Is your mouth a fountain of life?

Will you pray with me as we come to God's word?

Father, we know that we don't live off bread alone,

but we live off every word that comes from your mouth.

I pray, Lord, that you would be speaking to us today,

and I pray that you'd be transforming our mouths

so that we might better reflect you

and better at being a source of your life to others around us.

So I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, think back on the last week.

Were you in a situation where your words had the potential

to do damage to a relationship?

Or the potential to do a lot of good?

To relationship.

Not a week goes by where we're not in a situation

where we have to choose our words carefully, don't we?

We can do a lot of damage or a lot of good.

I don't think I've got to convince you of that.

But it's complex, isn't it?

Do you find it hard, choosing the right words?

You say things accidentally sometimes

or quite intentionally other times.

It can be quite complex, choosing the right words.

By nature, I know I'm up front now,

but by nature I'm on the quieter end personality spectrum.

But I've been learning recently that even silence communicates.

It's so complex.

You think, just be silent and you can get through life.

You can't.

Even silence communicates.

It's complex.

Choosing words, when to speak, when to be silent.

The Bible is a very simple but profound explanation

for why our words are so central to our life.

It's because God is a speaking God.

He guides and instructs us.

He reassures and comforts us.

He warns and rebukes us.

He makes promises and covenants.

We encounter the living, relational God by his words to us.

And when God speaks, he brings forth life.

We see in Genesis 1, creating this marvellous world by his words.

We see it in his promises to us, like John 3, 16.

Whoever believes will not perish but have eternal life.

That word, if we believe it, gives us eternal life.

God's words are a fountain of life.

Our words matter because we are made in the likeness of this speaking God.

Our words are meant to be a fountain of life.

See, I don't think I've got to convince you of the power of words.

We've all experienced it.

If we've stopped and thought about words that have damaged us,

we could all think of some very quickly.

But I wonder if we take full responsibility for our words.

Like, have you ever been on the receiving end of a harsh comment,

quickly followed by, oh, just joking?

Really? Are you just joking?

Or when you've lost control of your tongue and your words cut the person closest to you,

and later you try and make it right,

I'm just tired and stressed.

I didn't mean that.

I don't think those excuses cut it.

I don't think they cut it because those words came from somewhere.

Where did they come from?

Why did you say that?

You said it for a reason.

Now, sometimes we accidentally pick the wrong words

and we need to clarify what we mean.

It's very good to clarify what we mean.

I'm not talking about that.

But where do the words come from?

Do we take responsibility for them?

It's not like it's like Scrabble,

where we've got these tiles of words

and the wise person just picks the right ones.

They don't just come to us by chance.

And our words don't come to us by our circumstances.

I think we love blaming others.

I snapped at you only because you're frustrating me.

I yelled because you're not listening to me.

You're just blaming the circumstance.

Blaming others has been the excuse since the first human beings

and God sees right through it.

So where do our words come from?

Where's the source?

Who or what's responsible?

Jesus tells us in Luke 6.45.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good

and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil.

For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

My true inner self, the place of my desires and decisions,

wells up and my mouth just lets it fly,

either for good or evil.

I must take responsibility for every word I speak.

We all must take responsibility for our words.

And the goodness or evil of our words depends on the treasure in our heart.

So how do we navigate this complex life where we need to speak

but our words have the power to do good or a lot of damage?

Well, the Lord's given us Proverbs, God's applied wisdom, very specific.

How do you live wisely in God's world?

Before we jump in and treat these Proverbs as a self-help, quick fix,

moralisms to get us through life,

we've got to remember the first nine chapters of Proverbs.

We've got to remember the context of this coming to us.

The nine chapters implore us, choose the path of life.

Don't choose the path of death.

Embrace woman wisdom.

Don't be seduced by lady folly.

It's the choice between fearing the Lord

or giving yourself to some created thing, living for idols.

So Bo took us through last week with how we relate to family.

We can see wisdom or folly in how we relate to family.

Today we see wisdom or folly on our lips,

fearing the Lord or loving idols.

And I think the two lines in these Proverbs,

they're opposites,

where there's clearly a right choice and clearly a wrong choice.

I think in this section there's opposites put together.

I think that helps us see the choice before us,

choosing wisdom or folly.

Will we be wise or a fool,

righteous or wicked,

fear the Lord or love idols?

In every conversation,

we're expressing one or the other.

Proverbs doesn't give us a middle ground.

So let's take a look.

What do your words say about the condition of your heart?

Let's just reflect on a few of these Proverbs this morning.

The theme of words is just massive, isn't it?

The Bible has a lot to say on it.

We're just going to look at a few things.

