The flames cast eerie shadows over the mixed group crowding in for warmth. The talk was of the man from Galilee who had been arrested by the temple guard for blasphemy. Who had seen him. what did they think. Was he God or was he the devil? And as they spoke someone pointed to the burly young stranger in the corner. "You, you were with the one called Jesus." "No you’re wrong." He said, "I don’t know the carpenter" but somebody else piped up "Sure you do, I’m positive of it" and this time Peter the fisherman ignoring the fact that he was in mixed company answered with a string of oaths. The group turned away from him and started talking amongst themselves when one broke away from the others and approached the scowling Simon Peter and said Matthew 26:73 "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you."
Now we all know the story. How Christ told Peter at the Passover that He would deny him. "Not a chance" said Peter "I would die before I’d deny you!" "Oh yes you will" replied Christ, "and you will do it before the rooster crows this morning."
We all know how on three separate occasions Peter had the opportunity to stand up for Christ, and how he failed all three times. This morning we are going to look at the words spoken to Peter in Matthew 26:73 "your speech betrays you."
Now the literal meaning of this statement is that something that Peter said, or how Peter said it revealed that he was from Galilee. This is backed up by the way it is translated in the New International version where it says Matthew 26:73 A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, "We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee."
Now one of two things happened. The first is that we are told that Peter denied that he knew Christ with an oath, and maybe this gave him away as a fisherman because I have known fisherman who could cuss the bark off a tree. This is kind of backed up in Matthew 26:74
74 Peter began to curse and swear,
More likely though the man was responding to Peter’s Galilean accent. You notice that different groups of people have distinct ways of speaking. Englishmen, Scots, the Irish, Australians, Canadians and Americans all claim English as their native language and yet they all speak differently. When we were in Australia a lot of people mistook us for Americans although every once in a while someone would say, "you must be from the east coast of Canada" and I’d say "how could you tell" and their response would be "You said out and boat"
And so the literal meaning of the passage is that Peter’s Galilean accent gave him away. But for a moment let us totally disregard everything that we know about interpreting the Bible and preaching Biblical sermons. Let me forget everything that I was taught at college about preaching. Because this morning we will proceed to take this text completely out of context, and preach about something that has nothing to do with the surrounding Scriptures at all. And so journeying into the area of conjecture, and leaving the historical, Biblical, doctrinally, and common sense of the context of the portion of scripture behind let’s venture forth into a topical message that won’t relate in any way to what Matthew was trying convey when he penned these words. But on the other hand it looks like it could turn into a pretty good message, so casting homelitcal caution to the wind let’s try it.
Because there is a very important message in these words , a message that cannot be ignored, and that is "your speech betrays you."
The way we speak and what we say reveals a great deal about our Christian character or lack of Christian character. The tongue is the most powerful influence in the Church and it is able to build people up or tear them down. I hear people say "you know brother those unknown tongues will destroy the church. I don’t know there sure have been a lot of churches destroyed by the known tongue. I told you the story last week of how when John Maxwell was pastoring Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego he was asked "Are you praying that your people will get the gift of tongues?" "No" he replied, "I’m praying they’ll learn to control the one they’ve got now."
The tongue is responsible for some of the most destructive and odious sins in the church and in the same breath it can build up believers like nothing else can. A.B. Simpson, who is not to be confused with O.J. Simpson or Bart Simpson, said and I quote "I would rather play with forked lightning or take in my hand living wires with their fiery current then to speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ, or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christians are hurling at others, to the hurt or their own souls and bodies."
I have met some Christians who are so proud of their Holy living, "Why brother I’d never touch tobacco or the demon rum and I’ve never played so much as old maid, or gone to a theatre even to see Bambi, nor have my feet even tapped time to a lively tune." and yet that very same person can cut other Christians to shreds with their tongues and don’t even feel guilty after they’ve committed verbal homicide or performed a character assassination.
This may shake some people up but there’s a lot more in the Bible about gossip then there is about drinking, smoking, gambling, movie going and dancing combined. They say that the old nature needs to be crucified, well I’ve met more then one Christian that would benefit from having their tongue nailed to a cross, or at least some of us would benefit.
