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November 18, 2020 2:00 am
Words are powerful. Think of a doctor who could say to a patient, "You have six months to live." Or a judge who might say, "You're free to go." In the message "Roar," Skip shares some insightful guidelines to help you use your words wisely.
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Scientists tell us that there are more bacteria per square inch on the backs of our tongue than any other place in the human body. That's why hygienists will tell you when you brush your teeth. Don't forget to brush your time. That's where the germ are not here to really tell you about oral care as much as I'm here to tell you about verbal care because your tongue your mouth a metaphor for the words that you speak as one of the most dangerous parts about you as a kid. You've probably heard the same sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt. Chances are that as you grew up, realize that isn't always true. Today, unconnected Skip Skip explores the power of words and how is yours to give life and encouragement to other but first we want to share about an exciting opportunity you have to take your knowledge of God's word even deeper you looking to pursue biblical studies beyond church and personal Bible study teacher learning and your life's purpose to the next level with Calvary college registration for the 2021 spring term is open now and the curriculum features both online classes and on-site classes at Calvary church Albuquerque. Classes include biblical studies like spiritual foundations and the history and authenticity of the Bible class classes and few books of the Bible, like Daniel, Romans and Revelation with video content from world renowned biblical scholars Skip I think Calvary College partners with Veritas international University and Calvary Chapel University so you can are an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree or simply increase your knowledge of biblical studies. The deadline to get your application in for the 2021 semester is December 4. Find out more and apply today at Calvary ABQ.college Calvary ABQ.college now.
We're in Psalms 1 4141 guided tour study with skip-you know your tongue is one of the most important parts of your body. It's small, but you depend on and so do we. Because without your tongue, you wouldn't be able to speak and we would be able to know what you're thinking without your time. You would be able to sing. I know for some that may be a plus but for most it wouldn't be without your tongue you would be able to whistle without your tongue you would be able to eat because it is your tongue that directs the food in your mouth toward the throat, enabling you to swallow it without your tongue you would be able to taste anything those taste buds between 3000 and 10,000 receptors on the top and the bottom of your tongue at the same time your mouth and especially your tongue is one of the dirtiest parts about you scientists tell us that there are there's more bacteria per square inch on the backs of our tongue been any other place in the human body. That's why hygienists will tell you when you brush your teeth. Don't forget to brush your tongue. That's where the germs are not here to really tell you about oral care as much as I'm here to tell you about verbal care because your tongue your mouth a metaphor for the words that you speak as one of the most dangerous parts about you. You know that in James chapter 3 talks about this he writes the tongue is a small thing, but what an enormous damage it can do a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire and the tongue is a flame of fire.
It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction for it is set on fire by hell itself.
People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
In Proverbs 18, Solomon went so far as to say death and life are in the power of the tongue. Think of the power of the doctors words who could say to a patient, you have a clean bill of health or you have six months to live. Powerful words, think of the words of the judge who could say to somebody in the courtroom, you're free to go or 20 years in the state penitentiary very very powerful words. Maybe you can relate to this prayer. Dear Lord. So far today I've done okay.
I kept my mouth shut.
I haven't gossiped I haven't lost my temper haven't been grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent. I'm really glad about that.
But in a few minutes. Lord, I'm going to get out of bed and from then on. I'm probably going to need a lot more help. Amen. Psalm 140 in Psalm 141 are companion Psalms they relate to each other. Both deal with the subject of the words of speech.
In fact, Hebrew scholars tell us that nearly every verse in Psalm 141 contain words from Psalm 140 so we read these Psalms together because we believe there companion Psalms limitary. The difference between the two. Psalm 140 is what's called an imprecatory Psalm. I know this is the big word. Let me tell you what imprecatory means and imprecation is a call for vengeance or payback so imprecatory Psalm is a prayer were David who is verbally attacked by enemies that surround him. Ask God for payback. That's an imprecatory Psalm when we get to Psalm 141 that's a different kind that's an imploring Tory Psalm that is were David recognizing he himself has a problem with his own speech. Ask God for help with it's estimated that the average man or woman will open his or her mouth 700 times per day to speak is on how many words you speak you speak between seven and 20,000 words, but will open your mouth about 700 times to speak. So we have 700 opportunities every day to get it right, or to blow it badly. So with that in mind let's read these two Psalms and then I'll give you the principles that are in it. Psalm 140 begins. Deliver me oh Lord from evil men preserve me from violent men who plan evil things in their hearts they continually gather together for war.
They sharpen their tongues like a serpent, the poison of asps is under their lips keep me oh Lord from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent men who have purpose to make my steps stumble, the proud have hidden a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the wayside.
They have set traps for me. I said to the Lord, you are my God hear the voice of my supplications, oh Lord God, the Lord, the strength of my salvation. You have covered my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant. Oh Lord, the desires of the wicked do not further the wicked scheme, lest they be exalted. As for the hand of those who surround me, let the evil of their lips cover them like burning coals fall upon them.
