A WORD FITLY SPOKEN (Speech Part B)
Jeremy Hinzman, a name is an embarrassment to his country. Perhaps you recognize the name. Let me fill in the gaps for those of you not familiar with him
In January 2001, Hinzman volunteered for military service in the US Army, and for months happily cashed his military paychecks. Shortly after 9/11 of that year, realizing he might have to fight after all, he claimed to be a pacifist, a conscientious objector. In spite of his objections, he was sent to Afghanistan, where he served with his unit. After coming back to the states, when he saw his unit was about to be deployed to Iraq, he declared his objections to the war in Iraq. Last year he deserted his unit, packed up his wife and infant son, and left for Canada.
Since that time, he has complained to all who will listen that Americans are guilty of war crimes and has done all he can to encourage our enemies and to undermine the soldiers who are, even at this moment, fighting to protect our nation.
Now I want you to know, there is no perfect army. We have made mistakes. There has never been a war where innocent people have not suffered. Innocent people have been hurt ever since Cain murdered Abel, but to fail to support the people who were his comrades, to undermine the very people he swore to protect is inexcusable.
But wait. Before you and I go throwing stones, and before we begin to look down our self-righteous noses at him, we had better take a close look at ourselves, for many of us have deserted the fight as well. Many of us have left the field of battle and instead of supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ, our fellow soldiers we too have joined the enemies’ ranks and attacked our own.
Last week we began looking at hindrances to revival. We said last week, that one of the hindrances to revival is a negative, cutting tongue. This morning I would like us to look at another hindrance to revival, the failure to use our tongue to encourage, for I believe one of the reasons we don’t see revival, is that we don’t help each other as we should.
- Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Did you see that? The Bible says that 2 are stronger than 1. If one falls, the other is to pick him up. My friend, you and I are not only to avoid using our tongue in a bad way, injuring those we claim to love, but we are to use it in a good way also.
Listen to these proverbs.
> Proverbs 12:9 …the words of decent people rescue.
> Proverbs 12:17 … the words of wise people bring healing.
> Proverbs 12:25 A person’s anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.
> Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life …
My friends, you are to encourage, to build up, and to help each other with what you say.
There are several ways you can do that.
I. WAYS TO HELP WITH WHAT YOU SAY
1. Give wise, godly counsel –
> Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge …
Share godly counsel, share godly advice when it is asked. Don’t dress it up. Don’t beat around the bush and try to dilute what you have to say. Don’t turn to the world and try to figure out what the latest Cosmopolitan magazine might say. Share wise, godly counsel.
2. Correct when necessary –
> Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
There are times when you and I must correct a brother or sister who is on the wrong path. There are times when we must correct our children, and it is better to do so when necessary in order to help them.
> Proverbs 27:6 (HCSB) The wounds of a friend are trustworthy…
If you find it necessary to correct someone, this verse tells us several things about the way you are to do so:
a) Friendship includes correcting – If you are a true friend to a person, then part of being a friend is being honest with that person. If you have a friend that is hurting himself, tell him of your concern. If you have a friend that is damaging her witness or her family, tell her. That’s part of being friends.
b) You should care about the one you correct – You need to care about the person you are correcting. You need to share the correction with the right motive and in the right spirit. Let me tell you, those driving lessons you give to the cars around you when you are driving down the road are not given in the right spirit, nor for the right reason. If you are “correcting” or “helping” a person and your voice is louder than the one you normally talk with, then you are probably not “helping” in the right way or with the right motive.
> Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
3. Never miss an opportunity to Encourage –
- Proverbs 15:30
Good news puts fat on the bones. Good news helps. Good news encourages. Oh my friend, you and I need to look for opportunities to encourage one another, and your encouragement should come much more quickly than your correction.
Thank people for what they do. Tell them what they mean to you. Point out their strengths. Look for things they do well and tell them. Let them know how much you miss them when they are away.
My friend, all during the week, the people around you are taking hits and being cut at work and by life. Bandage them. Encourage them. Let them know they are better than many in the world say they are. This may be the only place, and you may be the only person who encourages them.
Look for the good in people and tell them. One day 2 men were talking as they saw a woman walking down the road. One of the men said, “That’s Mrs. Jones. She always has something good to say about everyone.” The other man decided to test her, so when she got close he hollered, “Mrs. Jones, what do you think about the devil?” She thought for a second and answered, “He sure is busy isn’t he?” You can find something good to say about almost anyone. Encourage them.
Write them notes, call them. …
Tell your wife why you married her and tell her you’d do it all over again. Remind your husband how grateful you are for the gift God has given you with him.
Gentlemen, thank your wives when they cook. Thank them for the things they do. Ladies, point out the good things about your husbands. Never miss an opportunity to encourage them.
4. Be ready to Comfort –
> Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life…
There are many pains in the world. Be ready to comfort when people are hurting. Sometimes the best you can do is just to listen.
*** Jimmy Dale coming when Daddy died. Didn’t do much, but he was there.
II. KEYS TO HELPING WITH WHAT YOU SAY
1. Walk with God
> Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. You cannot share a word of godly wisdom, if you don’t know God.
2. Study God’s Word
> 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
3. Ask for Help –
> James 4:2 ye have not, because ye ask not. Pray about it.
4. Quit making Excuses –
> 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit power, of love, and of self-discipline.
God didn’t emasculate us when we were saved. He didn’t make us into a bunch of wimps running around with no power crying “The Devil made me do it.” God gave us the spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. If you are not using your tongue to build up other Christians, if you are not building up your children, your spouse, and your parents, I don’t want to hear your excuses. The Bible says:
>1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Let me ask you my friend, are you taking your place on the front line, fighting the good fight, building others up, encouraging, or are you AWOL?