The vast majority of our world does not know the what James 3:12 says and yet almost everybody recognises and acknowledges the truth of that Scripture and that is this Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
Whether you want to accept it our not is up to you but the fact is that many of the judgments made both inside the church and outside the church on the depth of our spiritual walk will be made based on what you say and how you say it. In the book of Galatians 5:19-21
19 People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. 20 They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are 21 envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.
Notice how many of these, for example anger, hatred, jealousy, arguing, troublemaking and envy are manifested through speech. That is they are all actions which are expressed, enlarged or revealed through our words. Oh by the way, Paul continues to write in that same chapter in the next two verses Galatians 5:22-23
22 God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. and they are also expressed in many ways verbally. And so it’s not just how you walk but how you talk that will determine the credibility of your Christianity.
And so on a day to day basis you are judged not just on your actions but on your words, and on your tone of voice. And you’re not just judged by the person you are talking to you are judged by everyone within earshot, and so for just a few moments lets look at what your speech betrays about you. DOES YOUR SPEECH BETRAY SPIRITUAL FLAWS, OR DOES YOUR SPEECH REVEAL SPIRITUAL STRENGTH?
1) DOES YOUR SPEECH BETRAY YOUR LACK OF FAITH? IN NUMBERS 13 MOSES SENT TWELVE SPIES INTO THE PROMISED LAND TO DETERMINE WETHER OR NOT IT COULD BE OCCUPIED. IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THEY HAD EVER SEEN, IT WAS FERTILE, IT WAS RICH, AND THEY BROUGHT BACK A SAMPLE OF IT’S PRODUCE. IN Numbers 13:27 and said: Look at this fruit! The land we explored is rich with milk and honey.
THE PROBLEM WAS, THAT Numbers 13:28 BEGAN WITH THE WORD BUT, AND WITH THAT BUT, TEN OF THE TWELVE SPIES BEGAN TELLING MOSES AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHY THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY GO INTO CANAAN, Numbers 13:28 But the people who live there are strong, and their cities are large and walled. We even saw the three Anakim clans. THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROMISES OF GOD, BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF THEY WERE UNWILLING TO CLAIM THOSE PROMISES.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE SEE CHRISTIAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GLIMPSED WHAT GOD CAN DO BUT THEY DON’T GO ANY FURTHER, NOT BECAUSE GOD CAN’T OR WON’T TAKE THEM FURTHER BUT BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF IN THEIR HEARTS. THE PROBLEM THAT THOSE TWELVE SPIES HAD WAS SUMMED UP IN Numbers 13:33 In fact, we saw the Nephilim who are the ancestors of the Anakim. They were so big that we felt as small as grasshoppers."
THE SPIES HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD CONQUER THE PROMISED LAND BY THEMSELVES AND THEY WERE RIGHT. BUT GOD HAD NEVER ASKED THEM TO DO IT BY THEMSELVES. AND WHEN THE ISRAELITES FINALLY ENTERED INTO THE LAND WHICH GOD HAD PROMISED THEM THEIR JOURNEY WAS A JOURNEY OF MIRACLES. IN JOSHUA 3, THE JORDAN STOOD STILL, IN CHAPTER 6 THE CITY OF JERICHO FELL WHEN ON THE SEVENTH DAY AFTER MARCHING AROUND IT SEVEN TIMES THE PEOPLE BLEW THEIR HORNS AND SHOUTED UNTO THE LORD. IN CHAPTER TEN JOSHUA CALLED TO THE LORD AND THE GOD MADE THE SUN STAND STILL.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT THEY COULD CONQUER THE PROMISED LAND, AND THEIR SPEECH BETRAYED THAT FACT. BUT GOD NEVER IMPLIED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT BY THEMSELVES. THEY TALKED THEMSELVES INTO DEFEAT. AND WHEN WE SAY, "I CAN’T DO THAT" OR "WE CAN’T DO THIS" WE ARE USUALLY RIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE CONVINCED OURSELVES THAT WE CAN’T. AND WORSE THEN THAT WE HAVE CONVINCED OURSELVES THAT GOD CAN’T DO IT EITHER. BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE SAYING AS CHRISTIANS, "IT’S TOO HARD, IT’S TOO LONG, IT’S TOO TOUGH" "I CAN’T GET VICTORY OVER CUSSING, OR DRINKING, OR SMOKING, OR GOSSIPING OR MY TEMPER." WHAT WE ARE REALLY SAYING IS THAT IT’S TOO HARD FOR GOD, OR TOO TOUGH FOR GOD OR TOO LONG FOR GOD. DON’T LET YOUR SPEECH BETRAY YOUR LACK OF BELIEF.
