This week’s study is on speech. Our speech and language are the frontline of how we are perceived by others. In this study, we observe how Jesus used his words in conflict. Many people use foul language, become argumentative, and depend on our reactive nature to respond in tough situations. Jesus shows us that by having God’s word written on His heart, He is able to easily respond to conflict. In these versus we will see how Jesus responded when he was exhausted, mentally and physically. A leader who leads someone toward God would be able to handle conflict in this manner.

Luke 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

 

Jesus is challenged by Satan several times. He replies each time by quoting God’s word. Jesus knew the scriptures so well because He studied them growing up and He learned them because of His strong beliefs. We have strong beliefs as Christians and because we do we should learn and understand the scriptures. If we do learn scripture we would be able to use it properly and at the proper time. Satan also tries to twist God’s word and use it against Jesus. But Jesus knew the Word too well for it to throw Him off. He knew scripture and was able to react immediately. This being a leadership study we need to ask ourselves the question: How can we possibly lead and not know and understand God’s Word? Let’s look at a few more verses.

 

Joshua 1:8

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

 

Memorizing scripture is something we all need to do to lead in a Godly way. This will only be effective if we make it part of us. We can intellectually know God’s word or we can receive it in our hearts. We can be able to recite the entire Bible without even looking at it, but if we don’t channel that knowledge to the place where the Holy Spirit lives inside of us we will not be able to use it effectively. When we read our Bibles we should meditate on what God has said and open our hearts to receive it.

 

Psalm 119:11

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

 

How can we keep ourselves from sinning against God? By hiding & keeping His word in our hearts. By doing this we can learn to hate our sin the way God does.

 

James 3:1-12
    Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
     When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

    All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

This verse shows the power and capability of the way speak. These verses show just how susceptible we are when it comes to using our mouths in a way that can be destructive to our lives and dishonoring to God. Our speech is much more powerful than we think. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. The tongue guides who we are. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our speech. It is too easy for us to ignore what the Spirit wants to do and let our own instincts take over. By doing this we open the door for a grave outcome.

 

 

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

 

Unwholesome talk could be defined in many different ways. From swearing, gossiping, belittling, judging and the list can go on and on. Here we are instructed to use our mouths only to build others up. By identifying the needs of others we should be able to choose the way we speak so that it will benefit the one who is listening to us.

I found a number of verses in the book of Proverbs for us to read and meditate on. Proverbs is the book of wisdom written mostly by Solomon about 3000 years ago. Here are some verses that refer to how we should speak.

Proverbs 4:24

Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Proverbs 8:6

Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

Proverbs 10:11-13
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

Proverbs 11:11-13

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

Proverbs 15:1-2

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Proverbs 17:4
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

Proverbs 18:6-8

A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

Proverbs 18:13
He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame

Proverbs 20:19
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 21:23

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

There are dozens of more verses in Proverbs that refer to speech. But I think these ones can sum up how God expects us to speak and how not to speak. The next study will be on consistency and discipline.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 8:07 am and is filed under Leadership Study. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.