Cosmetics for the Tongue

The Lord in prayer, even vastly clasping something behind our back that were not about to let go. We are lying to God ineffectively come to God in prayer.

According to Scripture if we were going to an equity in our heart was God doesn't listen why because he's like the father that gives an assignment who obviously has something to hide.

He's waiting for the prayer of repentance and attunement quit trying to say, attempted to act and to present ourselves as if things are fine with her not, but isn't insincerity just another form of dishonesty. Stephen Davey think so.

And that's part of what he's teaching today on this broadcast.

This is wisdom for the heart were working our way through a vintage wisdom series about the 10 Commandments.

Today we come to the command to not bear false witness, Stephen called this lesson. Cosmetics for the time we never think of our tong in terms of attractiveness. It's not something to do and make an appointment for with the tongue beautician that's something that Avon and Revlon have ignored and cosmetics. One nice thing is you don't have the diet to get it back in shape. In fact, it always is and yet it is our tong more than our income, our figure, our face, our wardrobe, our car are on hold. That makes all the difference in the world is a tong that can mend the marriage or tear it apart. It is the tongue they can heal the church or destroy it.

It is the time to make the home paradise or howling desert, the tongue that makes the difference. Psychologist of estimated I feel sorry for the psychologist that had nothing to do estimate this but we have 700 opportunities a week to speak.

Some of us still speak 800 times, but there are about 700 opportunities we construct 12,000 sentences every week 50,000 words with 150 page volume authored by our tong every single week. Now in our country we hear about the freedom of speech, and that's wonderful.

But you never hear about that in Scripture. In fact, what you find in Scripture is the regulation of how we use our speech of the 10 commands that we will study by the time we finished two of them deal with the regulation of our speech. The first is the third commandment. And that is you shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, this command were going to study talks about protecting the reputation of other people to take your Bibles please in turn with me to Exodus chapter 20 Exodus chapter 20 verse 16 will read these words. Exodus chapter 20 verse 16 says you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. The word witness is a it could be translated.

Evidence don't give false dishonest evidence against your neighbor. Specifically, this command is referring to the courtroom setting.

And if anyone was to take the witness stand. They were not to give false evidence, false testimony toward their neighbor. They learn specifically to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth that is the specific interpretation of this command.

So by the time you principal I that it is this. Don't be dishonest to truth with your tong one great commentator that I enjoy reading calls or categorizes what he says nine lies of the tong. He said the tong has nine lies and I think you could you could fit any dishonesty under one of these nine categories money given to number one, there is the lie of malice.

That is the lie to get revenge on line that I give so that I can get back in somebody or something. I distort the truth I tell an untruth on dishonest so that I can somehow swing back live malice, there's the lie of fear. That's to escape punishment. We learned that at a very early age.

Did we not have allies so that I can avoid punishment. We told the policeman why he stopped us and we were the wrong person. In fact we couldn't of been going 65 and 55 and hear the reasons why we lie to avoid punishment. We don't like punishment and so sometimes will consider telling a lie to get away from one of the categories. There was also the lie for profit coming up the tax time. There will be people who will lie on that little sheet of paper that we send to the IRS for profit to give you another one lying by way of silence. Leviticus chapter 5 verse verse one broadens this and says that if you are silent and you have evidence toward someone's character and you remain silent, you are considered by scriptural liar but supply that if somebody says something on the job that Jesus Christ that's not true. If you are silent your false witness for Christ. If someone says something about someone that you know and you remain silent you are, false witness, because of your silence, you become a liar. Interesting category is also the lie of boasting that's to impress that is name dropping all yes so-and-so good friend of mine grunted at work all the time. Name dropping for the promotion they they don't know that person well there dropping that to impress. That is the live exaggeration is the lie the creeps into the marriage and the home are you will say something to your husband like you never do this exaggeration, he probably did it once the lion boasting the live exaggeration will be giving up on the live insincerity you need help just call me I'll help you boy hope they don't call.

I'll pray for you all you live.

Insincerity can pervade the body, but nothing else where we come in here with our little masks on and we are so insincerely jut or afraid of somebody might see what I really like we are liars and seer to be another one is the lie, the self little conversations you have yourself. You talk yourself out of doing something that's right you talk yourself into doing something that's wrong. There is also the lie to God and that is the worst. I was sitting in the living room reading and my peripheral vision caught a movement and I just kind of ignored it for a while until I noticed that it was my son. One of them had his hands behind his back. He was watching his eyes wide open through the living room. I looked up at him and at that point in time I thought I don't have a very intelligent son said that, come over here. Corsi came over and we discover what was behind his back. Ladies and gentlemen has never struck you that you and I go to God with our hands behind our backs. How ridiculous to go to the Lord in prayer, even worship and our hands are fastly clasping something behind our back that were not about to let go.

We are lying to God ineffectively come to God in prayer. According to Scripture, if we regard iniquity in our heart was God doesn't listen why because he's like the father that gives an son who obviously has something to hide. He's waiting for the prayer of repentance and until then quit trying to save God out lying to God those of the nine categories if we try to specifically apply the command of not bearing false witness that is don't lie lie to yourself to lie to others.

