The Tongue of the Wise

[0:00] Amen. Before the preaching of God's Word, we're going to read from Proverbs 3.! Proverbs 3. I'm going to read from verses 13 through to 18.

[0:14] ! Proverbs 3, verse 13. This is the Word of God. Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding.

[0:24] For the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

[0:38] Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, those who hold her fast are called blessed.

[0:58] Sam so helpfully laid the foundation for the sermon this morning. A helpful summary of where we were last week.

[1:09] Indeed, last week we were walking down the street, figuratively speaking, with houses lined on each side. And on the one side was the house of Lady Wisdom.

[1:22] It was a well-built house. A well-prepared home. A beautiful home. And Lady Wisdom called to us. And she invited us in to this also well-prepared, rich feast of a meal.

[1:37] Made with her own hands. And she invited us to be instructed by her in the way of wisdom. To be instructed by her in the way of insight. But on the other side of the street was the house of Lady Folly.

[1:53] And she didn't take the time to build her house well. We don't read that she took the time to prepare a lavish feast. No, she simply sat at her door and called.

[2:05] But indeed, she called as well. And she invited us to come. And to come into her house. And to eat her stolen water. And her bread that we would need to have in secret.

[2:17] Now, Lady Folly was loud. She was persuasive. She was trying to shout over the call of Lady Wisdom. She appeals to those who pass by.

[2:30] Oh, but as we saw. In the house of Lady Folly awaits death. And in the house of Lady Wisdom there is life. Well, that was all in Proverbs chapter 9.

[2:42] And that chapter is very significant in the book of Proverbs. Because it serves as the conclusion to the whole introduction of the book. The first nine chapters.

[2:53] They're laying the framework for what's to come. Often when we think of a proverb, we think of a short, pithy saying. Proverbs is filled with those.

[3:04] But the first nine chapters are not necessarily all of those pithy sayings. Rather, there's more poetry. There's more foundation laying. Showing us wisdom is found.

[3:17] Wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord. So as we just heard read. We're to seek it. We're to desire it. It's more precious than silver or gold.

[3:31] You see, the wise know God. The wise love God. The wise submit themselves to Him. They live under His authority. And that means then that they listen to His Word.

[3:43] Because indeed it is here that we find the wisdom of God calling to us. For all of us who are in Christ, we have by God's grace turned to the house of wisdom.

[3:56] Indeed, Christ is our wisdom. And so we keep coming back to her house. Daily at her door. We're ready to be fed again by that rich feast. Amen.

[4:07] So that's what we want to do this morning. We want to dine in the house of Lady Wisdom. As we look at one particular topic in the book of Proverbs. So we won't be in just one passage this morning.

[4:20] Because as we now move through the book of Proverbs. As we look at different Proverbs. We see that we have these short pithy sayings. Hundreds of them recorded for us.

[4:32] Now some of these sayings are given perhaps in a collection. There's orderliness to them. But also at times there's one proverb after another that's not necessarily connected together.

[4:43] We may find some Proverbs in chapter 12 that relate to one topic. And more Proverbs in chapter 19. So we want to see together walking through the book. This the connections between them.

[4:56] So we're looking at one topic. And that topic is the topic of the tongue. The words that proceed from our mouth.

[5:07] So there's four points that we have to consider this morning. And the first of those is the prominence of the tongue. There are many, many topics that the book of Proverbs addresses.

[5:18] None more frequently than the tongue. We find Proverbs about work. We find Proverbs about family life. About money. About relationships.

[5:29] About all kinds of topics. But more than anything else. The book of Proverbs talks about the tongue. So we find Proverbs like, The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.

[5:44] But the perverse tongue will be cut off. Or the tongue of the wise commends knowledge. But the mouth of fools pour out folly. Whoever keeps his tongue, his mouth and his tongue, Keeps himself out of trouble.

[6:00] So we see scattered throughout the hundreds of Proverbs, We find this emphasis on our words. Now that makes sense. When we think about how much we use our tongues.

