This evening I want us to look at four words spoken to peter in Matthew 26:73 “your speech betrays you.”
Let me put these words into context for you:
The flames cast eerie shadows over the mixed group crowding in for warmth. The talk was of the man from Galilee who had been arrested by the temple guard for blasphemy.
Who had seen him.
What did they think.
Was he God or was he the devil?
And as they spoke someone pointed to the burly young stranger in the corner.
“You, you were with the one called jesus.”
“No you’re wrong.” He said, “I don’t know the carpenter” but somebody else piped up “sure you do, i’m positive of it”
and this time peter the fisherman
ignoring the fact that he was in mixed company
answered by cursing and swearing.
The group turned away from him and started talking amongst themselves when one broke away from the others and approached the scowling simon peter and said matthew 26:73 “surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
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“your speech betrays you.”
Now the literal meaning of this statement is that something that Peter said,
or how Peter said it revealed that he was from Galilee.
This is backed up by the way the word speech is translated in some versions as accent - your accent betrays you.
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Different groups of people have distinct ways of speaking. Englishmen, scots, the irish, australians, canadians and americans all claim english as their native language and yet they all speak differently.
And so the literal meaning of the passage is that Peter’s Galilean accent gave him away.
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“your speech betrays you.”
There is a very important message in these words
a message that cannot be ignored.
The way we speak and what we say reveals a great deal about our Christian character or lack of Christian character.
The tongue is the most powerful influence in the church and it is able to build people up or tear them down.
A minster was asked the question “Do you pray that your people will get the gift of tongues?”
“No” he replied, “i’m praying they will learn to control the one they’ve got now.”
The tongue is responsible for some of the most destructive sins in the church and in the same breath it can build up believers like nothing else can.
A.B. Simpson, wrote this “I would rather play with forked lightning or take in my hand live wires with their fiery current then to speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ, or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christians are hurling at others, to the hurt or their own souls and bodies.”
I have met Christians who are so proud of their holy living, they say things like “I would never touch tobacco or the alcohol - i’ve never played poker, or gone to a cinema even to see Bambi, nor do I even tap my feet to a lively tune.”
And yet those very same people cut other christians to shreds with their tongues and don’t even feel guilty after they’ve committed verbal murder or performed a character assassination.
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The truth is there is a lot more in the bible about gossip then there is about drinking, smoking, gambling, movie going and dancing combined.
The bible talks about our need to have our old natures crucified,
well I’ve met many christians that would benefit from having their tongue nailed to a cross,
myself included at times.
The vast majority of our world does not know what james 3:12 says Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
and yet almost everybody recognises and acknowledges the truth of that verse
Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
Often the truth hurts, and we may not like the truth, but the truth is,
that many of the judgments made both inside the church and outside the church on the depth of your spiritual walk will be made based on what you say and how you say it.
In the book of galatians 5:19-23 says
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Notice how many of these, for example anger, hostility, jealousy, arguing, troublemaking and envy are manifested through speech. That is they are all actions which are expressed, enlarged or revealed through our words.
verse 22, 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
And they are also expressed in many ways verbally.
So it’s not just how you walk but how you talk that will determine the credibility of your Christianity.
On a day to day basis you are judged not just on your actions but on your words, and on your tone of voice.
And you’re not just judged by the person you are talking to you are judged by everyone within earshot.
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For just a few moments lets look at what your speech betrays about you.
Does your speech betray spiritual flaws, or does your speech reveal spiritual strength?
Does your speech betray your lack of faith?
In numbers 13 moses sent twelve spies into the promised land to determine wether or not it could be occupied.
It was the most beautiful country they had ever seen, it was fertile, it was rich, and they brought back a sample of it’s produce.
In numbers 13:27 it is recorded they said: look at this fruit! The land we explored is rich with milk and honey.
