What Do We Talk About?
We need to learn that some things are more important than other things and should
be discussed often.
Introduction
This lesson will be about what comes out of our mouth.
Jesus taught that we should watch what comes out of our mouth.
What we say could have a bearing on our eternal destiny.
Some of us talk so much about things, but often fail to speak what God wants
us to say.
Matthew 12:34-37
“…Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?
for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man out of
his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil
treasure bringeth forth evil things. And I say unto you, that every idle word
that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”.
When we read this passage we need to note the following:
Just what does Jesus consider idle words?
Why will we be held accountable for the words we speak?
How do our words justify or condemn us?
What are we trying to say?
We are involved in communication all the time.
We talk about politics, weather, sports, and so many other things.
But how often do we speak of spiritual matters in our daily conversations?
When was the last time you asked someone to study the Bible with you?
Notice some passages about what we are to say:
2 Timothy 1:13 “…Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast
heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”.
I Timothy 4:6 “…If thou put the brethren in mind of these things,
thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the
faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:”
Colossians 4:6 “…Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned
with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one”.
I Corinthians 2:4-5,13 “…And my speech and my preaching were not
in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.…Which
things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which
the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words”.
Jude 16 “…These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their
lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling words), showing respect of persons
for the sake of advantage”.
Ephesians 5:6-7 “…Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because
of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. Be not
ye therefore partakers with them;”
Acts 15:24 “…Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out
from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave
no commandment;”
2 Timothy 2:14 “…Of these things put them in remembrance, charging
them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit,
to the subverting of them that hear”.
I Timothy 6:3-5 “…If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and
consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing,
but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of
the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain”.
Ephesians 4:29 “…Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth,
but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace
to them that hear”.
Romans 3:13-14 “…Their throat is an open sepulcher; With their tongues
they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is
full of cursing and bitterness:”
James 3:8-10 “…But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless
evil, it is full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and
therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: out of the same
mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not
so to be”.
Matthew 15:18-19 “…But the things which proceed out of the mouth
come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart come
forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
and railings:”
Colossians 3:8-9 “…but now do ye also put them all away: anger,
wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to
another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,
Ephesians 4:25 “…Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth
each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another”.
I Timothy 4:1-2 “…But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later
times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and
doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in
their own conscience as with a hot iron; “
Proverbs 8:6-8 “…Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the
opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall utter truth; And
wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them”.
Psalms 19:14 “…Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer”.
Here is the point:
We have told God that this is what we are going to do with our mouth and our
words.
Have we lived up to what we have promised Him?
Everything we speak must be in harmony with the truth that is revealed in the
gospel of Christ.
We must choose our words with great care so that only good will come from our
speech.
Our words ought to originate from God’s wisdom, and not the wisdom of
man.
We should not speak words of hateful, wicked, demeaning accusations against
others.
We should not speak lies to anyone.
Neither should we speak words of murmuring and complaining.
We need to be cautious not to stir up strife and division.
Filthy language, sexual filth, profanity and cursing are not spoken by righteous
individuals.
Conclusion
Words have consequences.
The Bible teaches us that our words have eternal consequences.
That is all the more reason that we need to examine every facet of our lives
to make sure we comply with God’s standards.
Our duty as Christians is to lead people to Christ.
How can that happen when you do not even talk about Christ?
By Carey Scott
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