[6:13] How often it is that we open our mouths and speak. How often we simply communicate. In fact, we could often take communication for granted.

[6:23] Couldn't we? What a gift it is from God. To be able to understand each other. To be able to speak. To be able to listen. To be able to receive communication. We've been in 1 Corinthians 14 in the evenings.

[6:36] We've seen the emphasis that Paul placed there. On the ability to understand and to comprehend what is being said. Imagine if you tried to speak to others.

[6:47] If you tried to communicate to them. And they just ignored you. I couldn't help but think of Scrooge. In the Christmas Carol story. As those ghosts showed him the past and the present and the future.

[6:59] And he was in the midst of all of those people. But of course they couldn't hear him. They would pass him by. And he'd be frustrated. Because he couldn't communicate. He wanted to perhaps change the past.

[7:10] And he couldn't. Although it would frustrate us to no end as well. If we sought to communicate. To open our mouths and speak. And no one heard.

[7:21] No one responded. Now maybe we don't think about the basics of communication all that often. Kind of like blinking or breathing. We don't really pay attention to how often we use our words in some way.

[7:35] So let's think about it for just a moment. Let's crunch some numbers to get perspective. Now of course some people talk more than others. We know who we are. But on average.

[7:46] According to one study that I found. We speak about 700 times a day. We open our mouths. And we have something to say about that often.

[7:57] Another study got more specific. And it calculated the number of words on average. That we speak per day. And they estimated it was anywhere from 10 to 15,000.

[8:09] If you wrote that down on paper. Single spaced. You'd have anywhere from 25 to 28 pages. I had a professor in school that required his students in one course.

[8:22] To write a five page paper every week. And I was really thankful when he took a sabbatical. And another professor filled in for him. And did not require us to write that five page paper. I thought that's a lot of work.

[8:34] 25 to 28 pages. That's a seminary level thesis. Double spaced perhaps. Well we blow that number out of the water every day.

[8:46] With just the words that we speak. So our words have a prominent place in our day to day lives. Makes sense then that Proverbs.

[8:56] Which addresses our day to day lives. Then gives our tongue a prominent place in the book. The most talked about subject is the subject of talking. But it is not just because of how often we speak.

[9:11] It's not just because of how many words we speak. But because of something far deeper than that. Our words reveal our hearts.

[9:22] Jesus draws our attention to this truth. Throughout his ministry he taught that our words. They show what's going on in our hearts. So we read in Matthew 12.34.

[9:33] Jesus says. For out of the abundance of the heart. The mouth speaks. Or again in chapter 15 verse 18. He says. But what comes out of the mouth.

[9:44] Proceeds from the heart. Our words show. What is in our hearts. So the subject of the tongue. Holds a prominent place in the book of Proverbs.

[9:57] Not just because we talk a lot. But because Proverbs is greatly concerned with the heart. And our words say a lot about what is in our hearts.

[10:08] Take what Paul says in his letter to the Romans. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

[10:21] You will be saved. You see there. The mouth heart connection. What we say with our mouths. What we believe in our hearts. They go together.

[10:33] Well Proverbs 18.4 begins like this. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. Interesting. Proverbs 25 says.

[10:45] The purpose in a man's heart is like a deep water. So we have deep waters as it relates to our words. And another proverb says. Deep waters as it relates to our heart.

[10:57] Showing yet once more. What we believe. What we prize. What we value. What we hold close to us. What burdens us. That is all in some way revealed.

[11:09] By our speech. So what does wisdom. In Proverbs have for us this morning. On that very topic. Well we want to consider that together.

[11:19] We've seen the prominence of the tongue. Well now let's dive into those deep waters. And let's see the power of the tongue. Now this is revealed to us in many Proverbs.

[11:30] Let's begin in Proverbs 12.18. That proverb reads. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts.

[11:41] But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Now we all know the modern proverb. Sticks and stones may break my bones.

