WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.599 If you could keep your Bible open to, well, Proverbs 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:07.360 15 is a good one. There'll be some verses on 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:10.939 the screen as well. But let's pray. Let's ask 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:17.420 God for help as we dig into His Word now. Gracious 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:21.859 Heavenly Father, we ask that you would open our 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:27.079 ears, that you would soften our hearts, so that 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:31.899 we could have tongues. that are loving, kind, 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:38.140 true and wise. Please, Father, help us this morning. 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:45.100 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, when I was 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:48.359 a kid, I got picked on and teased quite a lot. 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:50.920 I know, I know it's hard to believe someone as 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:53.700 good looking and with my sporting abilities getting 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.840 picked on and teased, but it did happen. And 00:00:56.840 --> 00:00:59.299 it got so bad that I had to move schools at one 00:00:59.299 --> 00:01:03.659 point. And I remember one of those old sayings 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:05.879 that we've probably all heard at various points. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:09.180 Do you remember this one? Sticks and stones may 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:12.599 break my bones, but names will never hurt me. 00:01:13.819 --> 00:01:15.739 I think I'd heard that a few times when I was 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:18.599 at school getting picked on. And it's a terrible 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:23.379 saying, because names can wound us very, very 00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:28.469 deeply. Words can leave big scars. They can mess 00:01:28.469 --> 00:01:31.629 with our heads. They can make us feel insecure. 00:01:33.049 --> 00:01:37.409 As many folks say today, words are weapons. They 00:01:37.409 --> 00:01:41.129 can cause psychological violence. Anyone who's 00:01:41.129 --> 00:01:44.370 been verbally abused or manipulated or slandered 00:01:44.370 --> 00:01:49.629 can testify to how horrible that can be. And 00:01:49.629 --> 00:01:52.730 yet words can also be a force for massive good. 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.459 Do you remember this one? The pen is mightier 00:01:57.459 --> 00:02:01.519 than the sword. Words can bring great social 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:06.019 change. They're better at doing that than violence 00:02:06.019 --> 00:02:09.919 is. Think of Martin Luther King. I had a dream. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:16.659 It was words that caused that movement. And words 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:19.280 can be so healing, not just at a social level, 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:23.330 but at an individual level. Words can validate 00:02:23.330 --> 00:02:28.949 our pain, repair broken relationships, encourage 00:02:28.949 --> 00:02:34.949 the downtrodden. Words are needed to expose our 00:02:34.949 --> 00:02:37.250 blind spots and they're needed to make us feel 00:02:37.250 --> 00:02:42.689 loved. Words are powerful. And so that's why 00:02:42.689 --> 00:02:45.889 this morning I want to ask, how are you going 00:02:45.889 --> 00:02:51.490 with how you use your words? How are you going 00:02:51.490 --> 00:02:54.449 with how you use your words? Are you wise with 00:02:54.449 --> 00:03:00.050 your words? Or are they causing harm? Where do 00:03:00.050 --> 00:03:02.650 you consistently struggle to be wise with your 00:03:02.650 --> 00:03:06.770 words? Why do you struggle there? One of the 00:03:06.770 --> 00:03:09.990 dominant themes of Proverbs chapter 10 to 25, 00:03:10.030 --> 00:03:12.710 which is all those little tidbit wisdom that 00:03:12.710 --> 00:03:16.490 we see throughout the book, one of the dominant 00:03:16.490 --> 00:03:20.879 parts of it is words, using words wisely. And 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.039 so that's going to be our focus for today. And 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:26.439 here's the big thing I hope we'll learn as we 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:32.500 look at Proverbs today. Words possess immense 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:38.960 power, so choose your words carefully. Words 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:44.379 possess immense power, so choose your words carefully. 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:47.180 And here's what it looks like to choose your 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:49.020 words carefully. There's three things we need 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:53.740 to do. We need to choose to speak honest words. 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:59.159 We need to choose to speak healing words. And 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:02.860 we need to choose to speak heedful words, thoughtful 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:06.300 words. So let's have a look at each of these. 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:08.360 How are we to use our words? Well, the first 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:14.439 one is we choose to speak honest words. Have 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:19.829 a look at these verses from Proverbs. endure 00:04:19.829 --> 00:04:23.949 forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 00:04:24.430 --> 00:04:30.089 Truth lasts, lies will be exposed. All lying 00:04:30.089 --> 00:04:32.250 lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those 00:04:32.250 --> 00:04:34.610 who act faithfully are his delight. Or a man 00:04:34.610 --> 00:04:37.269 of crooked heart does not discover good, and 00:04:37.269 --> 00:04:40.529 one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. 