"I Have A Filthy Mouth"

7 June 2009

Trinity Sunday

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Fortress Chapel

Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes

Tall-afar, Iraq

BIG IDEA: When believers are in the presence of God, they are humbled and realize their “lips are unclean”.

REFERENCES: Isaiah 6:1-7 (ESV); Job 42:5-6 (ESV) I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes; Acts 28:25-26 (ESV) And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive; John 12:39-41 (ESV) Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him; Matthews 15:18-20 (What defiles a person) ESV – Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone; Mark 7:14-23 (ESV) What Defiles a Person – Note: Mark makes it clear that Jesus spoke this parable – and the one in Matthews 15 - making “all food clean”; Colossians 3:7-8 (ESV) In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth; James 3:1-12 (ESV) Control What You Say – The Apostle James tell us that a Christian Speech is another test of maturity. Note: The size of a thing does not determine its value or power. When God gave us the faculty of speech, He gave us a tool to build with; but it can also become a weapon of destruction; The tongue is a flame: it can, through lies and gossip and heated words, set a whole family or church on fire; James 1:26 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless; Matthews 12:34b (ESV) For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; Proverbs 16:27 (ESV) A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire; Note: On the Day of Pentecost, believers received tongues of fire from heaven; but it’s also possible for the tongue to be “set on fire from hell”; Proverbs 18:20-21 (ESV) From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits; Matthews 26:69-75 (ESV) – Peter denies Jesus; 1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 6:1-8 (ESV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 6:1-8 (ESV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Isaiah 6:5 (ESV) And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that in the presence of God, all believers are humbled and realize they have “unclean lips”.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “I Have a Filthy Mouth”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

“I Have a Filthy Mouth” is the sermon title for today. Most of you are aware that our Contemporary Worship Services conduct monthly Men and Women Fellowships.

This past Wednesday, we conducted our Women Fellowship for the Month of June. It was entitled, Ministry of Submission: “How to Conduct Ageless Beauty Ministry”.

Many of our lady Warriors and civilians showed-up to participate. Fun and learning was had by all in attendance. Likewise, on last evening, we also conducted our Monthly Men Fellowship.

The topic for the Male Warriors was dubbed, “What Every Husband Should Know: How to Get Your Prayers Answered”.

If for whatever reason you missed your monthly fellowship, please see either 1SG Vital or CW3 Watts for additional information. I’m sure they can feel you in on all of the details.

But, I can tell you, now, that God met us here and blessed us!

I think both groups would probably attest to that and the fact that I’m a big fan of the Apostle Peter – especially the men.