The lie to God that it means more than lying. Interestingly enough, in Leviticus chapter 19 verse 16.

The command is expanded to include slander and by the time you add to that all of the passages of Scripture that talk about the tong and the use of tong in the regulation of speech you come up with with tremendous principles of how we are to speak in and when we are to speak in the late we are to speak to this command covers a very broad spectrum. The regulation of speech. Why is there so much scripture about you before reasons why for facts about a lying tongue that make it so important that Scripture spells it out for us so we can mess it. First of all, a lying tongue is an indication of hypocrisy the book of James chapter 1 verse 26. It's as if James gets real close to the microphone and he leans in lowers his voice and he says there is a man among you seems to be religious, and yet he doesn't bridle his tongue is religion is worthless and indication we are living hypocritical lives if we can tell the truth. Second, a lying tongue is a destroyer of friendship turn to Proverbs chapter 17 verse nine destroy's friendship like nothing else. Proverbs 17 nine says he who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates note this intimate friends or very friend. Whatever your translation makes it know that person who goes and uncovers the dirt and repeats it or that person who cast doubt on the reputation or character of another that individual by their tongue has the power of separating cement friends friends you would imagine being split out.

You couldn't imagine an offense between them, but there is a powerful tool that can split it up called the tongue the repeating of an offense sent it separates intimate friends to give you an illustration of that the power of the tongue and influencing people. This is almost too funny to believe but the BBC for two British listeners has a habit of every April Fools' Day pool it's listeners think that they would learn to expected and yet every year they somehow pull something off. There was an article printed in American way.

March 18, 1986 that I clipped up the BBC. Patrick Moore was a guess and he was a brace astronomy radius. He had Britons jumping up and down on April 1 morning he told BBC listeners that in the morning. The planet Pluto would pass directly behind Jupiter producing a slight gravitational pull on earth that would make everybody feel lighter. A short nap. He urged listeners to jump at precisely 9:47 AM I'm am reading this, I knew I better because you would believe me. By 9:48 AM. The switchboards were blazing with the lighted callers saying they had experienced the floating sensation when they jumped at exactly 947. One man complained he hit his head on the ceiling. One woman said her entire coffee group floated around the room.

Incredible. I know there are some people out there that are trying to make news, but I promise you there are people out there that probably jumped and they fell like they would just allow higher than it ever going to live the power of influence the power of the tongue to affect feelings and attitudes. That's why it is so tremendous in light of friendship.

Your tongue can influence the thoughts and the attitudes of someone toward a very close friend that they never thought that a request for this is dealing with the church body is an obstruction to unity and obstruction to unity. Colossians chapter 3 verse nine Paul says in no the sties words stop lying to one another. But a church that must've been in the in the rest of the chapter he urges them toward unity principle is this the foundation for unity is honesty in the church of Jesus Christ give you 1/4, a lying tongue is an invitation for God's wrath turned back to Proverbs chapter 6 Proverbs 6 verse 16.

I want you to know carefully these words the strength of these words.

Solomon writes this. There are six things that the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to him haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood heart that devises wicked plans, feet, then run rapidly to evil know of false witness who utters lies right on the heels of that one and one who spreads strife among the brethren. God hates it. Psalm 101 verse five says whoever secretly slanders his neighbor will I destroy we never realized it was so serious that we supply the command to give you some cosmetics for the tong to simple words. These are not profound, but I want them to ring through your mind when you're tempted to open your mouth. 700 times this week you're going to have an opportunity. A phrase 12,000 sentences you to write about this week.

May that will conclude these characteristics. First, the cosmetic truth. The rise in Psalm 141 verse three set a guard over and over my mouth so to watch before the door of my lips. It's interesting he's asking God to post a sentinel posted right there by the corners of my mouth so that I will watch carefully anything that comes out.

What's fascinating is you discover in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 what those two sentinels are the first he says speak truth, the second in love that he isn't saying in front challenge. I wonder what would've happened if you had written Paul. Let's say you are with the Better Business Bureau and you were thinking of adding a business to your list in the end. This company writes in and says hey, we've heard some some wonderful things about Alexander the coppersmith and we like to include him on our board. What would you say your member that Paul said watch out for Alexander the coppersmith.

He did me more harm than anybody and he wrote that speaking the truth. What about a church that has an elder upper position in this church writes his former church and says we like some references sky seems like he's a strong leader but we need here in our church is named after feet what you think would you write diopter fees loves the preeminence truth. But when you speak the truth. Cloaking with what with love. We got a lot of talk nowadays about speaking love talking love very little confrontation.

Very little talk about holding people accountable, myself, yourself to the truth of Scripture we people that we don't hold accountable what this book teaches so we speak the truth and we speak it in love second giving of the cosmetic must call us with kindness, being soft speaking with soft answers. Let me give you some thoughts here.