00:04:41.790 --> 00:04:45.490 Can you see how much better truthful lips are? 00:04:46.829 --> 00:04:50.529 Now why is this, why is truthful lips so important? 00:04:51.910 --> 00:04:56.529 Well, because speaking truth builds trust. Speaking 00:04:56.529 --> 00:04:59.170 truth builds trust. When our cards are on the 00:04:59.170 --> 00:05:02.170 table, when we're honest with people and people 00:05:02.170 --> 00:05:05.990 know where they stand, they feel safe, we collaborate 00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:11.889 well together. But when we lie, I get it, it 00:05:11.889 --> 00:05:15.009 feels easier at the time and it looks practical 00:05:15.009 --> 00:05:19.240 in the short term. But there's huge long -term 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:24.060 damage, isn't there, to our relationships, to 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:31.000 our own integrity? Now, it's debatable, but possible 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.120 that there are very rare instances where lying 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:37.579 is permissible. So you can think of the Israelites 00:05:37.579 --> 00:05:39.680 when they're with Pharaoh, the midwives, remember 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:43.300 them? You know, okay, that was probably a permissible 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:45.879 time to lie, or if you're hiding Jews in World 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:48.939 War II and the Nazis come knocking on your door, 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:51.839 yeah, okay, probably a good time to lie there. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:58.019 But those are so exceptional, aren't they? 99 00:05:58.019 --> 00:06:02.759 .9 % of the time, truthfulness should be our 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:08.740 pattern. One holiday's We went away near Margaret 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:12.839 River in WA. Beautiful place to go. And we stayed 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:16.879 at a house that had a ton of board games. We 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:18.959 were there with another bunch of friends and 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.319 our kids all got together and one of the favourites 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:26.300 was playing Jenga. Jenga's a great game. Do you 00:06:26.300 --> 00:06:27.860 remember what happens when you pull the blocks 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:32.829 out? The tower gets weaker, doesn't it? And it 00:06:32.829 --> 00:06:35.509 starts to wobble a bit, and someone's pulling 00:06:35.509 --> 00:06:37.829 it out, and it wobbles a bit more. Oh, don't, 00:06:37.829 --> 00:06:40.350 don't, don't. Okay, they got that one. And then 00:06:40.350 --> 00:06:42.189 you pull out another one, and then eventually, 00:06:42.290 --> 00:06:48.629 boom! It collapses. Well, that's what happens 00:06:48.629 --> 00:06:52.529 to our relationships when we lie, isn't it? Every 00:06:52.529 --> 00:06:56.069 time we lie, we're taking a bit of that stability 00:06:56.069 --> 00:07:01.579 out. We're weakening the relationship. And it's 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:03.879 not just relationships, it's institutions, it's 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:07.040 businesses, it's churches. If there's lying and 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:10.620 deceit, they become unstable and they collapse. 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:17.480 My granddad used to say, trust takes years to 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:24.139 build, but a moment to destroy. One lie can do 00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:28.759 a lot of damage, can't it? So we need to be honest, 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:34.050 open. and transparent with one another. Now, 00:07:34.069 --> 00:07:37.829 that doesn't mean you have to share every thought 00:07:37.829 --> 00:07:39.730 that you've ever had or every feeling you've 00:07:39.730 --> 00:07:42.490 ever had or every struggle you've ever had. That's 00:07:42.490 --> 00:07:46.689 going too far the other way. And some people, 00:07:46.689 --> 00:07:48.850 they get it wrong by saying, yeah, well, you 00:07:48.850 --> 00:07:52.129 know, Brendan, I'm a truth teller. I just tell 00:07:52.129 --> 00:07:55.990 it how it is. Well, there's a very big difference 00:07:55.990 --> 00:07:58.649 between being honest and opinionated, isn't there? 00:08:00.410 --> 00:08:03.829 Actually, I think some I've noticed with people 00:08:03.829 --> 00:08:06.790 like that, it often happens because they can't 00:08:06.790 --> 00:08:10.209 be honest with themselves. And so it's a bit 00:08:10.209 --> 00:08:12.949 of a self -defence mechanism to be honest with 00:08:12.949 --> 00:08:18.290 everyone else. Now, we need to have lips that 00:08:18.290 --> 00:08:22.310 are honest. But we need to start by being honest 00:08:22.310 --> 00:08:25.370 with ourselves, being people who are self -reflective, 00:08:26.250 --> 00:08:29.129 but then also people who are honest with each 00:08:29.129 --> 00:08:34.279 other. Life consists of unpleasant feedback, 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:38.860 doesn't it? Sometimes it's hard to give that. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.779 Sometimes we don't want to say those awkward 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:47.320 things because they're uncomfortable. But often 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:51.279 they need to be said. Often it takes courage, 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:55.899 but it needs to be done. It's so much better 00:08:55.899 --> 00:09:00.799 than silence or niceties to gently Lovingly speak 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:04.919 the truth, isn't it? Better is open rebuke than 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:10.120 hidden love, as it says later in Proverbs. Are 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:16.440 you someone willing to have honest lips? But 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:19.460 to be wise, you can't just be honest with your 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:22.679 words. You have to also speak healing words. