THE SPEECH OF A BELIEVER

SERIES: THROUGH THE BOOK

TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:29

Our Lord Jesus warned that on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every carelessness word they speak. “For your words will be justified and by your words you will be condemned”- Matthew 12:39-37.

As believers we are put in a position to influence those around us. The power of our words can be used to build up or tear down. Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells us that there is a time to keep silent and at time to speak. To know the difference between knowing when to speak or be silent we need to ask for God’s wisdom and discernment. Silence is best in moments of anger. Refraining from speaking in certain situations we are practicing self-control, part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Silence can help him:-

Gaining respect- Proverbs 11:12.
Earning recommendations as wise-Proverbs 17:28
Avoiding sin-Proverbs 10:19

Sometimes our words are the swords that cat others. What can be arrows/bullets which can kill relationships even in church? Words can break families too. When we speak this is how we should do it:-

LET NO CORRUPT TALK COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH-EPHESIANS 4:29

We are born into a corrupt world. We live among people in schools, college, places of work etc. the corruption in environment can diffuse into our minds and we find ourselves speaking like the world around us. The psalmist in Psalms 141:3 wisely says, “set a guard oh Lord over my mouth keep watch over the door of my lips.”
The tongue is a small organ which the Bible says that it can be a restless evil James 3:7
A very big ship is guided by a very small radar wherever the wheel of the pilot directs. A forest is set ablaze by a very small fire. The tongue can be a fire, a world of unrighteousness James 3:3-7, 2^nd Timothy 2:16.

AVOID GODLESS CHARTER IT WILL LEAD MORE UNGODLINESS.

Godless charter is commonplace in school, colleges, places of work and in social networks. Some people’s hobby is to chatter. It is mostly champion by ungodly people around us and it is greatly used by Satan to stain our godliness.
Crude jokes, jeting ensnare many to ungodlines.
Obscenity vulgar talk is that which is offensive to morality or decency. This should not come out of the mouth of a believer.
Foolish talk is that talk lacking sense or caution. The believer must always assess the impact of his or her words before speaking.

IN MULTITUDE OF WORDS SIN ABIDETH-Proverbs 10:19

In our Lord Jesus there was a guile found in his mouth 1st Peter 2:22. Jesus our Lord is our role model we should restrain from careless and idle speech.
We should be slow to speak James chapter 1:19-20. Don’t rush to utter words satan can trap you by your words.

OUR WORDS SHOULD BE FULL OF GRACE SEASONED WITH THE SALT.

Full of grace-our words should be gentle awards must have an air of piety.
Seasoned with salt-means that our words should be tasty. We are the salt of the Earth, where there is no taste we are the ones to speak taste. Where there is a talk of hopelessness we are the ones to speak hope to a hopeless world.

CONCLUSION