Let them be cast into the fire in the deep pits that they rise not up again. Let not a slanderer be established in the air let evil hunt. The violent man to overthrow him. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name. The upright shall dwell in your presence. Lord, I cry out to you make haste to me. Give ear to my voice when I cry to you. Let my prayer be set before you, as incense the lifting of my hands. As the evening sacrifice set a guard over Lord, over my mouth keep watch over the door of my lips do not incline my heart to any evil thing to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity and do not let me eat their delicacy.
Let the right to strike me and it shall be a kindness and let him rebuke me at shall be as excellent oil. Let my head not refuse it for.
Still, my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff and they hear my words for their sweet. Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave is when one plows and breaks up the earth. My eyes are upon you. Oh God, the Lord in you. I take refuge, do not leave my soul destitute keep me from the snares they have laid for me and from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall in their own nets while I escape safely. Using these two Psalms. Let me give you what I believe are three guidelines that come from both of these Psalms.
Three guidelines on using your words using your speech. Here are the guidelines some words are hurtful.
Other words are helpful. All words are consequential you're taking notes you want to write those three things down.
Some words are hurtful. Other words are helpful. All words are consequential and that will form our outline as we go through these two Psalms.
Consider the first consider hurtful words. Some words are hurtful and there's three types of hurtful speech that are identified by David. First of all, sharp words, sharp words in verse three of Psalm 140. David writes they sharpen their tongues like a serpent, the poison of asps is under their lips were descriptive set of words describing sharp words now and ask is an Egyptian snake is one of the most dangerous venomous on the planet the victim after Britain has four minutes before he or she dies. So it's very very descriptive set of words. Now there are some people that when you have a conversation with them.
They just know how to inject venom into it. You might not be a direct assault, it might be a backhanded passive aggressive sharp word that they just love to inject conversation after conversation. Those are the kinds of words that will destroy friendship and erode trust maybe work with somebody who was a sharp tongue.
Maybe you live with someone who has a sharp tongue. No nudging please. Or maybe you are someone who has a sharp tongue. Maybe that is the chief problem of your life. In fact, I will say the closer you are to a person, the greater is the capacity for mutual pain because the closer you are to a person, the more you know that person you know what they like, you know it. They hate you know what words will cause them to get upset so you know what buttons to push, and you know when to do it for the closer you are to a person, the more capacity you have for mutual pain.
I read an article about a 12-year-old girl in Florida just last year who went to an abandoned cement factory in Florida and jumped to her death, she committed suicide when you hear that a 12-year-old commit suicide. You wonder what caused that the chip trouble at home. Come to find out she had a great home life. Her parents loved her they were together. There were no issues between so you wonder was it that she was experiencing bad grades at school know her grades were pretty good. Was he facing some physical disease. No there were no health issues as they died they found out that she had been getting Facebook messages from so-called friends.
Those who are close around her in school but all of the messages sent were death wishes until they finally said on her Facebook are used. Even still alive. You should be dead and it happens so frequently that she took her life. In Proverbs 12 Solomon says there is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword.
Did you know that snails have tongues with teeth on them.
One scientist discovered under his microscope as he unraveled at 30,000 little talk about a sharp tongue seriously snail like a little secret weapon is rolled up in its mouth, but he can pull it out and saw through stems and leaves and debris. Some folks have a sharp tongue make the keeper rolled up, ready to unravel at just the right time and drop just the right mom into a conversation. Sharp words are hurtful second categories mentioned in our Psalm sharp words but spiteful words go down to verse nine, Psalm 140. As for the head of those who surround me notices phrase like the evil of their lips cover them, hear the word evil or evil of their lips is malicious or spiteful or threatening words. That's how it's generally seen or translated. However, the Hebrew word all or evil, literally means troublesome filled with anxiety, laborious toilsome or having a wearing effect. There are some words you get exposed to, and they have a wearying toilsome effect.
Think of the vulgarity and profanity that just you hear it so often it just I hope it wears on you. It grates at you.
In fact, it's everywhere. So much so that everybody said oh well that's just normal. Nowadays I think there's any form of media entertainment where vulgarity isn't the norm anymore in virtually every workplace in America. It is become the norm. Time magazine article states profanity on broadcast television has risen 77 0% in the last five years. If that isn't shocking to you.
This should be because it is the purpose of the article that I'm quoting time magazine said this children exposed to swearwords on television will become more physically aggressive aggressive speech usually accompanied by aggression seen on the screen will translate according to the experts quoted in this time magazine article into physically aggressive behavior was a boy and if I ever said a bad word.
My mom had a solution for.