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:26.039 That's the next thing we see. Choose to speak 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:29.820 healing words. Have a look at what Proverbs says 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:34.940 about that. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:39.580 of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:45.720 violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:49.919 all offences. Or down in Proverbs 12, there's 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:54.960 one whose rash words are like sword thrust, but 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:00.700 the tongue of the wise brings healing, or a soft 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:04.600 answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:10.600 up anger. The wise use their words to bring peace, 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:17.059 calm, love and grace. Now, sometimes their words 00:10:17.059 --> 00:10:21.519 must cut. Remember, we are to be honest. But 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.399 if we're going to cut, we cut with surgical precision 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:29.419 and anesthetic. At other times, our words are 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:34.000 like a soothing balm or a bandage on raging wounds. 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:38.059 At other times, our words are to be like an oasis 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:41.820 in the desert, refreshing and life -giving in 00:10:41.820 --> 00:10:46.940 the insights that we bring. Words of wicked fools 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:51.240 are not like that. They're like a cat thrown 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:56.539 among the pigeons, and off you go. It's violent 00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:01.080 and chaotic. And such words, whether true or 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:04.000 not, don't seek the good of the other person, 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:07.740 do they? If there's no love, those are not good 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:12.620 words to be speaking. Now, there's nuance here. 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:18.019 Both wise and fools hide and expose sin with 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:20.240 their words. That's what we see in the Book of 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:23.179 Proverbs. But they do it in very different ways. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.620 Fools will cover up their sin before and after. 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:31.600 To cause a violent ambush, they'll cover it up 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.179 right until the last minute, or they'll cover 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:39.360 it up to evade consequences. But when they do 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.259 expose the sins of others, they don't do it for 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:45.139 good, they do it to wound, whether it's through 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:51.519 harshness, gossip, or slander. The wise expose 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:56.000 others' sin only when necessary. And they do 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.440 it in a measured way. Sometimes they use words 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:02.879 to cover oversee, not cover it up, but cover 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:05.460 over. They don't want to keep bringing it up 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:07.799 so it caused more fight. And you know, if they're 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:09.340 going to deal with it, they deal with it in a 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:11.879 gentle, calm way. And they don't want to weaponise 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:16.620 their words to hurt others. Now, what's the difference? 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:18.539 I mean, they both hide and expose sin. Well, 00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:20.779 what's the difference here? Well, one is driven 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:25.000 by love. and one is driven by anger, selfishness 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.740 and bitterness. It's tricky. Life's complex. 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:32.559 We've got to work out how to use our words in 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:36.860 different situations. But we've got to think 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:39.039 it through. Think what's going on in me. Think, 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:42.240 is this the right way to use our words? One example 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:47.019 of what not to do is Homer Simpson. Here's one 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:51.320 whose words are like rash sword thrusts. You 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:53.759 know Marge, for the first time in our marriage 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:57.399 I can finally look down my nose at you. You have 00:12:57.399 --> 00:13:01.019 a gambling problem! That's true. Will you forgive 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:04.610 me? Oh sure! Remember when I got caught stealing 00:13:04.610 --> 00:13:07.570 all those watches from Sears? Well, that's nothing 00:13:07.570 --> 00:13:10.769 because YOU have a gambling problem! And remember 00:13:10.769 --> 00:13:12.629 when I let that escaped lunatic in the