[11:54] But your words will never hurt me. There is truth in that proverb. In fact it reflects another proverb in scripture. Chapter 12 verse 16. Which says the prudent ignores an insult.

[12:07] So it is good for us to develop thick skin. We should be able to press on and not be paralyzed by someone's words. We should be able to tune out the noise. But the idea that words will never hurt us is simply not true.

[12:23] Not according to the Bible. Words can hurt. And understandably so. Rash words are like sword thrusts. Says Proverbs 12.18. I think we would agree.

[12:36] That a sword can do more damage. Than even sticks and stones. Which may break bones. Yet words can be like those sword thrusts.

[12:46] Words carry power. Especially when it's words that are spoken by someone we love and trust. Someone we care deeply about. Someone close to us. Someone with influence or sway over our lives.

[13:00] Their words can certainly impact us. Just as swords could pierce the body. So too can their words pierce to our souls. Rash words.

[13:12] Especially in this proverb. Words that are spoken in haste and without thought. Those words can wound. Consider also Proverbs 12.6.

[13:23] Says something very similar. Though with a distinct difference as well. Proverbs 12.6. Says. The words of the wicked. Lie in wait for blood.

[13:36] Now think about these two Proverbs for a moment. Rash words. Wound. The words of the wicked. Lie in wait for blood. Lying in wait.

[13:49] That actually is quite the opposite of being rash. Isn't it? Here we have a picture of someone intentionally. Very purposefully seeking to wound with their words.

[14:00] They're not wielding the sword in a moment of passion. Maybe we think of Peter in the garden of Gethsemane. Those are rash words. Sword thrusts like Peter's. But not this proverb.

[14:12] They're not wielding their sword in a moment of lack of self-control. They're waiting in the ditch. They're watching the road. They have their sword in hand at the ready.

[14:23] Looking for their victim to pass by. It's one thing to say something that pierces the soul. Because you opened your mouth too quickly. It is another thing to say something that pierces the soul.

[14:35] And you planned on it. It was premeditated. You thought about those words. And you let them do their work. So negatively speaking. The tongue can do great damage.

[14:48] In premarital counseling sessions. One of I think the great points of emphasis to be made. It is on communication. How important it is for husbands and wives to communicate well.

[15:00] And how easy it is for that not to happen. To read into each other's silence. To misunderstand what was spoken. What was said.

[15:10] And then out of that poor communication arises this kind of downright negative communication that we see in Proverbs. Great damage in the marriage relationship.

[15:21] Great damage in relationships in the body of Christ. Great damage in the workplace. Between friends. Between neighbors. It can often be traced back to the words that we speak.

[15:32] Which again let's remember. They proceed from the heart. And those words then that proceed from the heart are directed at the heart of others. Thrusting their sword into each other's souls.

[15:45] So with our words we can do great damage. And the reverse. Is also true as well. That positively speaking. The tongue can do great good.

[15:56] As Proverbs 12.18 says. Now in the second half of that verse. So the rash words are like sword thrusts. But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

[16:09] Not a sword thrust. But healing to the soul. Perhaps building up where others have torn down. Perhaps bringing encouragement in the wake of discouragement.

[16:22] I think of the medic on the battlefield. Who's coming to the aid of the soldier. Who was just gravely wounded. And now he's helping him. He's bringing that aid.

[16:33] After the sword thrust that he just experienced. So not to harm. But to help. Our words can work in that way too. Proverbs 10.11 teaches us.

[16:45] The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. So there are words that give life to us.

[16:56] And there are words that sap life from us. There is such power in our words. So what kind of words are coming out of our mouths?

[17:08] Consider the New Testament as well. Often times the truths that we find in Proverbs. Are then carried on into the New Testament. So James in writing his New Testament letter.

[17:21] He has something to say about the tongue. Doesn't he? In chapter 3. Especially directing it to those who teach. And talking about with greater strictness. We will be judged for what we have said.

[17:34] Well James warns us. In chapter 3 verse 1 he says. Not many of you should become teachers my brothers. For you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

[17:46] For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says. He is a perfect man. Able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses.

