The Speech of the New Man, Part 1

The man is probably the truest indicator of the spiritual condition of a person without question this is what the Bible says see the unredeemed mouth is the date which depravity exits but the most important characteristics of the mouth, at least where your spiritual condition is concerned, are the words that come out of it. So today on grace to you.

John MacArthur starts a series on how you can honor the Lord with every word you speak is simply titled taming the tongue, not John. This idea of watching your words managing your mouth. The Bible says a Christian is a new creation.

We have a new nature, so it ought to be pretty easy, almost automatic to say the right things all the time right doesn't seem to work out that way for me know and you know I always think about Isaiah 6 where Isaiah said woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and always wanted to say to Isaiah, wait a minute. Isaiah you you got the best mouth in the nation that mean you're the guy who speaks for God, you're the one who proclaims the word of God. The message of God and you think about Isaiah 66 chapters were revealed to him from God in the road and suddenly he spoke on all those things and yet he was very much aware of his sinful heart how often it showed up in his speech that's why the Bible says if you don't then with your speech. Your perfect person we have to tame the tongue. And this is a really important series. We all know and we all suffer the I guess the damage we do or the damage that is done to relationships by what people say that the tongue.

James says, second start the world on fire. The tongue can do massive damage. I don't know a better way to manifest virtue and godliness in Christian character than through a tongue that speaks wisdom, and righteousness. So were going to series on taming the tongue speech of the new man, a subtitle the users guide to wise word management and by the way, just as a footnote. It's not just how you speak with your mouth, but how you speak with your social media that needs to be addressed as well so were looking at the power of our words to do good in the power of our words to do damage regarding our words is a great and persistent challenge to the Christian we want to help you to be able to do that for the honor of our Lord stay with us and will be a practical week and 1/2 study yes friend every relationship you have from your spouse to your coworkers will benefit from the principles you're going to see in this study.

So let's get to those principles. Now here's John looking at the speech of the new man.

Christianity should have a profound effect on the mouth. A person's speech should be greatly altered by the fact that he has been saying that he has been redeemed.

Now the Bible really makes a tremendous emphasis at this point. The mouth is vital is an easy to control mouth and so it's the one thing the Bible seems to emphasize above every other human organism or human faculty. The tongue is the best and the worst of you is the best and the worst of me and so many many ways and I would have to say and I think you would agree with me. Certainly the Bible does, that the mouth is probably the truest indicator of the spiritual condition of a person without question this is what the Bible says essentially see the unredeemed mouth is the gate through which depravity exits now in our text Paul picks out four distinct elements related to the mouth or the Christian lifestyle. The speech of prayer. The speech of proclamation.

The speech of performance in the speech of perfection will take them one at a time. First, the speech of prayer, a new lifestyle with a new man will mean a new mouth filled with a new kind of conversation. Look at verse two, Colossians 42 continue in prayer and watching the same with thanksgiving now in talking about prayer. I realize that we have probably hit on one of the most common cords in the life of any Christian were all very much aware of this. We've all pretty well organized our theology so we got a little idea of prayer and pretty well worked out as to how we pray to let me see if I can broaden your horizons a little bit.

Prayer is the most important speech that your mouth will ever utter prayer is the most important conversation that you will ever hold the most important expression of the new life see prayer is the divinely appointed weapon against the sinister attack of the devil and his angels. Prayer is the vehicle for confession of sin. Prayer is the means by which the grateful soul pours out spontaneous praise before the throne of God. Prayer is the voice of the weeping soul calling on the sympathetic high priest in the time of need prayers the intercession of the concerned Christian who calls on divine resources in behalf of another's trouble. Prayer is the simple conversation of the beloved child with the caring father as they talk of love. Prayer is toward God prayers to be in line with the Holy Spirit we are to pray in the spirit, consistent with his mind and his will. We to pray always, according to the will of God. But I want to catch what Paul is saying here in a little different angle and expanded into it dimension that's rarely been touched noticed the first part of verse two continue in prayer. I think that if there's anywhere that I fail and there's anywhere that you fail, it's going to be in the area that he hits right there.

