GIVING UP WORDS
A Different Kind of Lenten Fast
SERMON STARTER
Last Wednesday after my Ministerial Prayer Meeting I stopped by the hospital to check on some test results. A young man was unloading some medical supplies. He had a distinct mark on his forehead. As I got closer I saw it was a Black Cross. I blessed him and went on my way realizing it was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Ash Wednesday is the 7th Wednesday before Easter. People traditionally make vows to God and/or abstain from something for Lent. The average persons speaks 20,000 words per day. What about giving up words? How about cutting them into half, or even a third?
A VOW OF SILENCE
A man wanted to become a monk so he went to the monastery and talked to the senior monk, the Abbot. The Abbot said, "You must take a vow of silence and can only say two words every three years."
The man agreed and after the first 3 years, the Abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?"
"Food cold!" the man replied.
Three more years went by and the Abbot came to him and said "What are your two words?"
"Bed hard!" the man exclaimed.
Three more years went by and the Abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?"
"I quit!" said the man.
"Well," the Abott replied, "I am not surprised. You have done nothing but complain ever since you got here!"
This morning's message is about curbing your words for Lent. Who knows? You may decide after Easter to make fewer words your personal spiritual discipline.
Pastor Phil <><<
March 05, 2017 – Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
GIVING UP WORDS
Holding Your Tongue For Lent - A Different Kind of Lenten Fast
JAMES 3:2-11
"Sociologists tell us we have 30 conversations a day and we spend 1/5 of our lives talking. In one year a person's conversations will fill 66 books of 800 pages a book. What about limiting those words for a tenth of your year?" Pastor Phil <><<
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die. . . a time to be silent and a time to speak. . ." Eccles. 3:1,2;7
"DON'T JUST STAND THERE: SIT AND BE STILL!”
Sign in a Quaker Meeting House
"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth." Isaiah 53:7
SEVERAL TRUTHS ABOUT GIVING UP WORDS FOR LENT
I. LIMIT YOUR WORDS, CONTROL YOUR LIFE - Verse 2
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
A. Two Analogies: Horse's bit and Ship's rudder
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can
turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so
large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small
rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
1. The tongue like the unbridled horse is uncontrollable
2. The unbridled horse can kill themselves and others
3. The rudderless tongue is destructive to self and others
B. Relationships can be damaged by what we say
1. Restrain your words when they are hurled at you
2. Refrain from retaliating when harsh words are spoken
3. Limit your words and save a friendship
C. Your words can impart Life or carry Death - Prov. 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will
eat its fruit.
1. How about 40 days determining to Impart Life to Hearers
2. Seven weeks of fasting from saying harsh words
3. Use your words to speak Peace into the Lives of Others
GIVING UP WORDS FOR LENT, cont., p.2
4. Strengthen your words with people
a. I am pleased with. . .
b. What I like about you. . .
SEVERAL TRUTHS ABOUT GIVING UP WORDS FOR LENT
II. FIERY WORDS CAN INFLAME YOUR LIFE - Verse 6
6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
A. Fire is an awesome force for destruction
1. A single spark can burn an entire forest
2. A single match can burn down a whole building
3. The Greek word picture here is Lightning
B. The Inflamed Tongue is in the 9 Woes of the Pharisees -(Matt. 23)
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)
1. The mouth is called by medical people, "The Great Polluter"
2. Doctor's say, Stick out your tongue!
3. Tongue is an indicator of physical health
4. Tongue to also indicator of spiritual health
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out
of the mouth, this defiles a man." Matthew 15:11
5. The Tongue is Small, but has Power - Bruce K. Waltke
“A fool’s tongue, is long enough to cut his own throat”
C. The Fiery Tongue is inflamed by Hell's Fire itself
1. James uses another Word Picture, Gehenna
2. Valley of Hinnom on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem
3. The city's garbage dump, pauper's thrown there
4. Sulfur and Brimstone poured to keep burning 24/7
5. Stench was terrible. . .Inflamed words are like that
SEVERAL TRUTHS ABOUT GIVING UP WORDS FOR LENT
III. ONLY GOD CAN TAME YOUR TONGUE - Verse 8
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
A. Man can't tame it, but God can - Luke 18:27
27 But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
1. Your words can bring Peace - Prov. 15:4 NIV
4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful
tongue crushes the spirit.
2. The Tongue of the Wise
a. Edifying Tongue
b. Relationship Building Tongue
3. Your Words can Seal Your Life
4. Words of Light
5. Words of Darkness
GIVING UP WORDS FOR LENT, cont., p.3
B. Use God's Logic - Socrates Triple Test for Usefulness
1. TRUTH – Are you absolutely sure the material presented is
the truth?
2. GOODNESS – Is the material about something good for all
concerned?
3. USEFULNESS – Is the data useful for those listening?
4. Why communicate at all if the material is neither true,
nor good, nor useful?
LENTEN ACTIONS FOR REDUCING EXCESSIVE WORDS:
1. You’ll never enjoy God’s strength until you stop relying on your own.
2. To get victory over your hostile mouth, exchange your weakness for
God’s strength.
3. Your total dependency upon God is absolutely essential.
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION
Lois' Dad Lawrence Harvey was a man of few words
He was a skilled technician in Aniline Printing Plate making
Incident involving a error made by one of his crew
Called before the angry Bosses
Instructed the young man to NOT say a single word
He told him to limit his responses to YES and NO
The technique calmed the bosses and jobs were saved
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT
Don’t open your mouth:
In the heat of anger – Proverbs 10:17
When you don’t have all the facts – Proverbs 18:13
When you haven’t verified the story—Deuteronomy 17:6
If your words will offend a weaker brother—Corinthians 8:11
If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family—1 Peter 2:21-23
When you are tempted to joke about a sin—Proverbs 14:9
When you would be ashamed of your words later – Proverbs 8:8
When you are tempted to make light of holy things – Ecclesiastes 5:2
If your words would convey a wrong impression—Proverbs 17:27
If the issue is none of your business—Proverbs 14:10
When you are tempted to tell an ought right lie –Proverbs 4:24
If your words will damage someone’s reputation—Proverbs 16:27
If your words would destroy a friendship—Proverbs 25:28
When you are feeling critical—James 3:9
If you can’t speak without yelling—Proverbs 25:28
When it is time to listen—Proverbs 13:1
If you may have to eat your words later—Proverbs 18:2
If you have already said it more than one time
(Then it becomes nagging.) Proverbs 19:13
When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person—Proverbs 24:24
When you are suppose to be working instead—Proverbs 14:23
Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, 03-05-2017
YOUR OWN TONGUE IS YOUR WORST ENEMY
Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about.
If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job.
If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick.
If you keep saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen, or just stop operating.
If you keep saying you're broke, guess what? You'll always be broke.
If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed.
If you keep saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you,
your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you might end up with it.
Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope, love and action.
Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
Watch your Thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your Habits, they become character.
Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settle for.
I’d like to leave you with this thought:
"In the search for myself, I discovered truth.
In the search for truth, I discovered love.
In the search for love,
I discovered God.
And in God, I have found everything."
Adapted Pastor Phil Roland <><<
