Spiritual Wellness - How Well Do You Talk?

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                          "SPIRITUAL WELLNESS"

                         How Well Do You Talk?

INTRODUCTION

1. Now for lesson five in this series entitled "Spiritual Wellness"...
   a. In which we examine our spiritual wellness in regards to serving
      God
   b. A checkup which has included hearing, reading, praying, and
      singing
   c. Now we shall talk about our talking

2. Jesus said we should take our speech seriously...
   a. We shall give an account for every idle word in the day of
      judgment - Mt 12:36
   b. We will be justified or condemned by our very words - Mt 12:37

3. Sobering thoughts, yes?  For this reason...
   a. We ought to give careful thought concerning the words we use
   b. It is imperative that our speech be in keeping with God's
      standards

[So let me ask, "How Well Do You Talk?"  There are certainly many....]

I. DIFFERENT TYPES OF TALKERS

   A. THE IRREVERENT...
      1. Who use the Lord's name in vain - Exo 20:7
      2. That is, without an attitude of sincere respect
      3. One can be guilty of this in two ways:
         a. Using the Lord's name in swearing or cursing
         b. Using vain repetitions of His name carelessly
         c. Applies also to the name of Jesus, for His name is to be
            held in honor - Php 2:9-11
      -- Common in everyday speech, especially in entertainment

   B. THE EVIL...
      1. Speaking words that are evil - 1Pe 3:10
         a. Lying words - Pr 6:19
         b. Deceitful words - Ro 16:18
         c. Filthy words - Ep 5:4
      2. Speaking evil of others - 1Co 6:9-10 (revilers)
         a. Those in authority - Exo 22:28; Jude 8
         b. Those around us - Mt 5:21-22
      -- Common in everyday speech, especially in business and politics

   C. THE CARELESS...
      1. The overuse of words
         a. Speaking too often - Jm 1:26; Pr 10:19
         b. Speaking too hastily - Pr 29:20; cf. Jm 1:19
      2. The misuse of words
         a. Flattery - Ps 12:1-4; cf. Ro 16:18
         b. Rash oaths - Mt 5:33-37; Jm 5:12
         c. Unwholesome words - Ep 4:29
      3. Including euphemisms
         a. An inoffensive expression substituted for one considered
            offensive
         b. Some examples (darn, shoot, gosh, gee)
         c. What is wrong with such expressions?
            1) They mean the same thing as the more offensive words
            2) It is the same wrongful emotions behind the euphemism or
               its equivalent
            3) They reflect an attitude contrary to the spirit of
               Christian conduct - cf. Ep 4:31-32
      -- Common in everyday speech, even among many Christians

   E. THE GRACIOUS...
      1. Whose speech leads to edification
         a. That which encourages and builds up - Ep 4:29
         b. That which extends grace to others - cf. Col 4:6
      2. Whose speech expresses thankfulness
         a. Which is fitting saints - Ep 5:3-4
         b. An attitude of gratitude befits saints - Col 1:12; 2:7;
            3:15,17; 4:2
         c. Not befitting saints is complaining - Php 2:14
      -- Uncommon in everyday speech, but should be common among
         Christians!

[Why aspire to become the gracious talkers God wants us to be?  Besides
being judged by our words in the day of judgment (Mt 12:36-37), consider
some more reasons for the...]

II. IMPORTANCE OF PROPER TALKING

   A. WORDS REVEAL OUR HEARTS...
      1. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks - Mt 12:34
      2. Speech reveals the sort of treasure stored in our heart - Mt
         12:35
      -- Have you considered what your words reveal about you?

   B. WORDS OFTEN HURT OTHERS...
      1. Lying and flattery can be destructive - Pr 26:28
      2. Gossip creates strife, destroys friendships - Pr 16:27-28; 17:9
      3. Neighborly relations can be destroyed - Pr 11:9
      4. The tongue can indeed be a destructive fire and a powerful
         poison - Jm 3:5-8
      -- Contra the childhood ditty, "Sticks and stones...", words can
         hurt!

   C. WORDS CAN BLESS OTHERS....
      1. By cooling down heated conversations - Pr 15:1
      2. By comforting the anxious - Pr 12:25; 16:24
      3. By delighting those who hear - Pr 15:4,23; 25:11
      3. By offering grace to the hearers - Ep 4:29; Col 4:6
      -- Do our words impart grace to the hearers?

[The potential for much harm but also much good should encourage us to
take our speech seriously.  With that in mind, here are some...]

III. STEPS TO BETTER TALKING

   A. GUARD YOUR HEART...
      1. "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." - Mt
         12:34-35
      2. "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the
         issues of life." - Pr 4:23
      3. "The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to
         his lips." - Pr 16:23
      4. As often said today, "Garbage in, garbage out."
      -- Be careful what you allow into your heart and mind

   B. GUARD YOUR LIPS...
      1. "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens
         wide his lips shall have destruction." - Pr 13:3
      2. "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from
         troubles." - Pr 21:23
      3. "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth..." - Ep 4:29
      -- Be careful what you allow to come out of your mouth

   C. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK...
      1. "The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the
         mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." - Pr 15:28
      2. "Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence
         will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of
         another." - Napoleon Hill
      3. "Think before you speak. You might need to remember what you
         said." - Rain Bojangles
      -- Give thought as to the consequences of what you say before you
         say it

   D. PRAY ABOUT YOUR SPEECH...
      1. "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door
         of my lips." - Ps 141:3
      2. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
         acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."
         - Ps 19:14
      -- Pray that the Lord help you to speak with grace and kindness to
         others

CONCLUSION

1. We should never forget the power of speech...
   a. To hurt others, to hurt ourselves
   b. To bless others, to bring glory to God

2. As we examine our spiritual well-being...
   a. Let us not only give attention to how well we hear, read, pray,
      and sing
   b. But let us also give prayerful attention to how well we talk

May the prayer of David be our own...

   Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
      Be acceptable in Your sight,
   O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
                                             - Psalms 19:14

Next in our "Spiritual Wellness" checkup, we shall ask "How Well Do You
Give?"...
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