Sermon Delivered….JAN 26, 2020

POWERFUL WORDS “What is the Tongue?” (Proverbs 18:21)

OPENING A. ILLUSTRATION 1. Here’s our clues: it is a small thing but boasts of great things. It’s a small fire but can set the whole forest ablaze. No human can tame it. It directs our entire life. It’s a restless evil full of poison. With it we bless God and with it we curse people. Answer: The tongue. 2. Perhaps you have heard of the fable of the king and the menu? A king once asked his cook to prepare for him the best dish in the world, and he was served a dish of tongue. The king then asked for the worst dish in the world, and again was served the tongue. “Why do you serve the same food as both the best and the worst?” the perplexed monarch asked. “Because, your majesty,” the cook replied, “the tongue is the best of things when used wisely and lovingly, but it is the worst of things when used carelessly and unkindly.” Death and life are in the power of the tongue! B. SERMON IDEA 1. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Is this true? • Words have more power than sticks and stones. o “I love you” “I hate you” o “I’m so proud of you” “You will never amount to anything” o “I have a dream” “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” o ‘Semper Fi” “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men were created equal.” o “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” o “For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 2. Words have meaning; words are powerful. • How many have been saved and given new life by the words, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord….” • Consider, for every word in Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf” 125 people died in WWII. 3. Our words matter. • In conversations, letters, emails, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and texts. • We should not underestimate their power o How many church splits have been caused by adultery, or theft? Some, yes. o But how many church splits by comparison have been caused by gossip or backbiting? 4. Our speech matters to God and He has much to teach us about how to use it. C. BACKGROUND 1. If you are new here, we have been studying the book of Proverbs • Proverbs was written mostly by Solomon as a Lessons for Life to his son. • The first nine chapters are about the need for wisdom—the rest of the book contains the Proverbs in several repeated categories. • We are looking at what the book teaches about each of these categories o We begin a new one today on Powerful Words. 2. Proverbs has more to say about our words than it does any other subject. • There are about 90 proverbs that teach us about our speech. • Why so many? Consider how much we use words. • The average American speaks about 700 times a day o Even if it were ¼ of that, how many other things do we do 175 times a day?

I. WORDS ARE A POWERFUL GIFT FROM GOD A. ILLUSTRATION 1. Play Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eat6aBfo2mA • Play entire clip. 2. What is one of the first things we learn as children? To speak, to form words, then to make sentences. B. EXPLANATION/APPLICATION 3. God created us in His image and that image involves the ability to speak words. • God speaks—it’s one of His greatest characteristics and abilities. • God spoke the creation into existence. • God spoke to Adam and gave him instructions in the garden; who in turn shared those instructions with Eve. • God called to Adam and Eve in the garden. • God spoke to the prophets and He gave us His written Word • Jesus was the Word made flesh • God said, call to me and I will answer you • God said, “Call on the name of the Lord and be saved.” 4. The ability to speak is part of our creative design • “Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains.” –Professor Steven Pinker. • We use words to develop trust, create intimacy, and build community—whether they are spoken, written, or signed, they are what we use to form relationships. o Remember, relationships are the primary purpose of our creation. o But unlike God—we use words to destroy trust, unravel intimacy and destroy community. 5. Proverbs teaches us that speech is a powerful gift of God that we should not take for granted. • It is a gift he did not give any other part of creation. • Granted animals communicate—but nothing compared to human speech and animals don’t talk to God—we do Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. ESV

Proverbs 25:11-12 A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray. A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold HCSB • Our words should be as crafted in value as fine jewelry. Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. ESV

Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. ESV

Proverbs 15:4 The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit. HCSB o A Christian recognizes the powerful gift of speech and uses it to glorify God and benefit others.