The problem was, that the next verse numbers 13:28 begins with the word but,
ten of the twelve spies began telling moses and the children of israel why they could not possibly go into canaan, numbers 13:28 but the people who live there are strong, and their cities are large and walled.
They recognised the promises of god, but because of their unbelief they were unwilling to claim those promises.
Too often we see Christian men and women who have glimpsed what god can do
but they don’t go any further,
not because god can’t or won’t take them further
but because of unbelief in their hearts.
The problem that those twelve spies had was summed up in Numbers 13:33 “we saw giants there. They were so big that we felt as small as grasshoppers.”
The spies had come to the conclusion that there was no way they could conquer the promised land by themselves and they were right.
But God had never asked them to do it by themselves.
When the israelites finally entered into the land which God had promised them their journey was a journey of miracles.
In Joshua chapter 3, the jordan stood still, in Joshua chapter 6 the city of Jericho fell when on the seventh day after marching around it seven times the people blew their horns and shouted to the Lord.
In Joshua chapter ten Joshua called to the Lord and God made the sun stand still.
The children of israel, knew that there was no way in the world that they could conquer the promised land,
and their speech betrayed that fact.
But God never implied that they would have to do it by themselves.
They talked themselves into defeat.
When we say, “I can’t do that” or “we can’t do this” we are usually right because we have convinced ourselves that we can’t.
And worse than that we convince ourselves that God can’t do it either.
Because when we are saying as Christians,
“it’s too hard, it’s too difficult, it’s too tough”
“I can’t get victory over swearing, or drinking, or smoking, or gossiping or my temper.”
What we are really saying is that it’s too hard for God, or too tough for God or too difficult for God.
Don’t let your speech betray your lack of belief.
Does your speech reveal your faith?
Numbers 14:7-8 says: We saw the land ourselves, and it’s very good. 8 If we obey the Lord, He will surely give us that land rich with milk and honey.
Not only did Caleb and Joshua believe that God was able to deliver them into the promised land but they were willing to put their faith on the line and verbalise their belief. It’s funny but faith often doesn’t become reality until it is spoken aloud.
In Genesis 1 we see God speaking the world into existence, and through the rest of the creation process we read that God spoke, or God said or God called.
God wants us to verbalise our belief and faith in Him.
We have to get beyond “no I can’t” and get to “Yes God can!”
I can’t kick that habit,
I can’t overcome that sin,
I can’t love that person,
I can’t tithe,
I can’t I can’t I can’t.
But remember philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”
Some things?, Most things?, EVERYTHING!
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Does your speech betrays your discontentment?
Moses leads the children of Israel out of Egypt and at the start everything was easy.
The people were rejoicing and the entire spirit of the journey was one of joy and happiness.
Moses was the hero of the day.
Moses leads them to the shore of the red sea,
and as they look out at the angry waves lapping the beach at their feet they chance a look back and here comes the Egyptians.
Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Exodus 14:11 they also complained to moses,
“wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt anyway?” And again in exodus 14:12 “while we were there, didn’t we tell you to leave us alone? We had rather be slaves in egypt than die in this desert!”
That theme of whinging and whining was to be repeated time and time again as the Jews marched through the wilderness in search of the land of milk and honey.
Even when God provided them with a food source that all they had to do was bend over and pick it up they had complaints.
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I read an article about ways people become discontent with their Ministers or Pastors.
If the pastor is young, he lacks experience;
if his hair is grey, he’s too old for the young people.
If he has five or six children, he has too many;
if he has none, he’s setting a bad example.
If he preaches from notes, he is dry;
if he does not use notes he isn’t deep enough.
If he preaches to the poor he’s playing to the grandstand; if he preaches to the rich he’s trying to be an aristocrat.
If he uses too many illustrations, he’s neglecting the bible; if he doesn’t include stories, he isn’t clear.
If he condemns sin and wrongdoing, he’s cranky;
if he doesn’t preach against sin, he’s a compromiser.