[17:59] So that they obey us. We guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also. Though they are so large. And are driven by strong winds. They are guided by a very small rudder.

[18:10] Wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue. Is a small member. Yet it boasts of great things. So very small is the tongue.

[18:24] Easy to overlook. Easy to not think about. And yet how powerful it is. What great things it can do. Great power in the tongue. James goes on to point out that the tongue is like a fire.

[18:37] Like a spark. That could set a great forest ablaze. So it is with our words. Doesn't take much to do great damage. It also doesn't take much to do great good.

[18:49] Like the rudder of the ship. Small. Under the water. Can't even see it. And yet it guides the ship. It moves the ship in the direction the pilot wants.

[19:00] So it doesn't take much to do great good. Think of the few words that can be said. To encourage. The few words that can be said. To spur on. As Proverbs 16.24 says.

[19:13] Gracious words are like a honeycomb. Sweetness to the soul. And health to the body. Can't our spirits be lifted by a kind word spoken to us.

[19:24] Maybe a short note that's written to us. Remember I shared a few months back. About how much I enjoy getting Christmas cards after Christmas. When the season has passed.

[19:36] Well someone sent a card after that. And said I know how much you enjoy getting cards without expecting them. And what an encouragement that was to me. They wrote a very long note.

[19:47] And that was very encouraging. But it could have been short. And it still would have been wonderful to receive that. Maybe not a note in the mail. Maybe just a brief text sent to us.

[19:57] Words that encourage us to press on. Words that remind us of the good that God is doing through us. Words that remind us of the good that God is doing in us. Well the tongue can bring that great blessing.

[20:10] It can do that great good. So how are you using your words? Are you wielding them? Like a sword. Are you seeking to bring healing with them?

[20:22] Like that medic on the battlefield. Proverbs helps us to remember our tongues. We speak with them every day. And they have great power. So let's consider also then.

[20:35] The posture of the tongue. What does wisdom teach us that the posture of the tongue should be? Well repeatedly over and over again we see the tongue should be slow to speak.

[20:49] That is what should be the default position of the tongue of the wise. Not hasty with words. Not rash with words. Many Proverbs speak to this. Perhaps none more pointedly than Proverbs 29.20.

[21:07] Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. You see these are thoughtless words that the man is speaking.

[21:21] He is speaking before considering perhaps in a group whether someone else knows more than he does. Whether someone is more experienced in this area than he is.

[21:32] Whether someone knows better than he does. This is the self-opinionated man. Quick to speak his thoughts. Quick to say what he thinks without thinking about what he says.

[21:45] Failing to see the wisdom and waiting and listening. And then perhaps speaking. Proverbs 10.19 also teaches us about this posture of the tongue.

[21:58] When words are many, transgression is not lacking. But whoever restrains his lips is prudent. In other words, the more that we talk, which is often tied to being hasty to speak.

[22:13] Well, the more prone that we are to sin. Whether that be gossiping, slandering, speaking ill of others, boasting in ourselves, lying.

[22:26] Many words open the door to sin. Now, of course, that's not to say that we shouldn't have long conversations. That's not to say that many words is inherently foolish.

[22:38] But even when we speak at length, we should be careful in what we say. The prudent, the wise, restrain their tongue. Or you could say they hold their tongue.

[22:50] Now, I considered the wisdom in doing this. And we're going to give it a whirl. And if I have lots of parents speak to me after the service, we won't do this again. But kids, grab your tongue.

[23:03] Now try to say, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? All right, there we are. You can't do it. How challenging that is.

[23:14] Now we're going to go wash our hands after the service, aren't we? I was going to do it with you, and then I thought, well, nobody would want to shake my hand after the service. But holding your tongue, you can't talk.

[23:27] Now, again, some of us naturally are more social than others. We like to talk. We like to verbally process, as they say. Ask my wife.

[23:39] I am in that category. It's often said that women talk more than men. Not so in the Horn household. I can process something to death with Casey. We have an agreed upon look that I just know.

