father is telling the son in 00:39:49.160 --> 00:39:50.079 the beginning of Proverbs? 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:51.460 Basically, the father is 00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:53.380 telling the son, the Lord is 00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:55.800 worth trusting even when the 00:39:55.800 --> 00:39:57.660 way of wisdom doesn't seem 00:39:57.660 --> 00:39:58.700 the most attractive. 00:39:59.700 --> 00:40:02.200 Or even when we can't see the 00:40:02.200 --> 00:40:04.120 Lord's actions in this world. 00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:06.900 This is what the fear of the 00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:08.120 Lord is the beginning of the 00:40:08.120 --> 00:40:09.340 wisdom looks like. 00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:12.420 putting our trust in him when 00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:14.539 we speak or when we don't 00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:14.960 speak. 00:40:18.340 --> 00:40:20.900 So before I close and pray, I 00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:21.920 just wanted to say something 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:22.300 quickly. 00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:25.160 If God's used this time to 00:40:25.160 --> 00:40:26.640 convict you about your manner 00:40:26.640 --> 00:40:28.640 of speech and you've already 00:40:28.640 --> 00:40:31.100 put your faith in Christ, then 00:40:31.100 --> 00:40:32.720 praise God for his graciousness 00:40:32.720 --> 00:40:33.260 towards you. 00:40:34.200 --> 00:40:37.400 Run to him, confidently confess 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:39.320 your sinful speech, and 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:41.880 because his mercy is more than 00:40:41.880 --> 00:40:42.980 your foolish speech. 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:47.519 By God's goodness and mercy, he 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:48.860 will continue to do a good 00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:51.120 work conforming your speech to 00:40:51.120 --> 00:40:52.280 a manner worthy of the 00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:52.620 gospel. 00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:56.220 But if you haven't yet put your 00:40:56.220 --> 00:40:57.920 faith in Christ, I wanted to 00:40:57.920 --> 00:40:59.320 be very clear about something. 00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:00.380 I don't want something to be 00:41:00.380 --> 00:41:00.800 mistaken. 00:41:02.600 --> 00:41:05.420 Being more wise in your speech 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:07.240 will not save you. 00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:11.059 Better speech will not earn you the 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:11.979 gift of salvation. 00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:15.479 It is only by trusting in Jesus and 00:41:15.479 --> 00:41:16.899 what he did for you on the cross 00:41:16.899 --> 00:41:18.599 that will save you. 00:41:18.979 --> 00:41:20.959 And when God has changed your heart 00:41:20.959 --> 00:41:22.459 from a heart of stone to a heart of 00:41:22.459 --> 00:41:24.919 flesh, it is only then that we can 00:41:24.919 --> 00:41:26.859 have truly righteous speech. 00:41:26.860 --> 00:41:30.320 So if you want to know more about that, 00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:33.120 please come down after service and talk to 00:41:33.120 --> 00:41:34.960 myself or one of the other pastors. 00:41:35.120 --> 00:41:35.860 We'll be down here. 00:41:36.019 --> 00:41:38.039 If you're online, contact the church. 00:41:38.780 --> 00:41:40.559 We'd love to be able to talk to you about 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:40.800 that. 00:41:42.140 --> 00:41:42.700 Let's pray. 00:41:42.699 --> 00:41:49.019 Father, we are thankful that we have your 00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:53.179 word that talks to many different areas of 00:41:53.179 --> 00:41:53.879 our lives. 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:58.419 Father, I pray that your spirit does a 00:41:58.419 --> 00:42:01.219 work in us, in our hearts, in our bodies, 00:42:01.339 --> 00:42:05.639 that we are speakers of life. 00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:09.159 That when we speak, it doesn't tear down, 00:42:09.379 --> 00:42:10.259 but it builds up. 00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:14.140 And ultimately, it points to Jesus and all 00:42:14.140 --> 00:42:15.420 the glory is given to him. 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:17.120 Lord, thank you for your word. 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:19.540 Thank you for the direction that it gives us. 00:42:20.200 --> 00:42:21.500 In your name, amen.