Watching Our Words
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Last week we talked about Help for Hot Temper so that we wouldn’t lose our witness and that we wouldn’t say things we would later regret. Tonight I want to talk about “Watching What We Say”. We have all heard the statement; “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That’s a lie because words do hurt. Most broken bones heal in a few weeks or months, but the hurt done by words can last a lifetime. Often hurtful words spoken to children become a reckless guide in their adulthood.
Text; Proverbs 12:16-22
16 A fool’s wrath is known at once, But a prudent man covers shame.
17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
1. Uncontrolled Mouth; 16
1. Uncontrolled Mouth; 16
A foolish man [angry] blows his top quickly and says words that are hurtful or harmful before he knows it.
Hurtful words are hard to take back, harmful words stain your testimony!
A prudent man [wise, thoughtful], thinks before he speaks. He might be upset and mad, but he doesn’t vent his feelings. He cools down through patience before he speaks.
2. Perjured Mouth; 17
2. Perjured Mouth; 17
This verse pertains to a courtroom setting [false witness] whereas a person would perjure themselves.
Perjury- lying under oath, giving false testimony/statements, willful deceit.
When a person perjures himself in a court room he reveals his true character and can no longer be trusted. His false testimony can also be responsible for a miscarriage of justice.
As Jesus was put on trial, all the witnesses perjured themselves by lying and giving false testimony.
55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.
56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying,
58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”
59 But not even then did their testimony agree.
If you were to look at modern day perjury, all you would have to do is look at our politicians. They perjure themselves daily in the congress, senate and the oval office to the American people. They simply can’t be trusted!
But one who speaks the truth declares righteousness [justice]. Truth always leads to a right verdict.
16 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
3. The Gossip; 18
3. The Gossip; 18
Gossip is like the piercings of a sword. It cuts deep and is very destructive.
Gossip- repeating the private affairs of others, spreading hurtful information, talebearer, even if it’s true.
One thing that makes gossip so dangerous and destructive is we all by nature love to hear it.
8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.
This means hearing gossip is like eating our favorite food and stimulates our desire for more. Gossip has ruined more friendships and relationships than any other words ever spoken.
A christian should never share personal or private information about another except to help or protect that person from gossip.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Our words need to be medicine that heals people’s hearts, not a poison that harms them.
4. Lying Lips; 19, 22
4. Lying Lips; 19, 22
One thing God hates more than anything is lying lips. God doesn’t hate the liar, He wants to save him. But God hates lies because it is stands against all that He is, TRUTH!
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Two of the seven things God hates most involve lying. Why does God hate lying? Because lying and liars are polar opposites of God’s nature!
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Lies don’t stand up very long, “they don’t have legs” and will soon be found out and fall.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
On the other hand, “truth endures” or will be established. Truth can be corroborated [backed up] and those who speak truth are the Lord’s delight
2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
3 As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right.
5. Corrupt Council; 20
5. Corrupt Council; 20
It is amazing how much corrupt council is given by people today.
I talked with the youth the other morning about where they seek the answers for life’s questions. You wouldn’t be surprised at their answers [Google, Siri, friends, celebrities]. All these places have answers for a lot of things but most answers are not rooted in the truth. So the council is corrupt.
Matthew 12:34–35 (NKJV)
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
But one who councils from the Scriptures are counselors of peace and have joy knowing they have not led anyone astray!
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Close;
Verse 21 is the reward or consequences to how we “Watch Our Words”.
If we will always speak truth in a candid and constructive way, it will be a help to the hearer and will keep us free from fault or harm.
But the person that speaks with evil intent, those very words will come back upon themselves in judgment without mercy.