Guarding Our Tongues: The Power of Words

Devotional

Day 1: Words Reflect Character

Our words are a mirror of our inner selves. Proverbs 18:1-2 teaches that unfriendly people care only about themselves and lash out at common sense. This is a reflection of their character. As Christians, our words should reflect the love and wisdom of Christ, not selfishness or foolishness. When we speak, we reveal our true nature, whether it is filled with love, wisdom, or selfishness and folly.

The Bible emphasizes that our speech should be seasoned with grace and truth, reflecting the character of Christ. By being mindful of our words, we can ensure that they build up rather than tear down, and that they reflect the love and wisdom of Christ. This is not just about avoiding negative speech but actively choosing words that bring life and encouragement to others. [10:28]

Proverbs 18:1-2 (ESV): "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."

Reflection: Think about your recent conversations. Do your words reflect the love and wisdom of Christ? How can you be more intentional in ensuring your speech builds others up?

Day 2: The Power of Listening

Listening is a powerful tool that allows us to discern the true needs of others and respond with wisdom. Before speaking, it's crucial to listen and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. In a personal story, listening for an hour and 45 minutes allowed the speaker to discern the real issue and speak words that brought healing. This approach ensures that our words are not just our opinions but are guided by God's wisdom.

By taking the time to listen, we can better understand the context and emotions behind someone's words, allowing us to respond in a way that is compassionate and wise. This practice not only helps in personal interactions but also in our spiritual growth, as we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance in our speech. [06:33]

James 1:19 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you spoke quickly without fully listening. How might the outcome have been different if you had taken the time to listen and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance?

Day 3: Gossip's Destructive Nature

Gossip is a destructive force that can deeply affect relationships and perceptions. Proverbs 18:8 warns that rumors can be deadly, impacting our relationships and perceptions. Gossip is like a tasty treat that goes deep into our hearts and affects us profoundly. We must avoid spreading gossip and instead focus on speaking truth and love.

Gossip not only harms the person being spoken about but also corrupts the hearts of those who engage in it. It creates division and mistrust, undermining the unity and love that should characterize the body of Christ. By choosing to speak truth and love, we can build stronger, healthier relationships and reflect the character of Christ in our interactions. [22:37]

Proverbs 18:8 (ESV): "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you participated in or were affected by gossip. How did it impact your relationships? What steps can you take to avoid gossip and promote truth and love in your conversations?

Day 4: Thoughtless Words Cause Trouble

Speaking thoughtlessly, especially from a corrupt heart, can cause significant trouble. Proverbs 18:6-7 highlights that fools' words lead to constant quarrels and ruin. Thoughtless words can lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and broken relationships. Wise people think before they speak, making their words appealing and desirable.

By being mindful of our speech, we can avoid unnecessary conflicts and promote peace and understanding. This requires self-control and a heart aligned with God's wisdom. When we take the time to think before we speak, we can ensure that our words are constructive and beneficial to those who hear them. [19:37]

Proverbs 18:6-7 (ESV): "A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul."

Reflection: Recall a recent situation where your thoughtless words caused trouble. How can you practice self-control and seek God's wisdom before speaking in the future?

Day 5: Commit Your Tongue to God

Our words should be committed to God's glory and purpose. This means praying for guidance before speaking and ensuring our words align with Scripture. By doing so, we can use our tongues to heal, restore, and speak truth, reflecting God's love and wisdom. Committing our speech to God involves a conscious decision to let Him guide our words and use them for His purposes.

When we commit our tongues to God, we become instruments of His grace and truth in the world. Our speech can bring healing, encouragement, and wisdom to those around us. This requires a daily commitment to seek God's guidance and align our hearts with His will. [32:33]

Psalm 19:14 (ESV): "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Reflection: How can you commit your speech to God's glory today? What practical steps can you take to ensure your words align with His purposes and bring healing and encouragement to others?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the importance of guarding our tongues and the power our words hold. We began by reflecting on recent events at the Olympics, where Jesus was mocked, and the inconsistency in how society treats expressions of faith. This led us to the core of our discussion: the significance of our words and how they reflect our character. Proverbs offers profound wisdom on this topic, emphasizing that our words can either build up or tear down.

I shared a personal story about a late-night call from a former church member, highlighting the importance of listening and seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance before speaking. This experience underscored that our opinions are less important than the words God wants us to share. We delved into several Proverbs that illustrate how our words reveal our character, can get us into trouble, create enemies, and often move too quickly.

We learned that wise people think before they speak, making their words appealing and desirable. In contrast, fools speak thoughtlessly, often from a corrupt heart, leading to quarrels and misunderstandings. Gossip, in particular, was highlighted as a destructive force that can deeply affect relationships and perceptions.

In conclusion, we were encouraged to make conscious decisions about our speech: to listen more, forgive offenses, avoid gossip, and commit our tongues to God's glory. By doing so, we can use our words to heal, restore, and speak truth, reflecting the love and wisdom of Christ.

###

Key Takeaways

1. 2 teaches that unfriendly people care only about themselves and lash out at common sense. This is a reflection of their character. As Christians, our words should reflect the love and wisdom of Christ, not selfishness or foolishness. [10:28]
2. The Power of Listening: Before speaking, it's crucial to listen and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. In my personal story, listening for an hour and 45 minutes allowed me to discern the real issue and speak words that brought healing. This approach ensures that our words are not just our opinions but are guided by God's wisdom.