[23:51] You get it. I can stop talking about that. So those of us who like to talk especially need to take to heart these words in Proverbs. Talking is not inherently problematic, but failing to give thought to your words is.

[24:07] Being slow to speak is that default posture of our tongue. That is good wisdom from God for us to live by. Being slow to speak also says something about the temperament of our spirits.

[24:21] Again, this flows from our words come from the heart. Well, our posture says something about the posture of our hearts. And listen to Proverbs 17, 27.

[24:32] Whoever restrains his words has knowledge. And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Something we're doing in our junior high and Sunday school classes.

[24:46] We're learning about how to study the Bible. And this morning we were looking at how to observe what we're reading. Maybe some of our junior highers, some of our high schoolers know. What do we do?

[24:56] What do we see here? We see a comparison. Don't we all see that? That he's saying this is true and this is true. And look at the similarity between the two. So what do we see?

[25:07] Restraining words is to be paralleled to a cool spirit. Now again, let's go back to James in the New Testament. And we see the same principle here.

[25:19] Called to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. That's the description of someone with a cool spirit.

[25:30] That we see here in Proverbs 17. A cool spirit is self-controlled. Not easily provoked. Not easily angered and frustrated.

[25:40] There's no embers to stoke that could form into a full blaze of a fire. They're like a wet blanket. Now how does that cool spirit show up?

[25:51] By that person's lack of words. Those who restrain their words demonstrate something about the inner man. A cool spirit.

[26:03] Those who are quick to speak. Well, in general, that is demonstrating a hot spirit. A spirit that's easily provoked to anger. And the end result.

[26:14] The outcome for those who are easily provoked to anger is never good. We see that in the final proverb about the posture of the tongue. Proverbs 13.3 tells us, Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life.

[26:31] He who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. So words that are spoken in haste do what? They bring ruin. They bring destruction.

[26:42] They bring devastation. They bring disaster. Whereas those who are slow to speak. Well, they preserve their lives. They're kept from evil. But they're delivered from that trouble.

[26:56] You see, the posture of the tongue greatly matters. If we are rash with our words. Consequences can be devastating. But if we're careful with our words.

[27:06] If we're slow to speak. Well, we can avoid all kinds of sorrow. And pain. And hardship. How much conflict at home. In the workplace. At school.

[27:18] In the church even. Begins with a word that was spoken in haste. It is good for us then to consider. Before we open our mouths to speak.

[27:32] That's the importance of the posture of the heart. The posture of the tongue. Well, now we come to our final point this morning. And as we consider it. It is the purpose of the tongue.

[27:44] What does God's word say about how we should use our tongues? What should our tongue be used for? Well, here are three very practical ways to use it.

[27:55] Number one. We ought to proclaim the gospel to the lost. Multiple times. We find in Proverbs. That the words of the wise.

[28:06] Are associated with life. Proverbs 15.4 says. A gentle tongue is a tree of life. But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

[28:17] Again, Proverbs 10.11. We've read it once already. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. So the words of the wise are known to be life-giving.

[28:31] And what words are more life-giving than the message of the gospel itself? What words are more life-giving than the message about Jesus Christ. An eternal life that is found in him.

[28:43] Indeed, didn't Peter say it right? When Jesus asked him, are you going to leave too? And he said, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have the privilege to share those.

[28:56] We have good news to speak. We speak that with our words. Now, of course, our lives should align with our words. How we live should match up with what we say.

[29:08] But we must always remember that the lost are saved by God's grace as they believe the gospel they've heard. The gospel which was spoken to them.

[29:19] The gospel that was told to them. They must hear the words that Christ died for sinners such as us. That Christ went to the cross to take the wrath of God for sinners.

[29:32] Turning his wrath away. Rising from the dead. That all who trust in him would be saved. That all who look to him would live because he died in their place.

[29:43] They must hear those words. Paul tells us that in Romans 10. He tells us everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And then he helps us to see how we get to this point of someone calling on the name of the Lord.