Let's have a look at verse 11.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Some people are like walking, drinking fountains.

You encounter them and you go away feeling impacted for the better.

Words, they give you words that sympathise with your pain.

They calm your fears.

They correct your misunderstanding.

Words that give direction when you just don't know what to do.

Words that warn you when you're choosing something that's going to destroy you.

Words that express deep relational connection and commitment to you.

Words that advocate for you when you're vulnerable.

Words that bring your needs before the throne of grace.

Some people are just a fountain of life.

You come into contact with them and you receive life through their words.

Do you remember who has helped you understand the grace of God in Jesus?

Their words to you.

Our words have the power to give life, even eternal life.

Obviously through God's words.

But we can be a fountain of life.

I was shocked a little by the description of our words doing violence.

I got into fisticuffs when I was in grade 9.

I don't think I won.

That's not really the point, is it?

I don't consider myself a violent person.

But what about my tongue?

It may not be obvious, like swearing at people or threatening or blatant lies,

but it can be concealed.

It can be hidden.

Words that on face value seem fine,

but they're hiding knives that want to cut to that person's soul.

If I take an honest look at myself,

I have to admit that I have been violent.

And often.

I want to focus on a particular way we do violence,

even within the church.

Jerry Bridges puts this among the group he calls acceptable sins.

We accept it, even endorse it.

Listen to the damage done in Proverbs 16, 28.

A dishonest man spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

A whisperer separates close friends.

Even the closest of relationships,

with years of trust built up,

can be separated by gossip.

So are you a gossip?

I really don't want that label to sit on me.

I doubt you want that label either.

So I'm just going to rephrase the question.

Do you consistently speak to the person you ought to be speaking to,

and no one else?

Are you careful with confidential information?

If you're critical of what someone else is doing,

do you talk to that person,

and don't talk to anyone else,

try and protect their reputation,

or do you share your critical opinion with others?

When you're in conflict with a person,

do you try and rally other people to your side

to sympathise with you,

and in so doing,

you poison the reputation of your enemy

in the minds of your allies?

Do you consistently speak to the person you ought to be speaking to,

and no one else?

If not,

whatever socially acceptable packaging you put on it,

we're doing violence.

Gossip is like a cancer in the body of the local church.

The antidote I found most helpful,

personally,

is to regularly bring to mind Ephesians 4.29,

at least the gist of it.

I don't know it off by heart,

but the gist of it I bring to mind all the time.

I need to.

It says this,

So,

is your mouth a fountain of life?

People are impacted for the better every time they encounter you,

or is it doing violence?

Another way our mouths can be a fountain of life or do violence

is by what we praise.

Now, in a sense,

I'm just bringing this in because today is focused on praise,

and singing in particular,

but in another sense,

it's really close to the heart of being renewed in Christ,

in Colossians 3.

So, to be renewed in the image of our Creator,

to no longer lie to one another,

but speak the truth,

is what we've heard right out.

This is the instruction of how we can do that.

Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly,

teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

God commands us to praise him.

Have you noticed that people love talking about

what they're passionate about?

You can be in a conversation,

and it is dead boring.

It's just really hard to get anywhere in the conversation,

and then you land on a topic

that the person is actually interested,

and boom, you're off and racing,

and you can't shut the person up then.

Have you ever been in that kind of situation?

People love...

We just talk about what we enjoy.

It's very natural, isn't it?

I'm indebted to C.S. Lewis

for understanding why we praise,

why we just can't help talk about

what we're passionate about.

I'm going to share four of his observations,

which I think are true.

So first he says this,

I think it's true.

Praise is just everywhere.

It's just...

It's like we're made for it or something.

Obviously we are.

We all praise what we enjoy.

We just can't help it.

It's very human to do that.

His second observation is

praise doesn't just express our enjoyment.

It completes our enjoyment.

So he gives the example...

So he believes that it's not out of...

This is his words.

It is not out of compliment

that lovers keep on telling one another

how beautiful they are.

The delight is incomplete

till it is expressed.

I think that seems to fit.

Seems to make sense.

Praise completes the enjoyment.

His third observation is

implication when it comes to God.

So for God to command us to praise him

isn't because he's just craving our praise

as if he needs it,

as if he needs compliments.

He's not insecure.

What he's doing is

he's inviting us,

come and enjoy me.

Come and complete your enjoyment

in praising me.

He deserves our praise.

He doesn't need it,

but he deserves it.

And he's inviting us,

come and enjoy me.

The last observation

is that when we praise something,

we are implicitly urging others

to join us

in delighting in whatever it is

we're passionate about.

We're implicitly saying,

isn't she lovely?

