Introduction:
A. Which would you rather be?
1. A person who always has a fast answer?
2. A person who has to think for a moment before
answering?
B. Which one would be more apt to be left out of
the conversation today?
C. Are we really left out if we are listening
and the conversation keeps going?
D. In our Society of instant everything, we have been left with the impression that we must have instant words! If we do not, we feel left out or that we do not fit in!
Trans:
The Bible has
much to say about this! Let's look this morning
at what it has to say!
Prayer
Read from the NRSV
Proverbs 10:19,
Ecc. 3:1&7,
Psalm 4:4, &
James 1:19-20
I. Let's look at these scriptures:
A. Proverbs 10:19 tells us, when
words are many sin is not lacking but when we keep our mouth shut we are wise.
B. Ecc. 3:7 says, there actually is a time to be
silent!
C. Psalm 4:4 instructs us, when we are angry
don't say a
lot of things
that will hurt, but think about it (talk to ourselves in bed) and be silent
until we have just the right, Christian thing to say!
D. James 1:19 says we should be, “quick to hear
and slow
to
speak.”
1. Too many times today, we do just the opposite
of this
one!
2. We don't listen to what someone says, but
instead, we are
thinking of what we are going to say next!
3. LeRoy Koopman in his book Beauty Care for
the
Tongue
says of this situation, "If both
individuals are
going through the same little
ritual, we have
the ludicrous situation of two
people talking
to themselves together." Sounds
funny doesn't
it? But it happens!
4.
This must of been what the Bible is speaking of
in Pro. 18:2, "A fool finds no pleasure in
understanding
but delights in airing his own
opinions."
(NIV)
E. The Bible gets pretty practical doesn't it?
II. There are 4 reasons that, "The Beautiful Tongue is a Silent Tongue." They are:
A. Silence at the right time eliminates
gossip.
1. If we think about what we are about to say
and
how it is going
to effect other people, much of what we are tempted to say will go unspoken.
2. But what happens too much of
the time is we gossip before we know what we are doing because we fail to be
silent and think before we speak.
3. Also, if we think before we
post something, we might decide it is best not to post it!
B. Silence at the right time
promotes harmony with others.
1. When we are angry, if we will be silent, it
will promote harmony!
a. We speak most impulsively when we are angry.
b. We speak most rapidly when we are angry.
c. We speak without thinking when we are angry.
d. We post things we shouldn’t when we are
angry!
e. Words fly, and the damage is done. The hurt that is left is not from the fact we disagreed but what we said when we disagreed!
f. So if we can learn the virtue
of being silent until we have cooled down and are thinking rationally, we will
be able to avoid hurting other people.
2. Another way this promotes Harmony with
others:
a. If we are a good listener, people will want
to be around
us.
b. People may grow tired of
hearing us talk, but they will love a good listener!
C. Silence at the right time can give us an
opportunity
for ministry
to others!
1. People "need" someone to listen to
them!
2. The books I've read on
Counseling say that a large part of counseling is listening. Many times people will discover the answer to
their own problems if they can just find someone to listen to them objectively.
3. Many times Marriage problems can be solved by
the couple
involved learning to "listen!"
4. The world needs some good listeners! We as the people of God need to be just that!!
D. Silence at the right time is important in our relationship with God.
1. Elijah expected God to be revealed in the great windstorm, in the earthquakes, and in the fire. Instead, God was revealed with a still, small voice (I Kings 19:9-18).
2. Too many times we don't listen for the still,
small
voice! We expect God to hit us with
something while
on the run!
3. We pray God give me this, God give me that, and thank you for this - amen. We never listen for God to speak to us!
4. Prayer should be two-way! Let's give God a chance to speak to us! Let=s give
God some Silence when we pray and listen!
III. A word about being friendly and speaking!
A. We need to. There is a time for friendly
chatter.
B. But there's a time to speak and a time to
listen! We
all need to
learn that!
Conclusion:
A. Does this message hit home for us?
B. Remember what we said last Sunday. The Bible says we
can't control
our tongues by ourselves!
C. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to do
that! The
Holy Spirit can
help us be silent at the right time if
we ask and then
listen to the prodding and guiding of
the Spirit.
D. Do we need to yield to the Holy Spirit today
so we
can grow in
this virtue?
E.
As we encounter Christ at the table today, let’s
yield
to
Christ’s Spirit! Ask Christ to help you
with a
silent
tongue.
Prayer of Confession
Service
of Communion
