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Speech that Prospers. Right speech comes from a right heart. Matt. 12:34 …how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks . Submit your old goals to the Lord Ask him to give you a heart that wants to Please him more than impress others
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Right speech comes from a right heart Matt. 12:34 …how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. • Submit your old goals to the Lord • Ask him to give you a heart that wants to • Please him more than impress others • Bless others in the moment, not just look out for yourself • Protect the right things rather than damage them
Goals for my Speech WRONG GOALS • Basic: to please myself • Get what I want at the expense of others • Make people think I am exceptional & impress others by my… • Intelligence • Prestige • Power of personality RIGHT GOALS • Basic: to please God • To build up others who hear my words • According to their need • Benefitting them • To prosper my stewardships: to… • Protect them • Do well to them
The Fundamental Guideline: Build up Those Who Hear You Eph. 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. • Think before I speak – Prov. 16:23 • Select my words – don’t simply let them fly • Choose to say only what will benefit those who listen • Build them up – strengthen and grow them • In line with their needs
Think Before You Speak • The wise man man’s mouth is a follower, not the leader (Prov. 16:23) • We tend to let words gush out, which… • Mark us as a fool (Prov. 15:2) • Result in sin (Prov. 10:19) • Damage us (Prov. 21:23) • Stopping the gush improves our reputation(Prov. 17:28)
Select our Words: What is Fitting? • Ask yourself: Is this occasion a time for… • Silence? (Eccl. 3:1,7) • Listening? (Prov. 18:13) • Giving space? (Prov. 27:14) • Letting the other person shine? (Prov. 15:23) • Chit-chat? Then encourage (Heb. 10:24) • Business? Then operate in truth (Prov. 21:6) • Celebration? Don’t instruct, brag or talk tragedy • Sadness? (Prov. 12:25, Rom. 12:15)
Say Only What Will Benefit • When you speak, bless. • Refresh people (Prov. 10:11) • Give them something valuable (Prov. 10:20) • Choose words that are a blessing in… • Content: words whose meanings fit the need • Package: in a form that is pleasing (Prov. 25:11)
Response Paradigm The Usual Approach • Judge • Instruct • Probe • Clarify • Support The Wise Approach • Support • Clarify • Probe • Instruct • Judge