If he preaches the truth, he’s too offensive;
if he doesn’t present the “whole counsel of god,” he’s a hypocrite.
If he fails to please everybody, he’s hurting the church and should leave;
if he does make them all happy, he has no convictions.
If he drives an old car, he shames his congregation;
if he buys a new one, he loves earthly things.
If he preaches all the time, the congregation gets tired of hearing just one man;
if he invites guest ministers, he’s shirking his responsibility as pastor.
If he receives a large salary, he’s mercenary;
if he gets a small one--well, then they say it proves he isn’t worth much anyway.
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Why is it so easy to find things to be discontent about? Why are we so quick to complain about imperfections in others?
If Church was a place for perfect people none of us would be here on our own merit
Everyone in this church, everyone in every church needs to examine their own journey in life and learn to be content with what God has given us, and where God has placed us.
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I know a few people who are only happy if they have someone or something to complain about.
Don’t let your speech betray your discontentment.
Your speech reveals your contentment.
In writing to the Christians in philippi, the apostle paul says in philippians 4:11 I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.
Let me make one thing perfectly clear, contentment is not complacency.
Discontentment tends is against things and people, contentment moves consistently toward godliness.
It is never willing to stand still and be stagnate.
We can be content to live in 2010 without becoming complacent toward the evils which surround us,
The content person is the person who says “I believe that God is in control and will seek to serve him regardless of the situation.”
I am content at Ashingdon Elim Church.
(and Rayleigh and Southend)
I love the people who are this group of churches that
God has called me to be part of.
I am content, but I will not allow that contentment to develop into complacency, contentment must never become an excuse for complacency.
Does your speech reveal your contentment with what god is doing in your life?
Does your speech betray a lack of love?
It’s unfortunate that so many Christians think they’ve taken a vow of silence when it comes to witnessing
But are at their loudest about revealing the faults and weaknesses of others.
Gossip isn’t the only problem with the tongue, another one is candour.
A woman once told Wesley, “I have a talent for always speaking my mind.” His response, “that’s one talent that would be best buried.”
It’s sometimes too easy to point out a persons shortcomings and sometimes the damage is devastating.
In one church I know there was a woman who would do anything for you but was very blunt about peoples faults. She’d tell you if she thought your haircut didn’t suit you,
or you were a overweight, or if you weren’t singing in key.
And a lot of people were hurt, by the truth, it just wasn’t wisely applied.
It’s been said that we need to apply a three fold test to what we say, 1) is it true, 2) is it kind, and 3) is it necessary.
It would probably help a lot. If we can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.
In Philippians 4:8 paul proposes some guidelines for what we think, philippians 4:8 Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I don’t think it would do any injustice to the scriptures to end that portion of scripture with speak about such things.
And if we speak on those eight things then we won’t have time to be malicious and nasty and hurtful.
Realise the damage that you can do with harsh and critical words.
Let me close with this,
Don’t let your speech betray your lack of love.
Your speech should reveal your love.
Romans 1:8 I thank God in the name of Jesus Christ for all of you. I do this because people everywhere in the world are talking about your faith.
We must be positive when we talk to and about people.
It is so important to hold up peoples achievement and give praise where praise is due.
As parents we need to verbalize our love for our children and tell them how proud we are of them.
Our words mould our children and become self fulfilling prophesies.
And not just your children, but our spouses as well. Husbands tell your wives, wives tell your husbands.
The preacher Billy Sunday told a story about an old farmer’s wife who said to her husband
“you never tell me that you love me anymore.”
And the farmer replied, “I told you that I loved you forty years ago, and if I change my mind I will let you know.” said, “praise your wife, ever if it does surprise her at first.”
Take time to say “I love you”
How about telling your friends how you feel about them,
or your brothers and sisters in the church,
or the workers in the church.
Let’s make a conscious effort to be positive in our comments to one another.
To speak up more praise and encouragement.
Does your speech betrays you.
Let your speech reveal your love.