3. Gossip's Destructive Nature: Gossip is like a tasty treat that goes deep into our hearts and affects us profoundly. Proverbs 18:8 warns that rumors can be deadly, impacting our relationships and perceptions. We must avoid spreading gossip and instead focus on speaking truth and love.

4. Thoughtless Words Cause Trouble: Proverbs 18:6-7 highlights that fools' words lead to constant quarrels and ruin. Speaking thoughtlessly, especially from a corrupt heart, can cause significant trouble. We must think before we speak, ensuring our words are wise and constructive.

5. Commit Your Tongue to God: Our words should be committed to God's glory and purpose. This means praying for guidance before speaking and ensuring our words align with Scripture. By doing so, we can use our tongues to heal, restore, and speak truth, reflecting God's love and wisdom.

### [10:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:33] - Olympic Controversies and Reflections
[03:12] - Inconsistencies in Society's Treatment of Faith
[04:26] - Personal Story: Late-Night Call
[06:33] - The Power of Listening and the Holy Spirit
[08:27] - The Holy Spirit as the Hero
[09:23] - The Doctor Analogy
[10:28] - Words Reflect Character
[12:29] - The Double Trouble of a Fool
[14:34] - The Importance of Truth in Opinions
[16:28] - The Wisdom of Silence
[18:42] - Making Knowledge Appealing
[19:37] - Words Can Cause Trouble
[21:14] - Avoiding Unnecessary Arguments
[22:37] - The Destructive Nature of Gossip
[27:11] - The Dangers of Hasty Words
[29:28] - The Impact of Rumors
[32:33] - Committing Your Tongue to God
[33:56] - Prayer and Conclusion

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 18:1-2, what do unfriendly people and fools prioritize over understanding and sound judgment?
In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of listening before speaking? ([05:25])
How does Proverbs 18:6-7 describe the consequences of a fool's words?
What analogy does the pastor use to explain the impact of gossip on relationships? ([22:37])

Interpretation Questions

How do the verses in Proverbs 18:1-2 reflect the idea that our words reveal our character? ([10:28])
Why is it important to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance before speaking, as illustrated in the pastor's personal story? ([06:33])
What does Proverbs 18:8 suggest about the nature of gossip and its effects on individuals and relationships? ([22:37])
How can thoughtless words lead to trouble and misunderstandings, according to Proverbs 18:6-7 and the sermon? ([19:37])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent conversation where you spoke without thinking. How could you have approached it differently by seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance first? ([06:33])
Have you ever been affected by gossip, either as the subject or the spreader? How did it impact your relationships, and what steps can you take to avoid gossip in the future? ([22:37])
Think of a time when you shared your opinion without fully understanding the situation. How did it affect the outcome, and what can you do to ensure your words are wise and constructive in the future? ([19:37])
How can you commit your tongue to God's glory in your daily interactions? What practical steps can you take to ensure your words reflect the love and wisdom of Christ? ([32:33])
Identify a person in your life who often shares gossip. How can you lovingly address this issue with them and encourage a more positive and truthful conversation? ([22:37])
Consider a situation where you need to forgive someone who has offended you. How can you let go of the offense and choose to speak words of healing and restoration instead? ([30:34])
How can you practice listening more and speaking less in your interactions this week? What specific actions will you take to ensure you are hearing others fully before responding? ([30:34])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "You know, these individuals do not recognize that they're actually a tool of the enemy, a tool of Satan, and so, you know, I even started praying for their repentance and their salvation. Because the one, the very one that they were mocking is the one that died for their sins." [01:33] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I want to tell you your opinion. My opinion, you don't need my opinion. You need the word of the Holy Spirit. You need the word of God. That's what you need." [06:33] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The Holy spirit is the hero of the story. And that's what you would always shoot. That's what you should always want in your life. Is for the Holy spirit to be the, the hero to, for Jesus to be the hero of all the stories of your life." [08:27] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Your words do have power to it and the power to tear down or to build. Okay. And so you want your words to, you've got to put a watch over your word, a guard over your words, over your tongue." [06:33] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Choose to make some decisions about your tongue today. So that God can use you impact other people's lives for his glory." [32:33] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Your tongue reveals your character. I mean, it tells us who you are. The longer I listen to you, the more I understand you. The more I understand things. The more I understand things about you. It reveals your character." [10:28] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "A person always expressing their opinion may well just be a foolish person, especially when their opinion is baseless, not based on truth. That's why it should always be a regular statement in your life, a regular question in your life, as a believer, when you hear something, when you're asked something, when somebody asks for your opinion, you should say, well, let's see what the Bible says." [13:25] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Your tongue can get you into trouble. Proverbs 18. Fools' words get them into constant quarrels. They are asking for a beating. The mouths of fools are their ruin. They trap themselves with their lips. A fool finds himself in trouble because he speaks too much. He speaks thoughtlessly. And he's speaking usually from a corrupt heart." [19:37] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Rumors might be fun to hear, but they can also be deadly. And well, I'll put it this way. I have a cousin whose father passed away recently. And so I went up to the funeral and several family members spoke. And my cousin, many years ago, got into a little bit of trouble. But he and I never talked about it." [23:10] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Commit your tongue for God's glory and for God's purpose. That's why I always pray when someone is sharing something with me. God, what do you want to say to them through me? Lord, you speak through me. That's committing your tongue to God. To God's glory and to God's purpose. Lord, let me be a vessel to speak truth from your word." [32:33] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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