[29:58] It doesn't just happen in a vacuum. No, they have to believe in Christ to call on his name for salvation. And to believe in him, they must hear about him. And to hear about him, someone must preach the word to them.

[30:12] So Paul says, faith comes from hearing. And hearing through the word of Christ. It's that word of Christ. It is that word of the truth that we are called to speak.

[30:27] So we proclaim that good news. We go and we tell of the Savior who came for sinners such as us. We say it. Look to him and live. Look to the one who died on the cross.

[30:40] Look to the one who rose from the grave and lives. That you too might live. That your sins might be forgiven. We say that. We use our words to proclaim the word of the gospel to the lost.

[30:53] But we should commend the gospel to them. Paul says in Colossians 4, Let your speech always be gracious. Seasoned with salt.

[31:06] So that you may know how you ought to answer each person. So are you able to give an answer? Do you have words to speak?

[31:17] Is your speech gracious? Are you ready with the gospel when the opportunity arises? That is one very clear purpose for your tongue.

[31:27] To proclaim the gospel to the lost. But that's not the only purpose. Because our tongues can also be used to build up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4.29 Paul tells us, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths.

[31:44] But only such as is good for building up. As fits the occasion. That it may give grace to those who hear. So yes, gracious words as we speak to those outside of Christ.

[31:57] Calling for them to trust in him. And gracious words as we speak to those in Christ. As we build up the body of Christ. Doesn't that sound a lot like Proverbs?

[32:08] The tongue of the wise brings healing. Or again, the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. What we say should give grace to those who hear.

[32:20] We should use our words. We should use our tongues. To strengthen our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. To encourage. To stir them up to love and good works.

[32:32] In the New Testament. In the book of Colossians again. Paul tells us how we're to use our tongues in this way. We had a wonderful glimpse of it. Even as we sang this morning.

[32:44] But before we hear how Paul says the words are to come out of our mouths. He says what we actually need to put into our hearts. The words that need to go to our hearts. Before coming out of our mouths.

[32:54] He says in chapter 4. Verse 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

[33:06] So the word of Christ is dwelling in us richly. You see that word. His word. It's to be in us. In our hearts. Have a dwelling place there.

[33:17] Take a permanent residence. Make a home in our hearts. Then once we have his word in our hearts. We have words to share from our mouths. To one another. And that's where we see Paul then say.

[33:32] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Teaching. And admonishing one another. In all wisdom. Singing psalms and hymns. And spiritual songs.

[33:43] With thanksgiving in your hearts to God. So you see how we can be an encouragement to one another. We first need the word of Christ dwelling richly in us. Then we can teach.

[33:55] Then we can admonish. Then we can sing even. And all of that is to the benefit of the body. Even in the singing of our praise to God.

[34:06] We can be a blessing and an encouragement to one another. Stirring one another up. Here is a reason to sing with all your heart. Because as your brothers and sisters hear the words you sing.

[34:19] They are built up. So sing out. Even if you are a little off key. Maybe you dive into a song a little early. As I often can. Maybe you don't have a great voice.

[34:30] But how great are the words that you sing. We build each other up with those words. Now as we saw earlier. Our words can also be used to tear down.

[34:43] We can do great harm. There are lots of ways that our words can do great harm to one another in the body of Christ. Time and again. The Proverbs speak of one way in particular.

[34:56] The great harm in lying. The great harm in deceitful speech. Not speaking the truth with our words. But falsehood instead. Instead.

[35:06] In Proverbs 6. Solomon spells out seven particular sins that God hates. Now of course God hates all sin. But he draws special attention to these seven.

[35:18] And he uses this very interesting way of speaking. Which is probably kind of foreign to us. I haven't heard any of us speak in this way before in conversation. Solomon says beginning in verse 16.

[35:29] There are six things that the Lord hates. Seven that are an abomination to him. This is a kind of formula that he's giving to us.