A soft answer defends without lashing back a soft answer may disagree but it disagrees without criticizing it may criticize the position. The philosophy, the point of view, the doctrine, but never the person we give you another cosmetic may seem odd. Let me explain efforts that it silence. Proverbs chapter 26 verse 20 says it eliminates strife where there is no talebearer, strife stops person not only eliminates strife but it enhances worship. David said in Psalm 46, he said, be still, literally, stop striving, and know that I am God sometimes would you happen so much lose sight of the fact you were to worship God is in control, stop, be quiet, cosmetic silence, like the Allstate you said I have often regretted my speech I have never regretted my silence you.

Another grace of Christ. Colossians chapter 4 verses five and six is what your speech be always with grace season with the flavor of salt. Let me give you some seasoned words and I want to write these down and practice them for not set often enough.

The first is the word please see when you say please you view someone as as a person and not as an object or means to your and and that's why we and our table began very early with the children and teaching them to say please because were not objects, people add that one. Thank you. Some of you husbands may been a long time since you think your wife are cooking for you to get in the habit of saying thank you was delicious pecan safe deliciously. Thank you honey that was an unusual recipe when waitress was talking about the fact that she hates to work on Sunday. Sunday is the worst day in the week to work when you get the smallest tips and the most complaints probably get some of these waitresses coronaries this afternoon. If we looked at them and say thank you did a terrific job all right. Let's try one more I appreciate you the wheels of this ministry. The flavor of your life. The joy in your heart is created so often I words of appreciation.

Someone comes up alongside of you and says hey I want you to know I appreciate we do not hear that and you say that would make Reading 123. I appreciate that giving other I'm sorry I'm sorry that's hard to say it's it's also hard to receive sometimes you hear and so somebody says I'm sorry to you and return back with you said it, you sure are something like that is not only hard to say. So that is very difficult to receive but it needs to be in our vocabulary. I'm sorry I am not infallible. Some of us haven't discovered that we never say I'm sorry, here's another along that line. Three words I forgive you for maybe a marriage here that will be healed.

If those words would be spoken. There may be a relationship between a son and a father daughter and a mother, close friends, that would be restored if those words were spoken. I forgive you. These are words of grace and I think the reason Paul said there grace is because grace is the result of the Holy Spirit working in your heart.

Apart from the Holy Spirit the way this is a divine work in our hearts we give you one more. I'm praying for you and I mean it.

I am praying for you.

I'll never forget the college student preaching in the church in Georgia doing my very best gave him all I had. After the service I went down to the front and people graded and we shook hands and it was my first time there. My last time there know that meant but never got invited to come back but I never forget this one man it came up to me and clear eyes never see them again and he said son I want you to know every day for the rest of my life. Pray for you rock, see that guy in heaven when they I believe he meant it. One of the greatest thrill setting people in this congregation say I'm praying for you.

Keep it up praying for you to. You need to pray for each other. We need to look hold each other.

Warren and the reinforcement comes in. The strength comes on those prayers that we offer half of each other. So when Moses wrote don't bear false witness against your neighbor.

He saying to tell the truth.

Leviticus expands it so that you don't slander we turn it over and we look at the positive side, and we see where God is exhorting and regulating our speech to be one of encouragement. One of edification, where the season are words with truth with kindness with grace. Lord set a guard set a sentinel for lips.

I pray that you would give this congregation the ballet to say words that our society cannot say words that people desperately need to hear words that fueled the engine of this ministry sparked the romance and marriage that build the relationship between parent and child. Give each of us measure grace for thy glory this week. May our words be characterized by truth of love. I love the story of ancient Greece were a young man said something very harsh about someone else, only to discover later that it was untrue and he went to his wise teacher and he said Master I have spoken harsh words, what can I do to write the wrong. This teacher said go and find the sack filled with feathers and tonight after everyone has retired.

I want to go all around this village and I want you to put a feather on each doorstep.

He was confused but he did it.

He went around that entire village that my collecting feathers and then that night as the sun sank.

He went to each doorstep waste feather doorstep.

Not knowing what he was doing, why he finished, he went home that got up the next morning came back to his teacher said Master. I've done what you said now what this teacher said I want to get your sack. I want you to go back and retrieve everything. The young man said there's no way I can retrieve every feather. The winds come up during the night people up and walking animals moving some possible teacher said that's exactly. Words are very easy this they are awesome babies in a lesson he called because medics for the tongue.

It comes from our vintage wisdom series through the 10 Commandments called down from Sinai. There's one more lesson to go in this series and will bring you that tomorrow between now and then. Please take us up on our offer to send three complementary issues of our monthly magazine, Stephen deals with a different topic each month and helps you understand what the Bible says and how it applies directly to your life in the past we've explore topics such as a literal six day creation. The importance of thankfulness, how to study the Scriptures, what can we learn from the life of Jonah. How can we face trials and difficulties in a way that honors God. We also included daily devotional guide that you can use in your quiet time as you spend time with God each day. Stephen son Seth rights devotionals that are theologically rich and filled with practical insight for your life. We also included journal gives you the opportunity to take some notes as you listen to the wisdom journey or wisdom for the heart we call the magazine heart to heart. We like to send you the next three issues. If you haven't seen it yet. You can sign up for it on our website as soon as you go to wisdom online.org you'll notice a link on that homepage that'll take you right to the sign-up form. You can also call us today our number is 86 648 Bible. That's 866-482-4253.

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