2) YOUR SPEECH CAN REVEAL YOUR FAITH Numbers 14:7-8 and said: We saw the land ourselves, and it’s very good. 8 If we obey the Lord, he will surely give us that land rich with milk and honey.
NOT ONLY DID CALEB AND JOSHUA BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO DELIVER THEM INTO THE PROMISED LAND BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO PUT THEIR FAITH ON THE LINE AND VERBALIZE THEIR BELIEF. IT’S FUNNY BUT FAITH OFTEN DOESN’T BECOME REALITY UNTIL IT IS SPOKEN ALOUD. IN GENESIS 1 WE SEE GOD SPEAKING THE WORLD INTO EXISTENCE, AND THROUGH THE REST OF THE CREATION PROCESS WE READ THAT GOD SPOKE, OR GOD SAID OR GOD CALLED. NOW TO BE TRUTHFUL I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S ACCOUNTABILITY OR IF GOD JUST WANTS US TO VERBALIZE OUR BELIE AND FAITH IN HIM. BUT I DO KNOW THIS, THAT WE HAVE TO GET BEYOND "NO I CAN’T" AND GET TO "YES GOD CAN!"
I CAN’T KICK THAT HABIT, I CAN’T OVERCOME THAT SIN, I CAN’T LOVE THAT PERSON, I CAN’T TITHE, I CAN’T I CAN’T I CAN’T. BUT REMEMBER Philippians 4:13
13 Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
3) YOUR SPEECH BETRAYS YOUR DISCONTENTMENT DO YOU REMEMBER YOU OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, MOSES LEADS THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUR OF EGYPT AND FOR THE FIRST LITTLE WHILE EVERYTHING WAS A CAKE WALK. THE PEOPLE WERE REJOICING AND THE ENTIRE SPIRIT OF THE JOURNEY WAS ONE OF JOY AND HAPPINESS. MOSES WAS THE HERO OF THE DAY. AND HE LEADS THEM TO THE SHORE OF THE RED SEA, AND AS THEY LOOK OUT AT THE ANGRY WAVES LAPPING THE BEACH AT THEIR FEET THEY CHANCE A LOOK BACK AND HERE COMES THE OTHER SIDE. TALK ABOUT BEING STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. Exodus 14:11 They also complained to Moses, "Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt anyway? AND AGAIN IN Exodus 14:12 While we were there, didn’t we tell you to leave us alone? We had rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!"
THAT THEME OF WHINGEING AND WHINING WAS TO BE REPEATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS THE JEWS MARCHED THROUGH THE WILDERNESS IN SEARCH OF THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY.
EVEN WHEN GOD PROVIDED THEM WITH A FOOD SOURCE THAT REQUIRED NO MORE THEN FOR THEM TO BEND OVER AND PICK IT UP THEY HAD COMPLAINTS. REMINDS ME OF AN ARTICLE I READ A WHILE AGO. If the pastor is young, he lacks experience; If his hair is grey, he’s too old for the young people. If he has five of six children, he has too many; If he has none, he’s setting a bad example. If he preaches from notes, he has canned sermons and is dry; If his messages are extemporaneous, he isn’t deep enough. If he caters to the poor in the church, he’s playing to the grandstand; If he pays attention to the wealthy, he’s trying to be an aristocrat. If he uses too many illustrations, he’s neglecting the Bible; If he doesn’t include stories, he isn’t clear. If he condemns wrong, he’s cranky; If he doesn’t preach against sin, they claim he’s a compromiser. If he preaches the truth, he’s too offensive; If he doesn’t present the "whole counsel of God," he’s a hypocrite. If he fails to please everybody, he’s hurting the church and should leave; If he does make them all happy, he has no convictions. If he drives an old car, he shames his congregation; If he buys a new one, he’s setting his affection on earthly things. If he preaches all the time, the congregation gets tired of hearing just one man; If he invites guest ministers, he’s shirking his responsibility as pastor. If he receives a large salary, he’s mercenary; If he gets a small one--well, then they say it proves he isn’t worth much anyway.