house 00:13:12.629 --> 00:13:15.330 because he was dressed like Santa Claus? Well 00:13:15.330 --> 00:13:18.669 YOU have a gambling problem! Homer, when you 00:13:18.669 --> 00:13:20.549 forgive someone you can't throw a bag at them 00:13:20.549 --> 00:13:25.230 like that. Aw, what a jip. Remember when I - 00:13:25.230 --> 00:13:29.990 Homer! Oh yeah, I forgot already. See, Homer's 00:13:29.990 --> 00:13:34.919 words are so harsh and cruel. And Marge, she's 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:38.980 so wise. She stays calm and gently corrects him. 00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:42.299 She must have the patience of a saint to be married 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:46.440 to Homer. But it would be so easy to get defensive 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:50.299 or be critical of him or escalate things and 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:54.419 add fuel to the fire, but she doesn't. She's 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:58.620 wise. She still holds boundaries. She's still 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:04.710 firm, but she's wise. Have you got a Marge Simpson 00:14:04.710 --> 00:14:08.669 type wisdom? Think over some of the interactions 00:14:08.669 --> 00:14:11.789 you had this week, this month, this year. Whether 00:14:11.789 --> 00:14:15.730 at home, at work, at growth group, on email, 00:14:16.090 --> 00:14:19.289 social media, phone call, at church. Was your 00:14:19.289 --> 00:14:24.570 pattern more like Homer or more like Marge? Were 00:14:24.570 --> 00:14:30.940 your words healing or hurtful? Maybe you look 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:33.600 at it and you go, I'm pretty good at work, but 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:40.600 at home I've got no filter. Maybe you're better 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:43.500 at home than you are at work. I don't know. We 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:47.159 need to reflect, don't we? And it's not that 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:49.960 we're pleasant and nice and that we only tell 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:54.120 people what they want to hear. Our aim is to 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:58.840 use our words gently, calmly and for good. For 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:06.460 love, not for evil. Do you find that hard? I 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:11.779 know I do. I find it so easy to have a false 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:14.159 healing, just say what people want to hear, be 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:17.899 a yes man at times. Other times, I find it so 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:22.559 easy to be too harsh. And so I need to pray for 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:25.340 help that God would help me be wise with my words. 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:27.740 It's something we need to keep reflecting on 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:32.740 and praying about. But it's not only that we 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:35.779 speak honest words and healing words, but thirdly, 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:40.360 we need to choose to speak heedful words. Have 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:44.899 a look at these verses from Proverbs. When words 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:49.509 are many, transgression is not lacking. But whoever 00:15:49.509 --> 00:15:54.669 restrains his lips is prudent. And whoever restrains 00:15:54.669 --> 00:15:57.250 his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool 00:15:57.250 --> 00:15:59.990 spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool 00:15:59.990 --> 00:16:03.389 who keeps silent is considered wise. When he 00:16:03.389 --> 00:16:08.289 closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Well, 00:16:08.289 --> 00:16:10.710 maybe I'm not the only one in the room, but thwop! 00:16:11.389 --> 00:16:15.129 Like an arrow to the heart for me. All the extroverts 00:16:15.129 --> 00:16:16.889 in the room should probably be feeling that right 00:16:16.889 --> 00:16:22.799 now. Less is more. Proverbs is saying there is 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.759 a benefit to being the strong, silent type. You're 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:29.519 less likely to say something you'll regret, plus 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:32.379 you'll actually learn more. As the old saying 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:34.899 goes, God gave us two ears and one mouth so that 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:39.279 you can listen twice as much as you speak. But 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.860 the danger of speaking too much is that you miss 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.980 what everyone's saying, that you stop learning. 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.980 It's actually a good thing to be restrained with 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:52.100 our words. And yet, again, there's balance here. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:54.580 Proverbs is not saying, well, let's put tape 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:58.659 over our mouths all the time. There's a challenge 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:01.559 here for introverts as well. Some of us actually 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:05.019 need to speak up more. Have a look at these proverbs. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:09.740 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, not so 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:13.200 the hearts of fools. The heart of the righteous 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.220 ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:19.630 pours out evil things. or to make an apt answer 00:17:19.630 --> 00:17:23.710 is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how 00:17:23.710 --> 00:17:28.289 good it is. See, there's a wisdom here in knowing 00:17:28.289 --> 00:17:33.210 when to speak and knowing what to say. Most of 00:17:33.210 --> 00:17:35.490 us need to speak less, some of us need to speak 00:17:35.490 --> 00:17:38.809 more, all of us need to speak more thoughtfully. 