Wasn't it glorious?

Don't you think

that magnificent?

When we praise stuff,

when we're passionate about things,

we're inviting others

to delight in that same thing.

So,

what can you not help

but speak about?

What topics do you love?

Now,

I'm not suggesting,

I'm not implying here

that we should only ever praise God.

God has made a marvelously

diverse world

and very different personalities

to enjoy different aspects of it.

I'm not saying

just exclusive praise of God,

but surely

we should want to praise

the most valuable thing

in existence.

So,

let me get specific.

Are you passionate

about the Bible?

Are you just obsessed

with it?

It's God speaking to us,

revealing his heart to us.

Are you obsessed

with the Bible?

And if you don't yet know

the completion of enjoyment

in singing,

you might not feel musical.

I was there once.

I really urge you

to just take steps

to learn to.

And let's face it,

our singing now is,

how to put it,

our motives are mixed,

our quality is mixed.

I'll quote C.S. Lewis here

in the sense that,

or he makes some comment about,

really we're just tuning

our instruments,

getting ready for heaven.

It's not like our singing today

is perfect,

but we're getting ready

for that endless praise

when Christ returns.

What we praise

with our lips matters,

either urging others

to delight in God

or else our silence

and lack of interest in God

is really communicating

to others,

knowing God,

yeah,

he's okay,

I suppose.

when we sing together,

we're completing

our enjoyment of God together

and we're urging one another

and any unbelievers

who are listening in,

look at Jesus,

isn't he lovely?

Isn't he glorious?

Don't you think

he's magnificent?

So singing is really crucial

part of our meetings,

which I think we lost

during COVID,

didn't we?

Alright,

so if we praise

what we enjoy

and life or violence

comes out of the abundance

in our heart,

then we might presume

that this is all

pretty mechanical

and transparent,

that the literal words

on our lips

automatically show

what's in our heart.

They do show

what's in our heart,

but it may not be

immediately obvious.

This is where we come

to verses 9 and 10.

Whoever walks

in integrity

walks securely,

but he who makes

his ways crooked

will be found out.

Whoever winks

the eye

causes trouble

and a babbling fool

will come to ruin.

Words can either

have integrity

or be deceptive.

Have a listen to,

I found Tim Keller's

description of integrity

really interesting

and exposing,

so have a listen

to what he says

and see where you fit

with this.

Integrity means

being one and whole,

not marked

by duplicity.

People of integrity

are not one way

in one setting

and completely

different in another.

Are you a churchgoer

on Sunday

but ruthless

in business

during the week?

Do you say

conservative-sounding

things to traditional

people but liberal-sounding

things to younger adults?

Do you present yourself

as one kind of person

online but live

as a very different

person in real life?

The wise

and upright

are driven

by integrity,

consistency

of character.

They have one

real self

and it is not

hidden.

It is on display

in every setting,

in every role.

With them,

what you see

is what you get.

I found that

really helpful.

can your words

consistently

be taken

at face value?

I think

if you're like me,

I think most people

have learnt

how to play

the crowd.

Like a teenager

telling their parents

only the bits

of what they got up to

with their friends

so that they don't

get in trouble

and so that they can

go out with their

friends next time.

Excuse me.

Still there.

Or a business

person exaggerating

the quality

or the timing

of a job

so that they

make a sale.

Playing to the crowd.

A spouse

who says

whatever they need

to just to get

the outcome

they want.

Or someone

who presents

only one side

of the argument

to win over

supporters.

I reckon

we're pretty good

at reading people

and knowing

what they want

to hear

and playing

to the crowd.

I think

if you stop

and think

about what

we're actually

doing when we

play to the crowd

is we're

manipulating others.

It's a form

of doing violence

using people

for our own

advantage.

And the Lord

tells us here

it is only those

who have integrity

who walk

securely

while playing

to the crowd

will be found

out.

I've found

in the short

term

that sometimes

it's really

risky

speaking with

integrity.

It can cost

you in the

short term.

So how can

being deceptive

be found

out and come

to ruin?

What happens

when a loved

one discovers

your deception?

Trust is lost

so easily

isn't it?

Or if

you're playing

to the crowd

to be accepted

in the group

you can never

be sure

if you're

actually accepted

because

are they

accepting you

or just the

image you're

presenting?

I think we

can be found

out in these

ways but

much more

than this

we can be

found out

by the

Lord

and he

says he

will find

each person

out in the

end.

He's warned

us in

Matthew 12

36

Jesus says

I tell you

on the

day of

judgment

people will

give account

for every

careless word

they speak

for by your

words you

will be

justified

and by your

words you

will be

condemned.