He doesn't say pray he says stay at continuing another thrust here is perseverance and a course immediately you think of Ephesians 618, praying always where he says, pray without what Cici in first Thessalonians 5 so it whether it's praying always Ephesians 6, or pray without ceasing. First Thessalonians, fiber, or feel like Luke 2136 Jesus said, praying always for the early apostles who in acts six gave themselves continually to prayer for Cornelius who prayed always to God or Romans 1212 versus continued diligently in prayer. Philippians 4 be anxious for nothing, but in everything by what prayer and supplication, but the idea is the same.

Continue stay at it. What is it me were comfortable with the truism that it basically means. Have a God consciousness. It doesn't mean be praying verbalizing all the time but basically what it's saying here is to have a general God consciousness so that you see everything that happens in reference to God. God touches me. If I see something bad. I pray for those involved. If I see something good. I pray for him who has brought it about. You see, is that conscious floral of God consciousness but you know as I thought about it, that's great. And I understand that but that can be a copout for really bailing out of the whole idea of continuing in prayer and just say well it's obvious you can't just keep friend forever and got his death and God doesn't forget things you just tell them to go about your business and I we don't feel you with you. Well, God's got the info God sovereign God's gonna call the shots so will just bail out from that wanted to go on some else the idea of the sort of God conscious explanation to continuance in prayer can become a copout isn't wrong, but you see, what happens is it's it's going a little too heavy on one side and is not allowing for a little tension on the other side. I want to talk about the other side is going to great location for you tonight. I got into this and found some interesting things. I started chasing around that word continue in prayer and the root word here one word Carteret was a very interesting word. It basically comes from a noun that means a strong strong. The verb means to be steadfast to endure to hang in there that's Carteret all but the word used here is crass Carteret and any time you add a preposition to the front of a verb in Greek, you intensify the Greek verb so he saying in if the word Carteret L means to be strong and steadfast.

This means to be superstrong and super steadfast and really hang in there is the idea of perseverance in Hebrews 1127. The word is used, and it is used of Moses by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

For he hung in there for he stuck with it.

It's a strong commitment to something where you're steadfast and you endure and you don't bail out and you don't give up and you don't quit. You can see illustrations of that same term and that same concept throughout the book of acts Cornelius prayed continually.

That's what it means in acts chapter 1 you have it in the upper room.

They all continued with one accord in prayer and here you had remember those disciples gather the hundred and 20 in the upper room and they continued.

I mean they didn't come and gone and it was in the general God consciousness they were actually involved in constant supplication for many hours and many days until the spirit of God came you find it in chapter 2, verse 42, the same term and they continued steadfastly. The apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread in prayer and here again it doesn't necessarily mean the general God consciousness, but it means that constancy in prayer over and over and over and over beseeching God relative to their needs. So you see when you get into the term.

The idea that you find here is not an easy going God consciousness but it's a strong it's a steadfast it's an enduring.

It's a persevering struggling with deeply felt issues. McLaren says the word implies not just continuity but earnestness Kittle who probably has the classic work and definition of Greek words says that current arousal means to be strong and to be courageous and Proscar to row means to be courageously persistent to hold fast. He says not to let go.

That's an exciting dimension of prayer. Let me give you some illustrations save a car that I don't know where this fits in my theology. Well let me do that for a slider right in their Luke 18.

This is the great joy that a Bible teacher has is is just the freedom not to get locked in a box because the Bible is just get everything organized in one little corner office on some explodes at the very opposite in and you gotta release a little bit there. He spoke a parable to them. This in all your purpose Lord why this parable that man always to pray and not faint. The whole purpose of the parable people is to do exactly what Paul said it so that you will keep praying to not fall asleep and not quit and not just hold your list up before God.

He said there wasn't a city a judge and he feared not God nor man, and it was a widow in the city and she came to him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary somebody did some wrong to me. I'm I want to bring it into court and get a just disposition of this and I want it to be avenged for the wrong and he wouldn't for a while. The judge wouldn't do it.

But afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God nor regard man yet because this widow troubles me.

I will avenge her less by her continual coming she wears me out.

Okay okay I may say we waited you mean that has a divine application sure verse six the Lord said here what the unjust judge said you list shall not God avenge his own elect who cried and night on the him, though he bear long with them. I tell you, he will avenge them speedily. God is going to do things to make things right. To gain his own honor, and to give you the place of blessing when you cry out to him day and night was in the apostle Paul, I have not ceased to pray for you day and night with tears for the space of three years. Acts 20 Luke 11 five another story illustrating the same truth and this is what he said. Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves on hungry friend stores are closed and I got a friend is coming over and I'd like to give them something to friend of mine is in a journey to come to me and I have nothing to set before him, and he from within is the guy in his house near Yellen and his windows, no glass in those days so they heard and he says go away. Quit bugging me. The door shut. The children are with me in bed. That's, of course, the way they always look in those days, no heaters whole family and one bed.

I'm not going to get up. I can't even rise and I say to you, though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as much as he needed no infertility is the guy just kept yelling at them until finally he got out of bed because he didn't have any choice if you want to get any sleep. He kept banging and banging you just ask, it shall be given, seek and you shall find not and it shall be open in other words, God is saying. Be persistent. Bang away. Don't give up if you think about like that but you know sometimes when you believe something will honor God and you believe it can be to the glory of Jesus Christ.

You got a kinda storm the gates of heaven.

You got kind of put yourself up there little bit and struggle. We must struggle with him just like Jacob did it denial, where he earned his name, Israel, and Israel means he who strives with God, we too must be prepared to say I will not let you go till you bless me consider Moses again and again intervening between the Israelites and God's wrath and pouring out his here Abraham praying for Sodom going down the line if I can find this money will about this money will what about this manual. What about this point, finally got his okay okay you can find that many spirit. Of course he could prayers a matter of struggling and grappling with God prayers a matter of proving to God the deepest concern of your heart. Prayer is a matter of pouring out to God, what you believe is that which will honor him. You will hear David and the sounds and you hear them right from the very deepest part of his interbeing pouring out his heart over and over and over and over and crying to God to do something you don't answer prayers to be a persistent courageous struggle. There's attention. I know between claiming and persisting on God's power and God's grace and at the same time waiting on his will. But listen to this is resolved not by holding your persistence. It is resolved by accepting his answer that's important. It's a lot for continuing prayer but that's what he saying that the Colossians 42 continuing prayer and I like his watch in the same you know one thing you can't do is pray without watching. Now you know what this simply means just letting the basic thing that means stay awake. You can't pray in your sleep very difficult. Matthew 26 is a good illustration of that disciples fell asleep in prayer meeting.

Matthew 26 tells a story Jesus came into the garden took with him Peter two sons of Zebedee, James and John and they were there. Jesus was praying. Verse 40 he came to the disciples, he found them asleep. They said Peter you can stay awake for one hour word watcher means stay awake. You can stay awake one hour stay awake and pray, stay awake and pray that you enter not into temptation.

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Don't go to sleep during prayer stay awake. You know, it's one good reason for Christian to get some rest. Pray when you're awake, pray when you're alert, but the thought here is broader than that. It isn't just that that's a very obvious, but when he says, watching the same. I think he's carrying it over to what Peter said in first Peter chapter 4 and verse seven, but the end of all things in hand, be sober minded and watch on the prayer and what Peter means there is, basically, sober minded is the is the idea of knowing the priorities and when he says watch on the prayer he means. Look for the things that you will be praying about. I'm guilty of this.