II. WORDS CAN BE USED TO BRING LIFE AND HEALING A. ILLUSTRATION 1. On Thursday afternoon November 13, 1863 a massive crowd gathered to dedicate the national soldier’s cemetery in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The President of the United States was invited to speak. It was a sobering time in American History—the Civil War had been going on for about 2 1/5 years and this battle was the first significant win for the Union. But it was costly—23000 Union Soldiers died. An additionally 28,000 Confederates died. It is the largest battle ever fought on American soil. Abraham Lincoln, who was ill, suffering from the onset of a mild case of smallpox was the second to speak. Edward Everett spoke first, his oration was 13,607 words and lasted two hours. No one reads or remembers what he said. President Lincoln stepped to the platform and delivered 271 words that have been considered one of the most influential and stirring speeches in American history declaring the purpose for the sacrifice and the foundation of American’s national purpose. The tide of the war turned. 2. Here is what he said: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow— this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. B. EXPLANATION Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. NKJV 1. We can use our words to encourage others. • We were not mean to be alone—when we are isolated we become fearful and depressed. o Sometimes it’s hard to hear God so God intentionally uses us to speak good words into other’s hearts. o How many times have you been encouraged by the words of another? o It might not be that the problem is going to be removed anytime soon but it can be words of hope and truth—“God loves you and God will not leave you. Neither will I” Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. NKJV • Jesus is the bread and water of life in us—but He gives us so much that we overflow for others. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. NIV o The word “feed” is a shepherd term—God wants us to shepherd others o To lead them to green pastures and still waters o To breath words of encouragement and life into others. 2. We can use our words to rescue others Proverbs 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. NIV • One preacher said, “The tongue of the wise brings healing because the tongue of the wise cares more about soothing an injury than winning an argument.” • The Lord says you are His child, you are his beloved, chosen, adopted, redeemed and sealed—a child of the King. • Since you are secure in Him, you have no need to win an argument to secure your status. You rest in Him. • Therefore you are free to bring healing to another. • How—three powerful words are a great place to start if there’s an misunderstanding or an argument—“I am sorry.” o Listen to what Francis Schaeffer taught: What does this love mean? How can it be made visible? First it means a very simple thing. It means that when…I have failed to love my Christian brother, I go to him and say, “I’m sorry.”…It may sound simplistic to start with saying we are sorry and asking forgiveness, bit it is not. This is the way of renewed fellowship, whether it is between a husband and wife, a parent and child, within a Christian community, or between groups. When we have shown a lack of love toward the other, we are called by God to go and say, “I’m sorry….I really am sorry.” If I am not willing to say , “I’m sorry,” when I have wronged somebody else—specially when I have not loved him—I have not even started to think about the meaning of a Christian oneness which the world can see. The world has a right to question whether I am a Christian. And more than that…if I am not willing to do this simple thing, the world has a right to question whether Jesus has sent from God and whether Christianity is true.” § Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but words can • Our culture says, “Fight for your rights—its always a win-lose situation.” o It says you have free speech to say whatever you feel. o But the Lord says James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ESV o When you gave your heart to Christ, you gave up your rights and entered a new culture. You are not free to say whatever you feel. You are free from self and bring every thought and feeling under the Lordship of Christ. Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. 3. Our words can help restore those who have sinned. Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies. NKJV • When we can speak the Gospel, or words of encouragement, or words of truth, and we do not, then we are partly to blame for their pain.

III. WORDS CAN BE USED TO BRING DEATH AND DESTRUCTION A. EXPLANATION 1. Our words can hurt others when we lie Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. ESV • The Devil is the father of lies—God hates lying o Truth is what makes intimacy and trust in relationships possible. Lying creates a false realty and therefore insecurity. o Its builds fake relationships. • Those who tell lies love to listen to them as well. Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. ESV 2. Our words hurt others when we gossip Proverbs 11:13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. NIV • Those who participate in gossip as the speaker or the hearer—have one motive— exaltation of self. o When we make others look bad—we want others to notice us, either our self identified goodness or our knowledge of secrets. 3. Our words hurt others when we speak in haste Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. ESV • Words spoken without thinking can pierce the soul of others. Proverbs 15:28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things. HCSB • That often what happens when we are angry Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. NKJV

CONCLUSION A. CLOSE 1. You are either on the receiving or giving end of gossip, put downs, false promises, gossip or griping. • That should trouble us—if you are on the receiving end, I’m sure it does. • But all of us have been on the giving end too. 2. Jesus was the only one who never opened his mouth in a wrong way. • He spoke right every time—He knew when to speak, when to remain silent, when to encourage and heal, and when to speak truth even if hurt. • What did humanity do to Him for it—they killed Him. • But Jesus died on the cross for every evil word you and I have spoken • He died for what we said and left unsaid. • We are forgiven and free from those sins—the gospel sets me free from the guilt of that sin. • Now I can have a new speechwriter— Proverbs 16:1 To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. NIV o Put that verse together with this one: Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. NIV 3. Jesus can fill my heart with life and my mouth with right speech—how? Proverbs 10:13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,.. NKJV • That understanding comes from the Word of God—Jesus the Word made flesh can change our speech if we apply the gospel to it. o In all our ways acknowledge Him—repentance, faith and surrender. o Take your talk to the Lord—work it out in your relationship with Him. 4. What if you are on the receiving end?—the gospel is your answer too. • Listen to His Words—regardless of what another says—what does He say about you. • Read Ephesians chapters 1-2 • God’s Word is life to our soul, healing to our hearts. Go deeper in the Word and His Word will go deeper in you.