00:17:40.210 --> 00:17:44.130 And we get the balance right when we see how 00:17:44.130 --> 00:17:49.640 powerful our words actually are. When we lived 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:53.319 in Broken Hill, at 6 .45, morning and night, 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:57.279 every day, you'd often feel a rumble in the ground. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:02.079 No, it wasn't an earthquake. It was from the 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:06.799 explosions in the mines. And I had a friend who'd 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:09.339 been sort of working the mines. He was telling 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:11.319 me a bit about it. And he said, they've got to 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:14.940 be so careful. with the explosives. If they're 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:19.039 reckless, there could be huge damage. We no longer 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:24.019 have Broken Hill, but Broken Valley. Yet if used 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:28.160 wisely, if used thoughtfully, it can be very 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.960 rewarding. That's how they get to those precious 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:34.019 minerals that they can sell for so much money. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:41.380 Now, words are like that. Too much thoughtless 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:46.180 words It can lead to great damage, no riches, 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:53.039 nothing of benefit. Too little? Well, you don't 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.140 really get anything, do you? It's about getting 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:58.880 the balance right, being curious, observant, 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:02.140 calm, insightful, in the way that you speak. 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:08.559 Picture a busy week. You know what it looks like 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:14.299 for you. You're stressed. You're tired. There's 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:17.500 bills and appointments and high pressure deadlines. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.299 When you run down like that, when you're stressed 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:26.099 and tired, have you noticed what your default 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:31.400 position with words is? Some of us, we have verbal 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:35.039 diarrhea. We blurt it all out. We're insensitive. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:39.059 We're careless. We're rash. Some of us, we go 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:41.700 into our shells. We say much less than normal. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:45.339 We become very afraid of speaking up about anything. 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:51.759 Neither is good. Let's get the balance right. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:58.200 Let's be selective and precise. Can you identify 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:02.539 where you need to change? Is it cutting back 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:05.940 on the insulting jokes? Is it... your mouth out 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.819 sprints your mind and maybe just having that 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:10.339 extra couple of seconds to think before you speak. 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:13.640 Is it you're thoughtful but you never vocalise 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:19.940 it? What is it for you? But the point for all 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:23.640 of us is that we need to be wise with our words. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:27.099 And that's what Proverbs chapters 10 to 25 is 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:29.900 it's a big theme is that we be wise with our 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:33.200 words. As we said at the start, words possess 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:38.880 immense power. So choose your words carefully. 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:43.400 And we saw three ways that we choose our words 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:45.960 carefully. Choose to speak honest words, choose 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.380 to speak healing words and choose to speak heedful 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:54.099 or thoughtful words. Well, Brendan, that's great 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:56.619 life advice, but I could get something similar 00:20:56.619 --> 00:21:01.359 from a self -help book or a podcast. But this 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:06.039 goes to a whole other level when we fit it within 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:08.339 the storyline of the Bible, when we bring it 00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:12.480 to Jesus. Because do you know how powerful words 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:18.039 really are? Well, God spoke creation into existence. 