IT ISN’T JUST ABOUT PASTORS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEA SICK ON THE ENTIRE JOURNEY OF LIFE. AND WOULDN’T BE HAPPY IF THEY DIDN’T HAVE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. DON’T LET YOUR SPEECH BETRAY YOUR DISCONTENTMENT.
4) YOUR SPEECH reveals YOUR CONTENTMENT. IN WRITING TO THE CHRISTIANS IN PHILIPPI, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS IN Philippians 4:11 I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.
NOW I WANT TO MAKE ONE THING PERFECTLY CLEAR, CONTENTMENT IS NOT COMPLACENCY.
DISCONTENTMENT TENDS TO RAIL AGAINST THINGS AND PEOPLE, WHILE CONTENTMENT MOVES CONSISTENTLY TOWARD GODLINESS. IT IS NEVER WILLING TO STAND STILL AND BE STAGNATE. WE CAN BE CONTENT TO LIVE IN 1998 WITHOUT BECOMING COMPLACENT TOWARD THE EVILS WHICH SURROUND US, INSTEAD WE WILL SEEK TO CHANGE THEM. THE CONTENT PERSON IS THE PERSON WHO SAYS "I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL AND WILL SEEK TO SERVE HIM REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION."
I AM CONTENT AT Bedford Community Church, I TELL YOU I AM HAPPIER THEN A RACCOON IN A GARBAGE CAN, I AM IN HOG HEAVEN HERE. I LOVE YOU FOLKS, I LOVE THE CHURCH GOD HAS GIVEN ME. I REALLY DO. I AM CONTENT HERE BUT I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT CONTENTMENT TO DEVELOP INTO COMPLACENCY, CONTENTMENT MUST NEVER BECOME AN EXCUSE FOR COMPLACENCY. DOES YOUR SPEECH REVEAL YOUR CONTENTMENT WITH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE?
5) DOES YOUR SPEECH BETRAY YOUR LACK OF LOVE? 3 John 9-10 I wrote to the church. But Diotrephes likes to be the number-one leader, and he won’t pay any attention to us. 10 So if I come, I will remind him of how he has been attacking us with gossip. Not only has he been doing this, but he refuses to welcome any of the Lord’s followers who come by. And when other church members want to welcome them, he puts them out of the church.
I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER ONE THING THAT DOES AS MUCH DAMAGE WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST AS THE TONGUE OF CHRISTIANS. BUT BROTHER I WAS JUST SHARING SISTER SO AND SO’S PROBLEM SO THAT WE COULD PRAY ABOUT IT. UH-HUH. YAH RIGHT. YOU GOT A PROBLEM IT DOESN’T GO TO THE PERSON DOWN THE STREET, IT DOESN’T GO TO THE PASTOR OR THE BOARD. THE SCRIPTURES ARE VERY PLAIN IF’N YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE, THEN YOU GO TO THAT PERSON AND YOU GET IT STRAIGHT.
IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT SO MANY CHRISTIANS THINK THEY’VE TAKEN A VOW OF SILENCE WHEN IT COMES TO WITNESSING AND THEN TRY TO MAKE UP FOR IT WHEN THEY ARE REVEALING THE FAULTS AND WEAKNESSES OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD. AND THE NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN IT MATTERS NOT WETHER THOSE FAULTS ARE REAL OR IMAGINARY.
GOSSIP ISN’T THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE TONGUE, ANOTHER ONE IS CANDOUR. A WOMAN ONCE TOLD WESLEY, " I HAVE A TALENT FOR ALWAYS SPEAKING MY MIND." HIS RESPONSE, "THAT’S ONE TALENT THAT WOULD BE BEST BURIED." IT’S SOMETIMES TOO EASY TO POINT OUT A PERSONS SHORTCOMINGS AND SOMETIMES THE DAMAGE IS DEVASTATING. HAD A LADY IN one of my CHURCHES, WONDERFUL WOMAN, DO ANYTHING FOR YOU BUT WAS VERY BLUNT ABOUT PEOPLES FAULTS. SHE’D TELL YOU IF SHE THOUGHT YOUR HAIRCUT DIDN’T SUIT YOU, OR YOU WERE A LITTLE OVER WEIGHT, OR YOU WEREN’T SINGING ON KEY. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HURT, BY THE TRUTH, IT JUST WASN’T WISELY APPLIED.
