speaking

MARK TURNER

SPEAKING AS A CHRISTIAN
COLOSSIANS 4:2-6

INTRODUCTION
Every Christian needs to be careful with their speech. We can tear down and
destroy someone much quicker than we can build them up! We can use our
tongue as a wrecking ball if we just let out words fly freely without any guidance.

The motto that we see in some government offices is a true statement. "Words
can hurt and hit as hard as a fist. How many husbands and wives batter each other
verbally?

Our nation is littered with children that have given up on themselves and our society,
because of the verbal garbage they have ingested in their systems. Lyrics from rock music
and destructive words from thoughtless parents have taken a terrible toll..

The Christian is admonished to be careful in their speech and language in dealing with others.
Col. 3:17 "Whatsoever you do in word, or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.

I cannot curse and belittle someone in the name or by the authority of the Lord.
I need to watch my mouth closely, lest I disobey the words of the inspired apostle.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may
know how ye ought to answer every man."

"alway with grace" means graciousness. It means that the Lord’s influence will be on our hearts, and it will be
seen in our life and words.

We know the tongue has incredible power.

Words can build you up!

Prov 10:20-21 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little
worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Do we criticize or do we commend? Do we build up another person, or tear them down?

A sharp tongue can cut someone to the heart, soul, and very essesence of humanity.

James 3 :6 The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members,
that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it
is set on fire of hell.

That is the description God had given the tongue! You want to see the danger of the mouth read James 3 again.

Today, I want us to consider: How To Speak With Grace.

TO SPEAK WITH GRACE YOU NEED GRACE IN YOUR HEART

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Before your speech can be "alway with grace," you need to have grace in your heart!

A bitter vulgar person is not going to speak gracefully.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth
forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

           A person who says kind things, has a kind heart.
           A person that loves others speaks love.
           A person that loves peace will speak of peace.
           A person who says negative things, has a negative heart.
           A hateful person speaks hate.
           A person who says mean things, has a mean heart.
           A ignorant person says ignorant things.
           A hateful person speaks words of hate.

What is spiritually inside of a person will come out of the mouth!

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

This means to meet with his approval!
Would the Lord approve of your speech?
Do the words we speak to others let them know we are Christians?

To speak in the Name of Jesus, me must have grace in our hearts.
No one who curses, swears, lies, gossips, or runs others down... is letting the Word of Christ dwell in them richly!!

We should strive to make this our goal: Whatever we say, say it in the name of the Lord!

You’ll have a hard time yelling at another driver in Jesus' name.
Screaming at your kids, in Jesus' name is not right.
Saying unkind things to your mate, in Jesus' name ...
Cursing God and man is not in the name of the Lord.

We all need God’s grace in our hearts!

We must decide whether to curse God's name,or bless his name.

Gracious Speech Defined:

Is it True??? “...Even if it is true, is it seasoned with salt ? ”

Salt was used for preserving and purifying and even healing.
Seasoned speech is truthful and will help heal wounds and benefit another.

Eph 4:15 Speak the truth in love.

It is sinful to blast someone with the truth, to belittle, or hurt them. We need love in all that we do and say.

Do we say things out of pettiness, jealousy, anger, and resentment. Do we bring somebody down in the sight of others?

Do we use the truth to cripple and wound? We need to use the truth in love to save and help others!

Before you repeat a statement, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS TRUE!!!

   Someone said” I believe half of what I see, and nothing of what I hear!”
   Just because someone said it doesn't make it true!
   A half truth can justify and produce a whole lie.
   It is easy to jump to a wrong conclusion!

James 1:19 Let every man be swift to hear and slow to speak.

Before you Believe something, before you Repeat something, make sure it is True!!!!!

Is it complete and the full story?

It is very easy to get half of the Story. What is said may be true, but it is not complete!

Paul Harvey gives us the rest of the story, and that's sadly missing sometimes in our gossip and talebearing.

Before you say something make sure you have all the facts of the story!

Is it necessary to tell others????

What you say may be true, it may be completely factiual, but is it NECESSARY???

Eph 4:15 Speaking the truth in LOVE !

1 Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity
shall cover the multitude of sins.

Some of the most hurtful words ever heard have been preceded by the words, “it is the truth.”...

Just because it is the truth, doesn’t make it necessary! There are times when silence is golden!

Is it Kind and consistent with the golden rule???

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honour preferring one another;

Eph 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and
                      evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And
                      be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
                      even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Suggestions for speaking with Grace
    1. Control your tongue. I Cor. 9:27
    2. Speak about others as you want be spoken of. Matt. 7:12
    3. Remember your accountability. II Cor. 5:10

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give
account thereof in the day of judgment.

Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Your words, and what you say tells so much about you!

THE VERBAL ADVANTAGE: EVERY TIME YOU SPEAK, PEOPLE JUDGE YOU BY
THE WORDS YOU USE...

Do your words, build others up, or tear them down?

Do we show the love of Christ in our speech ? Do we bring people to Christ, or drive them away from the Lord.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know
              how ye ought to answer every man.

CONCLUSION
Are we talking and living like a Christian? To become a Christian obey the plan of salvation.
                                                               Believe Jesus to be the son of God, John 8:24
                                                               Repent and turn from sin, Acts 3:19
                                                               Confess Jesus Christ before men, Matthew 10:32
                                                               Be baptized for the forgiveness and remission of sins, Acts 2:38
                                                               Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10

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