June 03, 2018 | Bob Bartlett
Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
"Hung by the Tongue” Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Hebrews 6:17-18 “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose
very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this
so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie…”
Why the Tongue is So Dangerous and So Important: 1. The tongue is a fire. James 3:6 “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil...” 2. The tongue is a gauge. Luke 6:43-45 “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” 3. The tongue is a witness. James 3:9-10 “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing…”
Vs 1-2: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than
to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong….”
I am to guard my h_____________ (first) and my words with God. Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth O Lord...let not my heart be drawn to what is evil…”
· What is the sacrifice of fools? Vain and empty words before God. Luke 18:9-14
· Matthew15:8 “these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are from me”
“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God....”
My speech is always to be c_____________ words when speaking to God and to others.
James 1:19-20 “My dear brothers take note of this, everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak…”
- Psalm 73:22 “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.”
Vs 4-6 “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.”
I am to keep my word with God. “when you make a vow do not delay in fulfilling it”
- Proverbs 21:3 “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
- Parable in Matthew 21:28: “Actions speak louder than words and my words will always expose my heart and eventually the two will always align--good or bad.”
I am to keep my word with others. “fulfill your vow…do not let your mouth lead you into sin.”
- To reflect God I must keep my word. Psalm 15:4 “who keeps his oath even when it hurts”
The Remedy for Taming my Tongue:
- I g_____________ my heart: Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart…”
- I r_____________ my mind: Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
- I r_____________ in my tongue. James 1:26 “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
Do I reflect God and His glory in all that I speak?