We all are guilty of praying those those sort of useless generalities all the time. Lord blessed the church and bless the missionaries bless this no, it's just the generality what he saying here is watch if you're going to be consistent. If you can't apply your heart and you are ready. Pray for some that you know some the pray for you will never be persistent with God about some you're not concerned about and you never get concerned about something you know what site needs to be concerned about and we got to watch Willie yet. The last thought. Continuing prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. That's important you know here's the right attitude even when you're wrestling with God, you're thankful that he's going to do what's best. Now this is the fifth time in the book of Colossians that gratitude has been mentioned look at 112 giving thanks unto the father with made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light was delivered us from the power of darkness. He saying there. Be thankful for salvation. Be thankful for salvation.

Look at chapter 2 verse six as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk he in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding with thanksgiving.

Be thankful for your salvation. Be thankful for your growth well.

Chapter 3 verse 15 let the peace of Christ rule in your heart to which also you are called in one body. And be thankful, be thankful for your fellowship with Christ, with the body of Christ.

Be thankful for your salvation.

Be thankful for your growth. Be thankful for your fellowship with Christ and his body verse 17. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the father but I am pretty thankful that you have the privilege to serve him. That whatever you do could be done in his name. Be thankful for your salvation. Be thankful for your growth. Be thankful for your fellowship. Be thankful for your service.

Here he says in verse two of chapter 4. Be thankful, be thankful that when you pray, you have the guarantee that God is going to answer in accord with what's best for you. Be thankful you know no matter what happens in a prayer you can be thankful when you're praying in our thoughts turn they know what am I thankful for.

As I praise the first thing I'm thankful for as I praise God's presence because of his if he wasn't there. It was to me any good to pray so I thought.

No matter what he says or does. Yes no maybe wait, whatever. I'm thankful that he's listening. I'm thankful for his presence.

The Psalmist understood that Psalm 75 one.

Under the old God do we give thanks. Why, that thy name is near. I'm just thankful you're there. Whatever your answer is just great to talk to second thing I thought of. I'm thankful not only for God's presence but I'm thankful for God's provision.

You know, there is no such thing as a prayer that doesn't get answered.

He always provides an answer always always always and I'm thankful for that. She always provides my bread. He always provides a place to stay, always provides the needs of life and that's his promise and I'm always thankful and maybe I'm asking for things beyond the needs and I can be at the same time thankful that the needs I know are going to be met, and as I pray I'm not only thankful for his presence and his provision, but I'm thankful for his pardon. Romans 617 thanks to God that, whereas we used to be the servants of sin, we become the servants of righteousness.

I'm thankful that he saved and I thought of us think kinda sums it all up on thankful for his promise. It excites me when I read first Corinthians 1557 thanks be to God who always gives us what the victory mastic siding. I can pray and no matter what the answer no matter how God works no matter whether I come away like Jacob limping. No matter whether cost me my life or the life of somebody around me. I can come away and say the victory is mine always because all things are working together for what good is God's purpose for me. Second Corinthians 214. Thanks. Be on the God who always causes us to triumph, you can't lose in prayer, you may not get what you asked for but you will lose because God knows that what he got you was better than what you asked, so no matter what happens were thankful that never changes. So Paul is telling us something very important about prayer. He saying look, pray, and when I mean pray. I mean, pray get in there and wrestle with it getting there and persisted it and keep paying until he gives you the bread hello until your blessed. If an ungenerous, selfish, heartless neighbor, for whom a little fleshly repose outweighs her friends need for bread could be induced to grant a sorely needed favor by sheer persistence. If a defenseless widow's persistent appeal can range from a hardhearted unscrupulous judge her heart's desire. How much more will our petitions. If likewise faithful and persistent secure.

The thing we ask from God, who in character is the very opposite of the indifferent neighbor and the opposite of the godless jet plane teaching of the parable is that the difficulty will be resolved because God hears his faithful servant. The new man has a new mouth and the new mouth of the new man has a new speech new speech language that's John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary explaining how when you pray you demonstrate the speech of the new man. That's the title of John's lesson today and it's the first in his series taming the tongue here on grace to you now. As John pointed out today controlling what you say isn't easy but controlling your words is crucial to your testimony and your growth in Christ to help put godly principles for speech to work in your life. Download John study called taming the tongue, or you can order the four CD album when you contact us today.

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