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:22.119 He didn't mould creation into existence, did 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:28.670 he? He spoke it into existence. And God's Word 00:21:28.670 --> 00:21:31.329 is the clearest way that God reveals himself 00:21:31.329 --> 00:21:36.089 in salvation history. Think of John 1. In the 00:21:36.089 --> 00:21:39.150 beginning was the Word, and the Word was with 00:21:39.150 --> 00:21:42.369 God, and the Word was God. Jesus is called the 00:21:42.369 --> 00:21:44.470 Word because words aren't just important for 00:21:44.470 --> 00:21:48.410 everyday life. They're central to God's self 00:21:48.410 --> 00:21:52.589 -revelation found in his Son. Have you ever thought 00:21:52.589 --> 00:21:57.680 about how words are that important? And in Jesus' 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:01.660 life, we see the Word using words perfectly, 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:07.079 which is really good because I don't. Often I'm 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:09.640 too opinionated, often I overshare, often I'm 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:12.779 critical. And in an attempt to be honest, I'll 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:15.400 often soft pedal things to be healing and lie 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.440 and flatter. When it's time to speak up, I often 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:22.140 don't speak up because I'm usually scared. When 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:24.539 it's time to be silent, I keep talking and have 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:28.599 foot and mouth disease. I can know all these 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:32.400 principles, but I don't do a very good job of 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:34.920 executing them well in the right moment at the 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.619 right time. I don't know, I feel like often I'm 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:40.299 gutter driving. Do you know gutter driving? Where 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:42.039 you're driving along and you hit the gutter and 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.640 you go, oop, that's a gutter, and then you go, 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:45.980 oop, and you overcorrect and hit the other gutter. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:48.740 That's what I feel like I'm like with my words 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:54.259 a lot of the time. But in Jesus, I see words 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:59.390 used so wisely. I see him speak a message that 00:22:59.390 --> 00:23:05.470 is both honest and healing. His gospel word confronts 00:23:05.470 --> 00:23:09.910 and exposes me with the truth that Jesus is Lord 00:23:09.910 --> 00:23:15.170 and that I'm worse than I think. Yet it's a healing 00:23:15.170 --> 00:23:18.950 word that offers grace, peace and transformation. 00:23:20.710 --> 00:23:24.589 My sins are forgiven. I'm right with God through 00:23:24.589 --> 00:23:28.880 what Jesus has done for me. That's his word to 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:34.339 me. And I see Jesus being silent like a sheep 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:37.539 before the slaughter. He knows when to speak 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:42.160 not and when to not. Yet he also cries out words 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:45.740 at the right time. Even as he's dying, he explains 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:49.500 the mystery of the cross. He cries out, it is 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:53.829 finished. He's one salvation for me, all alone, 00:23:54.109 --> 00:23:56.769 for all the times that I've sinned with my words. 00:23:56.990 --> 00:24:03.990 How wonderful is how Jesus uses words. And Jesus' 00:24:04.250 --> 00:24:07.130 gospel message is the most powerful word ever. 00:24:08.250 --> 00:24:10.769 It's changed the world and it's changed many 00:24:10.769 --> 00:24:15.009 lives in this room. Do you know, one of the weird 00:24:15.009 --> 00:24:18.049 things for me is that I'm a marriage celebrant 00:24:18.049 --> 00:24:22.720 as a minister. And so my words sometimes actually 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:27.339 shape reality. You know, I'll say, okay, I now 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:30.299 pronounce you husband and wife, and these two 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:35.160 are now made one. It's very cool. But you know 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:38.960 what? The gospel does that too. When you speak 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:45.140 the gospel to people, it shapes reality. It exposes 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:49.690 hearts. It moves people so that they become wed 00:24:49.690 --> 00:24:54.349 to Jesus if they believe in him. And it doesn't 00:24:54.349 --> 00:24:56.829 stop there. The more we know that gospel word 00:24:56.829 --> 00:24:59.049 and the more it's deep within our heart, the 00:24:59.049 --> 00:25:01.869 more it changes how we use our words. This is 00:25:01.869 --> 00:25:05.029 not just self -help stuff. This goes straight 00:25:05.029 --> 00:25:07.829 to the heart. Have a look at what it says in 00:25:07.829 --> 00:25:11.609 Colossians. At the same time, pray also for us 00:25:11.609 --> 00:25:14.569 that God may open to us a door for the Word to 00:25:14.569 --> 00:25:16.869 declare the mystery of Christ on account of which 00:25:16.869 --> 00:25:19.529 I am in prison, that I may make it clear, which 00:25:19.529 --> 00:25:23.170 is how I ought to speak, and then walk in wisdom 00:25:23.170 --> 00:25:26.150 toward outsiders, making the best use of the 00:25:26.150 --> 00:25:30.309 time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned 00:25:30.309 --> 00:25:33.650 with salt that's winsome and thought -provoking, 00:25:34.089 --> 00:25:36.650 so that you may know how you ought to answer 00:25:36.650 --> 00:25:43.329 each person. The Gospel that saves us also makes 00:25:43.329 --> 00:25:47.009 us different people. People who are more honest 00:25:47.009 --> 00:25:50.329 and clear. People who are gracious and winsome. 