[35:40] And it might sound a bit confusing at first. Like which is it? Does God hate six? Or does God hate seven sins? Well it's seven. But the seven he's putting this special emphasis on for us.

[35:54] He's helping us to see how the seventh relates back to those previous six. So let's hear this list. Let's see these sins that God hates.

[36:06] Haughty eyes. A lying tongue. And hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that devises wicked plans. Feet that make haste to run to evil.

[36:19] A false witness who breathes out lies. And one who sows discord among brothers. So you see that last one. That's the one the focus should be on.

[36:31] That's where he's drawing our attention to. God hates when discord is sown among brothers. God hates when strife is stirred up among brothers and sisters.

[36:45] Well how does that happen? How is it that strife can be stirred up in the body of Christ? Well those six preceding sins show us don't they? And two of those relate directly to deceitful speech.

[36:58] A lying tongue stirs up strife. So too does a false witness who breathes out lies. Nothing will break trust more quickly in the body than lies.

[37:11] We're commanded to put away all deceit. Paul tells us in Colossians 3.9 Do not lie to one another. Seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.

[37:23] That was our former manner of life. To lie. To deceive. To manipulate others for our own benefit. We're to put off all of that in the body now.

[37:36] What are we to do instead? Speak the truth in love. Right? Not tearing down each other with our words. Not thrusting the sword through each other with our tongue.

[37:48] But building one another up. Giving grace to those who hear. So we use our tongues to proclaim the gospel to the lost. We use our tongues to build up the body of Christ in our midst.

[38:03] And now finally we see that we ought to use our tongues to praise our God. Now I know this isn't from Proverbs. But listen to Psalms. David in Psalm 34.1 says, I will bless the Lord at all times.

[38:19] His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Now not staying in his mouth. Not like he put his praise in his mouth and closed his mouth.

[38:30] No, of course not. Coming out. Speaking forth God's praise. Continually. The wise use their words to honor the Lord. To praise his name.

[38:42] To tell of his great works. To proclaim the excellencies who called us out of darkness. Into his marvelous light. We use our words to make much of our Savior.

[38:56] Let's think about our Savior together. Let's consider his words. How did Jesus use his tongue? He instructed. He taught. That he spoke the truth always.

[39:08] With his words he glorified his Father. He spoke the words given to him by his Father. And when he was in Nazareth. Returning to his hometown where he grew up.

[39:20] He preached in the synagogue. And he made clear. That the Old Testament scriptures were about him. That they found their fulfillment in him. And Luke 4 tells us.

[39:32] That after he finished speaking. He rolled up that scroll. And what did the people do? The people all spoke well of him. And marveled at the gracious words.

[39:44] That were coming from his mouth. Our Savior used his tongue with perfect wisdom. He spoke just the right words. At just the right time. Every single time.

[39:55] And yet consider the crowd. The crowd would not always speak well of him. After his arrest. As he was in the custody of Pilate.

[40:06] Pilate turned to the crowd. And he asked them. What shall I do with the man you call the king of the Jews? And they would use their voices to cry out as one. Crucify him.

[40:17] Those are the words that came from their mouths. Those are the words outside of Christ. That came out of every one of our mouths. Those are the words that Jesus himself would make no defense.

[40:29] When pressed to explain himself. When pressed to prove himself. Jesus had not a word to say then. Just as Isaiah 53.7 tells us.

[40:40] He was oppressed. And he was afflicted. Yet he opened not his mouth. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. And like a sheep that is before its shears is silent.

[40:51] So he opened not his mouth. So he went to the cross. Condemned as a criminal. Though no wrong that he had done. He suffered in our place.

[41:02] For all of the wrong that we had done. But he did not die in silence. Just as we've heard from Mark. Now he had that sponge. Filled with sour wine.

[41:14] Brought to his lips. To loosen his parched tongue. So that he could say those all important words. With the last strength that he had. He could cry out and say. It is finished.

[41:26] His work is done. Salvation won for us. As he drank the cup of God's wrath. He drank it to the dregs. The cup we deserved. The punishment that should have been ours.

