WATCH WHAT YOU SAY
I. OUR WORDS REVEAL OUR CHARACTER.
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11 KJV)
A. THE LORD DETESTED HYPROCISY.
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12:33-37 KJV)
B. THE LOST CANNOT HIDE.
1. The way they talk will betray them.
2. The way they think will have a bearing.
II. OUR WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. (Proverbs 12:18 KJV)
A. OUR WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO HURT.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (James 3:5-12 KJV)
1. It can be like a spreading blaze.
An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. (Proverbs 16:27 KJV)
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:21 KJV)
2. It can be like a savage beast.
a. Deadly to others
b. Destructive to themselves
B. OUR WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO HEAL.
1. You need to know what to say.
2. You need to know when to say it.
