PT-2 "Speech Can be Used to do Good" (Studies in Proverbs)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/2/2013 2:29 PM

My Worship Time                                                   Focus:  Speech Can be Used to do Good PT-2

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  We will begin to look at the second SD on the subject of have your speech used for good.

            Our words can instruct the ignorant.  We will begin by looking at Proverbs 15:7 “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.”  By spreading knowledge to those who need it we are using our speech to do good.  Next we will look at Proverbs 16:21, “The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.”  When we think about our life on earth we know that it does not last too long when compared to how long the earth has been in existence, and my belief is that it has been around for somewhere around 6000 years.  We must gain wisdom in order to have a successful life in the eyes of God.  Listening to a sermon by John MacArthur this morning on the last part of the 10^th chapter of Luke’s gospel I learned the following important lesson, “41 But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”  David writes the following “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple (Ps. 27:4).”  13  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).”  This was written by Paul and we can conclude from these three passages that the one thing that should be the top priority in our life is to listen to and study the Word of God.  When we do this we gain wisdom so that what we learn can be applied to our lives.  When we study the Word of God it is kind of like what Mary did as she sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him teach her and so as we sit at His feet we can gain wisdom so that we can teach our children, our grandchildren, and others that the Lord will bring into our lives.

            Our words can rescue the perishing.  The wonderful song writer Fanny Crosby who was blinded very, very early in life due to an accident wrote many, many songs and poems.  One of them she entitled “Rescue the Perishing.”

1.     Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

o   Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

2.     Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

3.     Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

4.     Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.”

Proverbs 14:25 says, “A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.” Dr. Wiersbe writes “If my testimony could save an innocent person from death, and I refused to speak, then my silence would be a terrible sin, ‘11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. 12 If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?’  Whether it’s rescuing prisoners from execution or lost sinners from execution or lost sinners from eternal judgment, we can’t plead ignorance if we do nothing.”

Our Words can encourage those who are burdened.  “Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up (Pr. 12:25 The Message).”  Next Proverbs 15:23, “A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!”  If we are learning wisdom, walking in the Spirit we will know when we can give an answer that is timely.  “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Pr. 16:24).” 

Dr. Wiersbe writes “The Royal British Navy has a regulation which reads, ‘No officer shall speak discouragingly to another officer in the discharge of his duties.’ We need to practice that regulation in our homes and churches!  Each of us needs to be a Barnabas, a ‘son of encouragement.”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am convicted in my heart that I do not use the kind of words that I should use in the different circumstances that are spoken of in the sections above.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Think before I speak, and not speak too much.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-4

            1 How blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered!  2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit!  3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.  4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “O LORD, let us not live to be useless, for Christ’s sake.”  (John Wesley)  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  (Matthew 28:19)

3/2/2013 3:16 PM