Transforming Speech: Edifying Words for a New Creation

Our speech is the distinguishing and differentiating Hector in men's life. When you come to compare and contrast men and the animal, there are many differences, but this is probably the most prominent and the most important. The thing that makes men men is this gift of speech and of expression. It's here we see perhaps the image of God in which men was originally created coming out most clearly. [00:04:51]

Speech is a very vital one and of necessity should receive great prominence as we are dealing with in considering the application of the truth which we believe through the details of our lives. Now, this is not surprising because, as we've already reminded one another in considering that question of lying, after all, speech is the distinguishing and differentiating Hector in men's life. [00:04:20]

The Apostle here is but illustrating the great principle which is laid out, and the principle is, of course, that now, having been regenerated, being born again, they must put off concerning the former conversation the old man which was corrupt according to the deceitful masks, and being renewed in the spirit of their minds, they must put on this new man that is created after God in righteousness and holiness of the truth. [00:01:25]

The Apostle provides a framework for our speech: a negative injunction to avoid corrupt communication, a positive injunction to speak what is good, and an explanation that our words should minister grace to the hearers. This means our conversations should be thoughtful, intentional, and tailored to the needs of those we are speaking with. [00:11:02]

The first characteristic of the speech of the ungodly always is excess, lack of control. The speech of the ungodly is excessive. The ungodly people talk too much; they talk without thinking. They're always talking. It's you, you travel in a bus or a train, you sit in the room, and you'll find that is there's this constant chattering. [00:12:29]

The Christian should never be out of control, never, and especially in this method of conversation. We must never become so excited that we are really not responsible for what we are saying. There must always be thought behind Christian speech and conversation. Why? Well, because, as I said at the beginning, speech in conversation is an expression of our total personality. [00:25:31]

Our conversation must be good, not corrupt, that which is good and to God. He adds edifying. There must be some purpose in it; there must be some point in it; there must be some very win it. We don't just shatter away the time and talk about nothing. Oh, the others we've all wasted in life ensure I do of talk and chatter and gossip and unworthiness. [00:29:00]

The Christian is a man who all along doesn't merely think of his own things but also the things of another. He's like we saw last Sunday morning, the Lord Himself, and this is the mind that must be in us. He didn't consider himself; he thought of others, and therefore he humbled himself for the sake of others. [00:28:38]

The Apostle is really doing here is to ask us to be him like our Lord Himself. How did he behave? Well, and let me give you this description of him written by the prophet Isaiah in one of his great messianic passages. He looks forward, and he sees him, and here he tells us the Messiah is speaking, and this is what he says. [00:37:33]

The Lord has given me the tongue of the learner that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is wearing. That's it, the tongue of the learner that I may know how to speak a word in season to him that he is wearing. My dear Christian people, there are weary people round and about us, weary of sin, weary in sin, weary of life. [00:38:13]

Let us pray that we may have this none of the learning that we may be unable to speak a word in Steve to some poor we are. We show how the Lord came from him to do that, and of him, it was written, and he verified it in his life. The bruised Reed he will not break, the smoking flesh he will not quench. [00:39:29]

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, no, no, but that which is good and for the edification of the youth, the improvement of the need, that which fits the occasion, that we may ever administer grace to the here. Thank God for such a life of this Christian life in which everything is changed. [00:40:20]