It's the

person of

integrity

who is

secure in

the Lord.

so do

you take

your words

seriously?

Is your

mouth a

fountain of

life?

Do you

want to

build up

others

rather than

doing

violence?

Do you

want to

praise the

Lord rather

than urging

others to

praise idols?

Do you

want to

say words

that can

be trusted

at face

value or

are you

just deceiving

people to

manipulate

them?

Have you

noticed the

painful thing

about taking

your words

seriously?

I can get

through a day

feeling like a

pretty righteous

person if I

just look at

my deeds

some days at

least but if

you take your

words seriously

believing that

the words come

from the heart

you start to

see the

violence

you start to

see the praise

of idols

you see the

playing to

the crowd

and suddenly

the idols of

the heart

just become

so much

more obvious

and more

often.

I want to

give you an

illustration of

this in my

own life

even within

a church

setting

of how our

heart produces

words that

either come

from the

treasure of

Christ in

our heart

or the

treasure of

idols.

So at a

youth group

leaders meeting

a few years

ago now

I was leading

the meeting

and we were

trying to

plan what

would be

teaching the

youth in

the coming

term.

So a very

honourable

good reason

to be meeting

and talking

the whole

purpose was

to help the

youth come

to know

Christ better.

together.

Now I put

forward a

thought through

plan for

what we

should be

teaching and

members of

the team

weren't quite

so confident

in the plan

and they gave

an alternative

but in that

moment I felt

threatened,

personally

threatened.

I felt

undermined

and

unappreciated

and the

frustration

came up.

Now I

could have

welcomed the

new idea

and the

combined wisdom

of the team.

I could have

given a gentle

response that

unified the

team to help

us then come to

the best outcome

for the sake of

the youth.

In that

moment my

heart had a

choice of what

to cherish.

was I going

to cherish

Christ for

the sake of

the youth

and my

fellow leaders

or was I

going to try

and keep

control?

Was I

going to try

and keep

the authority,

protect my

authority,

try and shut

down this

threat?

And sadly

in this case

the tension

in the room

just built.

It was quite

an unproductive

meeting because

I had idols

driving me.

Our words

are always

expressing the

treasure of

Christ or the

treasure of

something else

we just have

to have.

So how do

we fix our

words?

More self

control can

minimise the

damage.

Proverbs 17

28 is helpful

here.

Even fools

are thought

wise if

they keep

silent and

discerning if

they hold

their tongues.

So putting a

plug in it

will slow

down the

damage but

what will

fix the

spring?

What will

get deep in

our hearts

and make

our hearts

wise so

that our

lips are

wise?

wise words

require a

wise heart.

whether you're

wise or not

really comes

down

fundamentally

to this

do you

listen?

Are you

teachable

or are you

a babbling

fool?

fool?

When I

tried to

picture a

babbling

fool I

first thought

of the

folk who

walked down

Beaumont

Street just

yelling to

themselves not

really making

any sense but

then I

thought that's

not quite

right.

A fool in

Proverbs is

anyone who

doesn't fear

the Lord.

Anyone who

fails to

acknowledge Jesus

Christ denying

their creator

who see no

problem with

their sin

who despise

God's

salvation

who have

no fear

of facing

God in

judgment

I don't

care how

knowledgeable

and intelligent

and respectable

impressive

that person

is that

person is a

fool.

They just

listen to

themselves

they're

babbling

too much

to stop

and listen

to God.

even quiet

people can

be babbling

fools only

ever listening

to themselves

but the

wise in

heart

listen

they make

a priority

of receiving

first before

speaking.

Now

relationally I

think this

obviously looks

like understanding

what someone is

saying before

responding but

I think it's

more than

that because

we've got the

word commandments

here that

points us to

God's words

to us.

The wise in

heart listen

to the Lord

they depend

on the

life giving

words of

God to

renew them

from the

inside out

the wise in

heart look

to God's

wisdom in

Jesus Christ

marveling at

the only man

who committed

no sin

Peter says

this about

him he

committed no

sin neither

was deceit

found in

his mouth

that is only

true of one

man

the wise in

heart listen

to the person

who went to

the cross

not just to

pay for our

deeds

but to die

for our

violent

careless

words

who paid

for them

the wise in

heart look

to Jesus

and think

where else

have I to

go when

you alone

have the

words of

eternal

life

the wise

of heart

continually

sit and

drink from

the life

giving fountain

of God's

words to

us in

Jesus

and then

our hearts

become wise

our hearts

become renewed

so to

finish up

as you look

to the week

ahead

what will

others see

in your

heart through

your words

will your

words

will your

mouth be a

fountain of

life

you