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT WE NEED TO APPLY A THREE FOLD TEST TO WHAT WE SAY, 1) IS IT TRUE, 2) IS IT KIND, AND 3) IS IT NECESSARY. IT WOULD PROBABLY HELP A LOT. IF WE CAN’T SAY ANYTHING NICE, THEN DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
IN PHILLIPIANS 4:8 PAUL PROPOSES SOME GUIDELINES FOR WHAT WE THINK, Philippians 4:8 Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.
I DON’T THINK IT WOULD DO ANY INJUSTICE TO THE SCRIPTURES TO END THAT PORTION OF SCRIPTURE WITH SPEAK ABOUT SUCH THINGS. AND IF WE SPEAK ON THOSE EIGHT THINGS THEN WE WON’T HAVE TIME TO BE MALICIOUS AND NASTY AND HURTFUL.
PARENTS REALIZE THE DAMAGE THAT YOU CAN DO TO YOUR CHILDREN WITH HARSH AND CRITICAL WORDS. CHRISTIANS REALIZE THE DAMAGE YOU CAN DO TO BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. AND LAYMAN REALIZE THE DAMAGE THAT CAN BE DONE TO PASTORS. AND WE PASTORS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE DAMAGE THAT CAN BE DONE TO OUR PEOPLE. I HAVE Mentioned IT IN EVERY CHURCH THAT I HAVE PASTORED, PARENTS IF YOU ARE GOING TO DISCUSS MY NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND SHORTCOMINGS, PLEASE DO IT OUT OF EARSHOT OF YOUR CHILDREN. DON’T LET YOUR SPEECH BETRAY YOUR LACK OF LOVE.
6) YOUR SPEECH REVEALS YOUR LOVE. Romans 1:8 First, I thank God in the name of Jesus Christ for all of you. I do this because people everywhere in the world are talking about your faith.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE BE POSITIVE WHEN WE TALK TO AND ABOUT PEOPLE. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HOLD UP PEOPLES ACHIEVEMENT AND GIVE PRAISE WHERE PRAISE IS DUE. AS PARENTS WE NEED TO VERBALIZE OUR LOVE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND TELL THEM HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THEM. OUR WORDS MOULD OUR CHILDREN AND BECOME SELF FULFILLING PROPHESIES. AND NOT JUST YOUR CHILDREN, BUT OUR SPOUSES AS WELL. HUSBANDS TELL YOUR WIVES, WIVES TELL YOUR HUSBANDS. BILLY SUNDAY SAID, "PRAISE YOUR WIFE, EVER IF IT DOES SURPRISE HER AT FIRST." TAKE TIME TO SAY "I LOVE YOU" THE OLD FARMER’S WIFE SAID "YOU NEVER TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE." AND HE REPLIED, "I TOLD YOU THAT I LOVED YOU FORTY YEARS AGO, AND IF I CHANGE MY MIND I’LL LET YOU KNOW."
HOW ABOUT TELLING YOUR FRIENDS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM, OR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE CHURCH, OR THE WORKERS IN THE CHURCH. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT FLATTERY I’M TALKING ABOUT SINCERE PRAISE, I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, "GOOD MESSAGE PASTOR" WHEN IT’S JUST THE THING TO SAY, AND WHEN IT MEANS, "THAT HIT ME RIGHT WHERE I NEEDED IT." LET’S MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO BE POSITIVE IN OUR COMMENTS TO ONE ANOTHER. TO SPEAK UP MORE IN PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. IF YOUR CHILDREN GET MORE ATTENTION WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING WRONG THEN WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING RIGHT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY’RE GOING TO DO.
AND IT’S THE SAME WITH CHURCH MEMBERS. LET YOUR SPEECH REVEAL YOUR LOVE.
