Talking For A Talking For A ChangeChange

““May the words of my mouth May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your heart be pleasing in your

sight, O Lord, my Rock and sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”my Redeemer.”

(Psalm 19:14 NIV)Psalm 19:14 NIV)

““We all stumble in many We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his perfect man, able to keep his

whole body in check.” whole body in check.”

(James 3:2NIV(James 3:2NIV)

Why should I watch Why should I watch what I say?what I say?

1) What I say directs 1) What I say directs where I gowhere I go..

““When we put bits in When we put bits in the mouths of horses… the mouths of horses…

we can we can TURNTURN the whole the whole animal.”animal.”

(James 3:3NIV)(James 3:3NIV)

2) What I say can take 2) What I say can take me me through tough times.through tough times.

““Or take ships as an example. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and Although they are so large and are driven are driven BY STRONG WINDSBY STRONG WINDS, , they are steered by a they are steered by a very small rudder very small rudder wherever the pilot wherever the pilot wants to go.” (v4)wants to go.” (v4)

3) What I say can destroy 3) What I say can destroy what I have.what I have. (vs 5-8) (vs 5-8)

““Consider what a great Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue small spark. The tongue

is also a fire…is also a fire…

It sets the whole course It sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. itself set on fire by hell.

(vs6b)(vs6b)

Proverbs 21: 23 “He who guard his Proverbs 21: 23 “He who guard his mouth and his tongue keeps himself mouth and his tongue keeps himself

from calamity.” NIVfrom calamity.” NIV

““Watch your words and Watch your words and hold your tongue; hold your tongue;

   you'll save yourself    you'll save yourself a lot of grief.” a lot of grief.”

The MessageThe Message““Watch your tongue and Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,keep your mouth shut,

      and you will stay out       and you will stay out of trouble.” of trouble.”

The Living BibleThe Living Bible

4) What I say reveals 4) What I say reveals whowho I am. I am.

““Out of the same Out of the same mouth come praise mouth come praise and cursing. and cursing. My brothers, this My brothers, this

should not be.” should not be.” (v 10) (v 10)

What do I need What do I need to do?to do?

5) What I say to myself quite 5) What I say to myself quite often becomes my actions.often becomes my actions.

““When he came to his senses, When he came to his senses, he said, … he said, …

‘‘I will set out & go back to my I will set out & go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have father and say to him: Father, I have

sinned against heaven and against you. sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called I am no longer worthy to be called

your son; make me like on of your your son; make me like on of your hired men.’”hired men.’”

(Luke 15:17-18 NIV) (Luke 15:17-18 NIV)

6) What I say can be 6) What I say can be a confession and belief.a confession and belief.

“That if you confess with your That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and

believe in your heart that God believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

7) How do you get 7) How do you get better at this?better at this?

A)A)Flavor FullFlavor Full

(Colossians 4:6)(Colossians 4:6)

7) How do you get 7) How do you get better at this?better at this?

B) God B) God inspired inspired silencesilence

(Psalm 141:3)(Psalm 141:3)

7) How do you get 7) How do you get better at this?better at this?

C) Learn how to be slowC) Learn how to be slow

(James 1:19)(James 1:19)

7) How do you get 7) How do you get better at this?better at this?

D) Learn how to de-motivate D) Learn how to de-motivate yourself & others. yourself & others.

(Titus 2:11-12)(Titus 2:11-12)

7) How do you get 7) How do you get better at this?better at this?

E) You don’t get good at E) You don’t get good at something you do once in something you do once in awhile.awhile.

(Philippians4:9)(Philippians4:9)

7) How do you get 7) How do you get better at this?better at this?

E) You are on God E) You are on God JourneyJourney

(Psalm 19:14)(Psalm 19:14)

““May the words of my mouth May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your heart be pleasing in your

sight, O Lord, my Rock and sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”my Redeemer.”

(Psalm 19:14 NIV)Psalm 19:14 NIV)