[41:37] Christ took our place. That we might not die. But that we might have life through him. And our Savior who died on that cross.

[41:47] Was buried. He rose again. Conquering sin and death. He ascended into heaven. And he will return one day. And on that day when he returns. He will come.

[41:59] With a cry of command. He will speak yet again. A final triumph. With a cry of command. The dead in Christ will rise. We who are alive.

[42:10] Will be caught up in the air. Together with them. We will meet the Lord in the air. And what will we get? To be with him forever. We will always be with the Lord. Church.

[42:21] Christ is coming again. And his tongue will cry out in victory. Now on that day. We will speak as well. Every person will.

[42:34] Believer and unbeliever alike. We too will have something to say. Philippians 2 tells us. That at the name of Jesus. Every knee will bow. Where at?

[42:45] In heaven. On earth. Under the earth. And every tongue confess. That Jesus Christ is Lord. To the glory of God the Father. Are you ready for that day of confession?

[42:58] If you are outside of Christ. If you have not cried out to him for salvation. Right now you have the opportunity to humble yourself before Jesus.

[43:09] To lay down your weapons. To wave the white flag of surrender. To bow the knee to him. You have the opportunity today. To confess with your lips.

[43:21] Jesus Christ is Lord. All who turn to Christ. And call on his name. Will be saved. And they will gladly acknowledge. Yes.

[43:31] He is Lord. The one who saved me. So confess with your tongue today. Do it today. Because one day. You won't have that opportunity.

[43:42] There will be no salvation in your confession. On that day. You will still confess. That is clear. Everyone will. You will still say.

[43:53] Jesus Christ is Lord. You will acknowledge that Christ is King of Kings. And Lord of Lords. That there is none above him. None before him. That he has all power and authority.

[44:05] One day every knee will bow. Now. Every tongue confess. We will all say it. With our mouths. Those words will proceed from our lips.

[44:16] The only question is. Will you make that confession. Joyfully today. And live in obedience. Under his rule. Or will you make that confession.

[44:27] In anguish. On that future day. The day of judgment. When you will be made to say. Jesus Christ is Lord. There is no salvation on that day.

[44:38] There is no joyful submission. On that day. There is only weeping. And gnashing of teeth. And in eternity. In hell. That awaits. That is the punishment.

[44:48] For sin. For those who. In this life. Refuse to bow the knee. In this life. Who refuse. To confess. Jesus Christ is Lord. He is my Lord.

[44:59] Now many live today. As though Jesus is not Lord. His name is only on their lips. To use it as profanity.

[45:09] And they don't honor him. With their mouths. They mock him. They write him off. They speak of him. Just as the crowds did. As he hung upon the cross. Many today say with their lips.

[45:21] Jesus is no savior for me. Jesus is no Lord. Jesus is nobody. But they will see the truth one day. And it will be too late.

[45:33] If you are outside of Christ today. Come to him. Call on him. Turn from your sin. Put your trust in him. Confess with your mouth. That Jesus Christ is Lord.

[45:44] Believe in your heart. That God raised him from the dead. And you will be saved. Those are not my words. That's God's word. That's what God says in Romans 10.9.

[45:54] Now for all of us who know this salvation. For all of us who know this savior. This Lord. Our Lord. Who gladly confess his name today. We will gladly confess his name into all of eternity.

[46:08] We will gladly confess his name for all of eternity. We will gather around his throne. We will sing his praise. We will worship him with our tongues.

[46:19] We will join in the heavenly chorus. Just as Revelation 7.10 says. Crying out with a loud voice. Salvation belongs to our God.

[46:30] Who sits on the throne. And to the Lamb. We don't have to wait. Till that future day. To use our tongues. Do we? To sing our praises to God.

[46:42] We can do that this morning. We can sing our praise today. Psalm 19.14 Let the words of my mouth. And the meditation of my heart.

[46:54] Be acceptable in your sight. O Lord. My rock. And my redeemer. Amen.