I hear that's right she would take a bar of soap take me over the sink and shop that bar of soap into my mouth. Let me taste it, and then she wash it out with soap and I thought what, what's the purpose of that. She said you not to clean up your speech and a washer mouth out with soap. I never will forget that to this day. If I'm in the shower and I taste a little bit of soap. My mind goes back to those traumatic experiences of my childhood.
There's what's ironic what I was having my mouth washed out for back then is what's on prime time today. In 1946.
I hope it goes back a ways, but just follow me in 1946 a movie came out still is played every single Christmas it's a Christmas classic with Jimmy Stewart with the name of it's a wonderful life. It's a great film right to feel good movie. And in this movie are dreaming sure there's a doctor you have to be really old even laugh at that is ever going to get a who is this Jimmy Stewart okay so in this movie.
1946.
It's a wonderful life the original screenplay as produced when the movie was produced. There were certain words in the movie that had to be deleted because they said people can't listen to these word is not appropriate, it is unacceptable for the viewing audience to have these words in entertainment.
I want you to know those words were that were deleted these words jerk jerk deleted from the movie inappropriate for audiences lousy deleted dang taken out impotent removed and garlic eaters taken away from the film garlic eaters is offensive to me sensor.
We've come a long way spiteful words like 1/3 category in our Psalms slanderous words go down to verse 11 of Psalm 140 verse 11. Let not a slanderer be established in the earth. David praised slanderer is a talebearer. It describes somebody who roams around looking for a person to tell something to I have a tale to tell, will you listen is a description. I am more deadly than the screaming shell of a Canon I win without killing I tear down homes. I break hearts wrecked lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me know purity is pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea and often is innocent. I never forget, and I seldom forgive my name is gossip.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18, the words of a gossip are like choice morsels or just picture that you sit down to a nice meal stomach is churning because you're hungry, you smell the food. Now you take your first bite when you take a go. Why because it's a choice morsel and there are folks who when they hear gossip. It's not you tell me a little bit more and there are some who feel that way and telling those kinds of things which shows us the problem of gossip.
It's not just in the telling of it. It's in the hearing of it, there wouldn't be so many open mouths.
If there weren't so many open years Google tasty morsels to receive. Have you ever experienced this somebody you know you haven't seen maybe for a couple weeks then you see them again. But suddenly they appear to you to be very different.
There, cold, torture their attitude toward Jews like aloof and cold and standoffish and it's as if the winds of the relationship ship did. And you wonder what's up can almost guarantee you they heard something they been listening to someone say something that causes that response whenever they see so let me suggest that before you entertain the hearing of a bad report about somebody else that you asked five questions question number one asked the person this are you giving me this information. What why are you telling this to me. I can almost guarantee their telling you that because they feel they believe you will be a sympathetic ear that you will tasty morsel.
They don't think you're going to confront them and say hey wait a minute, let me challenge you on this. They think you're a sympathetic ear so awesome where you telling me this question number two. Where did you get your information asked them that what you get your identifier source of one of these are really credible source of the bidder want to be in want to be named would not tell me if you can identify your sources don't bring it up. Third question to ask. Have you gone directly to those involved. How few people do this but how biblical that is to do. Matthew 18 you go directly to the person.
Question number four. Have you personally check out all the facts as you nothing about faxes facts are often offset by another set of facts you might have bits of the truth, but do you have all you sure you have all the facts here. The Bible says a fool answers a matter before he hears it and and the fifth question to ask is my favorite questionable can I quote you on this one want to be about once you are involved.
You just got involved and you got me involved in it. Can I quote, but I asked him can I have your permission.
Can I quote you on this.
If they're responsible and mature, they will say yes you can Skip the message from the series played want to share about an exciting resource that leaves a solid foundation of God's truth. A recent study the cultural research center, Christians are almost just as likely to reject the idea of absolute moral truth.
Except for American adults believe in absolute moral truth is eroding across all age and political ideologies with other church or unchurched. What that means is that over 75% of Christ followers are those who purport to be Christ followers are saying that nothing can be known for certain. There is no absolute truth about you. We want to help you understand the church or you can pursue God's true and apply your life to brand-new booklets like*why truth matters in guidance suicide if you fall under that category.
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These booklets are our thanks for your gift of $35 or more today. Tell keep this ministry on the air, connecting more people to God's word to give. Call 800-922-1888, and securely connectwithskip.com/off many people are searching for happiness can't find it in the world. True happiness is found in Christ were committed to sharing family Bible teachings that encourage listeners like you in your pursuit of God and through your gift today.
You can help to the Lord and keep these messages you have come out again hundred 90, 200-1928 four.com/downloads.com/downloads. Tune in tomorrow Skip Heitzig six years. More helpful guidance on using your words were good that can handle your gnarly prayers. So be honest and get it out and I look at her like this honest prayer is better than dishonest Skip presentation of connection unification truth