00:25:51.349 --> 00:25:54.450 And we're made wiser because we're ambassadors 00:25:54.450 --> 00:26:02.650 for Jesus. Our words have great power. Or think 00:26:02.650 --> 00:26:06.900 of James 3 that we had read earlier. In James, 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:09.720 the gospel word, the word implanted in us that 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:13.619 saves our souls, changes how we use our tongues. 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:17.839 We start using our words more consistently because 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:22.000 the gospel moves us to do that. Do you remember 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:26.480 what he says in James 3? You know that you bless 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:29.359 God and then you curse one another when you're 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:34.480 made in the image of God? It's an amazing picture, 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.299 isn't it? You can imagine it. We're there on 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:38.519 Sunday and we're singing praises to God and you're 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:42.059 going, yeah, how good is this? And then we walk 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:44.880 out to morning tea and we start gossiping about 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:51.900 someone. That's the picture. But the deeper the 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:55.160 gospel word goes in us, the less double -minded 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:59.980 and double -tongued we become. See, there's a 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:04.220 link between our hearts and our tongues. They're 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:09.380 connected. Our tongues are actually a very effective 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:13.539 spiritual barometer for where our heart is really 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:20.220 at. And to change our speech, the gospel word 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:25.720 must change our heart. So let me finish by asking 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:30.519 what do your words reveal about your heart? What 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:34.900 needs to change in your life? Let me give you 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:40.140 one scenario, one example. Are your words bullets 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:45.700 or bandages? If they're bullets, what's going 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:52.940 on in you? Hurt people hurt people. Doesn't make 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:59.920 it okay. But that's often what happens. And if 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:02.619 that's you, you need to treat what's going on 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:05.819 in your heart. If your words are bullets, you 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:08.759 likely need to let the gospel heal your heart. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:15.000 Or maybe you're harsh with others. Do you know 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:17.880 our brains are lazy? I found this out the other 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:20.299 day. Our brains are lazy. They're always looking 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:23.579 for the path of least resistance. And so if you've 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:26.740 got this propensity to be harsh with other people, 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:30.299 your brains will use the same neural pathways 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:36.039 to be harsh with yourself and vice versa. And 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:38.880 so often people who blame others and are critical 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:41.079 of others struggle with a lot of personal shame. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:45.519 What do you need to do if you're harsh with others? 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:50.950 Well, you need to draw... drive the gospel deeper 00:28:50.950 --> 00:28:54.890 into your heart. You need to let it shape your 00:28:54.890 --> 00:28:57.430 identity so that you can be softer with yourself. 00:29:01.630 --> 00:29:05.390 What's it for you? We've all got something different 00:29:05.390 --> 00:29:09.490 that we're struggling with here. But please don't 00:29:09.490 --> 00:29:14.849 let today's words flitter away into the air or 00:29:14.849 --> 00:29:19.359 go in through one ear and out the other. Be someone 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:23.279 who sees how powerful words are and use them 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:28.839 well. They make an impact. Maybe tonight, before 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:32.900 you go to sleep, think about how God has spoken 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:37.099 to you in His Son, the Word, the Lord Jesus. 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:43.359 And then ponder, where does my speech need to 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:51.259 change? Let's pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:55.519 we thank you that you have spoken to us. You've 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:59.200 spoken your life -giving word of salvation to 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:03.759 us in the Lord Jesus. Give us ears to hear that 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:08.079 word, to embrace it, to love it, to cherish it. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:11.240 Let it shape how we think about ourselves and 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:17.859 those around us. And Father, please. Help us 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:22.000 to use our tongues differently. Help us to be 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:27.319 honest, healing and heedful in the way that we 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:32.000 speak. And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.